Mclellin and the book of commandments 1833

The newly found manuscript of doctrine and covenants section. On july 20, 1833, while the book was in press, the printing office in independence, missouri, was destroyed by vigilantes. Section 22 one of the earliest manuscripts comes from the william e. Shaking the dust from the feet was a practice of pious jews during new testament times. Mclellin did not take this advice and was excommunicated in december 1832 for spending time with a certain harlot while on a mission. Replica of 1833 book of commandments mormon brand new. Making such copies for use in study, preaching, and missionary work was a common practice among the early members of the church before the book of commandments 1833 and the doctrine and covenants 1835 were printed. The book of commandments represents the first effort to publish in book form the revelations received by joseph smith. Brother mclellins failure were strengthened in their testimony that the revelations joseph smith had received were true and had come from the lord. Mclellin tried to write a revelation, the holy ghost witnessed. The earliest reference to priesthood authority appeared in the 1833 book of commandments, the earliest version of, and precursor to, the doctrine and covenants fig. A 1993 article in dialogue by mark grandstaff having more learning than sense.

This destruction of the book of commandments occurred in july 1833, but the. I saw the book of commandments or revelations given through joseph smith, and i. Printing began in 1832 at a print shop in independence, missouri, owned by william w. Meanwhile, the doctrine and covenants version uses you to describe joseph, which, given the context of the revelation and the fact god definitely knows who hes talking to, makes much more sese than the third person used in the book of. A book of commandments, published in independence, missouri, in 1833. Mclellin to joseph smith iii, 10 january 1861, and july 1872. Elders at a church conference held at hiram, ohio, discussed publishing the lords revelations to joseph smith the book of commandments. According to a revelation received in june 1829, oliver cowdery was baptized one month earlier on 15 may by the hand of my servant joseph smith, according to that which i. May 26, 2009 original book of commandments published in 1833, independence, missouri, originally chapter 4, last sentence of v. That the church approved of the book of commandments, and used it from the year 1833 until 1835, can also be seen from a letter written by the leaders of the church in missouri, in july, 1834. Scanned images of the entire 1833 book of commandments and 1835 doctrine and covenants. Book of commandments, law and covenants, books b and c.

Book of commandments whitmer college antimormon, pro. When jesus called his twelve disciples, he told them to perform the same act against the nonbelieving jews in the early latter day saint movement of the 19th century, it was practiced much as recorded in the new testament, but later fell out of use. Doctrine and covenants sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. The apostle, peter, was the president of the council in ancient days and held the keys of the kingdom of god on the earth kirtland council minutes, 17 feb. Mclellin, independence, mo, to joseph smith iii, plano. The book of commandments absolutely was printed in full. Religious studies center, brigham young university. Several saints risked their safety to salvage pages during the attack. William e, mclellin and the book of commandments revisited.

The mob, purportedly frightened of mormon political power, was. Because many saints were arriving in missouri, some of the original settlers of the area were uneasy. Aug 23, 2014 brittany chapman explains how the book of commandments was compiled and talks about the edition available to view in the foundations of faith exhibit. From this it is obvious that the book of commandments was printed correctly, except for a few typographical errors. He died believing in the book of mormon, seer stones and the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ, just like any other convert to mormonism from his time. Before many copies of the book could be printed, the printing press and most of the printed copies were destroyed by a mob in missouri. A book of commandments printed sheets 1833 book of commandments, law and covenants, books b and c. In 1832 and 1833, mclellin served a mission for the church, traveling with parley p. A book of commandments for the government of the church of christ, organized according to law on the 6th of april 1830.

By early 1833, mclellin evidently repented and was restored to fellowship. A recently discovered circa 1871 manuscript written by william mclellin, an early mormon apostle and, later, apostate, includes a passage that narrates how, in 1833, he engaged two of the three and one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon about the nature of their experiences as witnesses. The doctrine and covenants is a compilation of the revelations received by joseph smith to individuals and for the guidance of the church the book itself is a witness for the truth of the prophets claims. Original book of commandments published in 1833, independence, missouri, originally chapter 4, last sentence of v. Mclellin and the book of commandments revisited, however, very helpfully dismantles the reliability of this well known story. The 1978 reprint of the 1835 edition and the 1993 photo reprint of the 1846 edition were used as sources for this. This implies david lied, or, they have something to hide. Aug 28, 2010 a 1993 article in dialogue by mark grandstaff having more learning than sense. Mclellin had much to say about the changes in the revelations. Nov 11, 2017 mclellin did not take this advice and was excommunicated in december 1832 for spending time with a certain harlot while on a mission.

That the church approved of the book of commandments and used it from 1833 until 1835 can be seen from a letter written by the leaders of the church in missouri in july, 1834. The book of commandments of 1833 reprint hardcover january 1, 1833 4. And when the book of commandments was printed, joseph and the church received it as being printed correctly an address to all believers in christ, p. Commandments in zion independence, missouri in 1833, and the doctrine. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, an address to all believers in. He made additional changes, including adding surnames to individuals mentioned in the revelations, just before the doctrine and covenants was published in 1835. They began to fear that the saints would take over the area, elect their own officials, and drive the original settlers off the land. Changing the revelations the case against mormonism vol.

The book of commandments is the earliest published volume said to contain the revelations of. Some of the unbound print sheets were rescued by several individuals, including sisters mary and. She was the young woman who, with the aid of her younger sister caroline, rescued some of the sheets of the book of commandments that had been scattered in the streets after a mob destroyed the press in independence, missouri on july 20, 1833. The joseph smith revelations signature books library. The 1978 reprint of the 1835 edition and the 1993 photo reprint of the 1846. Signers of the book of the lords commandments book of. However, in a revelation to joseph smith on march 8, 1833, it was said that the lord was not pleased with my servant william e. A book of commandments for the government of the church of. Section 1 served as the preface for both the book of commandments, whose printing was interrupted in july 1833 by mobs in jackson county, missouri, and the doctrine and covenants when it was first published in 1835. Other christian groups and organizations typically do. The story of the doctrine and covenants the church of. West section 120 section 2140 section 4160 section 6180 section 81100 section 101 120 general assembly covenants and commandments of the lord, to his servants of the church of the latter day saints.

Publication date 1833 topics lds collection opensource language english. Reuben clark law school and also editor in chief of byu studies when this was written. Book of commandments, 1833, page 0 the joseph smith. Full text of 1833 book of commandments internet archive. David claimed the book of commandments was printed in full, but the lds and community of christ churches say it was not. It is unknown how many copies were printed, as the printing press was destroyed by an antimormon mob in independence, missouri, when the printers had reached only chapter 65. The first publication reflecting most redactions in this section is the book of commandments chapter 22. Joseph smith, in speaking to the newly formed high council, said. This church being organized according to the will of him, who rules all things, on the sixth day of april, in the year of our lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty. Mclellin kirtland revelations bookmclellin journals, 4546.

Mclellin and written commandments in early mormonism by david g. When the book of commandments was about to be published, some latter day saints criticized the wording of some of the revelations. Dec 11, 20 in this way, mclellin declared, the preface was given. First published in 1833, the book of commandments was scheduled for a print run of 10,000. Shown is the 1833 edition of the book of commandments and the 1835, 1844, 1876, and 1921 editions of the doctrine and covenants. Also, specific mention of three witnesses removed, perhaps because 8 more witnesses were allowed to view the golden. Thus there was motive on the part of the lds and rlds churches to disparage the book of commandments, lest anyone should consult it and discover for themselves the truth of what david said. Use these to verify the many changes made to joseph smiths revelations. Signers of the book of the lords commandments book. William earl mclellin january 18, 1806 april 24, 1883 was an early leader in the latter day.

Brother mclellin, who had received a betterthan average formal education and had taught school in five states, criticized the language of the revelation as being inferior. Oct 10, 2010 i also find it interesting that in the book of commandments verse, that the revelation received by joseph mentions joseph as he and him. During the conference, the prophet received doctrine and covenants 6768. Revelation given through joseph smith the prophet to oliver cowdery, at harmony, pennsylvania, april 1829. Aug 26, 2019 a book of commandments, for the government of the church of christ, organized according to law, on the 6th of april, 1830. He was disfellowshipped in 1835 for writing a letter that cast.

Missouri editors sent a gathering of the book of commandments to kirtland for correction. Phelps, sidney rigdon, joseph smith, john whitmer, unidentified. The william mclellin papers offers a redemption for mclellin for those who care enough to dig. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, an address to all believers in christ, 1887, p. Scanned images of the entire 1833 book of commandments and. See the heading to chapter 15 of the 1833 book of commandments, 34, which revelation is numbered as section 18 in the doctrine and covenants. So important was the book of mormon to mclellin that, on november 14, 1834, he complained that his companion, john boynton, delivered a fine discourse but he never mentioned the book of mormon once. Brittany chapman explains how the book of commandments was compiled and talks about the edition available to view in the foundations of. Book of commandments, 1833, page 47 the joseph smith papers. By july 1833 the first 160 pages of the book of commandments had been printed. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Jan 05, 2012 view scanned images of the entire 1833 book of commandments and 1835 doctrine and covenants.

Book of commandments, 1833, page 0 the joseph smith papers. This earlier book contained 65 early revelations to church leaders, including joseph smith and oliver cowdery. I also find it interesting that in the book of commandments verse, that the revelation received by joseph mentions joseph as he and him. The book of commandments is the evidence of how they were prior to those changes. Guidelines for use of articles site map contact us my. The book of mormon as the keystone of church administration. Mclellin kirtland revelations book mclellin journals, 4546. The newly found manuscript of doctrine and covenants.

The doctrine and covenants was first published in 1835 as a later version of the book of commandments, which had been partially printed in 1833. In a revelation given march 8, 1833, the lord said, i am not well pleased with my servant william e. There he copied by hand several of the revelations received by the prophet joseph smith. Rebaptized in 1833, he was ordained an apostle on 15 february 1835. On july 20, 1833 an antimormon and proslavery mob destroyed the press. In this way, mclellin declared, the preface was given. Meanwhile, the doctrine and covenants version uses you to describe joseph, which, given the context of the revelation and the fact god definitely knows who hes talking to, makes much more sese than the third person used in the book of commandments. Book of commandments wikisource, the free online library. Criticism of mormonismbooksbecoming godschapter 3 fairmormon. He was a widowed school teacher just trying to do what he thought was the right thing.