This is the second of two revelations dictated at a general of held on 25 January 1832 in , Ohio. As with the first revelation, this revelation called several individuals to serve missions. It is unclear why these individuals were not included in the appointments made in the first 25 January revelation. The elders appointed in that revelation were expressly described as those who volunteered to travel to preach. The elders in this second revelation are described as those who requested to know the Lord’s will concerning them, perhaps indicating that they did not volunteer with the first group but nevertheless desired counsel.

This revelation also instructed the recipients on ways to provide for the families of absent elders, a previous topic of concern in the church. The February 1831 “Laws of the ” instructed the to ensure that the families of those elders who were “proclaiming repentance” were “supported out of the property which is to the Lord,” but some families still struggled. For example, , one of those appointed to preach in this 25 January revelation, was in during the summer and fall of 1831. While he was away, his family was “somewhat destitute,” according to the minutes of an October 1831 conference. After a discussion about the family’s situation at that conference, JS emphasized that “the Lord held the Church bound to provide for the families of the absent Elders while proclaiming the Gospel.” This 25 January revelation suggested that one way of providing this support was by having other church members take the families of those preaching into their own homes to care for them. Recently appointed bishop , who had been commanded to administer to the wants of the elders, was likely responsible for coordinating aid for these families. Perhaps because of this assignment, Whitney was given a copy of the revelation.

’s copy of the revelation, which was inscribed by , is transcribed here. Although manuscript copies, including Whitney’s, present the 25 January 1832 revelations as separate revelations, both were combined into a single text upon publication.