Revelation, 9 February 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]

  • The Laws of the Church of Christ Kirtland Geauga Ohio May 23d 1831 A Commandment to <the> Elder[s]

    Hearken oh! ye Elders of my Church who  have assembled yourselves together in my  name even Jesus Christ the Son of God the  living God the Saveiour of the world in as  much as they believe on my name & keep  my commandments again I say unto you  hearken & hear & obey the laws which I  Shall give unto you for verily I say as  ye have assembled yourselves together  according to the commandment wherewith  I commanded you and are agreed as touching  this one thing & have asked me in my  name even so ye shall receive Behold  verily I say unto you I give unto you this first  Commandment that ye shall go forth in my  name every one of you except my servant Joseph  & Sidny [Sidney Rigdon] & I give unto them a commandment  that they shall go forth for a little Season  & it shall be given by the power of my spirit  when they Shall return & ye Shall go forth in  the power of my Spirit preaching my Gospel two  by two in my name lifting up your voices as  with the voice of a trump declaring my word  like unto Angels of God & ye shall go forth bap tizing with water <saying> repent ye repent ye for the  kingdom of Heaven is at hand & from this place  ye shall go forth in to the regions westward  & in as much as ye shall find my deciples  ye shall build up my church in every region  untill the time shall come when it Shall be  revealed unto you from on high & the City of the  New Jerusalam Shall be prepared that ye may [p. [1]]

A December 1830 revelation directed the church to gather in Ohio. Subsequent revelations promised that there church members would be given God’s “law,” or principles of governance pertaining to them. Finally, on 9 February 1831, twelve elders assembled, united in prayer, “and were agreed as touching the reception of the Law.” JS then dictated the revelation known as “the Law.” The revelation contained several questions, the responses to which directed missionary work, set forth the church’s moral code, and addressed economic organization and practices.

Symonds Rider drafted this text, probably in May or June 1831, possibly on 23 May 1831. The text, dated 9 February 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio, is also recorded in Revelation Book 1, as well as in Sidney Gilbert’s and Orson Hyde’s notebooks. Two Ohio newspapers, Ravenna’s The Western Courier and the Painesville Telegraph published versions in September 1831. The 1833 Book of Commandments gives the date as February 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio. (See also Revelation, 23 February 1831 [D&C 42:73-93].) The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants joined the 9 February and 23 February 1831 revelations, and together they became known as the Law of the Church. A number of other contemporary iterations are extant.

Facts

Editorial Title
Revelation, 9 February 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]
ID #
2937