Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources: Doctrine and Covenants 133–134, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources (2020)
Doctrine and Covenants 133–134, Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources
Doctrine and Covenants 133–134
Joseph Smith’s office in the John and Elsa Johnson home, Hiram, Ohio, USA. The Prophet worked on his inspired translation of the Bible and received revelations in this room.
Texts
Historical background and the earliest manuscript of each revelation, as published in The Joseph Smith Papers
Revelation, 3 November 1831 [D&C 133]
According to a later history, Joseph Smith dictated this revelation on 3 November 1831 in answer to elders’ questions about “the gathering” and “preaching the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth.” More …
Appendix 4: Declaration on Government and Law, circa August 1835 [D&C 134]
On 17 August 1835, Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon presented the Doctrine and Covenants to a general assembly of the church in Kirtland, Ohio, for approval. More …
People
Biographical facts and historical images of individuals associated with the revelations
Historical Background
Conference Minutes, 17 August 1835
Convened in Kirtland August 17th. A.D. 1835 by the presidency of the Church of the Latter-Day-Saints, for the purpose of Examining a book of commandments and covenants, which has been compiled and written by the following committee, which was appointed by a general assembly of the Church in Kirtland. More …
Revelations in Context
Essays on the background of each revelation
William McLellin’s Five Questions
After the conference concluded, McLellin stayed with Joseph Smith for another two weeks, copying revelations and preparing for an upcoming mission with Samuel H. Smith to the eastern states. He may even have been present on November 3 when Joseph received what would become known as the appendix to the Book of Commandments. More …
Of Governments and Laws
Lyman Wight looked with pride upon his father’s military service during the American Revolution. To Wight, American victory in that conflict had done more than secure independence for the United States; it had secured rights to life and liberty for the American people. More …
Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days
Narrative history of events surrounding the revelations
Volume 1, Chapter 36
Incline Them to Gather
Joseph also had confidence in the United States Constitution, which protected the free exercise of religion. Earlier that year, the Nauvoo City Council had affirmed this right when it passed an ordinance declaring that all religious groups were permitted to worship freely in Nauvoo. More …
Church History Topics
Essays on subjects related to the revelations
American Legal and Political Institutions
The system of government established in the United States was unusual and widely seen as experimental. More …
Council of Fifty
Less than four months before his death in 1844, Joseph Smith convened a council to discuss proposed Latter-day Saint settlements in areas that were then outside the United States. More …
Endowment of Power
Before early Church members were “sent forth” among all nations to gather Israel, the Lord promised to “endow” them “with power from on high.” More …
Solemn Assemblies
The term solemn assembly was used in the Old Testament to describe important gatherings of the people during Passover and the Feast of the Tabernacles. More …
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