Revelation, circa 7 March 1831 [D&C 45]

Source Note

Revelation,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, OH, ca. 7 Mar. 1831. Featured version, titled “47 A prophecy March 7th. 1831,” copied [between ca. Mar. and June 1831] in Revelation Book 1, pp. 71–76; handwriting of
John Whitmer
27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...
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; CHL. Includes redactions. For more complete source information, see the source note for Revelation Book 1.
Historical Introduction
JS dictated this revelation, which Revelation Book 1 titles a “prophecy,” sometime around 7 March 1831,
1
John Whitmer copied the text into Revelation Book 1, where it is designated “A prophecy March 7th. 1831.” Edward Partridge and William E. McLellin also made copies in 1831, but they assigned the date of 6 March 1831. The 1833 Book of Commandments dates this revelation to March 1831 and locates it at Kirtland, Ohio, while the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants specifies the date as 7 March but gives no location. (Revelations Collection, CHL; McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [1]–7; Book of Commandments 48; Doctrine and Covenants 15, 1835 ed.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.
during a period when, according to JS’s history, “many false reports, lies, and fo[o]lish stories were published in the newspapers, and circulated in every direction, to prevent people from investigating the work, or embracing the faith.” JS’s history reported that the revelation was the “joy of the saints who had to struggle against every thing that prejudice and wickedness could invent.”
2
JS History, vol. A-1, 104.

The revelation describes the
New Jerusalem
The Book of Mormon indicated that, in preparation for Jesus Christ’s second coming, a city should be built on the American continent and called the New Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon further explained that the remnant of the seed of Joseph (understood to be...
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and Christ’s second coming, both of which had been prophesied in JS’s
translation
To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...
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of the Book of Mormon, his previous revelations, and his revision of the Old Testament.
3
See, for example, Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501 [3 Nephi 21:23–25]; and Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:9, 35, 62, 67]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 566 [Ether 13:3–5]. One revelation foretold the destruction to come and urged the gathering of “mine Elect” to a designated place of safety. Another indicated that the sacred city was to be built “among the Lamanites,” or the American Indians. Two months later, in December 1830, JS dictated a passage that described the founding of the city of Zion by the patriarch Enoch and prophesied that there would be another Zion. In that text, God declared that he would “gether out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare an holy City that my people may gird up their loins and be looking fourth for the time of my coming for there shall be my tabernicle and it shall be called Zion a New Jerusalem.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:7]; Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:9]; Old Testament Revision 1, p. 19 [Moses 7:62].)
In particular, it connects the text of Matthew 24, in which Jesus prophesied concerning the last days and the Second Coming, with JS’s 9 February 1831 revelation about the New Jerusalem;
4
Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:8–9].
as the revelation featured here states, “I will shew it plainly as I shewed it unto my Deciples as I stood before them in the flesh.” The revelation also uses Jesus’s New Testament prophecies to explain and reinforce the command to gather to
Ohio
French explored and claimed area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Northeastern portion maintained as part of Connecticut, 1786, and called Connecticut...
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: “Not many years hence ye Shall hear of wars in your own lands wherefore I the Lord have said gether ye out from the Eastern lands [and] assemble ye yourselves together.”
5
Compare Matthew 24:6.

Parts of this text also found in Matthew 24 were among those included in JS’s later work of revising the New Testament, a project that began the day after JS dictated this revelation. Though JS’s inspired Bible revision had focused only on the Old Testament before this time, the revelation instructed him to shift his immediate efforts to the New Testament: “Now behold I say unto you it shall not be given unto you to know any farther then this until the New Testament be
translated
To produce a text from one written in another language; in JS’s usage, most often through divine means. JS considered the ability to translate to be a gift of the spirit, like the gift of interpreting tongues. He recounted that he translated “reformed Egyptian...
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& in it all things shall be made known Wherefore I give unto you that ye may now Translate it that ye may be prepared for the things to come.”

Three early copies of this revelation are extant. The version in Revelation Book 1 (featured here) and a copy in
Edward Partridge
27 Aug. 1793–27 May 1840. Hatter. Born at Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of William Partridge and Jemima Bidwell. Moved to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. Married Lydia Clisbee, 22 Aug. 1819, at Painesville. Initially a Universal Restorationist...
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’s handwriting were created around the same time, likely in spring 1831, and there are no significant differences to indicate which is earlier.
6
Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831, in Revelations Collection, CHL.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
An additional copy created by
William E. McLellin
18 Jan. 1806–14 Mar. 1883. Schoolteacher, physician, publisher. Born at Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of Charles McLellin and Sarah (a Cherokee Indian). Married first Cynthia Ann, 30 July 1829. Wife died, by summer 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...
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later in 1831 largely corresponds with the other two versions.
7
McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [1]–7.
Comprehensive Works Cited
McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.
Differences between all three versions are noted in the footnotes.

Footnotes
1. 1
  John Whitmer copied the text into Revelation Book 1, where it is designated “A prophecy March 7th. 1831.” Edward Partridge and William E. McLellin also made copies in 1831, but they assigned the date of 6 March 1831. The 1833 Book of Commandments dates this revelation to March 1831 and locates it at Kirtland, Ohio, while the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants specifies the date as 7 March but gives no location. (Revelations Collection, CHL; McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [1]–7; Book of Commandments 48; Doctrine and Covenants 15, 1835 ed.)
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
  McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.
2. 2
  JS History, vol. A-1, 104.
3. 3
  See, for example, Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501 [3 Nephi 21:23–25]; and Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:9, 35, 62, 67]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 566 [Ether 13:3–5]. One revelation foretold the destruction to come and urged the gathering of “mine Elect” to a designated place of safety. Another indicated that the sacred city was to be built “among the Lamanites,” or the American Indians. Two months later, in December 1830, JS dictated a passage that described the founding of the city of Zion by the patriarch Enoch and prophesied that there would be another Zion. In that text, God declared that he would “gether out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare an holy City that my people may gird up their loins and be looking fourth for the time of my coming for there shall be my tabernicle and it shall be called Zion a New Jerusalem.” (Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:7]; Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:9]; Old Testament Revision 1, p. 19 [Moses 7:62].)
4. 4
  Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:8–9].
5. 5
  Compare Matthew 24:6.
6. 6
  Revelation, ca. 7 Mar. 1831, in Revelations Collection, CHL.
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
7. 7
  McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [1]–7.
  
  McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.

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47 A prophecy March 7th. 1831

given to Joseph the seer at geauga County Ohio

Saying hearken O ye people of my to whom the Kingdom was has been given hearken ye & give ere [ear] to him who laid the foundation of the Earth who made the Heavens & all the hosts thereof & by whom all things were made which live & move & have a being & again I say hearken unto my voice lest death shall overtake you in an hour when ye think not the Summer shall be past & the harvest ended & your souls not saved listen to him who is the advocate with the Father who is pleading your case before him saying Father behold the sufferings & death of him who did no sin in whom thou wast well pleased Behold the Blood of thy son which was shed the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified wherefore Father spare these my Brethren that Believe on my name that they may come unto me And have everlasting life Hearken O ye people of my Church & ye listen together & hear my voice whilest it is called to day & harden not your hearts For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha & Omega the Begining & the end the light & the life of the world a light that shineth in darkness & the darkness comprehendeth it not I came unto my own & my own Received me not but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many Miricles & to become the Sons of God & even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life & even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant unto the World to be a light to the world & to be a standerd for my people & for the to seek to it And to be a mesinger before my face to prepare the way before me [p. 71]

47 A prophecy March 7th. 1831

given to Joseph the seer at geauga County Ohio

Saying hearken O ye people of my to whom the Kingdom has been given hearken ye & give ere [ear] to him who laid the foundation of the Earth who made the Heavens & all the hosts thereof & by whom all things were made which live & move & have a being & again I say hearken unto my voice lest death shall overtake you in an hour when ye think not the Summer shall be past & the harvest ended & your souls not saved listen to him who is the advocate with the Father who is pleading your case before him saying Father behold the sufferings & death of him who did no sin in whom thou wast well pleased Behold the Blood of thy son which was shed the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified wherefore Father spare these my Brethren that Believe on my name that they may come unto me And have everlasting life Hearken O ye people of my Church & ye listen together & hear my voice whilest it is called to day & harden not your hearts For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha & Omega the Begining & the end the light & the life of the world a light that shineth in darkness & the darkness comprehendeth it not I came unto my own & my own Received me not but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many Miricles & to become the Sons of God & even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life & even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant unto the World to be a light to the world & to be a standerd for my people & for the to seek to it And to be a mesinger before my face to prepare the way before me [p. 71]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
Revelation, circa 7 March 1831 [D&C 45]
ID #
6504
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D1:274–280
Handwriting on This Page
- John Whitmer
Footnotes
1. 1
  John Whitmer likely created this heading when he copied the text into Revelation Book 1.
2. 2
  See Acts 17:24, 28.
3. 3
  See Jeremiah 8:20. Partridge’s copy has “your souls are not saved.” (Revelations Collection, CHL [D&C 45:2].)
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
4. 4
  Instead of “the,” the Partridge and McLellin copies have “your.” (Revelations Collection, CHL; McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [1] [D&C 45:3].)
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
  McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.
5. 5
  The Partridge and McLellin copies have “cause.” (Revelations Collection, CHL; McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [1] [D&C 45:3].)
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
  McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.
6. 6
  See 1 John 2:1–2. In January, another revelation similarly declared, “By the Virtue of the blood which I have spilt have I pled before the Father for them.” (Revelation, 2 Jan. 1831 [D&C 38:4]; see also Revelation, ca. Summer 1829 [D&C 19:16].)
7. 7
  See Revelation 1:8; John 1:5, 11–12; 8:12; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 473–474 [3 Nephi 9:18].
8. 8
  The Partridge and McLellin copies have “into.” (Revelations Collection, CHL; McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [2] [D&C 45:9].)
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
  McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.
9. 9
  Instead of “my,” the Partridge and McLellin copies have “the.” (Revelations Collection, CHL; McLellin, Copies of Revelations, [2] [D&C 45:9].)
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
  McLellin, William E. Copies of Revelations, early Nov. 1831. In “W. E. Mc.Lellan Jan— 1877,” 1877, William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 7.

Revelation, circa 7 March 1831 [D&C 45]

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