Revelation, 4 December 1831–B [D&C 72:9–23]
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Source Note
Revelation, , OH, 4 Dec. 1831. Featured version copied [ca. 4 Dec. 1831]; handwriting of ; two pages; , Papers, BYU.This text was inscribed between JS’s two other revelations dictated 4 December 1831, on the front and back of the first leaf of a bifolium measuring 12¾ × 8 inches (32 × 20 cm). For complete physical description, see Source Note for Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1–8].This document and several other revelations, along with many other personal and institutional documents kept by , were inherited by his daughter Mary Jane Whitney, who married Isaac Groo. This collection was passed down in the Groo family and donated by members of the family to the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University during the period 1969–1974.
Footnotes
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1
Andrus et al., “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” 5–6.
Andrus, Hyrum L., Chris Fuller, and Elizabeth E. McKenzie. “Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 1825–1906,” Sept. 1998. BYU.
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Historical Introduction
JS dictated this revelation at the same 4 December 1831 in , Ohio, at which he dictated two other revelations, including one calling for the appointment of as a in . A November 1831 revelation explained that when other bishops were appointed, they would “act in the same office” as , bishop in . The revelation designating Whitney as bishop stated that his responsibilities would be “made known” both by revelation and “by the voice of the conference,” indicating that some of these duties may have been discussed at the conference at which the revelation was dictated. This 4 December revelation specified Whitney’s duties, in coordination with Partridge’s, and emphasized that Whitney and Partridge should maintain close ties. Whitney was to operate the in Ohio to provide for the needs of the preaching the gospel and of the over the revelations. Any debts these individuals incurred for obtaining goods from the storehouse but could not repay would be covered by funds or assets held by Partridge in . Whitney was also to receive accounts—apparently both temporal and spiritual—from the elders of their stewardships. He was then to recommend the faithful to Partridge as worthy to receive an in Zion. Since other revelations declared that JS and conferences of elders would decide who should relocate to Missouri, Whitney likely was not tasked with actually sending individuals to Zion—only with providing recommends when such individuals were designated to go.Although early manuscript versions indicate that this was a separate revelation from the one appointing a bishop, the two revelations were combined with a third and presented as a single revelation when published.
Footnotes
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1
For additional information on these revelations, see Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1–8].
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2
Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:74–75].
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3
Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:7].
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4
See Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:13]; and Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:7–8].
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5
Joseph Coe, for example, sent Whitney a letter detailing the missionary activities he undertook in fall 1831. Orson Hyde did the same in 1833. (Joseph Coe, Report, 7 Mar. 1832, Missionary Reports, 1831–1900, CHL; Hyde, Journal, 13 Mar. 1833.)
Missionary Reports, 1831–1900. CHL. MS 6104.
Hyde, William. Journal, ca. 1868–1873. CHL. MS 1549.
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6
See Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:56]; and Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:41].
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7
See “A Revelation Given December 4, 1831,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1832, [5]–[6]; and Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831, in Doctrine and Covenants 89, 1835 ed. [D&C 72]; see also Historical Introduction to Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1–8].
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
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Document Transcript
Footnotes
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1
That is, at the same time that Newel K. Whitney was appointed by revelation to be a bishop.
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2
A reference to the “Laws of the Church of Christ” dictated in February 1831 and possibly also to the revelation given earlier in the day on 4 December 1831. (Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]; Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1–8].)
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3
A May 1831 revelation told the bishop to “appoint a storehouse unto this Church & let all things both in money & in meat which is more then is needful for the want of this People be kept in the hands of the Bishop.” The Lord’s storehouse in Kirtland, Ohio, was apparently to be Newel K. Whitney’s own store, which he was commanded in August 1831 to “retain . . . for a little season.” (Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:13]; Revelation, 30 Aug. 1831 [D&C 63:42].)
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4
The previous commandment referenced here may be either the revelation given earlier in the day or a February 1831 revelation in which the bishop was charged with the responsibility of supporting the families of elders “out of the property which is consecrated to the Lord.” (Revelation, 4 Dec. 1831–A [D&C 72:1–8]; Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:71].)
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5
The president of the high priesthood (who had not yet been appointed) was to have responsibility for “the administring of ordinances & blessings upon the Church,” in contrast with the bishop, who had the task of “administering all temporal things.” (Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:65–68].)
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6
See Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:31–33]; and Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:35–36].
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7
According to a July 1831 revelation, Bishop Edward Partridge was to purchase land in Independence and the surrounding areas so that he could provide “an everlasting inheritance” to church members. (Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:5]; see also Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:17].)
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8
A November 1831 revelation appointed JS, Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, and William W. Phelps “stewards over the revelations & commandments.” They had the responsibility of managing the publication of the revelations and “the profits thereof,” which they could use “for their necessities & their wants.” Anything left over was to be placed in the “storehouse & the benefits thereof shall be consecrated unto the inhabtants of Zion & unto their generations.” (Revelation, 12 Nov. 1831 [D&C 70:3–8]; see also Minutes, 12 Nov. 1831.)
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9
A copy of the revelation made by Frederick G. Williams and JS in Revelation Book 2 includes “at this time” here in JS’s handwriting. (Revelation Book 2, p. 15.)