Revelation, , OH, 27 Feb. 1832. Featured version copied [between 27 Feb. and 8 Mar. 1832] in Revelation Book 2, p. 10; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 2.
Historical Introduction
The index to Revelation Book 2 identifies the subject of this 27 February 1832 revelation—presented in the revelation only as “Lincoln”—as , who lived in the far western tip of in the vicinity of and Portland, Chautauque County. Earlier in February 1832, Haskins traveled to , Ohio, where he was . He also went to , Ohio, and met JS and . This revelation directed that Haskins be ordained and supplied with copies of revelations with which to undertake a proselytizing mission. JS probably dictated the revelation to Rigdon in the upstairs room of the and Alice (Elsa) Jacobs Johnson home, where he was working on the Bible revision with Rigdon as his scribe.
likely copied this revelation into Revelation Book 2 by 8 March 1832, though he may have copied it later in the month. Since Williams lived in , he may have copied the revelation when JS visited Kirtland between 29 February and 4 March 1832. In the index, Williams listed the document as “A Revelation to Feby 27— 1832.” Sometime thereafter—probably in preparation for the publication of the revelations in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants—a large “X” was drawn through this revelation, apparently to indicate that it was not to be published. No other known copies of this revelation exist.
Samuel Smith, Diary, 21 Mar. 1832. Haskins apparently discussed the recently received vision of postmortal worlds of glory with them. (See Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76].)
Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.
Behold thus saith the Lord unto you my servants that I have chosen to be a servant unto me wherefore verily I say unto you lit [let] him be and receive the articles and covenants which I have givin unto you and some of the that he may go forth and proclaim my gospel whithersover I will send him in the congregrations of the wicked and in asmuch as he is faithful I will prosper him even so Amen [p. 10]
Likely JS and Sidney Rigdon. Rigdon was working as JS’s scribe for the Bible revision. That the revelation was not addressed specifically to Lincoln Haskins may indicate that Haskins was not present at its dictation, although according to Samuel Smith (who conversed with Haskins a month later), Haskins “had seen Joseph & Sidney” while in Ohio. (Samuel Smith, Diary, 21 Mar. 1832.)
Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.
Samuel Smith and Orson Hyde met with Haskins within a month after this revelation was dictated and recorded that he held the office of elder. (Samuel Smith, Diary, 21 Mar. 1832; Hyde, Journal, 21 Mar. 1832.)
Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.
Hyde, William. Journal, ca. 1868–1873. CHL. MS 1549.
The “articles and covenants” are the church’s foundational document, whereas the “commandments” are revelatory texts that give direction or require obedience. Although church leaders were in the process of publishing JS’s revelations at this point, no authorized copies were yet in print. Church elders often made their own copies to inform their proselytizing message and their administration of local groups of converts. (See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20]; see also, for example, Samuel Smith, Diary, 16 Nov. 1832; and Woodford, “Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ and the Book of Mormon,” 265.)
Smith, Samuel. Diary, Feb. 1832–May 1833. CHL. MS 4213.
Woodford, Robert J. “The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ and the Book of Mormon.” In Doctrines for Exaltation: The 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants, 262–273. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989.