Doctrine and Covenants 107:59

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Doctrine and Covenants 107:59–100

November 11, 1831, Hiram, Ohio.

Offices of the priesthood: elders teachers deacons; each has its own president. The High Priesthood is the greatest. President of the High Priesthood is the presiding high priest. Bishop ministers in temporal things and sits as a judge. Major judgments rendered by the president of the High Priesthood who may call twelve counselors to assist.

According to the Kirtland Revelations Book, this revelation "regulating the Presidency of the Church," was given in Cuyahoga County.The Minutes of July 3, 1832 date this revelation November 11, 1831 in Hiram, Portage County. Eight months later, Missouri high priests and elders adopt this "addition to the Church Laws." ¶ Minutes of July 3, 1832
Not printed in the Book of Commandments.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 3:31–44 (following the revelation of March 28, 1835), heading:

	Book of Commandments and Revelations (BCR, 122–122) Scribes: John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery (beginning v. 72) Redactors:John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery.. 1831	Kirtland Revelations Book (KRB, 84�86)	Whitney Manuscript [Box 1, fd. 16]		Doctrine and Covenants D&C 28 1835
	75 A Revelatoin given at Hiram Portage Co Nov 11th. 1831	Revelation given November 1831 Cuyahoga Co [sic] Ohio			ON PRIESTHOOD.
59	To the Church of Christ in the Land of Zion in addition to the Church Laws respecting church business	To the church of Christ in the land of Zion in addition to the Church Laws respecting church business	To the church of christ in the land of Zion in addition to the church laws respecting church business.	31	To the church of christ in the land of Zion in addition to the church laws respecting church business.
60	verily I say unto you saith the Lord of hosts there must needs be ~~presiding~~ presiding Elders to preside over ~~them~~ <those> who are of the office of	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	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		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				an Elder,
61	& also Priests over ~~them~~ <those> who are of the office of a Priest	a priest	a priest,		and also priests, over those who are of the office of a priest,
62	and also Teachers over ~~them~~ <those> who are of the office of a Teacher in like manner And also the Deacons	and also teachers over those who are of the office of a teacher and also the Deacons	and also Teachers over those who are of the office of a teacher in like manner and also the deacons		and also Teachers to preside over those who are of the office of a teacher in like manner and also the deacons
63	wherefore from Deacon to Teacher & from Teacher to Priest & from Priest to Elder severally as they are appointed according to the Church Articles & Covenants	wherefore from Deacon to Teacher and from Teacher to Priest and from Priest to Elder severally as they are appointed according to the Covenants	wherefor from Deacon to Teacher and from teachers to priest and from priests to Elder severally as they are appointed according to the church articles and covenants		wherefor from Deacon to Teacher and from teachers to priest and from priests to Elder severally as they are appointed according to the church articles and covenants and commandments of the church
64	then cometh the high Priest hood which is the greatest of all	then cometh the High Priesthood which is the greatest of all	then cometh comes the High priesthood which is the greatest of all;
65	wherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the high Priest hood to preside over the Priest hood & he shall be called President of the ~~hood~~ high Priest hood of the Church	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	wherefor 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,
66	or in other ~~high~~ words the Presiding high Priest ~~hood~~ over the high Priesthood of the Church	or in other words the presiding high Priest over the high priesthood of the Church	or in other words the presideing high priest over the high priesthood of the church
67	from the same cometh the administring of ordinances & blessings upon the Church by the Laying on of the hands	from the same Cometh the administering of ordinances and blessings [85] upon the church by the laying on of the hands	from the same cometh comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church by the laying on of the hands		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835
68	wherefore the office of a Bishop is not equal unto it for the office of a Bishop is in administering all ~~things~~ temporal things	wherefore the office of a Bishop is not equal unto it for the office of a Bishop is in administering all temporal things	wherefor the office of a Bishop is not equal unto it, for the office of a Bishop is in administering all temporal things,	32
69	nevertheless a Bishop must be chosen from the high Priesthood	nevertheless a Bishop must be chosen from the high priesthood	nevertheless a Bishop must be chosen from the high priesthood unless he is a literal descendant of Aaron;		Red: added in 1835
70			For unless he is a literal descendant of Aaron he cannot hold the keys of that priesthood.
71	that he may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things having a knowledge of them by the Spirit of truth	that he may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things having a knowledge of them by the spirit of truth	that he 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		Spirit of Truth
72	& also to be a Judge in Israel to do the business of the Church to sit ~~down~~ in Judgement [123] upon transgressors upon tesimony <as> it shall be laid before ~~them~~ <him> according to the Laws by the assistance of his councillors whom he hath chosen or will choose [Oliver Cowdery handwriting begins] among the Elders of the church	and also to be a Judg[e] in Israel to do the business of the church to sin [sit] in Judgment upon transgressors upon testamony as it shall be laid before him according to the Laws by the assistance of his councellors whom he hath chosen or will choose among the Elders of the church	and also to be a Judg[e] in israel to do the business of the church to sit in judgment upon transgressors upon testamony as it shall be laid before him according to the laws by the assistance of his counsellors whom he, hath has chosen or will choose among the Elders of the church,		David Whitmer cites vs. 72–84 in May 1837 to derail proceeding against him. Minutes of May 29, 1837
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.
74	thus shall he be a judge even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion until the borders are enlarged & it becomes necessary to have other Bishops or judges	thus shall he be a Judge even a common Judge among the inhabitants of Zion until the borders are enlarged and it becomes necessary to have other Bishops or Judges	thus Shall he be a judge even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion until the borders are enlarged and it becomes necessary to have other Bishops or judges.	33	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.
75	& inasmuch as there are other Bishops appointed they shall act in the same office.	and inasmuch as there are Bishops appointed they shall act in the same office.	and in as much as there are other Bishops appointed they Shall act in the same office,		Orange: added in Whitney
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.	34
77			And the decision of either of these councils agreeable to the commandment which says:
78	Appeal bishop's judgment to presidency of High Priesthood	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 [with the] decision of the Judges it shall be handed over and carried <up> unto the court of the church before the President of the high Priesthood	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 decision of the bishop or judges it shall be handed over and carried up unto the court council of the church before the President Presidency of the high Priesthood	35	Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835 Orange: added in Whitney
79	President can call twelve counselors Presidency and twelve final authority	and the President of the court of the high priesthood shall have power to call other high priests even twelve to assist as Councellors and thus the president of the high priesthood and hiscouncellors shall have power to decide upon testamony according to the laws of the church	and the President Presidency of the court council of the high priesthood shall have power to call other high priests even twelve to assist as counsellors and thus the president Presidency of the high priesthood and his its counsellors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church
80		and after the 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	and after the this decision it Shall be had in remembrance no more before the Lord for this is the highest court council of the church of God and a final decission upon controversies in spiritual matters		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835 Orange: added in Whitney
81	All subject to this council	there is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this court of the church	there is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this court council of the church	36
82	Common court tries president	and inasmuch as the President of the high priesthood [86] Shall transgress he shall be had in remembrance before the common court of the church who shall be assisted by twelve councellors of the high priesthood	and inasmuch as the a president of the high priesthood Shall transgress he shall be had in remembrance before the common court council of the church who shall be assisted by twelve counsellors of the high priesthood of	37	Thomas B. Marsh threatens W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer with a common council when they refuse to cooperate with a council consisting of the Far West bishopric and apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten. Minutes of April 5–6, 1837
83	No appeal	and their decission upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him	and their decission upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him,
84	All subject to laws of God	thus none shall be exempt 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.— — —	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 him according to truth and righteousness.— Amen —
85	12 deacons	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 councel with them and to teach them their duty edefying one another as it is given according to the covenants	Also 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	38	Orange: added in KRB
86	24 teachers	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 councel with them teaching them the duties of their office as given in 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,	39
87	48 priests Bishop president of Aaronic and priests	also the duty of the president over the priesthood [priests] is to preside over forty eight Priests and sit in councel with them and to teach them the duties of their office as given in the covenants.	also the duty of the president over the priesthood [priests] Priesthood of Aaron is to preside over forty eight priests and to to Sit in council with them and to teach them the duties of their office as is given in the covenants.	40	Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835 Orange: added in Whitney
88			This president is to be a bishop; for this is one of the duties of this priesthood.
89	96 elders	and again the duty of the President over the office of the Elders is to preside over Ninety six Elders and to set in councel with them and to teach them according to the covenants	and also again the duty of the President over the office of the Elders is to preside over ninety ~~four~~ Six Elders and to sit in council with them and to teach them according to the covenants.	41
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.
91	President like Moses	And again the duty of the President of the office of the high Priesthood is to preside over the whole and to be like unto Moses.	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.	42	Orange: added in Whitney
92	Seer revelator translator prophet All gifts	Behold here is wisdom yea to be a seer a revelator a translator and a prophet having all the gifts of God which he bestoweth upon the head of the church	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 bestows upon the heads of the church.

Doctrine and Covenants D&C 28:43 1835
					Joseph Smith's Other Visions The calling and/or ordination of the seven presidents is sparsely documented. Most seventies are ordained and blessed February 28 and March 1, 1835. Only Sylvester Smith's blessing refers to presidents of the seventy: "… ordain you to be one of the 70 and a President among the 70." The next reference is in a council meeting on March 16, 1835 when Sylvester Smith is referred to as "one of the presidents of the Seventy." The "seven presidents of the first Seventy" are named in the meeting of May 2, 1835. ¶ Minutes of May 2, 1835 Red: added in 1835
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;
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.

	Book of Commandments and Revelations (BCR, 52–58) Scribe: John Whitmer Redactors: Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, Unidentified. 1831	Kirtland Revelations Book (KRB, 84–86)	Whitney Manuscript [Box 1, fd. 16]		Doctrine and Covenants D&C 28 1835
99	Learn duty	wherefore let every man learn his duty and to act in the office in which he is appointed in all diligence	wherefore now let every man learn his duty and to act in the office in which he is appointed in all diligence.	44	Orange: added in Whitney
100	Drop unworthy	he that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand and he that learneth not his duty and sheweth himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand even so amen	He that is Slothful Shall not be counted worthy to Stand, and he that learneth learns <not> his duty and showeth shows himself not {3} approved shall not be counted worthy to stand even so Amen — —		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835
		Revelation of November 3, 1835 D&C 107:1–58 D&C 106 Offices Priesthood Ohio Revelations Doctrine and Covenants