Revelation, April 1830–E [D&C 23:6–7]

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Revelation, April 1830–E [D&C 23:6–7]
Source Note

Revelation,
Manchester Township
Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...
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, Ontario Co., NY, to
Joseph Knight Sr.
3 Nov. 1772–2 Feb. 1847. Farmer, miller. Born at Oakham, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of Benjamin Knight and Sarah Crouch. Lived at Marlboro, Windham Co., Vermont, by 1780. Married first Polly Peck, 1795, in Windham Co. Moved to Jericho (later Bainbridge...
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, [Apr.] 1830. Featured version, titled “22nd Commandment AD 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, p. 30; 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
Joseph Knight Sr.
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, of
Colesville
Area settled, beginning 1785. Formed from Windsor Township, Apr. 1821. Population in 1830 about 2,400. Villages within township included Harpursville, Nineveh, and Colesville. Susquehanna River ran through eastern portion of township. JS worked for Joseph...
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, New York, probably met JS in 1826, when he hired JS as a laborer.
1
Knight, Reminiscences, 2; Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1; Knight, History, 3–4.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.
Knight, Joseph, Jr. Autobiographical Sketch, 1862. CHL. MS 286.
Knight, Newel. History. Private possession. Copy in CHL. MS 19156.
Knight proved to be a loyal friend to JS, frequently providing money, food, supplies, and other assistance. He was particularly helpful during April and May of 1829, when JS and
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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were translating 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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in
Harmony
Located in northeastern Pennsylvania. Area settled, by 1787. Organized 1809. Population in 1830 about 340. Population in 1840 about 520. Contained Harmony village (no longer in existence). Josiah Stowell hired JS to help look for treasure in area, Oct. 1825...
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, Pennsylvania.
2
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, May 1829–B [D&C 12].
Though an early supporter and believer, Knight was not
baptized
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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a member 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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until June 1830.
3
Knight, Reminiscences, 7.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Knight was among those anxiously seeking to know their duty in light of the organization of the new church on 6 April 1830; JS subsequently dictated this revelation.
4
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Apr. 1830–A [D&C 23:1–2].
Implying that Knight was hesitant to pray publicly, the revelation included the admonition to “pray vocally before the World.”
5
Shortly after this revelation, JS held a meeting at Knight’s home in Colesville and gave a similar commandment to Knight’s son Newel. The younger Knight “said that he would try and take up his cross, and pray vocally during meeting” but then was unable to follow through. When the group “again met together, he rather excused himself.” The next day, “he retired into the woods, where (according to his own accoount afterwards) he made several attempts to pray, but could scarcely do so, feeling that he had not done his duty, but that he should have prayed in the presence of others.” This led to one of the earliest recorded miracles of the church, when, according to his history, JS cast out the devil that had possessed Newel Knight. (JS History, vol. A-1, 40.)
Footnotes
[1]
Knight, Reminiscences, 2; Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1; Knight, History, 3–4.
Knight, Joseph, Jr. Autobiographical Sketch, 1862. CHL. MS 286.
Knight, Newel. History. Private possession. Copy in CHL. MS 19156.
[2]
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, May 1829–B [D&C 12].
[3]
Knight, Reminiscences, 7.
[4]
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Apr. 1830–A [D&C 23:1–2].
[5]
Shortly after this revelation, JS held a meeting at Knight’s home in Colesville and gave a similar commandment to Knight’s son Newel. The younger Knight “said that he would try and take up his cross, and pray vocally during meeting” but then was unable to follow through. When the group “again met together, he rather excused himself.” The next day, “he retired into the woods, where (according to his own accoount afterwards) he made several attempts to pray, but could scarcely do so, feeling that he had not done his duty, but that he should have prayed in the presence of others.” This led to one of the earliest recorded miracles of the church, when, according to his history, JS cast out the devil that had possessed Newel Knight. (JS History, vol. A-1, 40.)
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Revelation, April 1830–E [D&C 23:6–7] Revelation Book 1 Book of Commandments, 1833 Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] History, circa 1841, draft [Draft 3] History, circa 1841, fair copy “History of Joseph Smith” Doctrine and Covenants, 1844
Page 30
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22nd
Commandment
Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of Deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...
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AD 1830

A Commandment to
Joseph Knight [Sr.]
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given at
Manchester
Settled 1793. Formed as Burt Township when divided from Farmington Township, 31 Mar. 1821. Name changed to Manchester, 16 Apr. 1822. Included village of Manchester. Population in 1825 about 2,700. Population in 1830 about 2,800. JS reported first vision of...
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Ontario County State of New York
1
John Whitmer probably created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1. At the time this revelation was dictated, Joseph Knight Sr. and JS were likely at the Hyrum Smith residence in Palmyra. If this is the case, the revelation originated in Palmyra, not in Manchester.

Behold I manifest unto you <by> these words that thou must take up thy Cross
2
See Matthew 16:24.
in the which thou must pray vocally before the World as well as in Seecret
3
See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830. [D&C 20:47]
& in thy family & among thy friends & in all Places Behold it is thy duty to unite with the true
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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& give thy Language to Exhortation continually
4
Compare Revelations, Apr. 1830–B through D [D&C 23:3–5].
that thou mayest Receive the reward of the Labourer
5
See 1 Timothy 5:18; and 1 Corinthians 3:8.
amen [p. 30]
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Page 30
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Footnotes
[1]
John Whitmer probably created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1. At the time this revelation was dictated, Joseph Knight Sr. and JS were likely at the Hyrum Smith residence in Palmyra. If this is the case, the revelation originated in Palmyra, not in Manchester.
[2]
See Matthew 16:24.
[3]
See Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830. [D&C 20:47]
[4]
Compare Revelations, Apr. 1830–B through D [D&C 23:3–5].
[5]
See 1 Timothy 5:18; and 1 Corinthians 3:8.