Revelation, April 1830–E [D&C 23:6–7]
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Source Note
Revelation, , Ontario Co., NY, to , [Apr.] 1830. Featured version, titled “22nd Commandment AD 1830,” copied [ca. Mar. 1831] in Revelation Book 1, p. 30; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
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Historical Introduction
, of , New York, probably met JS in 1826, when he hired JS as a laborer. 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 were translating the in , Pennsylvania. Though an early supporter and believer, Knight was not a member of the until June 1830. 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. Implying that Knight was hesitant to pray publicly, the revelation included the admonition to “pray vocally before the World.”
Footnotes
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1
Knight, Reminiscences, 2; Knight, Autobiographical Sketch, 1; Knight, History, 3–4.
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.
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2
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, May 1829–B [D&C 12].
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3
Knight, Reminiscences, 7.
Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.
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4
See Historical Introduction to Revelation, Apr. 1830–A [D&C 23:1–2].
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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.)
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