Revelation, [, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 22 Dec. 1841]; handwriting of ; one page; Revelations Collection, CHL.
Single leaf measuring 10¾ × 7½ inches (27 × 19 cm). The original size of the leaf is unknown, as the top and left edges are torn all along. The leaf contains various notes, mostly in the handwriting of but also in graphite in the handwriting of at least one other scribe. The leaf was folded in half twice horizontally. The folds separated at some point and were later mended.
The document has presumably been in continuous institutional custody since its creation. By 1984 the document had been included in the Revelations Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
See the full bibliographic entry for Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
Circa 22 December 1841, JS dictated a revelation in , Illinois, instructing the to appoint to serve a mission. Fuller had relocated to , Iowa Territory, two years earlier. According to a note written by immediately before the featured text on the same page, Fuller told JS in December 1841 that he wanted “to know the will of God concerning him.” On 17 January 1842 the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles responded to this revelation by assigning Fuller to serve a mission in .
JS may have dictated this revelation to , who inscribed the aforementioned note and the featured text onto one side of a loose leaf of unlined paper. On that same page Richards inscribed another short revelation appointing to a proselytizing mission. The other side of the leaf includes a note, inscribed by Richards, of three donations to the dated 22 December 1841. This suggests that Richards recorded this revelation on the loose leaf that same day. Richards then copied the revelation (including the note preceding it) and the Snider revelation into the new JS journal that he was keeping in a large book titled “The Book of the Law of the Lord.” In the journal, Richards dated the Fuller and Snider revelations 22 December 1841, providing further evidence JS dictated them on or near that date.
Revelation, ca. 22 Dec. 1841–A, Revelations Collection, CHL. The note reads in full: “Nauvoo. Dec 1841 ElderAmos Fuller, of Zarahemla [Iowa Territory], stated to Pret J. Smith that he had settled all his debts, & made all necessary provision for his family, & desires to know the will of God concerning him.”
Verily thus saith the Lord. unto my serva[n]ts the let them appoint unto my servat a mission to preach my gospel. unto the children of man. as it shall be manifested unto them by my Holy Spi[ri]t, Amen.—— [p. [1]]