Revelation, 12 January 1838–B

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Revelation, 12 January 1838–B
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Revelation,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH, 12 Jan. 1838. Featured version copied [ca. 12 Jan. 1838]; handwriting of
George W. Robinson
14 May 1814–10 Feb. 1878. Clerk, postmaster, merchant, clothier, banker. Born at Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1836. Clerk and recorder for Kirtland high...
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; one page; Revelations Collection, CHL. Includes docket.

First page of bifolium, each page measuring 10 × 8 inches (25 × 20 cm). This document contains two horizontal folds, and tears along the folds have undergone conservation work. The docket on the verso of the second leaf reads, “Revelation | To The Presidency | Jan 12th, 1838”. The document contains docketing and other wear that are similar to those on other documents that have been in the custody of the church since the
Kirtland
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, Ohio, era, indicating that this document has likely been in continuous institutional custody since the time of its creation. Revelation, 12 January 1838–C is inscribed on the second page of the bifolium.
Historical Introduction
On 12 January 1838, before departing
Kirtland
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, Ohio, to move to
Missouri
Area 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. Latter-day Saint ...
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, JS dictated a revelation that answered two questions about establishing new
stakes
Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...
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of
Zion
A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...
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—that is, new Latter-day Saint communities.
Church
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...
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leaders had been concerned about creating new settlements in Missouri for several months, and by fall 1837 they had determined that additional stakes were needed to accommodate the growth of the church and the Kirtland church members who intended to move there. In a 17 September
elders
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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, JS and
Sidney Rigdon
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...
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were commissioned to designate locations for additional stakes.
1
Historical Introduction to Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–B.
By early November JS and Rigdon had arrived in
Far West
Originally 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...
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, Missouri, and appointed Far West specifically and
Caldwell County
Located in northwest Missouri. Settled by whites, by 1831. Described as being “one-third timber and two-thirds prairie” in 1836. Created specifically for Latter-day Saints by Missouri state legislature, 29 Dec. 1836, in attempt to solve “Mormon problem.” ...
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generally as the site for the continued gathering of church members. They also instructed the Saints in Far West concerning the creation of new stakes.
2
Historical Introduction to Minutes, 6 Nov. 1837; Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837.
In a 10 November 1837 meeting, Rigdon outlined the procedure for acquiring and paying for land to be used for the
gathering
As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...
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of the Saints.
3
Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837.
Before leaving Missouri, JS and Rigdon also formed a committee to scout for additional areas in which the Saints could gather.
4
Historical Introduction to Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837.

Despite the earlier instructions about new settlements, the 12 January revelation mandated that only the
First Presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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was authorized to appoint and dedicate a stake of Zion.
5
The instructions contained in this revelation were repeated in a September 1838 letter written by JS and Sidney Rigdon to Stephen Post, which specified that all new stakes were to be “appointed, dedicated, and set apart, by the first presidency.” (JS and Sidney Rigdon, Far West, MO, to Stephen Post, Bloomfield Township, PA, 17 Sept. 1838, Stephen Post, Papers, CHL.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Post, Stephen. Papers, 1835–1921. CHL. MS 1304.
The revelation also required
branch
An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...
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members to acknowledge by vote the authority of the First Presidency before their branch could be considered a stake of Zion. Requiring the members of prospective stakes to accept the leadership of the presidency and specifying that only the First Presidency could designate new stakes ensured that no ad hoc stakes could be created by dissenting members.

This revelation and the other two revelations dictated on 12 January 1838 were read to the church in
Far West
Originally 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...
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on 8 July 1838 and copied into JS’s journal around that time.
6
See JS, Journal, 8 July 1838.
The text of the revelation featured here was written on a loose sheet of paper, and textual analysis indicates it is likely the original text, written down as JS dictated the words. The revelation was also copied into the Book of the Law of the Lord by
Robert B. Thompson
1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...
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in 1841.
7
See Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–B, in Book of the Law of the Lord, 18.
There are no substantive differences between the versions.
Footnotes
[1]
Historical Introduction to Minutes, 17 Sept. 1837–B.
[2]
Historical Introduction to Minutes, 6 Nov. 1837; Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837.
[3]
Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837.
[4]
Historical Introduction to Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837.
[5]
The instructions contained in this revelation were repeated in a September 1838 letter written by JS and Sidney Rigdon to Stephen Post, which specified that all new stakes were to be “appointed, dedicated, and set apart, by the first presidency.” (JS and Sidney Rigdon, Far West, MO, to Stephen Post, Bloomfield Township, PA, 17 Sept. 1838, Stephen Post, Papers, CHL.)
Post, Stephen. Papers, 1835–1921. CHL. MS 1304.
[6]
See JS, Journal, 8 July 1838.
[7]
See Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–B, in Book of the Law of the Lord, 18.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Revelation, 12 January 1838–B
Journal, March–September 1838 Revelation, 12 January 1838–B, as Recorded in Book of the Law of the Lord The Book of the Law of the Lord
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Kirtland
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Jan 12th 1838

Can the first any
branch
An ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. A branch was generally smaller than a stake or a conference. Branches were also referred to as churches, as in “the Church of Shalersville.” In general, a branch was led by a presiding...
View Glossary
of the
Church of Latter Day Saints
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 Glossary
be concidered a
stake
Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...
View Glossary
of
Zion
A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...
View Glossary
utill [until] they have acknowleged the authority of the
first Presidensy
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
View Glossary
, by a vote of said Church,

Thus saith the Lord verly I say unto you nay

How then

Answer. No stake shall be appointed except by the first presidency and this Presidency be acknowleged by the voice of the same, otherwise it shall not be counted as a stake of Zion, And again except it be dedicated by this Presidency it cannot be acknowleged as a stake of Zion, For unto this end, have I appointed them, in laying the foundation of and establishing my Kingdom [p. [1]]
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Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, 12 January 1838–B
ID #
1544
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:498–499
Handwriting on This Page
George W. Robinson