Revelation, , Susquehanna Co., PA, to , May 1829. Featured version, titled “Chapter X,” typeset [between 1 Nov. and 31 Dec. 1832] for Book of Commandments, 28–30. copied this revelation [ca. Mar. 1831] into Revelation Book 1, but the pages on which it was copied were removed at some point from that volume and are no longer extant. The version found in the Book of Commandments and featured below is the earliest extant version. For more complete source information, see the source note for the Book of Commandments.
In May 1829, JS’s older brother, , arrived in , Pennsylvania, to visit JS and , who were engaged in the Book of Mormon. At Hyrum’s “earnest request,” JS “enquired of the Lord through the , and received for him” the revelation featured here.
and other members of JS’s family had long supported JS’s efforts to obtain and translate the . After JS and his wife moved from , New York, to in 1827, the Smith family continued to stay in touch and provide assistance. Early in 1829, and traveled from Manchester to visit JS and Emma in Harmony. During that visit JS dictated a revelation for his father that declared the urgency of the work in which JS was engaged and encouraged others to participate. In mid-May, not long after JS and each other, Samuel made another visit to Harmony, during which he was convinced of the truthfulness of the work and was baptized by Cowdery. JS’s history states that Samuel then “returned to his father’s house greatly glorifying and praising God, being filled with the . Not many days afterwards, my brother Hyrum Smith came to us to enquire concerning these things.” This revelation followed.
Although had been told, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work,” the revelation to qualified that message and cautioned him that “you need not suppose you are called to preach until you are called.” He was instructed to wait until his knowledge was deeper and the translation of the plates was completed. The revelation identified its source as Jesus Christ and told Hyrum to put his trust “in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.” The text is similar to the revelations addressing a month earlier, with the first three paragraphs reflecting the initial April 1829 revelation to Cowdery and subsequent paragraphs reiterating themes and phrases from the other instructions Cowdery received.
Although the exact date JS dictated this revelation is unknown, the heading given in the Book of Commandments placed it in May 1829. The time frame can be further narrowed because the revelation originated sometime between 15 May, when JS and baptized each other, and the end of May, when arrived in to help move JS and Cowdery to , New York. Further, JS’s history states that arrived “not many days” after ’s departure and that Samuel was baptized at least “a few days” after 15 May. Given this sequence of events, the revelation was likely dictated in late May but before JS, Cowdery, and Whitmer departed for around 29 May. Hyrum’s arrival late in the month, and JS and Cowdery’s prompt move thereafter, probably account for his not being baptized until after the relocation to Fayette.
JS History, vol. A-1, 11; Knight, Reminiscences, 5. Though JS recalled that Samuel Smith then returned to Palmyra, he likely remained in Harmony until at least 6 April, when he signed and witnessed a land agreement between JS and Isaac Hale. During this time he worked as a farm laborer and briefly served as JS’s scribe. (JS History, vol. A-1, 18–19; Agreement with Isaac Hale, 6 Apr. 1829; Hale, Ledger, 20 Mar. 1829, p. [19]; JS History, ca. Summer 1832, [6].)
Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.
Hale, David. Ledger, 1827–1869. David and Ira P. Hale, Papers, 1827–1888. BYU.
In accounts written in 1834 and 1838–1839, Cowdery and JS respectively described receiving authority to baptize from a resurrected John the Baptist. (Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:15–16; JS History, vol. A-1, 17–18.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
See JS History, vol. A-1, 17–21. David Whitmer later said that the translation completed at his “father’s occupied about one month, that is from June 1 to July 1, 1829.” The nearly hundred-mile trip to Fayette would have taken roughly three days. (“Mormonism,” Kansas City Daily Journal, 5 June 1881, [1].)
Kansas City Daily Journal. Kansas City, MO. 1878–1891.
JS History, vol. A-1, 18–19. JS’s history reported that Oliver Cowdery baptized Samuel Smith “on the [blank] day of that same month [May].” James Mulholland, JS’s scribe for the history, left this blank space, but it was later filled by the insertion “twenty fifth” in what appears to be the handwriting of Thomas Bullock, who began clerking in JS’s office on 16 June 1844 and was Willard Richards’s main scribe for JS’s history in 1845. Concerning Samuel’s baptism, Lucy Mack Smith wrote that he was baptized the same day as JS and Cowdery. She was not present for Samuel’s baptism, however, and because JS was, the latter’s first-person account takes precedence. If the insertion in the history is correct, this revelation was dictated sometime after 25 May. (Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 8, [4].)
heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee: for behold it is I that speaketh: behold I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee.
6 And now, verily, verily I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good: Yea, to do justly; to walk humbly; to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
7 Verily, verily I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy, and then shall you know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which is pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.
8 Behold I you, that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called: 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; and then behold, according to your desires, yea, even according to your faith, shall it be done unto you.
9 Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my Spirit: Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which have been spoken: Yea, the of my work: be patient until you shall accomplish it.
10 Behold this is your work, to keep my commandments: Yea, with all your might, mind, and strength: seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongues be loosed; then, if you desire you shall have my Spirit, and my word: Yea, the power of God unto the [p. 29]
This passage was likely referencing the Book of Mormon. A previous revelation declared that Christ would bring to light his gospel and that “this people” would “bring to light the true points of my doctrine.” The passage also reflects the Lord’s promise in a March revelation that “if the People of this Generation harden not their hearts . . . I will establish my Church” among them. (Revelation, Spring 1829 [D&C 10:60–62]; Revelation, Mar. 1829 [D&C 5:18]; see also Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18:3–4].)