Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18]

Spirit

A right or privilege bestowed through the confirmation ordinance. Individuals were confirmed members of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands. The Book of Mormon explained that remission of sins requires not only...

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in many instances, that the things which you have written are true:3

This is a reference to the revelatory texts for which Cowdery had served as scribe, principally JS’s dictation of the Book of Mormon.

3 Wherefore you know that they are true; and if you know that they are true, behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all things writ ten, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock.4

An earlier revelation to Hyrum Smith used similar wording: “Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my Rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.” (Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11:16].)

4 Wherefore if you shall build up my church, and my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.5

See Matthew 16:18.
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The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments Translated Out of the Original Tongues: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command. Authorized King James Version with Explanatory Notes and Cross References to the Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979.

5 Behold the world is ripening in iniquity, and it must needs be, that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles

Those who were not members of the House of Israel. More specifically, members of the church identified gentiles as those whose lineage was not of the Jews or Lamanites (understood to be the American Indians in JS’s day). Certain prophecies indicated that ...

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, and also the house of Israel

Members of the church and the posterity of Jacob, or Israel, in the Old Testament. The people in the Book of Mormon were described in the text as a “remnant of the House of Israel,” descended from the Israelites of the Bible. JS Revelations stated that the...

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6 Wherefore as thou hast been baptized

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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by the hand of my servant, according to that which I have commanded him:6

For Cowdery’s account of his baptism, see Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, Kirtland, OH, 7 Sept. 1834, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:15.
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Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

7 Wherefore he hath fulfilled the thing which I commanded him.

8 And now marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me:

9 Wherefore if he shall be diligent in keeping 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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, he shall be blessed unto eternal life, and his name is Joseph.

10 And now Oliver

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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, I speak unto7

TEXT: “u” printed upside-down.

you, and also unto David

7 Jan. 1805–25 Jan. 1888. Farmer, livery keeper. Born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Raised Presbyterian. Moved to Ontario Co., New York, shortly after birth. Attended German Reformed Church. Arranged...

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, by the way of commandment:

11 For behold I command all men every where to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.8

This passage could be evidence that the ordination of JS and Oliver Cowdery to the apostleship took place before this revelation. Soon after this declaration, Cowdery concluded his “Articles of the Church of Christ” with these words: “Behold I am Oliver I am an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ.” (See “Joseph Smith Documents Dating through June 1831,” JSP, D1:xxix–xl; and “Articles of the Church of Christ,” ca. June 1829; see also Ephesians 1:1; and Colossians 1:1.)
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JSP, D1 / McKay, Michael Hubbard, Gerrit J. Dirkmaat, Grant Underwood, Robert J. Woodford, and William G. Hartley, eds. Documents, Volume 1: July 1828–June 1831. Vol. 1 of the Document 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, 2013.

12 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God:

13 For behold the Lord your God suffered death [p. 35]

JS dictated this revelation in Fayette

Located in northern part of county between Seneca and Cayuga lakes. Area settled, by 1790. Officially organized as Washington Township, 14 Mar. 1800. Name changed to Fayette, 6 Apr. 1808. Population in 1830 about 3,200. Population in 1840 about 3,700. Significant...

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, New York, within the first few days of June 1829.1

In the index to Revelation Book 1, John Whitmer listed this as the second of five revelations that were apparently dictated in June. (The text of these five revelations is not extant in Revelation Book 1.) This revelation was likely dictated after David Whitmer’s baptism, which also occurred in June, and before Oliver Cowdery’s 14 June letter to Hyrum Smith. (Revelation Book 1, p. [207], JS History, vol. A-1, 23; Oliver Cowdery, Fayette, NY, to Hyrum Smith, 14 June 1829, in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 5–6.)

Although the first portion of the revelation is addressed to Oliver Cowdery

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, the remainder provides direction for Cowdery and David Whitmer

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jointly, including a call for them to find twelve disciples. The revelation then speaks to an intended future audience for JS’s revelation, addressing these unidentified twelve disciples. Previous revelations had always addressed the individuals directly involved as they or a scribe recorded the words JS dictated.

This revelation opens with an admonition that Cowdery

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“rely upon the things which are written,” especially the finished portion of the manuscript of the Book of Mormon.2

Later in June Cowdery wrote “Articles of the Church of Christ,” which he labeled “a commandment from God unto Oliver how he should build up his Church & the manner thereof.” It relied upon passages in the Book of Mormon (and especially in the book of Moroni), as a model. (“Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829.)

Just weeks earlier Cowdery had recorded from JS’s translation of the plates an account of Jesus Christ choosing twelve Nephite disciples and calling them to lead the church that he established.3

See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 574–575 [Moroni 2–3].
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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.

The revelation featured here then describes the duties of twelve leaders yet to be selected, using terminology similar to the Book of Mormon manuscript, including the responsibilities to preach, baptize, and “ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men.”4

A passage in the Book of Mormon specifies “the manner which the disciples, which were called the Elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers.” (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 575 [Moroni 3:1]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 27.)
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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.

While the Book of Mormon uses both “disciples” and “apostles,” distinguishing between the twelve “disciples” in America and the twelve “apostles” in Jerusalem

Capital city of ancient Judea. Holy city of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Population in 1835 about 11,000; in 1840 about 13,000; and in 1850 about 15,000. Described in 1836 as “greatly reduced from its ancient size and importance.” Occupied and governed ...

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, the terms seem to refer to comparable offices. This revelation uses the term “disciple” to describe the calling of the twelve, but it is unclear whether in 1829 JS and Cowdery thought of the terms “disciple” and “apostle” as interchangeable, as they did later.5

When JS and Cowdery convened a meeting to select twelve apostles in February 1835, they referred to the proceedings as being a fulfillment of this revelation. Similarly, although the text featured here (from the 1833 Book of Commandments) refers to the calling of “disciples,” the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants describes the purpose of the same revelation as the “calling of twelve apostles,” as does JS’s history begun in 1838. (Minute Book 1, 14 Feb. 1835; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record, 14 Feb. 1835; Doctrine and Covenants 43, 1835 ed.; JS History, vol. A-1, 27.)
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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.

Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God. Compiled by Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams. Kirtland, OH: F. G. Williams, 1835.

It is also not known when Cowdery

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and Whitmer

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began to search for the twelve disciples or apostles. At a conference of the church on 26 October 1831, Cowdery informed those in attendance that he had recently been told that the twelve “would be ordained & sent forth from the Land of Zion.”6

Minute Book 2, 25–26 Oct. 1831.

In February 1835, when twelve apostles were called, Cowdery stated that since the time of this revelation in 1829, “our minds have been on a constant stretch to find who these Twelve were.”7

Minute Book 1, 14 and 21 Feb. 1835.

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Editorial Title: Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18]
ID #: 4689