Doctrine and Covenants 28

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph

Bios

Doctrine and Covenants 28

September [20–26], 1830, Fayette, New York.
Oliver to preach to the church, but only Joseph Smith shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations. Joseph as Moses, Oliver as Aaron §. Oliver may speak, but not write, commandments §. Joseph has the keys of the mysteries and sealed revelations until the Lord appoints another in his stead §. Oliver to preach to the Lamanites §. A city to be built, location not revealed §. Oliver to privately tell Hiram Page that he has been deceived by Satan in the revelations he has written §. All things to be done by common consent.
¶ Ezra Booth's Letters (8), Ohio Star, December 8, 1831 heading: A Revelation Unto Oliver Given September, 1830.
Book of Commandments 30 heading: A Revelation to Oliver, given in Fayette, New-York, September, 1830.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 51 heading: Revelation given to Oliver Cowdery, September, 1830.

Background
Oliver at the Whitmer's Joseph arranges revelations		After receiving D&C 26 in July [4–31], 1830, Oliver returns to the Whitmer home in Fayette. Joseph "began to arrange and copy the revelations which we had received from time to time; in which I was assisted by John Whitmer, who now resided with me."				History JS, TS 4, no. 7 (Feb. 15, 1843): 108.
Oliver writes Joseph		Oliver Cowdery writes Joseph a letter, which Joseph later reports he no longer has, so he:
		cannot give it in full, but merely an extract of the most prominent parts, which I can yet, and expect long to remember.
Oliver reports error		He wrote to inform me that he had discovered an error in one of the commandments: Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Sect. 2d, page 7th —"And truly manifested by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins."				¶ Articles and Covenants of the Church Other than the quoted passage, the Articles and Covenants (¶ D&C 20:37) follows Moroni 6:2–3. Oliver objected to the addition.
Oliver commands Joseph to remove addition		The above quotation, he said, was erroneous, and added, I command you in the name of God to erase these words, that no priestcraft be amongst us!!
Joseph replies: by what authority?		I immediately wrote to him in reply, in which I asked him by what authority he took upon him to command me to alter or erase, to add or diminish to or from a revelation or commandment from Almighty God.
Joseph visits Whitmers		In a few days afterwards I visited him and Mr. Whitmer's family, where I found the family, in general, of his opinion concerning the words above quoted; and it was not without both labor and perserverence that I could prevail with any of them to reason calmly on the subject.
Joseph persuades Whitmers, then Oliver		However Christian Whitmer at length got convinced that it was reasonable, and according to Scripture, and, finally, with his assistance, I succeeded in bringing, not only the Whitmer family, but also Oliver Cowdery, to acknowledge they had been in error, and that the sentence in dispute was in accordance with the rest of the commandments.
Roots out error, teaches humility		And thus was their error rooted out, which having its rise in presumption and rash judgment, was the more particularly calculated (when once fairly understood) to teach each and all of us the necessity of humility and meekness before the Lord ...
Visits Colesville		August 28 Joseph and Hyrum, and John and David Whitmer visit the church in Colesville.				Newel Knight journal in Early documents 1:11
Don't buy wine		September 4 Newel and Sally Knight visit Joseph and Emma Smith and John Whitmer in Harmony. Joseph goes out to buy wine for the sacrament and receives a revelation not to purchase it from enemies.				D&C 27
Move to Fayette		Toward the end of September, Newel Knight informs Joseph that a mob gathered in their absence and harassed the members for a full day. "Brother Knight" (Newel or his father, Joseph?) takes Joseph and his family to Fayette, New York, where they settle in at the Whitmer home.				Early documents 1:11–12, contra dating in TS 4, no. 8 (Mar. 1, 1843): 118; HC 1:109.
Hiram Page revelations		To our great grief, however, we soon found that satan had been lying in wait to deceive, and seeking whom he might devour. Brother Hiram Page had in his possession a certain stone, by which he had obtained certain revelations concerning the upbuilding of Zion, the order of the church, &c., all of which were entirely at variance with the order of God's house, as laid down in the New Testament, as well as in our late revelations.				TS 4, no. 8 (Mar. 1, 1843): 118; HC 1:109–110 Original, TS: Hyrum
Pre-conference revelation		As a conference meeting had been appointed for the first day of September, I thought it wisdom not to do much more than to converse with the brethren on the subject, until the conference should meet. Finding, however, that many, (especially the Whitmer family [119] and Oliver Cowdery, were believing much in the thing set forth by this stone, we thought best to inquire of the Lord, concerning so important a matter; and before conference convened, we received the following:				first day: 26th day, HC 1:110, because, Roberts notes, the Minutes of June 1, 1830. No mention of Oliver's status, or mission call, probably because by the time these histories were written, Oliver had been excommunicated.

		Ezra Booth Ohio Star, December 8, 1831		Book of Commandments 30
Church to listen to Oliver		Behold, I say unto you Oliver, that it shall be given unto thee, that thou shalt be heard by the Church, in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given.	1	[1] Behold I say unto you you thee, Oliver, that it shall be given unto thee, that thou shalt be heard by the church, in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the Comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given.	1	¶ Ezra Booth's Letters (8) BC MS 30 verse numbers are in brackets. D&C 28 verse numbers are in the center column, 1835 D&C 51 verse numbers are to the right of the text. Purple: dropped in 1833 Orange: added in 1833 Red: added in 1835 Blue: dropped in 1835
Only Joseph—like Moses		But verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in the Church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as Moses,	2	[2] But behold, verily, verily I say unto you thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.	2	Joseph's Callings
Oliver like Aaron		and thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the Church.	3	[3] And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church.		¶ D&C 24:10, 12 (July [4–31], 1830).
Speak when led by the Spirit		And if thou art led at any time by the comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the Church, thou may'st do it;	4	[4] And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it.
Don't command		but thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom:	5	[5] But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom;
Don't command Joseph		and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the Church;	6	[6] And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church
Joseph has keys until another appointed		for I have given him the keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead.—	7	for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.
Preach to Lamanites Revelations, but not commandments		And now behold I say unto you, that thou shalt go unto the Lamanites, and preach my Gospel unto them, and cause my Church to be established among them; and thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment.	8	[7] And now, behold, I say unto you, that you shall go unto the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them, and inasmuch as they receive thy teachings thou shalt cause my church to be established among them. And thou shalt have revelations but write them not by way of commandment.	3	and cause my Church to be established among them: not in Mormonism Unvailed—probably a transcription error. write them not: Parley and Ziba are to "give heed [only] to that which is written." ¶ D&C 32:4, October [17], 1831.
City	¶	And now behold, I say unto you, that it is not revealed, and no man knoweth where the City shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter.	9	[8] And now behold, I say unto you, that it is not revealed, and no man knoweth where the city of Zion shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter.		behold: not in Mormonism Unvailed Pink: added after 1835 Zion—the New Jerusalem
On Lamanite borders		Behold, I say unto you, that it shall be among the Lamanites.		[9] Behold I say unto you, that it shall be on the borders by the Lamanites.		the borders by the Lamanites: ¶ D&C 28:9, June 1831.
Wait for conference, Joseph's instructions		Thou shalt not leave this place until after the Conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to rule the Conference, by the voice of it: and what he saith unto thee that thou shalt tell.	10	[10] Thou shalt not leave this place until after the conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to rule preside over the conference by the voice of it, and what he saith to thee, that thou shalt tell.	4	Purple: dropped in 1833 Orange: added in 1833 Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835
Tell Hiram Satan tricked him Writings not from God		And again, thou shalt take thy brother Hiram between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that Satan hath deceived him,	11	[11] And again, thou shalt take thy brother Hiram Page between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that satan deceiveth him:		The issue was resolved by the September 26 conference, not personally by Oliver. See verse 14 below and Minutes of September 26, 1830.
Church covenants		for behold these things have not been appointed unto him,	12	For behold these things have not been appointed unto him:		behold: not in Mormonism Unvailed
		neither shall any thing be appointed unto any in this Church, contrary to the Church Covenant,		[13] Neither shall any thing be appointed unto any of this church contrary to the church covenants,		Orange: added in 1833
Order, consent, prayer		for all things must be done in order, and by commandment, by the prayer of faith,	13	for all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith.		Common Consent
Oliver to help settle this		and thou shalt settle all, these things, before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites;	14	[14] And thou shalt assist to settle all these things according to the covenants of the church before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites.	5	Red: added in 1835
Oliver will know what to do		and it shall be given from time to time, that thou shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what thou shalt do;	15	[15] And it shall be given thee from the time that thou shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what thou shalt do.		Turquoise: dropped after 1835
		and thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my Gospel with the sound of rejoicing.—Amen.	16	[16] And thou must open thy mouth at all times declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoicing.— Amen.
				D&C 29 D&C 27 New York–Pennsylvania Revelations Doctrine and Covenants