Doctrine and Covenants 18

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Doctrine and Covenants 18

June [1–14], 1829, Fayette, New York.

What Oliver has written is true. Joseph baptized you as I commanded him. Oliver and David have the same calling as the apostle Paul §. Mission of Jesus Christ. These are my words, so you can say you have heard my voice §. Twelve disciples §. Show them this revelation. They are to declare repentance and baptism, ordain priests and teachers, keep commandments.

Part of the revelation is based on Oliver's June 14, 1829 letter to Hyrum copied into Letterbook-1, 5–6, and part on his Articles of the Church of Christ. The index entry for the revelation in BCR lists it as, "A Revelation to Oliver David & the twelve" on page 18. Unfortunately pages 15–22 are missing, so the Book of Commandments remains the earliest known version.
That the revelation is addressed, in part, to "the twelve" suggests there may have been a "twelve" by June 1829—perhaps Joseph, the Three Witnesses, and Eight Witnesses (with the evident substitution of Ziba Peterson for Jacob Whitmer). D. Michael Quinn also mentions Joseph Sr., Samuel H. Smith, Hiram Page as possible members of "the twelve." Origins, 11–13. If there was an 1829 "twelve," there is no indication that they functioned as an ecclesiastical unit.

		Book of Commandments 15
		A Revelation to Joseph, Oliver and David, making known the calling of the twelve disciples in these last days, and also, instructions relative to building up the church of christ, according to the fulness of the gospel: Given in Fayette, New-York, June, 1829.
In response to Oliver's question	1	[1] NOW behold, because of the thing which you, my servant Oliver Cowdery, have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words:		Red: added in 1835
You know the things you have written are true	2	[2] Behold I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true:
		[3] Wherefore you know that they are true;
Rely on them	3	and if you know that they are true, behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written;
They contain gospel	4	for in them are all things written, concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock.
Build on them	5	[4] Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, upon the foundation of my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
World getting worse, must repent	6	[5] Behold the world is ripening in iniquity, and it must needs be, that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles, and also the house of Israel:
Joseph baptized you, as I commanded	7	[6] Wherefore as thou hast been baptized by the handof my servant, Joseph Smith, jr. according to that which I have commanded him:		Red: added in 1835
		[7] Wherefore he hath fulfilled the thing which I commanded him.		Red: added in 1835
Joseph called	8	[8] And now marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me:
Name is Joseph		[9] Wherefore if he shall be diligent in keeping my commandments, he shall be blessed unto eternal life, and his name is Joseph.
All must repent	9	[10] And now Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David Whitmer, by the way of commandment:		New York Offices
Oliver and David apostles		[11] For behold I command all men every where to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.		New York Offices
		Oliver Cowdery	Book of Commandments
		These few lines I write unto you feeling anxious for your Steadfastness in the great cause of which you have been called to advocate and also feeling it a duty to write to you at every oppertunity
Worth of souls is great	10	remember the worth of Souls is great in the Sight of God	[12] Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God:
Lord suffered death so all would repent	11	behold the Lord [6] Your God Suffered death upon the cross after the maner of the flesh wherefore he Suffered the pains of all men that all men might repent and come unto him	[13] For behold the Lord your God Redeemer suffered death in the flesh: wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.	Purple: dropped in 1833 Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835 Orange: added in 1833
Jesus' resurrection for all who repent	12	and he and he [sic] hath risen again from the dead that he might bring all men unto him on conditions of repentance	[14] And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him on conditions of repentance.
Rejoices in repenters	13	and how great is his Joy in the Soul that repents	[15] And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth.	Purple: dropped in 1833 Orange: added in 1833

		Book of Commandments
Cry repentance	14	[16] Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
Even if bring only one soul	15	[17] And if it so be that you should labor in all your days, in crying repentance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father?		Blue: dropped in 1835
Or many	16	4[18] And now if your joy will be great with one soul, that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy, if you should bring many souls unto me?		Blue: dropped in 1835
	17	[19] Behold you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation:
Ask Father for Holy Ghost	18	[20] Ask the Father in my name in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost which manifesteth all things, which is expedient unto the children of men.
Faith, hope, charity necessary	19	[21] And if you have not faith, hope and charity, you can do nothing.
Church of the devil	20	[22] Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.
Take on name of Christ	21	[23] Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness,		¶ Articles of the Church
Repent, be baptized, endure	22	and as many as repent, and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.		be baptized in my name which is Jesus Christ & endure to the end & ye shall be saved
Jesus Christ is the name	23	[24] Behold Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved:		["there is none other name … whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12] ["there is none other name given … whereby man can be saved." 2 Ne. 25:20]
All must accept	24	[25] Wherefore all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day:		Therefore all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father for in that name shall they be called at the last <day> ["take upon them the name" Mos. 25:23, Alma 46:21, Moro. 4:3]
	25	[26] Wherefore if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.		Therefore if they know not the name by which they are called they cannot have place in the Kingdom of my Father.
Others called	26	[27] And now behold, there are others who are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew:
Twelve	27	Yea, even unto twelve:
Full purpose of heart		[28] And the Twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name:
		[29] And the Twelve are they which who shall desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart:		full purpose of heart: 2 Ne. 31:1; Jacob 6:5; Mos. 7:33; 3 Ne. 10:6; 12:24, 18:32; D&C 17:1
To preach	28	[30] And if they desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature:
Ordained to baptize	29	[31] And they are they which who are ordained of me to baptize in my name, according to that which is written;		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835
	30	and you have that which is written before you:		Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835
Act according to writings		[32] Wherefore you must perform it according to the words which are written.
Twelve	31	[33] And now I speak unto the twelve:
Don't sin		[34] Behold my grace is sufficient for you: You must walk uprightly before me and sin not.
Ordain priests, teachers to declare gospel	32	[35] And, behold, you are they which who are ordained of me to ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men:		¶ D&C 20:60 ¶ Articles of the Church: to ordain Priests & Teachers according to the gifts & callings of God unto men
So I say	33	[36] And I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.
	34	[37] These words are not of men, nor of man, but of me:		¶ Articles of the Church: these words are not of men nor of man but of me
		[38] Wherefore you shall testify they are of me, and not of man;
This is my voice to you	35	for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you:
		[39] For they are given by my Spirit unto you:
		[40] And by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power, you could not have them:
You can say you heard my voice	36	[41] Wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.
Oliver, David, find the Twelve	37	[42] And now behold I give unto you, Oliver Cowdery, and also unto David Whitmer, that you shall search out the twelve which who shall have the desires of which I have spoken;		¶ Minutes of February 21, 1835 Apostles Twelve Apostles
Their desires and works	38	and by their desires and their works, you shall know them:		¶ Minutes of February 21, 1835 Apostles Twelve Apostles
Show them this revelation	39	[43] And when you have found them you shall show these things unto them.
Worship Father in my name	40	[44] And you shall fall down and worship the Father in my name:
Preach repentance, baptism	41	[45] And you must preach unto the world, saying, You must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ:
		Oliver Cowdery	Book of Commandments
Years of accountability	42	and behold he commandeth all men to [sic] every where to repent and ~~not only~~ [be] baptised and not only men but women [and] children which have arrived to the years of accountibility	[46] For all men must repent and be baptized, and not only men, but women and children, which who have arriven to the years of accountability.	Purple: dropped in 1833 Orange: added in 1833 Blue: dropped in 1835 Red: added in 1835

		Book of Commandments
Keep commandments	43	[47] And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my commandments in all things:
Marvelous work	44	[48] And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance; and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father:
Blessings above all	45	[49] Wherefore the blessings which I give unto you are above all things.
If keep commandments	46	[50] And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments, you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father.
Speaking by the power of my Spirit	47	Behold, I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, and your Redeemer, by the power of my Spirit, have spoken it: Amen.

		Oliver's conclusion
		Stir up the minds of our friends aga[i]nst the time we come unto you that then they may be willing to take upon the name of christ for that is the name by which they Shall be called at the Last day and if we Know not not [sic] the name by which we are called I <fear> we Shall be found on the [left] hand
		I have many things to write but if the Lord will I shall Shortly come unto you
		Please tell Mrs Rockwell that those Shose fit well and I received them as from the Lord
		tell him that whatever he does in the cause of Zion he will in no wise loose his reward
		Now m[a]y the Grace of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ be and abide with you all Amen
		this from your Brotr Oliver A fellow labourer in the cause of Zion
		Hyram Smith Oliver <H P> Coudry
		PS give my love to <all those> who anxiously inquire after my property &c
		D&C 19 D&C 17 New York–Pennsylvania Revelations Doctrine and Covenants Home