Revelation, 9 July 1841 [D&C 126]

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Revelation, 9 July 1841 [D&C 126]
Source Note

Revelation,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, 9 July 1841. Featured version copied [17 Dec. 1841] in Book of the Law of the Lord, p. 26; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124].

Historical Introduction
On 9 July 1841, JS dictated a revelation for
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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, releasing him from extended travel and admonishing him to remain with and care for his family.
1
This was the second revelatory injunction for Young to “provide for his family.” (Revelation, 17 Apr. 1838.)
From the time Young joined 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...
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in 1832, missionary travels marked his life.
2
For example, Young was involved in the first mission of the Twelve in summer 1835. His personal journals also attest to his many missionary labors. (See Esplin and Nielsen, “Record of the Twelve,” 5–52; and Young, Journals, 1832–1846, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Esplin, Ronald K., and Sharon E. Nielsen. “The Record of the Twelve, 1835: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles’ Call and 1835 Mission.” BYU Studies 51, no. 1 (2012): 4–52.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
Young had departed
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, almost two years earlier for a mission to Europe with other
apostles
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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and church members, leaving his family behind. He and the others proselytized primarily in
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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, where thousands converted to the church. While there, Young’s fellow apostles sustained him as the
president
An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...
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of their
quorum
An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...
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.
3
For more on the mission of Brigham Young and other members of the Quorum of the Twelve, see Allen et al., Men with a Mission, 67–71, 134, 300–302.
Allen, James B., Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker. Men with a Mission, 1837–1841: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992.
Young and the other apostles serving missions were deeply concerned about the well-being of their families.
4
JS had previously admonished missionaries to make sure their families were provided for while they were away. (Discourse, between 6 and 9 April 1841.)
During Young’s sojourn in England, his wife, Mary Ann Angell Young, and their children struggled with poverty, lacked essential goods, and suffered from illness. Despite her downtrodden circumstances, Mary Ann expressed gratitude for her husband’s efforts. “I am glad to hear the work of the Lord is prospering in england,” she wrote to Young in April 1841. “It gives me much joy.”
5
Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, NY, 15 Apr. 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; see also Pay Order to Newel K. Whitney for “Mrs. Young,” 15 June 1840; and Brigham Young, Manchester, England, to Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, 16–30 Oct. 1840, Luna Young Thatcher, Collection, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
Thatcher, Luna Eunice Caroline Young. Collection, 1835–1876. CHL. MS 6140.

Young
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and his fellow apostles
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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and
John Taylor
1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...
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returned to
Nauvoo
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, arriving on 1 July 1841. There they “were met by President Smith, and many . . . old tried friends, whose countenances expressed the most heartfelt satisfaction at [their] return.”
6
Heber C. Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 4 Aug. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, 16 Aug. 1841, 2:511.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Eight days later, JS dictated the revelation featured here at Young’s residence in Nauvoo.
7
JS, Journal, 17 Dec. 1841.
The revelation acknowledged Young’s missionary labors away from home and commanded him thereafter to “send” the gospel message abroad—implying that he should reside at home—and to provide “special care” for his family.

The revelation’s direction that
Young
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no longer leave his family for extended periods was likely also connected to Young’s increasing responsibilities in
Nauvoo
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. A month after dictating this revelation, JS declared in a public discourse that “the time had come when the twelve should be called upon to stand in their place next to the
first presidency
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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, and attend to the settling of emegrants and the business of the church at the
stakes
Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...
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.” JS further stated that the Twelve Apostles had earned the right to stay with their families, where they would have better opportunity to provide for them.
8
Discourse, 16 Aug. 1841.

The original copy of this revelation has not been located. It is likely that a loose dictation copy was created, after which a copy was given to
Young
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and the original was kept in JS’s office.
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
View Full Bio
copied the text of this revelation into the Book of the Law of the Lord on 17 December 1841, four days after he was appointed recorder for the
temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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and JS’s personal scribe.
9
Historical Introduction to Journal, Dec. 1841–Dec. 1842; JS, Journal, 17 Dec. 1841.
Footnotes
[1]
This was the second revelatory injunction for Young to “provide for his family.” (Revelation, 17 Apr. 1838.)
[2]
For example, Young was involved in the first mission of the Twelve in summer 1835. His personal journals also attest to his many missionary labors. (See Esplin and Nielsen, “Record of the Twelve,” 5–52; and Young, Journals, 1832–1846, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.)
Esplin, Ronald K., and Sharon E. Nielsen. “The Record of the Twelve, 1835: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles’ Call and 1835 Mission.” BYU Studies 51, no. 1 (2012): 4–52.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
[3]
For more on the mission of Brigham Young and other members of the Quorum of the Twelve, see Allen et al., Men with a Mission, 67–71, 134, 300–302.
Allen, James B., Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker. Men with a Mission, 1837–1841: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992.
[4]
JS had previously admonished missionaries to make sure their families were provided for while they were away. (Discourse, between 6 and 9 April 1841.)
[5]
Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, NY, 15 Apr. 1841, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; see also Pay Order to Newel K. Whitney for “Mrs. Young,” 15 June 1840; and Brigham Young, Manchester, England, to Mary Ann Angell Young, Nauvoo, IL, 16–30 Oct. 1840, Luna Young Thatcher, Collection, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
Thatcher, Luna Eunice Caroline Young. Collection, 1835–1876. CHL. MS 6140.
[6]
Heber C. Kimball, Nauvoo, IL, 4 Aug. 1841, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, 16 Aug. 1841, 2:511.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
[7]
JS, Journal, 17 Dec. 1841.
[8]
Discourse, 16 Aug. 1841.
[9]
Historical Introduction to Journal, Dec. 1841–Dec. 1842; JS, Journal, 17 Dec. 1841.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, 9 July 1841 [D&C 126] Journal, December 1841–December 1842 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 26
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“
Nauvoo City
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. July 9th. 1841.

Dear & well beloved Brother,
Brigham Young
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, Verily thus saith the Lord unto you my servant
Brigham
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it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past for your offering is acceptable to me I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name. I therefore command you to send my word abroad
1
JS had previously dictated a revelation giving similar direction to Thomas B. Marsh, Young’s predecessor as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In an 1837 revelation, Marsh was told to “send forth my word unto the ends of the earth” and “let thy warning voice go forth,” while also being instructed to “let thy habitation be known in Zion, and remove not thy house.” (Revelation, 23 July 1837 [D&C 112:4–6].)
and take special care of your family from this time henceforth and forever, Amen. Given to Joseph Smith this day.” [p. 26]
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Footnotes
[1]
JS had previously dictated a revelation giving similar direction to Thomas B. Marsh, Young’s predecessor as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In an 1837 revelation, Marsh was told to “send forth my word unto the ends of the earth” and “let thy warning voice go forth,” while also being instructed to “let thy habitation be known in Zion, and remove not thy house.” (Revelation, 23 July 1837 [D&C 112:4–6].)