Filling in the History

While Joseph is traveling home, Newel K Whitney breaks his ankle on the stagecoach. Joseph stays with Newel and starts battling with some difficult feelings. In the throes of this moment, Joseph writes a letter to Emma that shares how difficult life has been including the death of Hyrum Smith's daughter, which is poignant considering that all of Joseph and Emma's children have died. Shortly after this letter and after Joseph makes it to his destination, a cosmic view of the Priesthood is revealed along with the history of how it has continued with humankind. This revelation is now section 84 and shows the power of serving God and of staying true to covenant promises.

Two unpublished revelations are given, one about paper to print the Book of Commandments, and another about bishops and their callings...which no bishop received. A conflict that was simmering for months between Sidney Rigdon and Newel K Whitney is resolved in public at a conference and the aftermath is a revelation that we now call Section 82. After all of this, we get a revelation detailing the care of widows, children, and a few forward-thinking rights given to women for property in their family.

Joseph Smith gives a question and answer about the Book of Revelation from the Bible, Jesse Gause is ordained to the First Presidency and later excommunicated, and we get a few missionary calls for preaching in this episode of Filling in the History. This episode will cover D&C 77-80, Enjoy.

The Vision (D&C 76) cannot be understated as one of the most important and powerful revelations to the early Church and to the modern Church. This vision, seen by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon lays out a very different view of the purpose of life, qualifications for salvation, and the afterlife. How was this received? Who was involved? What does it all mean? Are we the only faith that believe in degrees of glory? We explore all of this on Filling in the History.

We finally come to the end of 1831. A few people have become disaffected with the Church and in 1831 and 1832, they make major efforts to tear down and antagonize the Church by preaching and publishing criticisms. Joseph and Sidney are called to preach against these forces, many others are called on missions. In the middle of this, an explanation is revealed about New Testament scripture and who should be baptized and when. The New Testament revision continues and we end 1831 as the biggest year for the amount of revelations published in the Doctrine and Covenants.

The revelations are chosen for publication. A challenge to the authenticity of these revelations is answered with a challenge to produce something better than what Joseph Smith can do, which the members take. A Preface is given, an Appendix is given and with all of that plus a new Revelation Book that contains all of it, Oliver and John get ready to start printing in Independence. This is the major milestone in the publication and written history of the Church.

Section 64 is interrupted in the Book of Commandments because that is far as the publishers got until the press was destroyed by a mob in 1833. This marks the end of that era. We are getting tense with these sections. Members are leaving, feelings are hurt, and people are getting their licenses revoked. However, in the midst of all of it, William McLellin has 5 unknown questions that Joseph Smith answers in a revelation that change his life. The good, the bad, and the burning of books are all here in early American life.

The early leaders made their trip to Missouri across land, accomplished what they set out to do and dedicated the land. A few found things so underwhelming that they left the Church, thinking they have been duped.

The leaders decided that a river journey back was the best option until a sawyer tried to tip the group over and Joseph Smith ordered everybody back on land for the journey back. Needless to say, they know the best way to Zion and the best way back.

The Saints are in Independence, MO. Things are being consecrated, dedicated, and organized. We get the first death in Zion, new missions, and new issues with people moving, people misunderstanding doctrine, and a pretty rough crowd in Missouri. This episode talks about what to do on Sundays, what the sacrament is, what fasting is, and next steps for this very new Church.

William W Phelps appears on the scene, Leman Copley kicks out members of the Church from his land, and missionary calls are being dished out left and right. In this episode we see a revelation that was never published, General Conference minutes, and lots of revelations about practical matters, caring for members, and the revelation on the location of the New Jerusalem, or the City of Zion. This is a long episode, but full of juicy details.