Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–B [D&C 47]

  • 50th Commandment March 8th. 1831

    Given at Kirtland Geauga Ohio = given to John [Whitmer] in consequenc[e]  of not feeling reconsiled to write at the request of Joseph with[o]ut  a commandment &c

    Behold it is expedient that my servent John should write  & keep a regulal [regular] history & assist my servent Joseph in  Transcribing all things which shall be given him And  again verily I say unto you that ye can can also lift [p. 79]

This revelation contains the appointment of John Whitmer, one of JS’s earliest and closest associates, to keep the church’s record and history. Oliver Cowdery had previously served in this role but was away on a mission to Indian nations in western Missouri. When approached by a council of church elders, Whitmer initially resisted the call and sought revelatory confirmation of the appointment.

John Whitmer copied this text into Revelation Book 1, where it is designated “50th Commandment March 8th 1831,” sometime between March and June 1831. In 1832, apparently in mid-March, Frederick G. Williams copied this revelation into Revelation Book 2, assigning the date of “March 7, 1831.” The 1833 Book of Commandments dates this revelation to March 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio. The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants gives the same date but no location.

Facts

Editorial Title
Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–B [D&C 47]
ID #
6506