Doctrine and Covenants 51

Mormon History 1830-1844

Doctrine and Covenants 51

May 20, 1831, Thompson, Ohio.
Consecration and stewardship. Bishop Edward Partridge deeds what is needed to families. Excommunicants retain deeded property but bishop retains their surplus for the poor and for his own family's needs. Be one. Behave as though this were a permanent settlement until the Lord directs otherwise. This is a church-wide policy. Eternal life promised to participants.
Kirtland Revelations Book, 87–89 (copied before August 27, 1834), heading: Thompson ~~August~~ May 20, 1831
Not in the printed the Book of Commandments.
1835 Doctrine and Covenants 23 heading: Revelation given May, 1831.
"Not long after … the saints from the state of New York began to come on, and it seemed necessary to settle them, at the solicitation of Bishop Partridge, I inquired and received the following." Joseph Smith draft history (1839) in Joseph Smith Papers 1:352.
	Kirtland Revelations Book		1835 Doctrine and Covenants 23
Bishop's instructions Bishop organizes people	Hearken unto me saith the Lord your God and I will speak unto my servant Edward and give unto him directions for it must needs be that he receive directions how to organize this people	1	Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, and I will speak unto my servant Edward Partridge, and give unto him directions: for it must needs be that he receive directions how to organize this people:	1	1835 D&C verse numbers are to the right of the text. Current LDS verse numbers are to the left of the text.
	for it must needs be that they be organized according to my laws if otherwise they will be cut off	2	for it must needs be that they be organized according to my laws, if otherwise, they will be cut off;
	wherefore let my servant Edward	3	wherefore, let my servant Edward Partridge,		Red: added in 1835
Edward to receive donated property	receive the properties of this people [88] which have covenanted with me to obey the Laws which I have given and let my servant Edward receive the money as it shall be laid before him according to the covenant and go and obtain a deed or article of this land unto himself of him who holdeth it if he harden not his heart for I have appointed him to receive these things and thus through him the properties of the Church shall be consecrated unto me Wherefor[e] let my servant Edward				Blue: dropped in 1835
Pleased with counselors Return what is needed to each family	and those whom he has chosen in whom I am well pleased appoint unto this people there portion every man alike according to there families according to there wants and there needs		and those whom he has chosen, in whom I am well pleased, appoint unto this people their portions, every man equal according to their families his family, according to their his circumstances and their his wants and needs;		Turquois: dropped after 1835 Pink: added after 1835
Give receipt Property belongs to church Property of excommunicants reverts to the church	and let my servant Edward when he shall appoint a man his portion give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his portion that he shall hold it of the church until he transgresses and is not counted worthy by the voice of the church according to the Laws to belong to the church	4	and let my servant Edward Partridge, when he shall appoint a man his portion, give unto him a writing that shall secure unto him his portion, that he shall hold it, even this right and this inheritance in the church, until he transgresses and is not accounted worthy by the voice of the church, according to the laws and covenants of the church, to belong to the church:
Excommunicants have no claim on donated portion, only on property deeded to them	and is not accounted worthy	5	And if he shall transgress, and is not accounted worthy to belong to the church, he shall not have power to claim that portion which he has consecrated unto the bishop for the poor and needy of my church: therefore, he shall not retain the gift, but shall only have claim on that portion that is deeded unto him.		The 1835 addition may have resulted from a suit filed by a member against Bishop Partridge in 1833. Source
Legal	and thus all things shall be made sure according to the Laws of the land	6	And thus, all things shall be made sure, according to the laws of the land.
	and let that which belongeth to this people be appointed unto this people	7	And let that which belongs to this people, be appointed unto this people;	2
Agent receives cash to buy necessities for people	and the money which is left unto this people let there be an agent appointed unto this people to take the money to provide food and raiment according to the wants of this people.	8	and the money which is left unto this people, let there be an agent appointed unto this people, to take the money to provide food and raiment, according to the wants of this people.
Be honest, equal, one	and let every man deal honestly and be alike among this people and receive alike that ye may be one even as I have commanded you	9	And let every man deal honestly, and be alike among this people, and receive alike, that ye may be one, even as I have commanded you.
Branches operate independently	and let that which belongeth to this people not be taken and given unto that of another church.	10	And let that which belongeth to this people not be taken and given unto that of another church;	3
	wherefore if another church would receive money of this church let them pay unto this church again according as they shall agree	11	wherefore, if another church would receive money of this church, let them pay unto this church again according as they shall agree;
	and this shall be done through the Bishop or the agent which shall be appointed by the voice of the church	12	and this shall be done through the bishop or the agent, which shall be appointed by the voice of the church.
Bishop in charge of storehouse	[89] and again let the Bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church and let all things both in money and in meat which is more than is needful for the wants of this people be kept in the hands of the Bishop	13	And again, let the bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church, and let all things, both in money and in meat, which are more than is needful for the want[s] of this people, be kept in the hands of the bishop.	4
Keep what his family needs	and let him also reserve unto himself for his own wants and for the wants of his family as he shall be employed in doing this business	14	And let him also reserve unto himself, for his own wants, and for the wants of his family, as he shall be employed in doing this business.
These are my laws	and thus I grant unto this people a privilege of organizing themselves according to my law	15	And thus I grant unto this people a privilege of organizing themselves according to my laws;
Abide by these laws in Kirtland until told otherwise	and I consecrate unto them this land for a little season until I the Lord shall provide for them otherwise and command them to go hence	16	and I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I the Lord shall provide for them otherwise, and command them to go hence;
Treat Kirtland as a permanent location	and the hour and the day is not given unto them wherefore let them act upon this land as for years and this shall	17	and the hour and the day is not given unto them: wherefore let them act upon this land as for years; and this shall turn unto them for their good.
An example	be an example unto my servant Edward in other places in all churches	18	Behold, this shall be an example unto my servant Edward Partridge, in other places, in all churches.	5
Eternal life for good stewards	and whoso is found a faithful a Just and a wise steward shall enter into the Joy of his lord and shall inherit eternal life	19	And whoso is found a faithful, a just and a wise steward, shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life.
Lord comes quickly, surprise	verily I say unto you I am Jesus Christ who cometh quickly in an hour you think not Amen—	20	Verily I say unto you, I am Jesus Christ, who cometh quickly, in an hour you think not: even so. Amen.
			D&C 52 Revelation of May 1831 D&C 50 Ohio Revelations Doctrine and Covenants