Footnotes
Hancock, Autobiography, 92. According to Levi Hancock, following the 5 June meeting a group of participants “went to Gilberts” where they talked “with brother Whitnies [Newel K. Whitney] and told him what hapend at the conferance.”
Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.
Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:2].
JS History, vol. A-1, 121.
William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
See New Testament Revision 1, p. 41 [Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:29].
New Testament Revision 1 / “A Translation of the New Testament Translated by the Power of God,” 1831. CHL. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 153–228.
Gilbert’s name is included on a June 1831 list of elders ordained by JS. His ordination likely occurred between 8 and 18 June 1831. (Note on Ordinations, ca. 16 June 1831.)
Gilbert was the first person to be appointed “an agent unto this Church.” A previous revelation outlined the duties of Bishop Edward Partridge and called for the appointment of an agent: “Let there be an agent appointed unto this people to take the money to provide food & raiment according to the wants of this people.” (Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:8].)
Once the elders arrived in Missouri, Gilbert was commanded by revelation to settle there and assist Edward Partridge with the church’s temporal affairs. Specifically, the revelation directed Gilbert to keep a store and act as land agent. (Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:6–8].)