Footnotes
Footnotes
In the index to Revelation Book 1, John Whitmer listed this as the second of five revelations that were apparently dictated in June. (The text of these five revelations is not extant in Revelation Book 1.) This revelation was likely dictated after David Whitmer’s baptism, which also occurred in June, and before Oliver Cowdery’s 14 June letter to Hyrum Smith. (Revelation Book 1, p. [207]; JS History, vol. A-1, 23; Oliver Cowdery, Fayette, NY, to Hyrum Smith, 14 June 1829, in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 5–6.)
JS Letterbook 1 / Smith, Joseph. “Letter Book A,” 1832–1835. Joseph Smith Collection. CHL. MS 155, box 2, fd. 1.
Later in June Cowdery wrote “Articles of the Church of Christ,” which he labeled “a commandment from God unto Oliver how he should build up his Church & the manner thereof.” It relied upon passages in the Book of Mormon (and especially in the book of Moroni) as a model. (“Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829.)
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 574–575 [Moroni 2–3].
A passage in the Book of Mormon specifies “the manner which the disciples, which were called the Elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers.” (Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 575 [Moroni 3:1]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 27.)
When JS and Cowdery convened a meeting to select twelve apostles in February 1835, they referred to the proceedings as being a fulfillment of this revelation. Similarly, although the text featured here (from the 1833 Book of Commandments) refers to the calling of “disciples,” the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants describes the purpose of the same revelation as the “calling of twelve apostles,” as does JS’s history begun in 1838. (Minute Book 1, 14 Feb. 1835; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record, 14 Feb. 1835; Doctrine and Covenants 43, 1835 ed.; JS History, vol. A-1, 27.)
Minute Book 2, 25–26 Oct. 1831.
Minute Book 1, 14 and 21 Feb. 1835.
This is a reference to the revelatory texts for which Cowdery had served as scribe, principally JS’s dictation of the Book of Mormon.
An earlier revelation to Hyrum Smith used similar wording: “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.” (Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11:16].)
See Matthew 16:18.
For Cowdery’s account of his baptism, see Oliver Cowdery, Norton, OH, to William W. Phelps, 7 Sept. 1834, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:15.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
TEXT: “u” printed upside-down.
This passage could be evidence that the ordination of JS and Oliver Cowdery to the apostleship took place before this revelation. Soon after this declaration, Cowdery concluded his “Articles of the Church of Christ” with these words: “Behold I am Oliver I am an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ.” (See “Joseph Smith Documents Dating through June 1831;” and “Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829; see also Ephesians 1:1; and Colossians 1:1.)