Church History
Doctrine and Covenants 14–17


Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources: Doctrine and Covenants 14–17, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources (2020)

Doctrine and Covenants 14–17, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources

Doctrine and Covenants 14–17

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Interior of a log home with a stone fireplace and various old cooking implements

The reconstructed Peter and Mary Whitmer home in Fayette, New York, USA. While living in the Whitmer home Joseph received the revelations now contained in Doctrine and Covenants 14–17.

Texts

Historical background and the earliest manuscript of each revelation, as published in The Joseph Smith Papers

Revelation, June 1829–A [D&C 14]

Joseph Smith dictated this revelation for David Whitmer after Whitmer traveled to Harmony, Pennsylvania, and helped Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery move to Peter Whitmer Sr.’s house in Fayette, New York. More …

Revelation, June 1829–C [D&C 15]

This revelation and the one that follows were directed to brothers John Whitmer and Peter Whitmer Jr., respectively, in early June 1829, soon after they were baptized. More …

Revelation, June 1829–D [D&C 16]

This revelation for Peter Whitmer Jr., dictated in early June 1829, is identical to the revelation for John Whitmer, which apparently preceded it. More …

Revelation, June 1829–E [D&C 17]

After both a passage in the Book of Mormon and a Joseph Smith revelation promised that three witnesses would testify of the gold plates, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris requested that they be given the opportunity. More …

People

Biographical facts and historical images of individuals associated with the revelations

Historical Background

A Day for the Eternities

“There are moments in every person’s life that change them forever. This was mine.”

Revelations in Context

Essays on the background of each revelation

The Knight and Whitmer Families

D&C 12, 14, 15, 16

The Whitmers were a great support during this flurry of crucial activity. Such service brought both trials and rewards to the family. More …

The Contributions of Martin Harris

D&C 3, 5, 10, 17, 19

As the translation neared completion, Martin, together with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, begged Joseph for the privilege of being the promised witnesses of the plates. More …

The Experience of the Three Witnesses

D&C 17

“In the course of the work of translation,” Joseph Smith’s history explains, “we ascertained that three special witnesses were to be provided by the Lord, to whom he would grant, that they should see the plates from which this work (the Book of Mormon) should be translated.” More …

Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days

Narrative history of events surrounding the revelations

Volume 1, Chapter 7

Fellow Servants

As Joseph and his friends finished the translation, their minds turned to a promise the Lord had given in the Book of Mormon and in His revelations—to show the plates to three witnesses. More …

Church History Topics

Essays on subjects related to the revelations

Early Missionaries

Even before the organization of the Church in 1830, the Lord commanded Latter-day Saints to take the restored gospel to the world. More …

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon

The first edition of the Book of Mormon featured two testimonials: one written by a group of three witnesses and another by a group of eight. More …

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Pen and ink illustration of the Eight Witnesses viewing the plates

Olinda Hoehne Reynolds, The Eight Witnesses, 2001, pen and ink on paper, Church History Museum.

Places

Maps and information about places associated with the revelations from The Joseph Smith Papers, Historic Sites, and other helpful sources

Chronology

Timeline placing each revelation in the context of key events in the Church’s first century

View the chronology …