/Mormon History Chronology/
-- Feb 9, 1831
[Lucy Mack Smith] Law of the Church given (D&C 42). (1)
[Lucy Mack Smith] Joseph Jr. introduces the law of consecration (D&C 42). (2)
[Revelations] Kirtland, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 42:1-73 Sources. Short missions. The New Jerusalem. Only those ordained by recognized authorities may preach -from the Bible and Book of Mormon. Do not teach without the spirit. Speak and prophecy as the Comforter directs. Cast out the unrepentant. Consecrate property to the Lord. The bishop returns what the family needs. Keep the rest in the Lord's storehouse for the poor and needy. Do not return consecrated property excommunicants. Bless the sick. Do not mention Bible translation until complete. The kingdom is the keys of the church. Do not go in debt to the world unless commanded [dropped in 1835].
Book of Commandments, Book A no heading (Orson Hyde scribe): Points of Law.
Book of Commandments, Book B heading (Algernon Sidney Gilbert scribe): Laws of the Church of Christ received in the presence of twelve Elders February 9th 1831.
Book of Commandments 44 heading: A Revelation given to twelve elders assembled in Kirtland, Ohio; and also the law for the government of the church, given in the presence of the same, February, 1831.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 13 heading: Revelation given February, 1831.
For annotations and cross-references, see D&C 42.
Page numbers: Book of Commandments (Books A, B, C) are not paginated. Here, braces enclose page number of a revelation; for example, {2} is the beginning of the second page of a revelation. Bracketed numbers such as [1] are verse numbers in the Book of Commandments 44 or 1835 Doctrine and Covenants 13 respectively.
Purple: not in the column to the right or left. (3)
-- Feb 9, 1831-23
D&C 44 (Kirtland): Missionaries to return to Kirtland in June; Joseph and Sidney to visit the poor and minister to their needs. (4)
-- February 9 and 23, 1831
[Revelations] Kirtland, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 42. Go in pairs to preach the gospel. Authorized ordinations. Preach and prophesy by the Spirit. Catalog of sins. Consecrate property to the church ; bishop deeds back what is needed and retains surplus to assist the poor, purchase land, and build up the New Jerusalem. Consecrated property not to be returned to excommunicants. Elders bless the sick. Treatment of adulterers and murderers, turn criminals and liars over to civil authorities. Reconcile with members privately , elders court if needed. Public reprimands for public offenses.
"On the 9th of February, 1831, at Kirtland, in the presence of twelve elders, and according to the promise heretofore made the Lord gave the following revelation, embracing the law of the church. " Manuscript History of the Church, A-1, 95. [Follows 1835 D&C 13. ].
This section, known as "The Law" or "The Laws of the Church," consists of two revelations. Verses 1-72 were received February 9, 1831; verses 78-93, February 23, 1831. Verses 73-77 were added when the two revelations were combined in 1835 Doctrine and Covenants 13.
For a comparison of five versions showing the development of these revelations, see Doctrine and Covenants 42:1-73 and Doctrine and Covenants 42:74-93. (3)
-- February 9-23, 1831
[Revelations] Kirtland, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 43. Joseph is the Lord's only authorized spokesman. If he falls, only he can name his successor. Uphold him and furnish what he needs. Day of the Lord is near. Last opportunity for the world to repent. Satan will be bound, then loosed for a season before the end. Righteous to be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
John Whitmer's version is consistent with the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants except for a few words noted in the annotation column. His version may have been written before or after 1835, but certainly after the Book of Commandments (1833).
Received in the latter part of February. MH A-1, 103.
Book of Commandments 45 heading: A Revelation to the elders of the church, assembled in Kirtland, Ohio, February, 1831.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 14 heading: A revelation given February, 1831. (3)
-- Feb 14, 1831
Lamanite missionaries Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt , Ziba Peterson, Peter Whitmer Jr., and Frederick G. Williams decide to send Parley back to Kirtland to report results. (4)
[A "Painesville correspondent informs us" that the missionaries in Kirtland] proclaimed that there had been no religion in the world for 1500 years,-that no one had been authorized to preach and teach for that period,-that Joseph Smith had now received a commission from God for that purpose, and that all such as did not submit to his authority would speedily be destroyed. The world (except the New Jerusalem) would come to an end in two or three years. The state of New York would (probably) be sunk: Smith (they affirmed) had seen God frequently and personallyCowdery and his friends had frequent interviews with angels. From 1 to 200 (whites) had already been in the water, and showed great zeal in this new religion many were converted before they saw the book. Smith was continually receiving new revelations, and it would probably take him 1000 years to complete themcommissions and papers were exhibited, said to be signed by Christ himself!!! Cowdery authorized three
persons to preach, &c., and descended the Ohio River. The converts are forming "common stock" families, as most pleasing in the sight of God. They pretend to give the "Holy Spirit" and under its operations they fall upon the floor -see visions, &c. Indians followed Cowdery daily, and finally saw him enter the promised land, where he placed a pole in the ground, with a light on its top, to designate the site of the New Jerusalem. "Book of Mormon," Palmyra Reflector, Feb. 14, 1831. (4)
-- about Feb 14, 1831
[Joseph Smith] Kirtland, Ohio. In response to a visit by a woman who pretended to receive commandments, laws, and other curious matters, Joseph Smith received Doctrine & Covenants 43, a revelation about the Lords pattern of revelation. (5)
-- Feb 15, 1831
Lengthy letter from M. S. C. [Matthew S. Clapp] in the Painesville Telegraph reports early Lamanite missionary efforts in the fall of 1830. They arrived "about the last of October, 1830" from Manchester and Palmyra, New York, "Mormonism," PT, Feb. 15, 1831.
bringing a pretended revelation, entitled the "Book of Mormon." They came to the brethern of the reformation in Mentor, saluted them as brethern, and professed to rejoice at finding a people walking according to the scriptures of truth, and acknowledging no other guide. brethern of the reformation: Campbellites, recently officially separated from the Regular Baptists, were formally known as Reformed Baptists.
Sidney lets them stay with him, reads the book, and "partly condemned it," but two days later, declares it is true. Only after the missionaries see they have prospects for converts do they announce "that their book contained a new covenant, to come under which the disciple must be re-immersed."
Immediately they made a party-seventeen persons were immersed by them in one night. At this Mr. Rigdon seemed much displeased, and when they came next day to his house, he withstood them to the face-showed them that what they had done was entirely without precedent in the holy scripturesfor they had immersed those persons that they might work miracles as well as come under the said covenantshowed them that the apostles baptized for the remission of sinsbut miraculous gifts were conferred by the imposition of hands.
However, about two days after, Mr. R. was persuaded to tempt God by asking this sign, which he knew to be contrary to his revealed will; he received a sign, and was convinced that Mormonism was true and divine. The Monday following he was baptised. two days: the same two days mentioned above?
On the morning of the preceding day he had an appointment to preach in the Methodist chapel at Kirtland. He arose to address the congregation apparently much affected and deeply impressed. He seemed exceedingly humble, confessed the sins of his former life, his great pride, ambition, vainglory, &c. &c. After he was baptized, he professed to be exceedingly joyful, and said he would not be where he was three days ago for the universe.
"[A]bout three weeks" after Sidney was baptized, he went to New York to meet Joseph Smith, while Oliver Cowdery and his companions proceeded on to "the western Indians."
[Re: last December: "At other times they are taken with a fit of jabbering that which they neither understand themselves nor anybody else, and this they call speaking foreign languages by divine inspiration." (4)
The same issue of the paper includes a challenge from Thomas Campbell (father of Alexander) to debate the Book of Mormon with Sidney Rigdon. (Sidney burns the letter.)
Rigdon was formerly a disciple of Campbell's and who it is said was sent out to make proselytes, but is probable he thought he should find it more advantageous to operate on his own capital, and therefore wrote, as it is believed the Book of Mormon "Mormonism-or Grand Pugilistic Debate," Cleveland Advertiser, Feb. 15, 1831. (4)
-- Feb 16, 1831
Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith have vision of Father and Son while translating the Old and New Testaments (with Rigdon transcribing). Levi Hancock says he was with Rigdon during the translation of the Bible. (6)
-- Feb 21, 1831
[Lucy Mack Smith] Martin Harris's note to Grandin to pay for printing the Book of Mormon falls due. (2)
Footnotes:
1 - History of Joseph Smith by His Mother: Revised and Enhanced by Scot Facer Proctor Maurine Jensen Proctor
2 - Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, Edited by Lavina Fielding Anderson, 2001, Signature Books
3 - http://saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml
4 - http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
5 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
6 - http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgv482t8_0d5hdn5cv
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Clair Barrus
