| November 11, 1831 |
| Hiram, Ohio |
| Offices of the priesthood: elders
teachers deacons; each has its own president. The High Priesthood is the
greatest. President of the High Priesthood is the presiding high priest.
Bishop ministers in temporal things and sits as a judge. Major judgments
rendered by the president of the High Priesthood who may call twelve counselors
to assist. |
| According to the Kirtland Revelations Book, this revelation "regulating the Presidency of the Church," was given in Cuyahoga County. The Whitney manuscript, which may be a later version, gives no location or date. The Minutes of July 12, 1832 date the revelation November 11, 1831 in Hiram, Portage County. In the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants this revelation is placed after the revelation of March 28, 1835. |
| Newel K. Whitney Papers. |
| Kirtland
Revelations Book heading: "Revelation given November 1831 Cuyahoga
Co Ohio |
| Not printed in the Book of Commandments. |
| 1835 Doctrine and Covenants 3:31–44 (following
the revelation of March 28, 1835), heading: ON
PRIESTHOOD. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Kirtland Revelations
Book |
|
Whitney Manuscripts |
|
|
| Church regulations |
59 |
To the church of Christ in the
land of Zion in addition to the Church Laws respecting church business |
|
To the church of christ in the
land of Zion in addition to the church laws respecting church business. |
31 |
KRB, 84–86.
Whitney papers, Box 1, fd. 16.
1835 DC 3 verse numbers are to the right of the text.
Eight months later, Missouri high priests and elders adopt this "addition to
the Church Laws." ¶ Minutes
of July 3, 1832
Red: added in 1835
|
| Presidency of elders |
60 |
verily I say unto you
saith the Lord of Hosts there must needs be presiding Elders to preside
over those who are of the office of |
|
Verily I say unto you
saith the Lord of Hosts; there must needs be presiding Elders to preside
over those who are of the office of an Elder, and also |
|
| Of priests |
61 |
a priest |
|
priests, over those who are of the office of a priest, |
|
| Of teachers and deacons |
62 |
and also teachers over those who are of the office
of a teacher and also the Deacons |
|
and also Teachers to preside over those who are of the office
of a teacher in like manner and also the deacons |
|
Orange: added in Whitney |
| |
63 |
wherefore from Deacon to Teacher and from Teacher to Priest
and from Priest to Elder severally as they are appointed according to
the Covenants |
|
wherefor from Deacon to Teacher and from teachers to priest
and from priests to Elder severally as they are appointed according to
the church articles and covenants and
commandments of the church |
|
|
| High Priesthood greatest |
64 |
then cometh the
High Priesthood which is the greatest of all |
|
then cometh comes the
High priesthood which is the greatest of all; |
|
|
| President of |
65 |
wherefore it must needs be that
one be appointed of the high Priesthood to preside over the Priesthood
and he shall be called President of the high priesthood of the Church |
|
wherefor it must needs be that
one be appointed of the high priesthood to preside over the priesthood
and he shall be called president of the high priesthood of the church, |
|
|
| Presiding high priest |
66 |
or in other words
the presiding high Priest over the high priesthood of the Church |
|
or in other words
the presideing high priest over the high priesthood of the church |
|
|
| Gives authority to administer
and bless |
67 |
from the same Cometh the
administering of ordinances and blessings [85] upon the church by the laying
on of the hands |
|
from the same cometh comes the
administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church by the laying
on of the hands |
|
Blue:
dropped in 1835
Red: added in 1835 |
| Bishop administers temporal matters |
68 |
wherefore the office of a Bishop
is not equal unto it for the office of a Bishop is in administering all
temporal things |
|
wherefor the office of a Bishop
is not equal unto it, for the office of a Bishop is in administering all
temporal things, |
32 |
|
| From the High Priesthood
or descendant of Aaron |
69 |
nevertheless
a Bishop must be chosen from the high priesthood |
|
nevertheless
a Bishop must be chosen from the high priesthood unless he is a literal
descendant of Aaron; |
|
Red: added in 1835 |
|
70 |
|
|
For unless
he is a literal descendant of Aaron he cannot hold the keys of that
priesthood. |
|
|
|
71 |
that
he may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things
having a knowledge of them by the spirit of truth |
|
that
he Nevertheless
a high priest that is after the order of Melchizedek may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things,
having a knowledge of them by the spirit of truth |
|
Spirit
of Truth |
| Bishop a judge |
72 |
and
also to be a Judg[e] in Israel to do the business of the church to sin
[sit] in Judgment upon transgressors upon testamony as it shall be laid
before him according to the Laws by the assistance of his councellors whom
he hath chosen
or will choose among the Elders of the church |
|
and
also to be a Judg[e] in israel to do the business of the church to sit in judgment upon transgressors upon testamony as it shall be laid
before him according to the laws by the assistance of his counsellors whom
he, hath has chosen
or will choose among the Elders of the church, |
|
David Whitmer cites
vs. 72–84 in May 1837 to derail proceeding against him. Minutes
of May 29, 1837 |
|
73 |
|
|
This
is the duty of a bishop who is not a literal descendant of Aaron but has
been ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. |
|
Red:
added in 1835 |
| Bishops in Zion or abroad |
74 |
thus shall he be a Judge even a
common Judge among the inhabitants of Zion until the borders are enlarged
and it becomes necessary to have other Bishops or Judges |
|
thus Shall he be a judge even a
common judge among the inhabitants of Zion or in
a stake of Zion or in any branch of the church where he shall be set
apart unto this ministry until the borders of
Zion are enlarged
and it becomes necessary to have other Bishops or judges in Zion or elsewhere. |
33 |
|
|
75 |
and inasmuch as there are Bishops
appointed they shall act in the same office. |
|
and in as much as there are other Bishops
appointed they Shall act in the same office, |
|
Orange: added in Whitney |
| Literal
descendants act without counselor |
76 |
|
|
But
a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to the presidency of this
priesthood to the keys of this ministry to act in the office of bishop
independently without counselors except in a case where a President of
the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is tried to sit as
a judge in Israel. |
34 |
|
|
77 |
|
|
And the decision
of either of these councils agreeable to the commandment which says: |
|
|
| Appeal bishop's judgment
to presidency of High Priesthood |
78 |
And again verily I say unto you the
most important business of the church and the most difficult cases of
the church inasmuch as there is not satisfaction [with the] decision of the Judges it shall be handed over and carried <up> unto the court of the church before the President of the high Priesthood |
|
and again verily I say unto you the
most important business of the church and the most difficult cases of
the church inasmuch as there is not Satisfaction upon the decision of the bishop
or judges it shall be handed over and carried up unto the court council of the church before the President Presidency of the high Priesthood |
35 |
Blue:
dropped in 1835
Red: added in 1835
Orange: added in Whitney |
President
can call twelve counselors
Presidency and twelve final authority |
79 |
and the President of the court of the high priesthood shall have
power to call other high priests even twelve to assist as Councellors
and thus the president of the high priesthood and hiscouncellors shall have power to decide upon testamony according to the
laws of the church |
|
and the President Presidency of the court council of the high priesthood shall have
power to call other high priests even twelve to assist as counsellors
and thus the president Presidency of the high priesthood and his its counsellors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the
laws of the church |
|
|
|
80 |
and after the decision
it shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord for this is the
highest court of the church of God and a final decission |
|
and after the this decision
it Shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord for this is the
highest court council of the church of God and a final decission upon controversies in spiritual matters |
|
Blue:
dropped in 1835
Red: added in 1835
Orange: added in Whitney |
| All subject
to this council |
81 |
there is not any person
belonging to the church who is exempt from this court of the church |
|
there is not any person
belonging to the church who is exempt from this court council of the church |
36 |
|
| Common court tries president |
82 |
and inasmuch as
the President
of the high priesthood [86] Shall transgress he shall be had in remembrance
before the common court of the church who shall be assisted by twelve councellors of the high priesthood |
|
and inasmuch as the a president
of the high priesthood Shall transgress he shall be had in remembrance
before the common court council of the church who shall be assisted by twelve counsellors of the high priesthood of |
37 |
Thomas B. Marsh threatens
W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer with a common council when they refuse
to cooperate with a council consisting of the Far West bishopric
and apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten. Minutes
of Apr. 5–6, 1837 |
| No appeal |
83 |
and their decission upon his head
shall be an end of controversy concerning him |
|
and their decission upon his head
shall be an end of controversy concerning him, |
|
| All subject to laws
of God |
84 |
thus none shall be exempt from
the justice and the laws of God that all things may be done in order and
in solemnity before me according to truth and righteousness Amen.— — — |
|
Thus none shall be exempted from
the justice and the laws of God, that all things may be done in order and
in solemnity before me him according to truth and righteousness.— Amen — |
|
| 12 deacons |
85 |
and again
verily I say unto <you> the duty of a president over the office of a
deacon is to preside over twelve Deacons to sit in councel with them
and to teach them their duty edefying one another as it is given according
to the covenants |
|
Also A
few more words in addition to the laws of the church And again
verily I say unto you, the duty of a president over the office of a
Deacon is to preside over twelve Deacons to Sit in council with them
and to teach them their duty, edifying one another as it is given according
to the covenants |
38 |
Orange:
added in KRB |
| 24 teachers |
86 |
and also the duty
of the president over the office of the Teachers is to preside over twenty
four of the Teachers and to sit in councel with them teaching them the
duties of their office as given in the covenants |
|
and also the duty
of the president over the office of the Teachers is to preside over twenty
four of the Teachers and to sit in council with them teaching them the
duties of their office as given in the covenants, |
39 |
|
48 priests
Bishop president of Aaronic and priests |
87 |
also the duty of the president
over the priesthood [priests] is to preside over forty eight Priests and sit in councel
with them and to teach them the duties of
their office as given in
the covenants. |
|
also the duty of the president
over the priesthood [priests] Priesthood
of Aaron is to preside over forty eight priests and to to Sit in council
with them and to teach them the duties of
their office as is given in the covenants. |
40 |
Blue:
dropped in 1835
Red: added in 1835
Orange: added in Whitney |
|
88 |
|
|
This president
is to be a bishop; for this is one of the duties of this priesthood. |
|
|
| 96 elders |
89 |
and again
the duty of the President over the office of the Elders
is to preside over Ninety six Elders and to set in councel with them and
to teach them according to the covenants |
|
and also again
the duty of the President over the office of the Elders
is to preside over ninety four Six Elders and to sit in council with them and
to teach them according to the covenants. |
41 |
|
|
90 |
|
|
This
presidency is a distinct one from that of the seventy and is designed for
those who do not travel into all the world. |
|
|
| President
like Moses |
91 |
And again the duty
of the President of the office of the high Priesthood is to preside over
the whole and to be like unto Moses. |
|
and again the duty
of the president of the office of the high priesthood is to preside over
the whole church and to be like unto moses. |
42 |
Orange: added in Whitney |
Seer
revelator translator prophet
All gifts |
92 |
Behold here is wisdom
yea to be a seer a revelator a translator and a prophet having all
the gifts of God which he bestoweth upon
the head of the church |
|
Behold here is wisdom
yea to be a Seer a revelator a translator and a prophet haveing all
the gifts of God which he bestoweth bestows upon
the heads of the church. |
|
|
| Seven
presidents of seventy |
93 |
|
|
And it is according to the vision showing the order of the Seventy that
they should have seven presidents to preside over them chosen out of the
number of the seventy; |
43 |
Joseph
Smith's Other Visions
The calling and/or ordination of the seven presidents is sparsely documented.
Most seventies are ordained and blessed February 28 and March 1, 1835. Only
Sylvester Smith's blessing refers to presidents of the seventy: "… ordain
you to be one of the 70 and a President among the 70." The
next reference is in a council meeting on March 16, 1835 when Sylvester
Smith is referred to as "one of the presidents of the Seventy." The
"seven presidents of the first Seventy" are named in the meeting
of May 2, 1835. ¶ Minutes
of May 2, 1835
Red: added in 1835 |
|
94 |
|
|
And the seventh
president of these presidents is to preside over the six; |
|
| Seven presidents select seventy |
95 |
|
|
And these
seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy to
whom they belong and are to preside over them; |
|
|
96 |
|
|
And also
other seventy until seven times seventy if the labor in the vineyard of
necessity requires it. |
|
| Seventy traveling
ministers |
97 |
|
|
And these
seventy are to be traveling ministers unto the Gentiles first and also
unto the Jews. |
|
|
98 |
|
|
Whereas other
officers of the church who belong not unto the Twelve neither to the Seventy
are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations but are to
travel as their circumstances shall allow notwithstanding they may hold
as high and responsible offices in the church. |
|
| Learn duty |
99 |
wherefore let
every man learn his duty and to act in the office in which he is appointed
in all diligence |
|
wherefore now let
every man learn his duty and to act in the office in which he is appointed
in all diligence. |
44 |
Orange: added in Whitney |
| Drop unworthy |
100 |
he that is slothful shall not
be counted worthy to stand and he that learneth not
his duty and sheweth himself
not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand even so amen |
|
He that is Slothful Shall not
be counted worthy to Stand, and he that learneth learns <not>
his duty and showeth shows himself
not {3} approved shall not be counted worthy to stand even so Amen — — |
|
Blue:
dropped in 1835
Red: added in 1835 |
|
|
Revelation of November 3, 1835
D&C 107:1–58
D&C 106
Offices
Priesthood
Ohio Revelations
Doctrine and Covenants
|