Church History
Joseph Smith’s Revelations, Doctrine and Covenants 97

“Doctrine and Covenants 97,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers (2020)

“Doctrine and Covenants 97,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers

Doctrine and Covenants 97

Revelation, 2 August 1833–A

Source Note

Revelation, Kirtland Township, OH, 2 Aug. 1833. Featured version copied [ca. 6 Aug. 1833] in Revelation Book 2, pp. 61–64; handwriting of Frederick G. Williams; Revelations Collection, CHL. For more information, see the source note for Revelation Book 2 on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Historical Introduction

In accordance with counsel given in a revelation sent to Missouri earlier in 1833, members of the Church of Christ in Jackson County, Missouri, organized a “school of the prophets” in summer 1833 to further their ministerial education.1 By early July 1833, they desired to know God’s will concerning the school and sent two letters—one from Oliver Cowdery, written 9 July 1833, and one from “the breatheren composing the school,” written likely in early July—to JS. In these letters, Cowdery and others requested JS to inquire “of the Lord … concerning the school in Zion,” though their exact questions about the school are unknown.2 Before receiving these letters, JS dictated a revelation that gave further instructions on constructing a House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, which was to be the meeting place for the Ohio School of the Prophets.3 On 25 June, the presidency of the high priesthood along with Martin Harris sent a letter to Missouri that included plans drawn by Frederick G. Williams for a religious and educational house, or temple, to be “built immediately” in Zion, with accompanying explanations.4 Those items, however, had not yet arrived in Jackson County by early July, when the leaders in Missouri sent their queries to JS in Kirtland.

In response to the two letters from Jackson County, the presidency of the high priesthood wrote a letter to Missouri leaders on 6 August that included three revelations. The presidency referred to the first revelation—the text featured here—as “the communication which we received from the Lord concerning the school in Zion.”5 Following up on the plans for the Missouri House of the Lord sent on 25 June, the revelation directed church members to build “speedely” the House of the Lord, an edifice in which to hold the school as well as their public worship.6 The revelation also called for Parley P. Pratt, who had been engaged in missionary work in and around Jackson County while conducting the Missouri school of the prophets, to “continue to preside over the school.”7 Finally, the revelation provided a brief glimpse of Zion’s promised future glory “if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her,” a sentiment similar to the one found in a March 1833 revelation that promised that Jesus Christ would chasten Zion “untill she overcome and are clean before me for she shall not be moved out of her place.”8 The 2 August revelation featured here further warned that if the members of the church did not observe divine commandments, they would suffer “sore afflictions with pestilence with plague with sword with vengence with devouring fire,” but if Zion sinned “no more none of these things shall come upon her.”

Unbeknownst to JS, at the time he dictated this revelation, church members in Jackson County were already suffering “sore afflictions.” Other county residents demanded that Saints leave their homes, destroyed the church’s printing establishment, and tarred and feathered Bishop Edward Partridge and Charles Allen.9 The 2 August revelation instructed church members to chastise the wicked among them and to repent completely to avoid further violence and suffering.10 According to Parley P. Pratt’s later autobiography, “This revelation was not complied with by the leaders and church in Missouri, as a whole; notwithstanding many were humble and faithful. Therefore, the threatened judgment was poured out to the uttermost, as the history of the five following years will show.”11

Several copies of this revelation were made: one was included in the body of the aforementioned letter sent to Missouri on 6 August 1833, which also included copies of two other revelations.12 Another was inscribed in Revelation Book 2, which is the version transcribed here. Insufficient evidence exists to determine which is the earliest extant copy. Because the 6 August letter is published in its entirety later in this volume, the version featured here is from the manuscript revelation book. Significant differences between these two early texts are noted.

Kirtland 2d. of August 1833—

The word of the Lord unto Joseph Sidney [Rigdon] and Frederick [G. Williams], [1]verely I say unto you my friends13 I speak unto you with my voice even the voice of my spirit that I may shew unto you my will concerning your brethren in the Land of Zion many of whom are truly humble and are seeking dilligently to Learn wisdom and to find truth, [2]verely verely I say unto you blessed are all such for they shall obtain14 for I the Lord sheweth mercy unto all the meek and upon all whomsoever I will that I may be justified when I shall bring them into judgment [3]behold I say unto you concerning [the school]15 [p. 61] in Zion I the Lord am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion and also with my servant Parley [P. Pratt] for he abideth in me [4]and inasmuch as he continue to abide in me16 he shall continue to preside over the school in the Land of Zion [5]and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings in expounding all scriptures17 and mysteries to the Edefication of the school and of the church in Zion18 [6]and to the residue of the school I the Lord am willing to shew mercy19 nevertheless there are those that must needs be chastened and their work shall be mad[e] known,20 [7]the ax is laid at the root of the trees and evry tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire21 I the Lord hath spoken it, [8]verily I say unto you all among them who know their hearts are honest and are broken and their spirits contrite and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice22 yea every sacrifice which I the Lord shall command they23 are all accepted of me [9]for I the Lord will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land by a pure stream that yealdeth much precious fruit,24 [10]Verely I say unto you that it is my will that an house should be built unto me in the Land of Zion like unto the pattern which I have given you25 [11]yea let it be built speedely26 by the tithing of my people [12]behold this is the tithing [p. 62] and the sacrifice which I the Lord require at the hand of there hands27 that there may be an house built unto me for the salvation of Zion [13]for a place of thanksgiving for all saints and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices [14]that they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry in theory in principle and in doctrine in all thing[s] pertaining to the Kingdom of God on the earth the keys of which kingdom have been confered upon you28 [15]and inas much as my people build an house unto me in the name of the Lord and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it that it be not defiled my glory shall rest upon it [16]yea and my presence shall be therefor I will come into it and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God29 [17]but if it be defiled I will not come into it and my glory shall not be there for I will not come into unholy temples30 [18]and now behold if Zion do these things she shall prosper and spread herself and become very glorious very great and very tereble [19]and the Nations of the earth shall honor her31 and shall say surely Zion is the city of our God and surely Zion cannot fall neithe[r] be mooved32 out of her place for God is there and the hand of the Lord is there [20]and he hath sworn by the power of his might to be her salvation and her high tower33 [21]therefore verily thus saith [p. 63] the Lord let Zion rejoice for this Zion the pure in heart34 therefore let Zion rejoice while all the wicked shall mourn [22]for behold and lo vengence cometh speedily upon the ungodly as the whirlwind and who shall escape it [23]the Lords scurge shall shall pass over by night and by day and the report thereof shall vex all people yet it shall not be staid until the Lord come [24]for the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations and all their wicked works35 [25]nevertheless Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her [26]but if she observe not to do whatsoeve[r] I have commanded her I will visit her according to all her works with sore afflictions with pestilence with plague with sword with vengence with devouring fire [27]nevertheless let it be read this once in their ears that I the Lord have accepted of their offering but if she sin no more none of these things shall come upon her [28]and I will bless her with blessings and multiply a multiplicity of blessing upon her and upon her generation for ever and ever saith the Lord your God Amen

Notes

  1. See Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:1–126], herein; Letter to William W. Phelps, 11 Jan. 1833, in JSP, D2:365–368; and Pratt, Autobiography, 100–101.

  2. Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:230.

  3. Revelation, 1 June 1833 [D&C 95], herein.

  4. Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:151.

  5. Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:230. The two other revelations copied into the 6 August letter were Revelation, 2 Aug. 1833–B [D&C 94], herein; and Revelation, 6 Aug. 1833 [D&C 98], herein.

  6. This instruction parallels the direction found in the revelation JS dictated on 1 June 1833. (See Revelation, 1 June 1833 [D&C 95:16–17], herein.)

  7. Pratt had instructed a class of about sixty men once a week beginning earlier in the summer of 1833. (Pratt, Autobiography, 100.)

  8. Revelation, 8 Mar. 1833 [D&C 90:36–37], herein.

  9. See Letter from John Whitmer, 29 July 1833, in JSP, D3:186; [Edward Partridge], “A History, of the Persecution,” Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:18; and Vienna Jaques, Statement, 22 Feb. 1859, CHL.

  10. Earlier revelations and letters from Kirtland warned Missouri church members of wickedness and frequently called them to repentance. (See Revelation, 22–23 Sept. 1832 [D&C 84:54–61], herein; Letter to William W. Phelps, 11 Jan. 1833, in JSP, D2:365–368; and Letter to Edward Partridge et al., 14 Jan. 1833, in JSP, D2:372–378.)

  11. Pratt, Autobiography, 102.

  12. Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:228.

  13. See John 15:14–15.

  14. See Isaiah 35:10; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 77 [2 Nephi 8:11].

  15. Missing text supplied from the copy of this revelation found in the 6 August 1833 letter. Frederick G. Williams later inserted “the School” in the Revelation Book 2 copy. (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:230 [D&C 97:3]; Revelation Book 2, p. 61, in JSP, MRB:537 [D&C 97:3].)

  16. See John 15:4, 7.

  17. See Luke 24:27; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 286, 503 [Alma 22:13; 3 Nephi 23:14].

  18. No official records exist concerning the organization of the school of the prophets in Missouri or of Parley P. Pratt’s call to be the teacher. A June 1833 letter from the church presidency, however, contains a possible reference to the school and to Pratt’s appointment: “We commend the plan highly of your choossing a teacher to instruct the High Priests that they may be able to silence gainsayers.” Pratt wrote in his autobiography that he was called to preside over a “school of Elders” in the summer of 1833. It is uncertain if these two references are about the same school. Nevertheless, a school was organized in Missouri, and Pratt further explained that approximately sixty men attended the school once a week “in the open air, under some tall trees, in a retired place in the wilderness, where we prayed, preached and prophesied, and exercised ourselves in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:150; Pratt, Autobiography, 99–100.)

  19. See Exodus 33:19.

  20. The statement that some in the school stood in need of “chastening” is similar to a statement made two months earlier about the School of the Prophets in Kirtland. (See Revelation, 1 June 1833 [D&C 95:10], herein.)

  21. See Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 237 [Alma 5:52].

  22. See Psalms 50:5; 51:17.

  23. Instead of “they,” the copy of this revelation found in the 6 August letter has “them.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:231 [D&C 97:8].)

  24. Likening the righteous individual to a fruitful tree planted by a river is a common biblical metaphor. (See, for example, Psalm 1:3; and Jeremiah 17:8.)

  25. Church leaders in Kirtland, Ohio, sent a package of letters on 25 June 1833, which included the “pattern” for the House of the Lord mentioned here and a plat for the city of Zion. The package arrived in Independence, Missouri, on 29 July 1833. (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:147; Plan of the House of the Lord, between 1 and 25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:131; Plat of the City of Zion, ca. Early June–25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:121; Letter from John Whitmer, 29 July 1833, in JSP, D3:197.)

  26. When they sent the pattern on 25 June, church leaders in Kirtland informed the Missouri recipients that the House of the Lord was “to be built immediately in Zion.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:151.)

  27. “Tithing,” as used here, suggests performing a sacrificial duty to do the works that God asked of faithful church members, rather than the giving of a tenth of one’s annual increase, as church members later understood the practice. A September 1831 revelation stated that “it is a day of Sacrifice & a day for the tithing of my People for he that is tithed shall not be burned.” Just over a year later, JS explained that God viewed consecration of property as the way to tithe his people “to prepare them against the day of vengence and burning.” The practice of giving a tenth of one’s increase as a form of tithing began in late November 1834, and the annual contribution of “one tenth of all their interest” became a church mandate in a revelation dictated on 8 July 1838. (Revelation, 11 Sept. 1831 [D&C 64:23], herein; Letter to William W. Phelps, 27 Nov. 1832, herein; see also JS, Journal, 29 Nov. 1834, in JSP, J1:46–47; and Revelation, 8 July 1838–C [D&C 119:4], herein.)

  28. The “pattern” of the House of the Lord called for a lower-floor assembly hall to be used for public worship and an upper-floor hall to “be dedicated unto me for the school of mine Apostles.” (Revelation, 1 June 1833 [D&C 95:16–17], herein; Plan of the House of the Lord, between 1 and 25 June 1833, in JSP, D3:131.)

  29. See Revelation, 6 May 1833 [D&C 93:1], herein. In January 1833, JS sent a copy of the “Olive Leaf” revelation to Missouri and explained that it “commanded us in Kirtland to build an house of God, & establish a school for the Prophets, this is the word of the Lord to us, & we must— yea the Lord helping us we will obey, as on conditions of our obedience, he has promised us great things, yea even a visit from the heavens to honor us with his own presence.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:1–126], herein; Letter to William W. Phelps, 11 Jan. 1833, in JSP, D2:365–367.)

  30. See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 159, 241 [Mosiah 2:37; Alma 7:21].

  31. See Revelation 21:24.

  32. Instead of “mooved,” the copy of this revelation found in the 6 August letter has “removed.” (Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson Co., MO, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:231 [D&C 97:19].)

  33. The dramatic language about Zion’s future in the first part of this paragraph parallels other revelatory assurances given before the gathering to Missouri began. (See Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831 [D&C 45:64–71], herein.)

  34. See Old Testament Revision 1, p. 16 [Moses 7:18].

  35. See Isaiah 5:25.