Revelation, , Jackson Co., MO, 8 Aug. 1831. Featured version, titled “63 Commandment given in Missorie Jackson County Independence August 8th. 1831,” copied [ca. Sept. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 100–101; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
On 8 August 1831, JS dictated a revelation instructing “some of the ” who had traveled to to return to , preaching along the way. These elders had reached Missouri in mid- to late July and participated in the dedication of the land for the building of the , the dedication of a , and a with JS and other leaders. “Finding but little or no business for us to accomplish” once this “work” was done, wrote, “most of us became anxious to return home.” A later JS history recounts that the elders inquired of JS “what they were to do,” and this revelation was the response.
The original manuscript of this revelation is not extant. copied the revelation into Revelation Book 1 (which he was keeping in ), probably shortly after the elders returned from . Others present at the time the revelation was dictated may have made personal copies as well; , for example, referenced the revelation in a September letter to , suggesting that he had his own copy.
residue which is to come to this Land Behold they have been sent to preach my gospel among the congregations of the wicked wherefore I give unto them a Thus thou shalt not Idle away thy time neither shalt thou bury thy tallent that it may not be known & after thou hast come up unto the & have proclaimed my word thou shalt speedily return preaching the word among the congregations not in haste neither in wrath nor with strife & shake off the dust of thy feet against those who receive thee not not in their presence lest thou provoke them but in secret & wash thy feet as a testimony against them in the day of Judgement this is sufficient for you & the will of him who hath sent you & by the mouth of my servent Joseph it shall be made known concerning & the residue hereafter even so amen—— [p. 101]