Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53]
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Source Note
Revelation, [, OH], to , 8 June 1831. Featured version, titled “56th Commandment June 8th. 1831,” copied [ca. June 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 89–90; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
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Historical Introduction
, the recipient of this revelation, was ’s business partner and an early convert to the church. He may have been present at a 5 June 1831 meeting at which JS taught that “the would have large congregations to speak to and they must soon take there departure into the Reagions west.” The next evening, JS dictated a revelation that commissioned a number of elders to accompany him to , which the text called “the land which I will unto my People which are a remnant of Jacob & those who are heirs according to the .” The 6 June revelation did not name Gilbert among those who should travel to Missouri. JS’s history records that shortly after the reception of that revelation, Gilbert approached JS and requested direction for himself. In response, JS dictated this revelation that gave Gilbert assignments in the church, including the instruction to travel to Missouri with JS and . Gilbert left for Missouri on 18 June with JS and Rigdon.
Footnotes
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1
Hancock, Autobiography, 92. According to Levi Hancock, following the 5 June meeting a group of participants “went to Gilberts” where they talked “with brother Whitnies [Newel K. Whitney] and told him what hapend at the conferance.”
Hancock, Levi. Autobiography, ca. 1854. Photocopy. CHL. MS 8174.
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2
Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:2].
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3
JS History, vol. A-1, 121.
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4
William W. Phelps, “Letter No. 6,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:97.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
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Document Transcript
Footnotes
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1
John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.
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2
See New Testament Revision 1, p. 41 [Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:29].
New Testament Revision 1 / “A Translation of the New Testament Translated by the Power of God,” 1831. CCLA. Also available in Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson, and Robert J. Matthews, eds., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible: Original Manuscripts (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 153–228.
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3
Gilbert’s name is included on a June 1831 list of elders ordained by JS. His ordination likely occurred between 8 and 18 June 1831. (Note on Ordinations, ca. 16 June 1831.)
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4
Gilbert was the first person to be appointed “an agent unto this Church.” A previous revelation outlined the duties of Bishop Edward Partridge and called for the appointment of an agent: “Let there be an agent appointed unto this people to take the money to provide food & raiment according to the wants of this people.” (Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:8].)
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5
Once the elders arrived in Missouri, Gilbert was commanded by revelation to settle there and assist Edward Partridge with the church’s temporal affairs. Specifically, the revelation directed Gilbert to keep a store and act as land agent. (Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:6–8].)