Doctrine and Covenants 106

Doctrine and Covenants 106

Historical Context

In the spring of 1834, Joseph Smith traveled to Freedom, New York, to help recruit men for the march of Zion’s Camp. At that time, Joseph stayed in the home of Warren Cowdery, the older brother of Oliver Cowdery. Joseph wrote in his journal that during his stay with Warren, his group had received the “full enjoyment of all the blessings[,] both temporal and spiritual.”1 Sometime after Joseph’s visit, between May and September 1834, a small branch of the Church was set up in Freedom, and Warren Cowdery was baptized. After his baptism, Warren wrote to Oliver, requesting “a preacher of our order” to “do us good, by strengthening and building us up in the most holy faith.”2

In October 1834 Warren wrote to Oliver. Warren shared his hope of being “useful in the vineyard of the Lord” and told his brother that he “had thoughts of requesting you to enquire what is the will of the Lord concerning me.”3 Section 106 was given in response to Warren’s request.

In Joseph Smith’s official history, the Prophet noted how busy he was during this time, writing, “No month ever found me more busily engaged than November; but as, my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertion, I made this my rule, when the Lord commands, do it . . . I continued my labors daily, preparing for the school, &c and received the following: [D&C 106].”

See “Historical Introduction,” Revelation, 25 November 1834 [D&C 106].

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

D&C 106:1–8

1 It is my will that my servant Warren A. Cowdery should be appointed and ordained a presiding high priest over my church, in the land of Freedom and the regions round about;

2 And should preach my everlasting gospel, and lift up his voice and warn the people, not only in his own place, but in the adjoining counties;

3 And devote his whole time to this high and holy calling, which I now give unto him, seeking diligently the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all things necessary shall be added thereunto; for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

4 And again, verily I say unto you, the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and it overtaketh the world as a thief in the night—

5 Therefore, gird up your loins, that you may be the children of light, and that day shall not overtake you as a thief.

6 And again, verily I say unto you, there was joy in heaven when my servant Warren bowed to my scepter, and separated himself from the crafts of men;

7 Therefore, blessed is my servant Warren, for I will have mercy on him; and, notwithstanding the vanity of his heart, I will lift him up inasmuch as he will humble himself before me.

8 And I will give him grace and assurance wherewith he may stand; and if he continue to be a faithful witness and a light unto the church I have prepared a crown for him in the mansions of my Father. Even so. Amen.

Warren Cowdery was appointed as a high priest in this revelation (D&C 106:1). Commentary later published in the December 1834 issue of the Latter-day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate listed Warren as “the presiding elder of the church at Freedom, N.Y.”4 Warren Cowdery is not well known in the Church today, but he made several important contributions to the Church in his time. Warrant worked as a clerk for Joseph Smith, and in the publishing office in Kirtland, where he helped edit a newspaper published by the Church. Serving as a clerk for Joseph Smith, Warren recorded the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple, later included in the Doctrine and Covenants as section 109. Warren also served as a member of the high council of the Church in Kirtland.5 The Lord recognized Warren’s struggles to join the Church when he told him “there was joy in heaven when my servant Warren bowed to my scepter, and separated himself from the crafts of men” (D&C 106:6). He also tenderly counseled Warren when he added, “blessed is my servant Warren, for I will have mercy on him; and, notwithstanding the vanity of his heart, I will lift him up inasmuch as he will humble himself before me” (D&C 106:7).6

Warren’s service as the presiding elder in Freedom was marred when, a year later, he was accused of writing a letter containing “reports derogatory to the character and teaching of the twelve.”7 In the letter, Warren told Church leaders that the Twelve had failed to provide instruction to the members of the Church at Freedom about the need to donate funds for the construction of the Kirtland Temple.8 In response, the Twelve charged Warren with “unchristian conduct.”9 The matter was dropped when Warren “confessed his mistake” in a meeting with the Twelve on March 5, 1836.10

Like his brother Oliver, Warren Cowdery was a gifted writer and scribe. Warren eventually moved to Kirtland, where he served as the editor for the Latter-day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate and as a bookbinder in the Church’s printing office in Kirtland. Warren even assisted in writing the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple (D&C 109) and served as a member of the Kirtland High Council. Unfortunately, Warren was swept up in the tumult that overthrew the Church in Kirtland and became disaffected from Church leadership in 1838. The excommunication of Oliver Cowdery (which occurred in April 1838) undoubtedly affected Warren’s feelings toward Church leadership. Warren stayed behind after most active Church members left Kirtland. According to an 1850 census, he was living with his wife and six children in Kirtland in 1850. He passed away in 1851. Unlike his brother Oliver, he never returned to the Church in his lifetime.11

Footnotes

• 1. JS Journal, 1832–1834, p. 60, JSP.
• 2. “Warren Cowdery, Freedom, NY, to Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, 1 Sept. 1834,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 189.
• 3. “Warren Cowdery, Freedom, NY, to Oliver Cowdery, [Kirtland, OH], 28 Oct. 1834,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Nov. 1834, 1:22.
• 4. “A Summary,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Dec. 1834, 1:45. 
• 5. Warren A. Cowdery, biography, JSP.
• 6. Lisa Olsen Tait, “Warren Cowdery,” Revelations in Context, 2016, 219-223.
• 7. Minutes, 26 September 1835, p. 119, JSP.
• 8. Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 August 1835, p. 90, JSP.
• 9. JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836, p. 119, JSP.
• 10. “Historical Introduction,” Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 August 1835, p. 90, JSP.
• 11.  Warren A. Cowdery, biography, JSP.