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July 8, 1838

On July 8, 1838, Joseph Smith received a flurry of revelations in Far West, Missouri, and dictated five separate revelations dealing with Church leadership and finances.[1] Four of these revelations were eventually canonized in the Doctrine and Covenants (sections 117, 118, 119, and 120). The present uncanonized revelation is directed to William W. Phelps, former counselor in the Missouri Church presidency, and Frederick G. Williams, former counselor in the First Presidency. Both men had been stalwart leaders in the faith but had recently waivered in their fealty to the gospel. In November of the previous year, a general assembly of Saints gathered in Far West opposed keeping Williams in the First Presidency and instead sustained Hyrum Smith in his place.[2] In March 1838, Phelps was excommunicated by a council presided over by apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten.[3] However, when this revelation was received, both men were on the path of coming back into full fellowship with the Church.

The previous month, Sidney Rigdon had preached his infamous “salt sermon,” a highly inflammatory speech meant to threaten dissenters.[4] The next day, eighty-three Church members wrote a threatening letter to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Lyman Johnson, and William Phelps, ordering them to leave the county.[5] While the other former members of the Church fled, Phelps immediately wrote to Church leaders seeking to rectify any wrongdoing he had committed. In late June, Phelps and Williams were rebaptized, signaling their renewed commitment to the gospel.[6] Although in some ways they struggled in their future membership, they both died firm in the faith. This revelation outlines the next steps for Phelps and Williams as they worked to regain their footing in the Church. It counsels them to be ordained elders and to preach the gospel. However, no records exist of their ordination and missionary service in the months following this revelation.[7]

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Revelation given on July 8, 1838, in Far West, Missouri.

O Lord, what is thy will concerning William W. Phelps and Frederick G. Williams? Verily, thus saith the Lord—in consequence of their transgressions, their former standing has been taken away from them. And now, if they will be saved, let them be ordained as elders in my church, to preach my gospel, and to travel abroad from land to land, and from place to place; to gather mine elect unto me, saith the Lord. And let this be their labors from henceforth. Amen.

Notes

[1] JSP, D6:176.

[2] Minute Book 2, November 7, 1837, 82–83, The Joseph Smith Papers, .

[3] Minute Book 2, November 7, 1837, 105–7, The Joseph Smith Papers, .

[4] Bruce A. Van Orden, We’ll Sing and We’ll Shout: The Life and Times of W. W. Phelps (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2018), 277.

[5] Appendix 1: Letter to Oliver Cowdery and Others, circa 17 June 1838, The Joseph Smith Papers, .

[6] JSP, D6:182.

[7] JSP, D6:182.