Church History
Joseph Smith’s Revelations, Doctrine and Covenants 124

“Doctrine and Covenants 124,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers (2020)

“Doctrine and Covenants 124,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers

Doctrine and Covenants 124

Revelation, 19 January 1841

Source Note

Revelation, [Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL], 19 Jan. 1841. Featured version copied [between 19 Jan. and 7 Apr. 1841] in Book of the Law of the Lord, pp. 3–15; handwriting of Robert B. Thompson; CHL. For more information on the Book of the Law of the Lord, see the source note for JS, Journal, December 1841–December 1842, on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

Historical Introduction

On 19 January 1841, JS dictated a revelation in Nauvoo, Illinois, designating the city as the new gathering place for the Latter-day Saints. The revelation initially addressed JS personally before instructing other individuals and the Saints generally. Over the coming years, the lengthy revelation would function as a sort of sacred charter for the Saints in Nauvoo in much the same way as the recently passed act to incorporate the city served as a secular charter.1

Since their expulsion from northern Missouri in winter 1838–1839, the Saints had devoted much of their time to resettling in the area of Commerce, Illinois, where they cleared the heavily forested peninsula, drained the swampy flats along the Mississippi River, planted crops, and built homes for the rapid influx of church members.2 Consequently, winter 1840–1841 provided church leaders the first real opportunity after the disruptive expulsion from Missouri to formally organize the new community and to restructure the church. The timing and content of the January revelation came after a series of efforts over the preceding months to seek incorporation of both the city and church from the Illinois legislature.3

While the city charter signaled the church’s lasting presence in Nauvoo, this revelation assured church members that relocating to Illinois did not entail abandoning their efforts to establish Zion in Missouri. The revelation stated that Nauvoo was to be “a corner stone of Zion” (or a “stake” of Zion) but not Zion itself. The city was not intended to be merely a temporary refuge either, as indicated by the revelation’s commandment to build a temple there. The revelation directed that a proclamation be written to the “kings of the world” inviting them to come to Nauvoo “with your gold and your silver, to the help of my people.” The proclamation’s prescribed contents (references to the “glory” of Zion and the invitation to leaders of the earth to come bearing gold, silver, and other precious materials), along with other elements of the revelation regarding the welcoming of visitors to the city, directly echoes the prophetic language in Isaiah chapters 60 and 62.4

In order to have somewhere to host the anticipated distinguished visitors, the “weary traveler,” or anyone coming to Nauvoo to “contemplate the word of the Lord,” the revelation directed that a boardinghouse be built. The revelation devoted more space to the subject of building this “Nauvoo House” than to any other topic. Because JS and Emma Smith were to donate the land on which the hotel would be built, the Smith family was to live there and serve as the hosts, a role in which JS and Emma had been serving since their arrival in the area. The revelation gave specific instructions to a number of individuals in Nauvoo, frequently recommending that they donate to the construction of the Nauvoo House by buying shares of stock. It concluded by officially reorganizing the church’s government, naming appointments to various ecclesiastical offices and quorums.

In some cases, rather than giving new instruction, the revelation provided formal approval and authority to earlier decisions and actions. The commandment to build a temple in Nauvoo, for instance, gave divine mandate to an instruction that JS had been voicing publicly for over half a year.5 The revelation underscored the importance of building a temple in Nauvoo by declaring that certain ordinances—like baptisms for the dead—were appropriately performed only in the temple. The revelation described Nauvoo as the cornerstone of Zion; an October 1839 conference of the church had already designated the city as a new gathering place for the Saints.6 Similarly, most of the church leadership assignments identified in the revelation reflected prior appointments.

One of the few revelations from the Illinois period to be later canonized by the church, the 19 January revelation served as divine direction for the Saints for the duration of their time in Nauvoo. Mayor John C. Bennett read it at the general conference of the church in Nauvoo on 7 April 1841.7 The text was published in the 1 June issue of the church’s Nauvoo newspaper, Times and Seasons, as well as in the September 1841 issue of the Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, printed in Manchester, England.8 The Saints in Illinois referred to the revelation frequently in print and in public settings.

The version featured here is the earliest extant copy of the revelation, inscribed by Robert B. Thompson in the Book of the Law of the Lord sometime between 19 January and 7 April 1841, when Bennett read the revelation publicly from this source. The absence of editorial revisions and the presence of some inadvertently duplicated passages indicate that Thompson was copying the version in the Book of the Law of the Lord from an earlier draft that is no longer extant.

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Revelation, 19 January 1841.

Revelation, 19 January 1841. Joseph Smith dictated a lengthy revelation on 19 January 1841 designating Nauvoo, Illinois, as the church’s new gathering place. The revelation commanded the Saints to build a temple and a boardinghouse (named the Nauvoo House), gave instructions to individual church members, and reorganized church leadership quorums. The version shown here is the earliest known copy of the revelation, inscribed in the Book of the Law of the Lord by church clerk Robert B. Thompson. Book of the Law of the Lord, p. 3, Church History Library, Salt Lake City.

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Architectural drawing of the Nauvoo House.

Architectural drawing of the Nauvoo House. Circa April 1845. A 19 January 1841 revelation commanded that a boardinghouse be built and named the Nauvoo House. It would serve as a hotel for visitors to Nauvoo, the church’s new gathering place, and was also intended to be a new home for Joseph Smith’s family. The structure was never completed as originally designed. This architectural drawing shows the intended design of the south side of the Nauvoo House. (Church History Library, Salt Lake City. Drawing by William Weeks.)

A revelation given to Joseph Smith, January 19th. 1841

[1]Verily thus saith the Lord unto you my Servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your offering, and acknowledgements which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might shew forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth.9

[2]Your prayers are acceptable before me, and in answer to them, I say unto you, that you are now called, immediately to make a solemn proclamation of my gospel, and of this stake, which I have planted to be a corner stone of Zion, which shall be polished with that refinement which is after the similitude of a palace.10 [3]This proclamation shall be made to all the Kings of the world, to the four corners thereof; to the Honorable President Elect,11 and the high minded Governors of the nation in which you live, and to all the nations of the earth, scattered abroad.12 [4]Let it be written in the spirit of meekness and by the power of the holy ghost, which shall be in you, at the time of the writing of the same; [5]for it shall be given you by the holy ghost to know my will concerning those Kings and Authorities, even what shall befall them in a time to come. [6]For behold I am about to call upon them to give heed to the light of <and> glory of Zion, for the set time has come, to favor her.13

[7]Call ye, therefore, upon them with loud proclamation and with your testimony, fearing them not, for they are as grass, and all their glory as the flower thereof, which soon falleth away;14 that they may be left also without excuse, [8]and that I may visit them in the day of visitation15 when I shall unveil the face of my covering, to appoint the portion of the oppressor, among hypocrites, where there is gnashing of teeth;16 if they reject my servants, and my testimony, which I have revealed unto them. [9]And again, I will visit and soften their hearts— many of them for your good, that ye may find grace in their eyes, that they may come to the light of truth, and the gentiles to the exaltation or lifting up of Zion; [10]for the day of my visitation cometh speedily, in an hour when you think not of;17 and where shall be the safety of my people? and [p. 3] refuge for those who shall be left of them?

[11]Awake! O Kings of the earth! Come ye, O! come ye with your gold and your silver, to the help of my people, to the house of the daughter of Zion.

[12]And, again, verily I say unto you, let my servant, Robert Blashel Thompson, help you to write this proclamation, for I am well pleased with him, and that he should be with you, [13]let him therefore hearken to your council counsel and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, let him be faithful and true in all things from henceforth and he shall be great in mine eyes; [14]but let him remember that his stewardship will I require at his hands.

[15]And again, verily, I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith, for I the Lord loveth him, because of the integrity of his heart, and because, he loveth that which is right before me saith the Lord.

[16]Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help you in your labor, in sending my word to the Kings and peoples of the Earth, and stand by you, even you, my servant Joseph Smith in the hour of affliction, and his reward shall not fail, if he receive council counsel, [17]and for his love, he shall be great, for he shall be mine if he do this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work he hath done,18 which I accept, if he continue, and will crown him with blessings and great glory.

[18]And, again, I say unto you, that it is my will that my servant Lyman Wight, should continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world, and I will bear him up, as on eagle’s wings,19 and he shall beget glory and honor to himself, and unto my name, [19]that when he shall finish his work, that I may receive him unto myself, even as I did my servant David [W.] Patten, who is with me at this time,20 and also my servant Edward Partridge,21 and also, my aged servant Joseph Smith Senr.,22 who sitteth with Abraham at his right hand, and blessed and holy is he, for he is mine.

[20]And, again, verily I say unto you, my servant George Miller is without guile, he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart; and <for> the love he has to my testimony, I the Lord loveth him. [21]I therefore say unto you I seal upon his head the office of a “bishoprick” like unto my servant Edward Partridge, that he may receive the consecrations of mine house,23 that he may administer blessings upon the heads of the poor of my people saith the Lord; let no man despise my servant George for he shall honor me. [22]Let my servant George, and my servant Lyman, and my servant John Snider, and others, build a house unto my name,24 such an one [p. 4] as my servant Joseph shall shew unto them, upon the place which he shall shew unto them also; [23]and it shall be for a house for boarding; a house that strangers may come from afar to lodge therein— therefore let it be a good house, worthy of all acceptation, that the weary traveller may find health and safety, while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord, and the corner stone I have appointed for Zion. [24]This house shall be a healthy habitation, if it be built unto my name, and if the Governor which shall be appointed unto it,25 shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it— It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.

[25]And, again, verily I say unto you, let all my saints, from afar; [26]‘And send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers and say unto them, Come ye, with all your gold, and your silver, and your preceious stones,26 and with all your antiquitiees, and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come, and bring the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree,27 together with all the precious trees of the earth, [27]and with iron, with copper and with brass, and with zink <and with> all your precious things of the earth, and build a house unto mine my name, for the Most High to dwell therein, [28]for there is not place found on the earth; that he may come and restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the Priesthood; [29]for a baptismal font there is not upon the earth;28 that they, my saints may be baptized for those who are dead,29 [30]for this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me;30 [31]but I command you, all ye my saints to build a house unto me, and I grant unto you a sufficien[t] time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms, shall be acceptable unto me. [32]But behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead, shall not be acceptable unto me, and if you do not these things, at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church, with your dead, saith the Lord your God. [33]For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house unto me, wherein the ordinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your dead cannot be acceptable unto me, [34]for therein are the keys of the Holy Priesthood ordained, that you may receive honor and glory. [35]And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord; [36]for it is ordained that in Zion and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem [p. 5] those places which I have appointed <for refuge> shall be the places for your the baptisms for your dead.

[37]And, again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except, ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name<?>, [38]for, for this cause I commanded Moses that he should build a tabernacle,31 that they should bear it with them in the wilderness, and to build a house in the land of promise, that those ordinances might be revealed, which had been hid from before the world was; [39]therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings and your washings, and your babtisms for the dead and your solemn assemblys, and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the sons of Levi,32 and for your oracles in your most holy places, wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes, and judgements, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory and honor and endowment of all her municiples, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are allways Commanded to build unto my holy name.

[40]And verily I say unto you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal my <mine> ordinances therein, unto my people, [41]for I deign to reveal unto my church, things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world,33 things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times,34 [42]and I will shew unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house and the priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built, [43]and ye shall build it on the place where you have contemplated building <it,> for that is the spot which I have chosen for you to build it.35 [44]If ye labor with all your mights I will consecrate that spot, that it shall be made holy; [45]and if my people will hearken unto my voice and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place,36 [46]but if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because they pollute my mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and charters, and my holy words which I give unto them; [47]And it shall come to pass, that if you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfill the promises which ye expect at my hands saith the Lord, [48]for instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads by your follies and by all your abominations which you practise before me [p. 6] saith the Lord. [49]Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment unto any of the sons of men, to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men, go with all their mights, and with all they have, to perform that work and cease not their diligence and their enemies come upon them, and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behoveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men; but to accept of their offering. [50]and the iniquity, and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon <the heads of> those who hindered my work unto the third and fourth generation, so long; as they <repent not> & hate me, saith the Lord. God. [51]Therefore for this cause have I accepted of the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city, and an house unto my name in Jackson County, Missouri and were hind[e]red by their enemies saith the Lord your God.37 [52]And I will answer judgment, wrath and i[n]dignation; wailing and anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon them their heads unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me saith the Lord your God. [53]And this, I make an ensample unto you, for your consolation concerning all those who have been commanded to do a work, and have been hindered by the hands of their enemies, and by oppression, saith the Lord your God; [54]for I am the Lord your God and will save all those <of your brethren> who have been pure in heart, and have been slain in the land of Missouri saith the Lord.38

[55]And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again, to build an house to my name even in this place, that ye may prove yourself unto me, that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.

[56]And now I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding house, which I have commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers, let it be built unto my name, and let my name, and be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and his house have place therein from generation to generation.39 [57]For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessings shall also be put upon the heads of his posterity after him; [58]and as I said unto Abraham, concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so, I say unto my servant Joseph, in thee, and in thy seed shall the Kindreds of the earth be blessed40

[59]Therefore let my servant Joseph and his seed after him, have place in that house from generation to generation, for ever and ever, saith the Lord, [60]and let the name of that house be called the Nauvoo House, and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting place for the weary traveller, that he may comtemplate the glory of [p. 7] Zion, and the glory of this, the corner stone thereof; [61]that he may receive also, the council from those whom I have set to be as plants of renown,41 and as watchmen upon her walls.42

[62]Behold, verily I say unto you, let my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider, and my servant Peter Hawes [Haws], organize themselves, and appoint one of them to be a president over their quorum43 for the purpose of building that house, [63]and they shall form a constitution whereby they may receive stock, for the building of that house.44 [64]And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house; [65]but they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen thousand dollars stock, from any one man; [66]and they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for a share of stock from any one man in that house, [67]and they shall not be permitted to receive any man as a stockholder in that house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands at the time he receives stock, [68]and in proportion to the amount to the amount of stock he pays into their hands, he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pay nothing into their hands, he shall not receive any stock in that house, [69]and if any man pay stock into their hands it shall be for stock in that house, for himself and for his generation after him, from generation to generation, so long as he, and his heirs shall hold that stock, and do not sell, or convey that stock away out of their hands by their own free will and act— if you will do my will saith the Lord your God.

[70]And again verily I say unto you if my servant George Miller, and my servant Lyman Wight, and my servant John Snider and my servant Peter Hawes, receive any stock into their hands, in monies or in property properties wherein they receive the real value of monies, they shall not appropriate any portion of that stock to any other purpose only in that house, [71]and if they do appropriate any portion of that stock any where else, only in that house, without the consent of the stockholder, and do not repay four fold for the stock which they appropiate any where else, only in that house, they shall be accursed, and shall be moved out of their place saith the Lord God, for I the Lord am God and cannot be mocked in any of these things. [p. 8]

[72]Verily: I say unto you let my servant Joseph pay stock into their hands for the building of that house as seemeth him good but my servant Joseph cannot pay over fifteen thousand dollars stock in that house, nor under fifty dollars, neither can any other man saith the Lord.45

[73]And there are others also, who wish to know my will concerning them, for they have asked it at my hands. [74]Therefore I say unto you concerning my servant Vinson Knight, if he will do my will let him put stock into that house for himself and for his generation after him, from generation <to generation> [75]and let him lift up his voice long and loud in the midst of the people to plead the cause of the poor and the needy, and let him not fail neither let his heart faint, and I will accept of his offerings, for they shall not be unto me as the offerings of Cain,46 for he shall be mine saith the Lord; [76]let his family rejoice and turn away their hearts from affliction, for I have chosen him, and anointed him, and he shall be honored in the midst of his house, for I will forgive all his sins saith the Lord. Amen.

[77]Verily I say unto you, let my servant Hyrum put stock into that house as seemeth him good for himself and his generation after him, from generation to generation after him from generation to generation.

[78]Let my servant Isaac Galland put stock into that house for I the Lord loveth him for the work he hath done and will forgive all his sins, therefore, let him be remembered for an interest in that house from generation to generation: [79]Let my servant William Marks <Isaac Galland> be appointed among you and be ordained by my servant William Marks, and be blest of him to go with my servant Hyrum to accomplish the work that my servant Joseph shall point out unto them and they shall be greatly blessed.47

[80]Let my servant William Marks pay stock into that house as seemeth him good for himself and his generation from generation to generation.

[81]Let my servant Henry G. Sherwood pay stock into that house as seemeth him good for himself and his seed after him from generation to generation.

[82]Let my servant William Law pay stock into that house for himself and his seed after him from generation to generation; [83]If he will do my will let him not take his family unto the eastern lands, even unto Kirtland: nevertherless I the Lord will build up Kirtland, but I the Lord have a scourge prepared for the inhabitants thereof; [84]and with my servant Alman Babbit [Almon Babbitt] there are many things with which I am not [p. 9] well pleased; behold he aspireth to establish his council counsel instead of the council counsel which I have ordained, even the presidency of my Church, and he setteth up a golden calf, for the worship of my people.48 [85]Let no man go from this place who hath has come here, assaying to keep my commandments; [86]if they live here let them live unto me, and if they die here let them die unto me, for they shall rest from all their labors here, and shall continue their works. [87]Therefore let my servant William put his trust in me, and cease to fear concerning his family because of the sickness of the land, If ye love me Keep my commandments49 and the sickness of the land shall redound to your glory.

[88]Let my Servant William go and proclaim mine everlasting gospel with a loud voice and with great joy as he shall be moved upon by my spirit unto the inhabitants of Warsaw and also unto the inhabitants of Carthage, and also unto the inhabitants of Madison [Fort Madison, Iowa Territory], and also unto the inhabitants of Burlington50 and await patiently and diligently for further instructions at my general conference saith the Lord. [89]<If he will do my will> let him from henceforth hearken to the council counsel of my servant Joseph and with his interest support the cause of the poor and publish the new translation of my holy word unto the inhabitants of the earth,51 [90]and if he will do this I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, that he shall not be forsaken, nor his seed be found begging bread.52

[91]And, again, verily I say unto you that my servant William, be appointed, ordained, and anointed as a councillor counsellor unto my servant Joseph in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may take the office of priesthood and patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father by blessing and also by right,53 [92]that from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people, [93]that who ever he blesses shall be blessed, and who ever he curseth shall be cursed, that whatsoever he shall bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven, and, that whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven,54 [94]and from this time forth I appoint unto him, that he may be a prophet and a seer and a revelator unto my church as well as my servant Joseph, [95]that he may act in concert also, with my servant Joseph, and that he shall receive council counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall shew unto him the keys whereby he may ask and [p. 10] receive, and be crowned with the same blessings. I crown upon his head, the bishoprick and blessing and glory, and honor and priesthood and gifts of the priesthood, that once was were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery;55 [96]that my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall shew unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation for ever and ever.56 [97]Let my servant William <Law> also receive the Keys by which he may ask and receive blessings, let him be humble before me and be without guile and he shall receive of my spirit, even the comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him in the very hour, what he shall say,57 [98]and these signs shall follow him, he shall heal the sick, he shall cast out Devils, and shall be delivered from those who would administer unto him deadly poison,58 [99]and shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpents cannot lay hold upon his heel; and he shall mount up in the imagination of his thoughts as upon eagles wings,59 [100]and what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not withold his voice, [101]therefore let my servant William cry aloud and spare not, with joy and rejoicing, and with hozannas to him that sitteth upon the throne60 for ever and ever saith the Lord your God.

[102]Behold I say unto you I have a mission in store for my servant William and my servant Hyrum and for them alone, and let my servant Joseph tarry at home, for he is needed, the remainder I will shew <unto> you hereafter, even so, Amen.

[103]And, again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Sidney [Rigdon] will serve me and be a councillor counsellor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise and come up and stand in the office of his calling,61 and humble himself before me [104]and if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering and acknowledgements and remain with my people, behold I the Lord your God will heal him that he shall be healed and shall lift up his voice again on the mountains, and be a spokesman before my face;62 [105]let him come and locate his family in the neighbourhood in which my servant Joseph resides; [106]and in all his journeyings let him lift up his voice as with the sound of a trump and warn the inhabitants of the earth to flee the wrath to come;63 [107]let him assist my servant Joseph, and also let my servant William Law assist my servant Joseph in making a solemn proclamation unto the kings of the earth even as I have before said [p. 11] unto you.

[108]If my servant Sidney will do my will, let him not move his family unto the eastern lands, but let him change their habitation even as I have said: [109]Behold, it is not my will that he should seek to find safety and refuge out of the city which I have appointed unto you,64 even the city of Nauvoo. [110]Verily I say unto you, even now, that if he will hearken unto my voice it shall be well with him, even so, Amen.

[111]And again verily I say unto you, let my servant Amos Davis pay stock into the hands of those whom I have appointed to build a house for boarding, even the Nauvoo House, [112]this let him do if he will have an interest and let him hearken unto the council counsel of my servant Joseph, and labor with his own hands that he may obtain the confidence of men, [113]and when he shall prove himself faithful in all things that shall be entrusted unto his care, yea even a few things, he shall be made ruler over many; [114]let him therefore abase himself, that he may be exalted, even so, Amen.

[115]And again, verily I say unto you if my servant Robert D. Foster will obey my voice, let him build a house for my servant Joseph according to the contract which <he> has made with him,65 as the door shall be open to him from time to time, [116]and let him repent of all his folly and clothe himself with charity, and cease to do evil66 and lay aside all his hard speeches, [117]and pay stock also into the hands of the quorum of the Nauvoo House for himself and for his generation after him, from generation to generation [118]and hearken unto the council counsel of my servant Joseph and Hyrum and William Law, and unto the authorities which I have called to lay the foundation of Zion, and it shall be well with him, forever and ever, even so Amen.

[119]And again, verily I say unto you let my no man pay stock to the quorum of the Nauvoo House, unless he shall be a believer in the Book of Mormon and the revelations I have given unto you saith the Lord your God [120]for that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessing saith the Lord your God, even so Amen

[121]And again, verily I say unto you let the quorum of the Nauvoo House, have a just recompence of wages, for all their labors which they do in building the Nauvoo House, and let their wages be as shall [p. 12] be agreed among themselves as pertaining to the price thereof, [122]and let every man who pays stock bear his proportion of their wages, if it must needs be, for their support saith the Lord, otherwise their labors shall be accounted unto them for stock in that house even so, Amen.

[123]Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the offices belonging to my priesthood that ye may hold the keys thereof even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchisadeck, which is after the order of my only begotten son.67 [124]First, I give unto you Hyrum Smith to be a patriarch unto you to hold the sealing blessings of my church, even the holy spirit of promise,68 whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of redemption, that ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that may come upon you.69

[125]I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding Elder over all my Church, to be a Translater, a Revelator, a Seer, and Prophet; [126]I give unto him for Councillors Counsellors my servant Sidney Rigdon and my servant William Law that these may constitute a quorum and first presidency to receive the oracles for the whole church.

[127]I give unto you my servant Brigham Young to be a president over the twelve travelling council70 [128]which twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth and after that to send my word to every creature,71 [129]they are Heber C Kimbal[l], Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith; [130]David Patten I have taken unto myself, behold his priesthood no man taketh from him, but verily I say unto you, another may be appointed unto the same calling.

[131]And, again, I say unto you, I give unto you I give unto you a a High Council for the corner stone of Zion [132]viz Samuel Bent, H. G. Sherwood, George W Harris, Charles C. Rich, Thomas Grover, Newel Knight, David Dort, [Lewis] Dunbar Wilson, Seymour Brunson I have taken unto myself, no man taketh his priesthood, but another may be appointed unto the same priesthood in his stead (and verily I say unto <you> let my servant Aaron Johnson be ordained unto this calling in his stead)72 David Ful[l]mer, Alpheus Cutler, William Huntington.73

[133]And again I give unto you Don C[arlos] Smith [p. 13] to be a president over a quorum of high priests,74 [134]which ordinance is instituted for the prupose of qualifying those who shall be appointed as standing presidents or servants of over different stakes scattered abroad [135]and they may travel also if they choose, but rather be ordained for standing presidents, this is the office of their calling sath the Lord your God, [136]I give unto him Amasa Lyman and Noah Packard for councillors that they may preside over the quorum of high priests of my church saith the Lord.

[137]And again I say unto you I give unto you I give unto you John A Hicks, Samuel Williams, and over the <Jesse Baker> which priesthood is to preside over the quorum of Elders, which quorum is instituted for standing ministers, nevertherless they may travel, yet they are ordained to be standing ministers to my church saith the Lord.

[138]And, again, I give unto you Joseph Young Josiah Butterfield, Daniel Miles, Henry Herriman [Harriman] Zera Pulsipher, Levi Hancock, James Foster to preside over the quorum of seventies, [139]which quorum is instituted for travelling Elders to bear record of my name in all the world, wherever the travelling high council, my apostles shall send them75 to prepare an way before my face, [140]the difference between this quorum and the quorum of Elders is, that one is to travel continually and the other is to preside over the churches from time to time, the one has the responsibility of presiding from time to time, but the other has no responsibiltiy of presiding from time to time saith the Lord your God

[141]And, again, I say unto you, I give unto you Vinson Knight, Samuel H. Smith and Shadrick [Shadrach] Roundy if he will receive it, to preside over the Bishoprick, a knowledge of said bishoprick is given unto you in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.76

[142]And, again, I say give unto you, Samuel Rolfe and his councillors for priests, and the president of the Teachers and his councillors and also the president of the Deacons and his councillors, and also the president of the stake and his councillors77 [143]the above offices I have given unto you and the keys thereof for helps and for governments for the work of the ministry, and the perfecting of my saints [144]and a commandment I give unto you that you should fill all these offices and approve of those [p. 14] names which I have mentioned, or else disapprove of them at my general conference; [145]and that ye should prepare rooms for all these offices in my house when you build it unto my name saith the Lord your God. even so. Amen.

Notes

  1. Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840, in JSP, D7:472–488.

  2. Scribe Willard Richards recorded in JS’s history that when the Saints arrived in Hancock County, Illinois, in early June 1839, “there were 1 stone house 3 frame hou[s]es & two block hou[s]es which constitu[t]ed the whole city of commerce. Between Commerc[e] And Mr Davi[d]son Hibbards there was 1 stone & 3 Log houses, including the one I live in, & these were all of the houses in this vicinity, & the place was literally a wilderness.” JS later estimated that Nauvoo had three thousand citizens by early August 1840. (Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 11 June 1839, 58–59; Letter to John C. Bennett, 8 Aug. 1840, in JSP, D7:372.)

  3. Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840, in JSP, D7:472–488; Bill to Incorporate the Church, 14 Dec. 1840, in JSP, D7:450–455.

  4. The revelation’s injunction to rulers of the world to come and “give heed to the light and glory of Zion, for the set time has come, to favor her” closely mirrored Isaiah’s prophetic statements: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. … And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” The revelation specifically directed rulers to bring “the box tree, and the fir tree, and the pine tree,” paralleling Isaiah’s statement that “the glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together.” A circa 1841 draft of the proclamation by Robert B. Thompson contains the parenthetical note “(Isaiah—LX, LXI, LXII.),” indicating that the Nauvoo Saints recognized the connection between Isaiah’s prophecy and the 19 January revelation. (Isaiah 60:1, 3, 13; “A Religious Proclamation,” JS Collection, CHL.)

  5. JS spoke of the need to build a temple in Nauvoo in a discourse around 19 July 1840 and reportedly made similar comments in April and May, see JSP, D7:336n137.

  6. Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839, in JSP, D7:18.

  7. “Minutes of the General Conference,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1841, 2:386.

  8. “Extracts,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:424–429; “Revelation to J. Smith,” Millennial Star, Sept. 1841, 2:67–69.

  9. See Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–B, in JSP, D2:106 [D&C 1:17–19], herein.

  10. See Psalm 144:12.

  11. President-elect of the United States, William Henry Harrison.

  12. Later in the revelation, general church clerk Robert B. Thompson was instructed to assist with writing the proclamation. Though he began a draft of the proclamation, it was not complete by the time of his death in August 1841. In November 1843, JS renewed the instruction, directing Willard Richards, Orson Hyde, John Taylor, and William W. Phelps to write a proclamation “to the Kings &c of the earth.” The proclamation was not published prior to JS’s death and was eventually written by Parley P. Pratt and published in 1845 as Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints. To All the Kings of the World; To the President of the United States of America; To the Governors of the Several States; And to the Rulers and People of All Nations. (“A Religious Proclamation,” JS Collection, CHL; “Death of Col. Robert B. Thompson,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:519; JS, Journal, 21 Nov. 1843, in JSP, J3:132; Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles, [1]; see also Crawley, Descriptive Bibliography, 1:294–296.)

  13. See Psalm 102:13; and Isaiah 60:1–3, 14.

  14. See 1 Peter 1:24.

  15. See 1 Peter 2:12.

  16. See Matthew 24:51.

  17. See Matthew 24:42.

  18. Bennett assisted JS with crafting Nauvoo’s charter and had recently been in Springfield, Illinois, lobbying to secure its passage by the state legislature. (See Historical Introduction to Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840, in JSP, D7:472–476.)

  19. See Exodus 19:4.

  20. On 25 October 1838, apostle David W. Patten was mortally wounded during a skirmish at Crooked River near the border of Ray County, Missouri, and died the same day. (JS History, vol. B-1, 839–840; Edward Partridge et al., Petition, 10 Dec. 1838, copy, Edward Partridge, Papers, CHL.)

  21. Nauvoo bishop Edward Partridge died on 27 May 1840. (Obituary for Edward Partridge, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:127–128.)

  22. JS’s father, Joseph Smith Sr., died in Nauvoo on 14 September 1840. (Eliza R. Snow, “Elegy,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1840, 1:190–191.)

  23. By December 1841, church leaders had decided that all donations for the construction of the temple would be directed to JS, who was the church’s trustee-in-trust, and would be recorded in the Book of the Law of the Lord. The donations were then directed to the temple building committee. (Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:626–627; Book of the Law of the Lord, 27.)

  24. Miller, Wight, Snider, and Peter Haws were the trustees named when the Nauvoo House Association was incorporated on 23 February 1841. (An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], pp. 131–132, sec. 2; “Charter for the Nauvoo House,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:370.)

  25. The “governor,” or hotelier, of the Nauvoo House was to be JS.

  26. See Isaiah 60:9.

  27. See Isaiah 60:13.

  28. After construction began on the temple, one of the first priorities was building a baptismal font. A temporary, wooden baptismal font was dedicated in the basement of the unfinished temple on 8 November 1841 and was one of the earliest uses of the temple space. (Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 20–21.)

  29. See 1 Corinthians 15:29.

  30. JS first taught the doctrine of baptism for the dead publicly in a funeral sermon for Seymour Brunson on 15 August 1840. By the following month, these baptisms were being performed in the Mississippi River. (Simon Baker, “15 Aug. 1840 Minutes of Recollection of Joseph Smith’s Sermon,” JS Collection, CHL; Jane Harper Neyman and Vienna Jaques, Statement, 29 Nov. 1854, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, ca. 1839–1860, CHL; see also Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840.)

  31. See Exodus chaps. 25–30.

  32. See Numbers 3:25; and 1 Chronicles 6:1, 48.

  33. See Ephesians 3:9.

  34. See Ephesians 1:10.

  35. The temple site was located at the top of the bluffs above the peninsula, between Knight and Mulholland streets and on the east side of Wells Street. The location was probably determined sometime after March 1840. Unlike on later maps, block 20 on the original plat of Wells’s Addition to Nauvoo, on which the temple would be built, was subdivided into four lots, along with all other blocks in the addition. These partitions suggest that the space had not yet been designated for the temple property, which would transect the lot boundaries. (Hancock Co., IL, Plat Books, 1836–1938, vol. 1, p. 43, Wells’s Addition to Nauvoo, 4 Apr. 1840, microfilm 954,774, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

  36. See Revelation, 16–17 Dec. 1833, in JSP, D3:390 [D&C 101:17], herein.

  37. An 1831 revelation designated Missouri as the “land of promise” and identified Independence, Jackson County, as the “centre place” of Zion at which to build a temple. Alarmed by the increasing numbers of Saints moving into the area and disturbed by some of their beliefs, early Jackson County settlers took action against the Saints, violently expelling them from the county in November 1833. (Revelation, 20 July 1831, in JSP, D2:5–12 [D&C 57:2–3], herein; Corrill, Brief History, 19–20, in JSP, H2:146–149.)

  38. Earlier revelations dealing with the Saints’ troubles in Missouri also declared that God would unleash divine judgments against the Saints’ enemies “unto the third and fourth generations.” (See Revelation, 6 Aug. 1833, in JSP, D3:227 [D&C 98:45–46], herein; Revelation, 24 Feb. 1834, in JSP, D3:461 [D&C 103:26], herein; and Revelation, 22 June 1834, in JSP, D4:76 [D&C 105:30], herein.)

  39. Section 10 of “An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association” stated: “Whereas Joseph Smith has furnished the said association with the ground whereon to erect said house, it is further declared that the said Smith and his heirs shall hold by perpetual succession a suit of rooms in the said house, to be set apart and conveyed in due form of law, to him and his heirs by the said trustees as soon as the same are completed.” (An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 132, sec. 10.)

  40. JS and Oliver Cowdery reported that they experienced a vision in the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, on 3 April 1836 in which Moses, Elias, and Elijah each conferred “keys” on them. JS’s journal entry of that day recorded that “Elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying, that in them and their seed all generations after them should be blessed.” (JS, Journal, 3 Apr. 1836, in JSP, J1:219–222.)

  41. See Ezekiel 34:29.

  42. See Isaiah 62:6.

  43. This same term, “quorum,” was used at a 5 February 1841 meeting of the trustees of the newly formed Nauvoo House Association, the minutes of which report that Miller was elected “president of the Quorum of the Nauvoo boarding house.” (Nauvoo House Association, Minutes, 5 Feb. 1841.)

  44. This instruction to formally organize with a constitution was immediately followed. A bill to organize the Nauvoo House Association, apparently first introduced to the Illinois Senate, was considered and then approved by the House of Representatives on 19 February. The senate was informed of the house’s ratification on 20 February, and the act was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, going into effect 23 February 1841. The incorporating act closely followed the revelation’s language regarding stock management. (“A Bill for an Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association,” 12th General Assembly, House Bill no. 352 [Senate Bill no. 160], Illinois General Assembly, Bills, Resolutions, and Related General Assembly Records, 1st–98th Bienniums, 1819–2015, Illinois State Archives, Springfield; Journal of the House of Representatives … of Illinois, 19 Feb. 1841, 444; Journal of the Senate … of Illinois, 20 Feb. 1841, 359; An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], pp. 131–132; “Charter for the Nauvoo House,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1841, 2:370–371.)

  45. Section 4 of “An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association” stated that “no individual shall be permitted to hold more than three hundred” shares of stock, valued at fifty dollars each. (An Act to Incorporate the Nauvoo House Association [23 Feb. 1841], Laws of the State of Illinois [1840–1841], p. 131, secs. 3–4.)

  46. See Genesis 4:1–5.

  47. On 1 February 1841, JS gave a power of attorney to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith to buy or sell goods or property in an effort to pay the church’s debts. Within a few months, Galland and Smith departed for the eastern United States. The 1 May 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons reported Smith’s return to Nauvoo, noting that “Dr. Galland will continue in the east some time longer.” (JS to Isaac Galland and Hyrum Smith, Power of Attorney, 1 Feb. 1841, Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, p. 96, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; News Items, Times and Seasons, 1 May 1841, 2:403.)

  48. See Exodus 32:1–4. Babbitt moved to Kirtland by summer 1840, when JS received written complaints from church members regarding Babbitt’s conduct and leadership. Whether the eastern Saints should be encouraged to settle in Kirtland or to go west to Nauvoo was an ongoing concern. Despite JS’s intermittent criticism of Babbitt’s actions, a general conference of the church in October 1840 appointed Babbitt to preside over the Kirtland stake. (Letter to Oliver Granger, between ca. 22 and ca. 28 July 1840, in JSP, D7:362; Minutes, 5–6 Sept. 1840, in JSP, D7:395–397; Letter to the Saints in Kirtland, OH, 19 Oct. 1840, in JSP, D7:445; Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840, in JSP, D7:422.)

  49. See John 14:15.

  50. Burlington, Iowa Territory.

  51. Between 1830 and 1833, JS worked on a “New Translation” of the King James Version of the Bible, revising and clarifying the text. In a June 1840 memorial to the Nauvoo high council, JS stated he intended to resume work on the project. (Faulring et al., Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible, 3–6; Memorial to Nauvoo High Council, 18 June 1840, in JSP, D7:297.)

  52. See Psalm 37:25.

  53. On his deathbed on 13 September 1840, Joseph Smith Sr. designated Hyrum Smith as his successor as church patriarch. (Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840, in JSP, D7:467; Address, Times and Seasons, Sept. 1840, 1:173; Eliza R. Snow, “Elegy,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1840, 1:190–191.)

  54. See Matthew 16:19.

  55. A June 1829 revelation directed to Cowdery and David Whitmer referred to the apostle Paul and declared, “You are called even with that same calling with which he was called.” Cowdery was ordained as the second elder of the church on 6 April 1830 and served as a member of the church’s presidency from December 1834 to April 1838. (Revelation, June 1829–B, in JSP, D1:71 [D&C 18:9], herein; JS History, 1834–1836, 17–19, in JSP, H1:32–37; JS History, vol. A-1, 18, 27, 37, in JSP, H1:294, 326, 366; JS, Journal, 5 Dec. 1834, in JSP, J1:47–48; Minutes, 3 Sept. 1837, in JSP, D5:422; Minutes, 12 Apr. 1838, in JSP, D7:83–94.)

  56. See Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836, in JSP, D5:205 [D&C 109:71], herein.

  57. See Luke 12:12.

  58. See Mark 16:17–18.

  59. See Isaiah 40:31.

  60. See Psalm 47:6–8; and Revelation 7:10.

  61. JS ordained Rigdon as one of his counselors on 8 March 1832. (Note, 8 Mar. 1832, in JSP, D2:201–204.)

  62. A 12 October 1833 revelation stated that Rigdon would be a “spokesman unto this people” and ordained him to be a “spokesman unto my servant Joseph.” (Revelation, 12 Oct. 1833, in JSP, D3:324 [D&C 100:9], herein.)

  63. See Matthew 3:7; and Luke 3:7.

  64. At this time, Rigdon was residing in the “lower stone house”—a two-story home in Nauvoo on the bank of the Mississippi River, purchased in 1839 from Isaac Galland. (Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 12-G, p. 247, 30 Apr. 1839, microfilm 954,195, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; “List of Property in the City of Nauvoo,” 1841, Nauvoo block 132, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; Advertisement, Times and Seasons, 2 Aug. 1841, 2:502.)

  65. It is unclear to which house this instruction refers. Whether it was an alternative residence for JS and his family that was never built or an earlier iteration of the project that became the Nauvoo House, no preexisting contract with Foster has been located.

  66. See Isaiah 1:16.

  67. JS had earlier prepared an “Instruction on Priesthood” outlining the duties and functions of different offices of the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods. (Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835, in JSP, D4:308–321 [D&C 107], herein.)

  68. See Ephesians 1:13; Vision, 16 Feb. 1832, in JSP, D2:188 [D&C 76:53], herein; and Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832, in JSP, D2:337 [D&C 88:3], herein.

  69. See Revelation 3:10.

  70. Young was the de facto leader of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after David W. Patten’s death and Thomas B. Marsh’s excommunication. He was formally appointed as president by a vote of the quorum on 14 April 1840. (“Extracts of the Minutes of Conferences,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1839, 1:15; Heber C. Kimball, Clitheroe, England, to Vilate Murray Kimball, Commerce, IL, 2 May 1840, CHL.)

  71. In a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve on 27 February 1835, JS instructed that the “twelve apostles who are called to a travelling high council” were to “hold the keys of this ministry— to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations and preach the Gospel unto every creation.” (Minutes and Discourses, 27 Feb. 1835, in JSP, D4:252; see also Revelation, 23 July 1837, in JSP, D5:416 [D&C 112:21], herein.)

  72. At a 5 September 1840 meeting, the Nauvoo high council appointed Austin Cowles to replace Brunson on the council. Based on this January 1841 revelation, the high council replaced Cowles with Johnson at their 6 February 1841 meeting. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, draft, 5 Sept. 1840; 6 Feb. 1841, 17, 25.)

  73. With the exception of Johnson’s appointment in place of the deceased Brunson, these men were the same as those appointed to the Nauvoo high council at the October 1839 general conference of the church. (Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839, in JSP, D7:19.)

  74. Don Carlos Smith was appointed to this position in 1836. (Minutes, 15 Jan. 1836, in JSP, D5:147.)

  75. In early 1835, JS instructed the twelve apostles on church governance, stating that the Seventy were to “act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the twelve, or the travelling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same, in all nations.” (Instruction on Priesthood, between ca. 1 Mar. and ca. 4 May 1835, in JSP, D4:315 [D&C 107:34], herein.)

  76. Responsibilities of bishops and bishoprics were described in sections 13, 61, and 89 of the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831, in JSP, D1:251–252 [D&C 42:30–35], herein; Revelation, 4 Feb. 1831, in JSP, D1:244–245 [D&C 41:9–12], herein; Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–B, in JSP, D2:152–153 [D&C 72:9–23], herein.)

  77. William Marks was president of the Nauvoo stake. On 30 March 1841, at a meeting of the Nauvoo high council, Marks selected Austin Cowles and Charles C. Rich as his counselors. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, draft, 30 Mar. 1841, 26–27.)