Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"Smith, Joseph Fielding
History
Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
Not all of those present at the conference fully endorsed these
revelations; there was one at least, who questioned their language.
This was William E. McLellin, who had but recently joined the Church.
The Prophet thereupon received a commandment from the Lord (Doc. and
Cov. Sec. 67) in which he was directed to invite the "most wise among
you" to choose out of the revelations the least, and attempt to make
one like unto it; and if this "wise" individual could duplicate the
least of the revelations, then the elders might be justified in saying
they did not "know that they are true." If this proved to be a failure,
then they would be "under condemnation" if they did not bear record
that they are true.
William E. McLellin's Folly
William E. McLellin, as the wisest man, accepted the challenge from
the Lord. His attempt was a humiliating failure, to the convincing of
the elders present, who unitedly signified their willingness to bear
testimony to all the world, of the truth of the revelations given to
Joseph Smith.
Other Important Revelations
At the conclusion of this conference the Lord gave another commandment
(Doc. and Cov. Sec. 68) for the benefit of Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson,
Lyman E. Johnson and William E. McLellin, who had inquired concerning
themselves. In addition to the advice and commandments given to these
men there was much counsel and commandment for the inhabitants in Zion,
for there were idlers among them, the Lord declared, and they were
to keep the Sabbath day, to remember their prayers, to teach their
children the principles of the Gospel and have them baptized when eight
years old, for these things they were failing to do; therefore the
Lord was not pleased with them. Instructions were also given regarding
the Priesthood and its powers, for the guidance of the Church. This
information Oliver Cowdery was to carry on his return to Zion.
On the 3rd of November, the Lord gave the great revelation known as the
Appendix, to the Book of Commandments, which appears as Section 133 in
the book of Doctrine and Covenants.
Arrangement of the Revelations
It was decided that Oliver Cowdery should carry the revelations to
Missouri, where they should be printed. Joseph Smith was therefore kept
busy during the days intervening, as Oliver expected to leave about the
15th of November. The Prophet writes: "My time was occupied closely
in reviewing the commandments and sitting in conference, for nearly
two weeks; for from the first to the twelfth of November, we held four
special conferences."
Worth of the Revelations
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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