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Revelation, 7 August 1831 [D&C 59]

 
Behold blessed saith the Lord are they who have come up  unto this land

Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...

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 with an eye single to my glory1

See Matthew 6:22; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 533 [Mormon 8:15]; and Revelation, Feb. 1829, in JSP, D1:XXX [D&C 4:5]. In spring 1831, in connection with his revision of the Bible, JS changed the passage in Matthew 6:22 to read, “If therefore if thine eye be single to the glory of God thy whole body shall be full of light.” (New Testament Revision 1, p. 13 [Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:22]; see also Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 64–65.)
Comprehensive Works Cited

 

 

The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. Palmyra, NY: E. B. Grandin, 1830.

New Testament Revision 1 / “A Translation of the New Testament Translated by the Power of God,” 1831. CCLA. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 153–228.

Faulring, Scott H., Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds. Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004.

according to my  Commandments

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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 for them that live shall inherit the earth and them  that die shall rest from all their labours & their works shall follow  them2

See Revelation 14:13.  

 
 they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father which I  have prepared for them.3

See John 14:2.  

 
 Yea blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land  of Zion

In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the work JS was called to do. However, the term Zion was soon used more specifically to describe a community of believers who live in harmony and equality. The Book of Mormon explained...

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 who have obeyed my Gospel for they shall receive for their reward  the good things of the earth & it shall bring forth in her strength4

See Genesis 4:12.  

 
 & they  also shall be crowned with blessings from above yea & with comm andments not a few & with revelations in their time they that are  faithful & diligent before me. Wherefore I give unto them a command ment saying thus Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy  heart with all thy might mind & strength & in the name of Jesus Christ thou  shalt serve him thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself5

See Matthew 22:37–39.  

 
 thou shalt not  steal neither commit adultry nor kill or do any thing like unto it6

See Exodus 20:13–15; Deuteronomy 5:17–19; and Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831, in JSP, D1:XXX [D&C 42:18–24].  

 
 thou shalt  thank the Lord thy God in all things thou shalt offer a sacrafice unto the  Lord thy God in righteousness even that of a broken heart & a contrite  spirit.7

The Articles and Covenants listed “a broken heart & a contrite spirit” as a requirement for baptism. The phrases also appear in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830, in JSP, D1:XXX [D&C 20:37]; see, for example, Psalms 34:18; 51:17; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 474, 480, 576 [3 Nephi 9:20; 12:19; Moroni 6:2].)
Comprehensive Works Cited

 

 

The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. Palmyra, NY: E. B. Grandin, 1830.

 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted  from the world8

See James 1:27.  

 
 thou shalt go to the house of prayer & offer up thy  sacraments

Primarily referred to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as opposed to other religious sacraments. The articles and covenants of the church directed “that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord...

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 upon my holy day9

See Isaiah 56:6–7. The Articles and Covenants previously instructed members to “meet together oft to partake bread & wine in Rememberance of the Lord Jesus,” but this revelation appears to be the first time that partaking of the Lord’s Supper is specifically associated with Sunday worship. (Articles and Covenants, 10 Apr. 1830, in Revelation Book 1, p. 57, in JSP, MRB:84–85 [D&C 20:75].)  

 
 for verily this is a day appointed unto you  to rest from your labours & to pay thy devotions unto the most high  Nevertheless thy vows should be offered up in righteousness <in> all days & at  all times but remember that on this the Lords day thou shalt offer thine  oblations & thy sacraments unto the most High Confessing thy sins unto thy brethren & before the Lord & on this day thou shalt do none other <things>  only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart10

The New Testament church “were together, and had all things common; . . . and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:44–46.)  

 
 that thy fastings may  be perfect or in other words that thy joy may be full verily this is fas ting and prayer or in other words rejoicing & prayer.11

A passage in the Book of Mormon implies that when one fasts and prays much, one can “worship God with exceeding great joy.” (“Baptism, &c.,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Apr. 1833, [8]; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 348 [Alma 45:1].)
Comprehensive Works Cited

 

 

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. Palmyra, NY: E. B. Grandin, 1830.

 And inasmuch as ye do these  things with thanksgiving with cheerful hearts & coutenances not with much  laughter (for this is sin) but with a glad heart & a cheerful countenance  verily I say that inasmuch as ye do this the fulness of the earth is yours12

See Deuteronomy 33:16; see also Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831, p. XXX herein [D&C 58:45].  

 
 the  beasts of the fields & the fowls of the air & that which climbeth upon trees & walketh  upon the earth yea & the herb & the good things which cometh of the earth  whether for food or for raiment or for houses or for barns or for orchards or for  gardens or for vineyards yea all things which cometh of the earth in the sea son therof is made for the benefit & the <use> of man both to please the eye  & to gladen the heart yea for food & for raiment for taste & for  smell to strengthen the body & to enliven the soul13

A May 1831 revelation explained that “the beasts of the field & the fowls of the air & that which cometh of the Earth is ordained for the use of man for food & for raiment & that he might have in abundance.” After hearing reports in Kirtland, Ohio, from those who had traveled to Missouri, Elizabeth Godkin Marsh explained that “common game” in Missouri consisted of “Deer Turkies, prairie hens Rabt [a]nd Gray squirels.” She also reported that the state had an abundance of “wild plumbs, wild sweet grapes, mulberies, strawberies, rspberries, and Blackberies, hazlenuts hickery nuts &c are two numerious to mention.” (Revelation, 7 May 1831, in JSP, D1:XXX [D&C 49:19]; Elizabeth Godkin Marsh, Kirtland Mills, OH, to Lewis Abbott and Ann Abbott, East Sudbury, MA, Sept. [1831], Abbott Family Collection, CHL.)
Comprehensive Works Cited

 

 

Abbott Family Collection, 1831–2000. CHL.

 & it pleaseth God that  he hath given all these things unto man for unto this end were they  made to be used with judgement not to excess neither by extortion  & in nothing doth man offend God or against none is his wrath kindled  save those who Confess not his hand in all things & obey not his command ments behold this is according to the law & the prophets. Wherefore trouble  me no more concerning this matter but learn that he who doeth the  works of righteousness shall receive his reward even peace in this world  & eternal life in the world to come I the Lord hath spoken it & the spirit  beareth record Amen
Given by Joseph the translatior

To produce a new text through a revelatory, rather than scholarly, process by the “gift and power of God.” In the Book of Mormon, the ancient prophet Mosiah translated records into his own language using “interpreters,” or “two stones which was fastened into...

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 & written by Oliver [Cowdery]

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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 August 7. 1831  in the land of Zion14

This notation by Cowdery may have been part of the original manuscript, because Samuel Smith included this same notation in his copy. It is not, however, in the copy made by John Whitmer in Revelation Book 1, nor is it included in the version published in the July 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star. (Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [74]; Revelation Book 1, pp. 98–100, in JSP, MRB:5, 169–173; “Commandment for Keeping the Sabbath, &c.,” The Evening and the Morning Star, July 1832, [1].)
Comprehensive Works Cited

 

 

Hyde, Orson, and Samuel Smith. Notebook of Revelations, 1832. Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL.

The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

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Revelation, “land of Zion” [MO

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...

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], 7 Aug. 1831; copied [ca. 30 Aug. 1831]; handwriting of Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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; one page; Newel K. Whitney, Papers, BYU. Includes dockets and archival marking.
One loose leaf, possibly cut from a bound book, measuring 12½ × 7½ inches (32 x 19 cm). The document was kept folded for filing by Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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 with a conventional filing folding; dockets on verso in graphite in Whitney’s handwriting: “How to Spend the day | Calld Sunday &c &c” and “Sunday”.
This and several other revelations, along with many other personal and institutional documents kept by Whitney, were inherited by his daughter Mary Jane Whitney, who married Isaac Groo. This collection was passed down in the Groo family and donated by members of the family to the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University during the period 1969–1974.1

Andrus et al., “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” 5–6.
Comprehensive Works Cited

 

 

Andrus, Hyrum L., Chris Fuller, and Elizabeth E. McKenzie. “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” Sept. 1998. BYU.

Facts

Editorial Title
Revelation, 7 August 1831 [D&C 59]
ID #
1465