Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–A [D&C 46]

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Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–A [D&C 46]
Source Note
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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, OH, ca. 8 Mar. 1831. Featured version, titled “48th Commandment March ◊th. 1831,” copied [between ca. Mar. and June 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 76–78; handwriting of
John Whitmer
27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...
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; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
In the heading to this text in Revelation Book 1,
John Whitmer
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wrote that it was directed “to the Church concerning
conformation
After baptism, new converts were confirmed members of the church “by the laying on of the hands, & the giving of the Holy Ghost.” According to JS’s history, the first confirmations were administered at the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. By March...
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&
sacrament
Primarily referred to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as opposed to other religious sacraments. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed “that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord...
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meetings &c.” JS’s revelations and the Book of Mormon addressed these topics even before the founding of the
Church of Christ
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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in 1830. In May 1829 JS dictated a passage as part of his
translation
To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...
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of the
gold plates
A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates were...
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which stated, “And behold, ye shall meet together oft, and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you, and forbid them not.”
1
Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 492 [3 Nephi 18:22].
Just weeks later
Oliver Cowdery
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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drew upon these instructions in his “Articles of the Church of Christ,” which directed, “And the church shall meet together oft for prayer & suplication casting out none from your places of worship but rather invite them to come.”
2
“Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829.
The JS document “Articles and Covenants,” unanimously approved at the 9 June 1830
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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of the church, stated the following concerning “church members after they are received by
baptism
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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”: “The
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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or
priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. In the Book of Mormon, priests were described as those who baptized, administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church,” and taught “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” A June 1829 revelation directed...
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are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning this church of Christ to their understanding previous to their partaking of the sacrament, and being confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the elders, so that all things shall be done in order.”
3
Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:68].
When
John Whitmer
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introduced this revelation in his history he explained: “In the beginning of the church, while yet in her infancy, the
disciples
Generally, a follower of Jesus Christ, and in certain cases, one selected to lead the ministry. In the New Testament, Christ ordained twelve of his disciples as apostles. The Book of Mormon recounted that during his ministry to the Nephites, Christ similarly...
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used to exclude unbelievers, which caused some to marvel, and converse about this matter because of the things that were written in the Book of Mormon. Therefore the Lord deigned to speak on this subject, that his people might come to understanding.”
4
Whitmer, History, 23.
The revelation made clear that none were to be excluded from public worship meetings.

Besides clarifying matters related to church meetings, this revelation also addressed spiritual gifts, which were described in both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon.
5
See 1 Corinthians 12; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 586–587 [Moroni 10:8–30].
After JS’s arrival in
Ohio
French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...
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, he encountered spiritual expressions that he deemed unacceptable.
6
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Feb. 1831–A [D&C 43].
In a letter to his brother
Hyrum
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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, JS reported that on 4 March, less than a week before dictating this revelation, he aided a woman who “had an awful strugle with
satan
A fallen angel, or son of God, known by many names, including Lucifer, the devil, the father of lies, the prince of darkness, perdition, and the adversary. In the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and JS’s Bible revisions, Satan was described as a tempter of men...
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but being armed with the power of God he was cast out and the woman is Clothed in hir right mind.” In the same letter, JS noted that since his arrival in Ohio, “I hav[e] been ingageed in regulating the Churches here as the deciples are numerous and the devil had made many attempts to over throw them it has been a Serious job but the Lord is with us and we have overcome and have all things regular.”
7
Letter to Hyrum Smith, 3–4 Mar. 1831.
This revelation lists some acceptable spiritual gifts and warns that others are of the devil.
Footnotes
[1]
Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 492 [3 Nephi 18:22].
[2]
“Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829.
[3]
Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:68].
[4]
Whitmer, History, 23.
[5]
See 1 Corinthians 12; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 586–587 [Moroni 10:8–30].
[6]
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Feb. 1831–A [D&C 43].
[7]
Letter to Hyrum Smith, 3–4 Mar. 1831.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–A [D&C 46] Revelation Book 1 Revelations printed in The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832–June 1833 Book of Commandments, 1833 Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] Doctrine and Covenants, 1844 “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 78
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Defferences of administeration as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord according as the Lord will suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men And again it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of opperations whether it be of God or not so that the manifestations of the spirit may be given to evry man to prophet [profit] withall And again Verily I say unto you to some it is given by the spirit of God the word of wisdom to another it is given the word of Knowledge that all may be taught to be wise & to have knowledge & again to some it is given to have faith to be healed & to others it is given to have faith to heal And again to some it is given the working of miracles & to others it is given to prophecy & to others the decerning of spirits & again it is given to some to speak with tongues & to another it is given the interpretation of tongues
10
See 1 Corinthians 12:5–11.
& all these
11
TEXT: Or “there”.
gifts cometh from [God]
12
Text supplied based on later insertion in Revelation Book 1. When John Whitmer later prepared this text for publication, he inserted “the Lord God” at this point but then canceled “the Lord.”
for the benefit of the children of God & unto the
Bishop
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. JS appointed Edward Partridge as the first bishop in February 1831. Following this appointment, Partridge functioned as the local leader of the church in Missouri. Later revelations described a bishop’s duties as receiving...
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of the
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...
View Glossary
& unto such as God sahall appoint &
ordain
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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to watch over the Church & to <be> the
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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unto the Church are to have it given unto [them] to decern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you prophecying & yet not be of God
13
See 1 John 4:1.
& it shall come to pass that he that asketh in spirit shall receive in spirit that unto some it may be given to have all those gifts that there may be a head in order that evry member may be propheted profited thereby he that asketh in spirit asketh according to the will of God wherefore it is done even as he asketh & again I say unto you all things must be done in the name of Christ whatsoever you do in the spirit & ye must give thanks unto God in the spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with & ye must practice virtue & holyness before me continually even so amen [p. 78]
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Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 78
Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–A [D&C 46]
ID #
6505
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:280–283
Handwriting on This Page
John Whitmer
Footnotes
[10]
See 1 Corinthians 12:5–11.
[11]
TEXT: Or “there”.
[12]
Text supplied based on later insertion in Revelation Book 1. When John Whitmer later prepared this text for publication, he inserted “the Lord God” at this point but then canceled “the Lord.”
[13]
See 1 John 4:1.