D&C 107:59-100

D&C 107:59–100

November 1831, Hiram, Ohio.

Offices and organization of the priesthood: elders, teachers, deacons; each to have their own president. Above them is the High Priesthood, which is "the greatest of all." President of the High Priesthood is the presiding high priest. The office of bishop is not equal to the presiding high priest. The bishop ministers in temporal things and sits as a judge in Israel. Most difficult judgments to be rendered by the president of the High Priesthood, who may call twelve counselors to assist him in such cases. Decisions of this court are final and no one is exempt.

At the Conference of July 3, 1832 in Independence, the brethren referred to this revelation when they resolved to adopt "the mode and manner of regulating the Church of Christ" described in a revelation received in Hiram on November 11, 1831. This revelation was copied into the Kirtland Record Book with the heading "Revelation given November 1831 Cuyahoga [sic] Co Ohio regulating the Presidency of the Church." (Revelations of Joseph Smith, 17n.)

This revelation was combined with one of March 28, 1835 and published as Section 3, "On Priesthood," in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Text in red below indicate substantive chages made for the 1835 version.

Newel K. Whitney collection		Current version
Revelation received at Hiram, Ohio, in November 1831 to the Church of Christ in the Land of Zion
To the church of christ in the land of Zion in addition to the church laws respecting church business.	59	To the church of Christ in the land of Zion, in addition to the church laws respecting church business—
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,	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 an elder;
and also priests to preside over those who are of the office of a Priest,	61	And also priests to preside over those who are of the office of a priest;
And also Teachers to preside over those who are of the office of a Teacher in like manner and also the deacon;	62	And also teachers to preside over those who are of the office of a teacher, in like manner, and also the deacons—
wherefore from Deacon to Teacher and from teacher to priest and from priest to Elder severally as they are appointed according to the church articles and covenants.	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 and commandments of the church.
Then cometh the High priesthood which is the greatest of all;	64	Then comes the High Priesthood, which is the greatest of all.
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,	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;
or in other words, the presideing high priest over the high priesthood of the church	66	Or, in other words, the Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church.
from the same cometh the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church by the laying on of the hands,	67	From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of the hands.
wherefore, the office of a Bishop is not equal unto it; for the office of a Bishop is in administering all temporal things that he	68	Wherefore, the office of a bishop is not equal unto it; for the office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things;
	69	Nevertheless a bishop must be chosen from the High Priesthood, unless he is a literal descendant of Aaron;	vss. 15–17: The bishopric is the presidency of this priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same. No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of Aaron. But as a high priest of the Melchizedek Priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the Presidency of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
	70	For unless he is a literal descendant of Aaron he cannot hold the keys of that priesthood.
may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things, haveing a knowledge of them by the spirit of truth	71	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;
and also to be a Judge in israel to do the business of the church to sit in judgment upon transgressors upon testimony as it shall be laid before him according to the laws by the assistance of his counsellors whom he has chosen or will choose among the Elders of the church,	72	And also to be a judge in Israel, to do the business of the church, to sit in judgment upon transgressors upon testimony as it shall be laid before him according to the laws, by the assistance of his counselors, whom he has chosen or will choose among the elders of the church.
	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.
thus shall he be a judge even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion until the borders of Zion are enlarged and it becomes necessary to have other Bishops or judg[es]	74	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.
and in asmuch as there are other Bishops appointed they shall act in the same office	75	And inasmuch as there are other bishops appointed they shall act in the same office.
	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.
	77	And the decision of either of these councils, agreeable to the commandment which says:
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 decission of the judges it shall be handed over and carried up unto the court of the church before the president of the high priesthood	78	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 council of the church, before the Presidency of the High Priesthood.
and the president of the court of the Highpriesthood shall have power to call other high priests even twelve to assist as counsellors and thus the president of the high priesthood and his counselors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church	79	And the Presidency of the council of the High Priesthood shall have power to call other high priests, even twelve, to assist as counselors; and thus the Presidency of the High Priesthood and its counselors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church.
and after this 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 upon controversies,	80	And after this decision it shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord; for this is the highest council of the church of God, and a final decision upon controversies in spiritual matters.
There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this court of the church	81	There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this council of the church.
and inasmuch as the president of the high priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the common court of the church who shall be assisted by twelve counsellors of the high priesthood	82	And inasmuch as a President of the High Priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the common council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the High Priesthood;	The "common council" becomes a bone of contention in February 1838, when the Far West high council rejects the stake presidency over the objections of the bishopric. ¶ General Assembly of February 5–9, 1838
and their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him,	83	And their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him.
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 according to truth and righteousness Amen.	84	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 him, according to truth and righteousness.
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.	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 council with them, and to teach them their duty, edifying one another, as it is given according to 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,	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 council with them, teaching them the duties of their office, as given in the covenants.
also the duty of the president over the priesthood is to preside over forty eight priests and to sit in council with them and to teach them the duties of their office as is given in the covenants,	87	Also the duty of the president over the Priesthood of Aaron is to preside over forty-eight priests, and sit in council with them, to teach them the duties of their office, as is given in the covenants—
	88	This president is to be a bishop; for this is one of the duties of this priesthood.
and again the duty of the president over the office of the Elders is to preside over ninety six Elders and to sit in council with them and to teach them according to the covenants,	89	Again, the duty of the president over the office of elders is to preside over ninety-six elders, and to sit in council with them, and to teach them according to the covenants.
	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.
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.	91	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—
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 upon the head of the church.	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 bestows upon the head of the church.
	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;	vs. 25: The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
	94	And the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six;
	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.
	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.
wherefore now let every man learn his duty and to act in the office in which he is appointed in all dilligence.	99	Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence.
He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learneth not his duty and showeth himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand even so Amen	100	He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen.
			Redactions Home