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Revelation Book 2
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Verily thus saith the Lord your God your
redeemer even Jesus Christ Amen
A Revelation given to William E McLelin
a true decendant from Joseph that was sold
into Egypt down through the Loins of Ephraim
his son — — — — —
18 Jan. 1806–14 Mar. 1883. Schoolteacher, physician, publisher. Born at Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of Charles McLellin and Sarah (a Cherokee Indian). Married first Cynthia Ann, 30 July 1829. Wife died, by summer 1831. Baptized into LDS church by Hyrum Smith...
View Full BioRevelation, 22 June 1834 [D&C 105]
Frederick G. Williams handwriting ends; Oliver Cowdery begins.
Settled ca. 1800. Organized from Ray Co., 1822. Original size diminished when land was taken to create several surrounding counties. Liberty designated county seat, 1822. Population in 1830 about 5,000; in 1836 about 8,500; and in 1840 about 8,300. Refuge...
More Info Verily, I say unto you, who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of Zion mine afflicted people: Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church, and not individuals, they might have been redeemed, even now now; but, behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I require at their hands, but are full of all man ner of evil, and do not impart of their substance as becom eth saints, to the poor and afflicted among them, and are not united according to the union required by the law of the ever lasting <Celestial> Kingdom; and Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the Celestial kingdom, other wise I cannot receive her unto myself. And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be by the things which they suffer. I speak not concerning those who are appointed to lead my people, who are the first elders of my church, for they are not all under this condemnation; but I speak concerning the churches abroad: there are many who will say, Where is their God? Behold, he will deliver in time of trouble, otherwise we will not go up unto the land of Zion, and will keep our moneys.
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
View GlossaryThe dedicating of money, lands, goods, or one’s own life for sacred purposes. Both the New Testament and Book of Mormon referred to some groups having “all things common” economically; the Book of Mormon also referred to individuals who consecrated or dedicated...
View GlossaryIn 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...
View GlossaryHighest kingdom of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the sun. According to a vision dated 16 February 1832, inheritors of the celestial kingdom “are they who received the testimony of Jesus, & believed on his name, & were baptized,” “receive...
View GlossaryIn 1830, JS was designated by revelation as the “first elder” in the specific sense of his authority as the church’s presiding priesthood officer. During the period before the elaboration of church offices, he functioned in this role with Oliver Cowdery as...
View GlossaryTherefore, in consequence of the transgression<s> of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion, that they themselves [p. 97]
An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.” The articles and covenants of the church directed...
View GlossaryThe name of the spring 1834 military expedition from Kirtland, Ohio, to Clay County, Missouri. It later came to be known as “Zion’s Camp.” This relief expedition, appointed by revelation and led by JS, consisted of about two hundred armed but largely untrained...
View GlossaryRevelation Book 2, also known as “Book of Revelations” or “Kirtland Revelation Book,” is a
manuscript book of revelations and other items. Some of these items, such as a revelation to Lincoln
Haskins, are not found anywhere else.1 Items were copied into the manuscript book over a period of
almost three years, from late February or early March 1832 to late 1834. Internal evidence, historical
context, and comparison with other manuscript revelations suggest approximate dates that many
items were copied. Specific dates are known for several other items, such as a single journal entry
recorded 8 March 1832.2 Notations by Orson Hyde date the copying of three revelations, two on
18 August 1834 and one on 27 August 1834.3 Only three revelations dated before 1831 were copied into
the manuscript book.
27 Aug. 1779–10 Dec. 1855. Farmer. Born in Shutesbury, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. Son of Nathan Haskins and Phebe Lincoln. Moved to Savoy, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, by Mar. 1802. Married Experience Paine, 12 Apr. 1802, in Savoy. Moved to Nunda, Allegany...
View Full Bio8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
View Full BioSome items within Revelation Book 2 contain ink or graphite editing marks made to prepare
them for printing in publications such as the 1835–1836 reprint of The Evening and the Morning Star
and the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants.4 Similar marks appear in Revelation Book 1, which is even
more heavily marked. Revelation Book 2 was used for the preparation of the 1835 Doctrine and
Covenants circa 1834–1835 in Kirtland, Ohio. All but eight items in the manuscript book were published
therein,5 while just three revelations appear in both the manuscript book and the Book of
Commandments.6 Two revelations in the manuscript book were first published in the 1844 Doctrine
and Covenants, although no evidence indicates that Revelation Book 2 was used as the source for
publication.7
For an example of editing marks that were likely made in preparation for the 1835–1836 reprint of The Evening and the Morning Star, see Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76]. For an example of editing marks made in preparation for the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, see Revelation, 2 Aug. 1833–A [D&C 97].
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...
More InfoThe following items herein from Revelation Book 2 were not published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants: Revelation, 27 Feb. 1832; Revelation, 20 Mar. 1832; Revelation, 25 Dec. 1832 [D&C 87]; Song, 27 Feb. 1833; Revelation, 15 May 1831; Revelation, 22 June 1834 [D&C 105]; Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103]; and Revelation, 28 Apr. 1834.
The following revelations from Revelation Book 2 were published in the Book of Commandments: Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–B [D&C 47]; Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831 [D&C 41]; and Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–77].
The following revelations herein from Revelation Book 2 were first published in the 1844 Doctrine and Covenants: Revelation, 22 June 1834 [D&C 105]; and Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103].
The first item in the manuscript book, titled “The Vision” and dated 16 February 1832, commands
JS and Sidney Rigdon four times to commit the vision to paper. The version in Revelation
Book 2 does not appear to be the original copy, although it was copied into the manuscript book
shortly after the date it bears.8 In fact, all of the revelatory items copied into the manuscript
book appear to be copies from earlier manuscripts, not the original dictated versions, and more than
half are in chronological order. Frederick G. Williams acted as principal scribe for Revelation Book 2
and inscribed full or partial copies of forty items. Orson Hyde, Oliver Cowdery, and JS inscribed full or partial copies of seventeen items (eight items in the manuscript book were inscribed by more
than one person). These four men, as well as William W. Phelps and Sidney Rigdon, also made later
corrections.
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
View Full Bio28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full Bio8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
View Full Bio3 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...
View Full Bio17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full BioThe first two items in Revelation Book 2 (manuscript pages 1–10) were most likely copied between
16 February 1832, the date the first item bears, and 8 March 1832, the date the third item bears.
The revelations on manuscript pages 11–19 were likely copied before JS left Hiram, Ohio, on 1 April
1832 to journey to Missouri, as commanded in a revelation in this portion of the manuscript book.
JS dictated several revelations while in Missouri, but his scribes did not copy them into the manuscript
book when he returned to Ohio in early summer 1832. One of these revelations, dated 30 April
1832, was eventually copied into the manuscript book circa 1834. A second revelation, dated
26 April 1832, was never copied into Revelation Book 2, although it was copied into Revelation
Book 1 shortly after the date it bears.
Area settled by immigrants from Pennsylvania and New England, ca. 1802. Located in northeastern Ohio about twenty-five miles southeast of Kirtland. Population in 1830 about 500. Population in 1840 about 1,100. JS lived in township at home of John and Alice...
More InfoArea 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...
More InfoFrench explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Partitioned from Northwest Territory and admitted as state, 1803. Bordered by Lake Erie on ...
More InfoThe next two revelations in the manuscript book (manuscript pages 19–31) are dated August and
September 1832, and both are signed by Frederick G. Williams, who served as a scribe for JS during
this period. He likely copied these revelations into Revelation Book 2 shortly after they were initially
recorded. The next four revelations (manuscript pages 31–48), the first of which was signed by
Williams as both scribe and counselor to JS, were likely copied after Williams was appointed as
counselor, which occurred by 22 January 1833.9
The next five items (manuscript pages 48–55) were
likely copied soon after the dates they bear—late winter and early spring 1833.
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full BioMinute Book 1, 22 Jan. 1833.
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Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
Orson Hyde copied the next three revelations (manuscript pages 56–61), perhaps while acting as
clerk for the presidency of the church, a service he performed starting 6 June 1833.10
Hyde likely
copied these revelations before he left on a proselytizing mission to Pennsylvania the last week of
July 1833.11
The three revelations on manuscript pages 61–71 were quoted in a letter dated 6 August
1833 and were likely copied into Revelation Book 2 about the same time.12
The next revelation (manuscript
pages 71–72) was copied by Oliver Cowdery, something Cowdery could have done only after
his return to Kirtland in late October 1833.13
The revelation following this (manuscript pages 73–83)
was likely copied into the manuscript book before being published as a broadsheet circa January
1834.14
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
View Full BioMinute Book 1, 6 June 1833.
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Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
Area first settled by Swedish immigrants, 1628. William Penn received grant for territory from King Charles II, 1681, and established British settlement, 1682. Philadelphia was center of government for original thirteen U.S. colonies from time of Revolutionary...
More InfoColtrin, Diary, 30 July 1833, [6].
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Coltrin, Zebedee. Diary, Mar. 1833–Feb. 1834. Zebedee Coltrin, Diaries, 1832–1834. CHL.
Sidney Rigdon et al., Kirtland, OH, to Edward Partridge et al., Independence, MO, 6 Aug. 1833, JS Collection, CHL.
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Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL.
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...
View Full BioLocated ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...
More InfoSee Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to Warren Cowdery, Freedom, NY, 30 Oct. 1833, in Cowdery, Letterbook, 1–3.
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Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Verily, I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, [Kirtland, OH: ca. Jan. 1834], copy at CHL [D&C 101].
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Verily, I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted [D&C 101]. [Kirtland, OH: ca. Jan. 1834]. Copy at CHL.
The next ten revelations (manuscript pages 83–97) are dated between October 1830 and the end
of April 1832 and are not in chronological order. While three of the ten had been published previously
(one in the 1833 Book of Commandments15 and two in The Evening and the Morning Star16), the
presence of the other seven appears to be the result of an effort to collect revelations that were not in
print by 1834. All are dated several years before they were copied into Revelation Book 2, and four of
them were not included in the Book of Commandments although they were available for publication.
Of these ten revelations, nine were later published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants.17
Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831 [D&C 41] was published as chapter 43 in the Book of Commandments.
Revelation, 30 Oct. 1831 [D&C 65] was published in the September 1832 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star. Revelation, 30 Apr. 1832 [D&C 83] was published in the January 1833 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star.
See Revelation, 15 May 1831 for the revelation not published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants.
While Williams, the scribe for all ten revelations, might have coped this portion of the manuscript
book in late 1833 or early 1834, internal and external evidence suggests that he copied the
revelations following his return from the “Camp of Israel” expedition to Missouri in 1834 (later known as “Zion’s Camp”). August 1834 is the most probable copying date for two reasons. First,
Williams erroneously dated one revelation “August 20” rather than “May 20,” suggesting that he
copied it into the manuscript book in August.18 Second, a committee to publish the revelations was
appointed by late September 1834, indicating that church leaders had begun to plan for another
publication of the revelations by that time, possibly as early as August.19
Despite this evidence,
however, late 1833 and early spring 1834 cannot be ruled out as the period Williams did this copying
work.
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full BioThe name of the spring 1834 military expedition from Kirtland, Ohio, to Clay County, Missouri. It later came to be known as “Zion’s Camp.” This relief expedition, appointed by revelation and led by JS, consisted of about two hundred armed but largely untrained...
View GlossaryArea 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...
More InfoMinute Book 1, 24 Sept. 1834; see also Frederick G. Williams, Kirtland, OH, to “Dear Brethren,” Independence, MO, 10 Oct. 1833, in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 58; and F. G. Williams and Company, Account Book, 1.
Comprehensive Works Cited
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Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
JS Letterbook 1 / Smith, Joseph. “Letter Book A,” 1832–1835. Joseph Smith Collection. CHL.
F. G. Williams and Company. Account Book, 1833–1835. CHL.
Cowdery, Hyde, and Williams penned the next nine revelations (manuscript pages 97–120),
perhaps as part of the continued attempt to collect revelations for publication. Hyde provided late
August 1834 as the date he finished copying three of these revelations.20 Following these, only five
revelations were copied into the manuscript book, four dated earlier than August 1834 and one dated
25 November 1834. These last five were likely copied before the end of 1834, but the copying dates are
unknown.
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...
View Full Bio8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
View Full Bio28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full BioSee the following herein: Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104]; Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834 [D&C 103]; and Revelation, 28 Apr. 1834.
Though space remained, scribes copied no additional revelations into Revelation Book 2. It is
unknown why later revelations were not copied or who possessed the book from 1834 to 1843.
Revelations of that period were recorded in other places, such as JS’s journals. When working on JS’s
history in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1843, William W. Phelps and Willard Richards used three blank leaves
in the back of Revelation Book 2 to record information not incorporated into the history, often citing
sources for the new material.
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...
More Info17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full Bio24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813. Moved to Chatham, Columbia...
View Full BioIn addition to marking corrections, those preparing the items in Revelation Book 2 for publication
pinned into the manuscript book slips of paper that contained additions or clarifications to the
original text. Two such slips are extant in Revelation Book 2, and they are transcribed as separate
leaves where they appear in the manuscript book. Elsewhere in Revelation Book 2, visible pinholes
likely mark where additional slips were fastened to the page as texts were copied or prepared for
publication.21 These marks, which suggest how the manuscript book was created, are identified in
the textual annotation.
See here for an example of a slip of paper that was pinned to the page. A series of pinholes is also visible on manuscript page 69.
The leaf containing pages 54–55 of JS’s March–September 1838 journal, entitled “Scriptory
Book,” was torn from that journal and inserted into Revelation Book 2, probably in the late nineteenth
or early twentieth century when revelations from different locations in the Church Historian’s
Office were assembled into one collection. That leaf is no longer in Revelation Book 2; it remains
separated from the journal and is in the Revelations Collection. The leaf includes two revelations
dated 8 July 1838 and is transcribed in its original location in the first volume of the Journals series.
A document related to the history-writing effort in Nauvoo was also inserted into Revelation Book 2
at some point, thereby becoming associated with the book though not physically part of it.
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...
More InfoNote: At present, the transcript of Revelation Book 2 on this website includes only the original inscriptions, not the later redactions made to the manuscript book to prepare the revelations for publication. A transcript showing the later redactions will eventually be added to this site. Until that time, readers will notice many discrepancies between the images and the transcript. For a transcript that includes the redactions, consult Revelations and Translations: Manuscript Revelation Books, facsimile ed. (Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2009) or Revelations and Translations, Volume 1: Manuscript Revelation Books (Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2011).
Except as described in this note, Revelation Book 2 is presented here electronically as a complete record. In contrast, the Documents series (multiple volumes forthcoming in print; selections also available on this site) presents each revelation separately, placed in chronological order with other documents of various genres. That series includes the earliest and best extant version of each revelation, providing contextual annotation and a historical introduction for each. Readers should consult the Documents series for information about the setting and significance of individual revelations.
“Book of Revelations,” Revelation Book 2, [ca. Feb. 1832–ca. Nov. 1834]; handwriting of Frederick G.
Williams, Orson Hyde, Oliver Cowdery, and JS in both original inscription and later redactions; handwriting of
William W. Phelps, Sidney Rigdon, and an unknown number of unidentified scribes in later redactions only; 121 pages
and two inserted leaves; Revelations Collection, CHL. Includes redactions and archival marking. Volume also contains
Willard Richards and William W. Phelps, “Facts left out Re[g]istered herei[n],” Notes for JS History, [Nauvoo, IL], [ca. 1843]; handwriting of Willard Richards and William W. Phelps; 4 pages and one inserted leaf.
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full Bio8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
View Full Bio3 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...
View Full Bio17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full Bio19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
View Full Bio24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813. Moved to Chatham, Columbia...
View Full Bio17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full BioThis volume consists of 152 leaves—including three flyleaves in the front, three flyleaves in the back, and two
pastedowns—measuring 1115/16 x 7⅝ inches (30 x 19 cm). There are twelve gatherings of twelve leaves (twenty-four
pages) each. All but the pastedowns and flyleaves are ledger paper with thirty-four horizontal lines in faded blue-green
ink. The text block is sewn all along over recessed cords, and the front and back covers of the volume are
pasteboard. The book has a tight-back case binding with a brown calfskin quarter-leather binding. The outside
covers are adorned in shell marbled paper, with red and black body and veins of green. The bound volume measures
12¼ x 7⅞ inches (31 x 19 cm) and is 15/16 inches thick (2 cm). The front cover of the book is labeled “Book of
Revelatio[ns] | <{A\A}> | <B>” in black ink. It is unknown why an “A” was written over the inserted “A”. The
inserted “B” is written in a formal style that matches the covers of other manuscript volumes in the CHL’s holdings.1
The inside front cover has “c c/i | pep” or “c c/i | pe/=” written in graphite pencil. Although this notation
was written at an unknown time, similar markings appear in at least three other extant volumes.2
A piece of white
paper pasted on the spine reads “KIRTLAND REVELATIONS”.
See, for example, JS, Journal, 1835–1836, in JSP, J1:52.
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JSP, J1 / Jessee, Dean C., Mark Ashurst-McGee, and Richard L. Jensen, eds. Journals, Volume 1: 1832–1839. Vol. 1 of the Journals series of The Joseph Smith Papers, edited by Dean C. Jessee, Ronald K. Esplin, and Richard Lyman Bushman. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2008.
See JS Letterbook 1; Minute Book 1; and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record.
Comprehensive Works Cited
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JS Letterbook 1 / Smith, Joseph. “Letter Book A,” 1832–1835. Joseph Smith Collection. CHL.
Minute Book 1 / “Conference A,” 1832–1837. CHL. Also available at josephsmithpapers.org.
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record / Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “A Record of the Transactions of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints from the Time of Their Call to the Apostleship Which Was on the 14th Day of Feby. AD 1835,” Feb.–Aug. 1835. In Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–, vol. 2. CHL.
Pasted on the inside front cover is a half-page sheet containing an index of the volume’s contents through
page 47. The partial index, written on cut ledger paper measuring 7¾ x 7⅝ inches (20 x 19 cm), was attached to
the inside front cover with an adhesive wafer on each corner. The two upper wafers are now detached. On the
verso of the index, “FGW” is written in the upper left-hand corner and a “J”, “I”, or “T” is centered along the top.
What appears to be an “L” is written close to the bottom of the page. The index, which was inscribed by Frederick
G. Williams, was likely begun before the revelation that begins at the bottom of page 13 was inscribed. All seven
index entries up to that point appear to have been written in one sitting in the same ink flow, while the remaining
entries indicate a continually updated index rather than a retrospective index. Williams interlineated the final
three index entries (two for manuscript page 33 and one for manuscript page 37) where there was space in the
existing text of the index, likely because no space remained at the bottom of the page.
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full BioThree blank flyleaves follow the index. The first fifteen ledger pages contain six revelations, one vision, and
one journal entry that were copied in February and March 1832. These eight items are dated circa March 1831–March 1832 and do not appear in chronological order. Manuscript pages 15–83 contain twenty-one revelations and
one song, dated March 1832–December 1833, that are largely in chronological order. Manuscript pages 83–97
contain ten revelations, dated October 1830–April 1832, that were copied into the volume out of chronological
order sometime before summer 1834. Manuscript pages 97–116 contain six revelations, dated February 1834–November 1834, that are out of chronological order. Manuscript pages 117–120 contain three revelations dated
circa December 1830, 23 February 1831, and June 1829. The first two were copied into the manuscript book at the
same time. The final copied revelation is followed by eighty-one blank leaves, three leaves of historical notes, three
blank flyleaves, and one final pastedown.
Revelation Book 2 was used for the preparation of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants circa 1834–1835 in
Kirtland, Ohio. Because there is no known reference to this book in church records from 1836 to 1843—when the
church’s headquarters moved from Kirtland to Far West, Missouri, and then to Nauvoo, Illinois, and it was not
being used to record revelations—it is unknown who had possession of the manuscript book during this time.
When compiling JS’s history in 1843, Willard Richards and William W. Phelps turned the manuscript book
upside down and used three blank leaves at the back of the volume for notations about their history-writing
effort. The title on the back cover, partially worn off and written in black ink that later turned brown, reflects this
usage: “Facts left out | Re[g]istered | herei[n]”. Revelation Book 2 is listed on the Church Historian’s Office 1846
inventory as “Book of ‘Revelations B’”. Subsequent inventories have listed similar titles, indicating continuous
custody.3
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...
More InfoOriginally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
More InfoPrincipal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...
More Info24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813. Moved to Chatham, Columbia...
View Full Bio17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full BioHistorian’s Office, “Schedule of Church Records,” [1]; “Inventory,” [1], Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904,
CHL.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Hide Works Cited
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL.
Note: At present, the transcript of Revelation Book 2 on this website includes only the original inscriptions, not the later redactions made to the manuscript book to prepare the revelations for publication. A transcript showing the later redactions will eventually be added to this site. Until that time, readers will notice many discrepancies between the images and the transcript. For a transcript that includes the redactions, consult Revelations and Translations: Manuscript Revelation Books, facsimile ed. (Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2009) or Revelations and Translations, Volume 1: Manuscript Revelation Books (Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2011).
Except as described in this note, Revelation Book 2 is presented here electronically as a complete record. In contrast, the Documents series (multiple volumes forthcoming in print; selections also available on this site) presents each revelation separately, placed in chronological order with other documents of various genres. That series includes the earliest and best extant version of each revelation, providing contextual annotation and a historical introduction for each. Readers should consult the Documents series for information about the setting and significance of individual revelations.
