Doctrine and Covenants 30
Historical Introduction
Doctrine and Covenants 30 consists of three revelations given to David Whitmer, Peter Whitmer Jr., and John Whitmer. The revelations came around the same time that the Church held its second conference in Fayette, New York. The conference minutes note that thirty-five members had joined since the last conference, making the total number of Church members sixty-two. During the conference Joseph Smith read Isaiah 5, which speaks of the broken state of scattered Israel and then prophesies of “an ensign to the nations” raised to signal the beginning of the gathering of the Lord’s people (Isaiah 5:26). Oliver Cowdery read the Articles and Covenants of the Church (D&C 20), with Joseph Smith offering comments. Everyone at the meeting sang and prayed on behalf of Oliver and Peter Whitmer Jr., who were preparing to embark on their mission to the Lamanites.
Joseph Smith later wrote that during this “time we had much of the power of God manifested amongst us; the Holy Ghost came upon us, and filled us with joy unspeakable; and peace, and faith, and hope, and charity abounded in our midst.” Doctrine and Covenants 30 was first published as three separate revelations in the 1833 Book of Commandments, then combined into one revelation in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants and has remained in this form in every subsequent edition.
Historical Introduction, Doctrine and Covenants 30:1–4
Historical Introduction, Doctrine and Covenants 30:5–8
Historical Introduction, Doctrine and Covenants 30:9–11
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
D&C 30:1–4
1 Behold, I say unto you, David, that you have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought.
2 But your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called; and you have not given heed unto my Spirit, and to those who were set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded.
3 Wherefore, you are left to inquire for yourself at my hand, and ponder upon the things which you have received.
4 And your home shall be at your father’s house, until I give unto you further commandments. And you shall attend to the ministry in the church, and before the world, and in the regions round about. Amen.
The reproof given to David Whitmer in this revelation is most likely linked to the recent episode surrounding the revelations Hiram Page received through his seer stone (see D&C 28). David repented of his folly regarding these revelations and a few months later obeyed the Lord’s commandment to relocate to Ohio (D&C 37:3). David was also called on a mission to journey to Missouri as part of the group that identified the land of Zion (D&C 52:25). He was instrumental in helping Church members who fled as refugees from Jackson County, Missouri, in 1833. In 1834 David was appointed as president pro tem of the Church in Missouri.
During a financial crisis in 1838 David became embittered against Joseph Smith. He was involved in a plot to remove Joseph as Church president. A few months later David was excommunicated from the Church, and he never returned. In 1887, the year before his death, he authored a seventy-five page pamphlet entitled An Address to All Believers in Christ. It is difficult to know if the pamphlet reflected David’s feelings when he was in the Church, or if he had grown bitter during the decades after he was expelled from the faith. David was harshly critical of Joseph Smith, especially after Joseph stopped using a seer stone to receive his revelations. According to David, Joseph told him “that we would have to be guided into truth and obtain the will of the Lord.” It is possible that the Lord’s warnings to David that he had “not given heed unto my Spirit, and to those who were set over you” (D&C 30:2) is a reference to David’s feelings at the time.
D&C 30:5–8
5 Behold, I say unto you, Peter, that you shall take your journey with your brother Oliver; for the time has come that it is expedient in me that you shall open your mouth to declare my gospel; therefore, fear not, but give heed unto the words and advice of your brother, which he shall give you.
6 And be you afflicted in all his afflictions, ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer and faith, for his and your deliverance; for I have given unto him power to build up my church among the Lamanites;
7 And none have I appointed to be his counselor over him in the church, concerning church matters, except it is his brother, Joseph Smith, Jun.
8 Wherefore, give heed unto these things and be diligent in keeping my commandments, and you shall be blessed unto eternal life. Amen.
Peter Whitmer Jr. was the first of three missionaries commanded to accompany Oliver Cowdery on his mission to the American Indians (see D&C 28:8; 32:1–3). He departed with the other missionaries in October 1830, preaching to the Seneca Nation near Buffalo, New York. Later, the missionaries found great success in Kirtland, Ohio, where they converted more than 100 people, many of them future Church leaders including Sidney Rigdon, Isaac Morley, John Murdock, Lyman Wight, and Edward Partridge.
Leaving Kirtland, the missionaries pressed on in their journey to the borders of the United States. Parley P. Pratt, another of the missionaries, recalled the difficulty of traveling during the winter months. He wrote that the missionaries had struggled “for three hundred miles through vast prairies and through trackless wilds of snow—no beaten road; houses few and far between; and the bleak northwest wind always blowing in our faces with a keenness which would almost take the skin off the face.” Parley continued, “After much fatigue and some suffering we all arrived in Independence, in the county of Jackson, on the extreme western frontiers of Missouri, and of the United States.”
After they arrived in Independence, Peter took on work as a tailor to support the other missionaries, who pressed on to Indian Territory. One of Peter’s clients during this time was Alexander Doniphan, who was later instrumental in helping the Saints during the difficulties they faced in Missouri. After his mission, Peter returned to settle in Missouri with his family. Mary Elizabeth Lightner, who served as one of Peter’s employees during this time later recalled, “I went to work for Peter Whitmer who was a tailor by trade, and just married. He was crowded with work, and Lilburn W. Boggs offered him a room in his house, as he had just been elected lieutenant governor, and wanted Peter to make him a suit for inauguration ceremonies. Peter did make [the suit], and I stitched the collars and faced the coat. Mr. Boggs often came in to note the progress of the work.” Peter remained with the Saints in Missouri, serving in a number of different positions in Church leadership, until his death on September 22, 1836.
D&C 30:9–11
9 Behold, I say unto you, my servant John, that thou shalt commence from this time forth to proclaim my gospel, as with the voice of a trump.
10 And your labor shall be at your brother Philip Burroughs’, and in that region round about, yea, wherever you can be heard, until I command you to go from hence.
11 And your whole labor shall be in Zion, with all your soul, from henceforth; yea, you shall ever open your mouth in my cause, not fearing what man can do, for I am with you. Amen.
John Whitmer, rather than embarking with the missionaries bound for the frontier, was commanded to preach at the home of Phillip Burroughs, a farmer who lived near the Whitmers in Fayette, New York. Earlier in the month, Parley P. Pratt, a new convert who was baptized and ordained only days before, had preached a successful sermon at the Burroughs’ home. Pratt later recalled, “On the next Sabbath [after his baptism] I preached to a large concourse of people, assembled at the house of a Mr. Burroughs. The Holy Ghost came upon me mightily. I spoke the word of God with power, reasoning out of the Scriptures and the Book of Mormon. The people were convinced, overwhelmed in tears, and four heads of families came forward expressing their faith, and were baptized.”
John Whitmer was called on to follow up after Parley’s success. Despite the successful meetings held in his home, it is unknown if Phillip Burroughs was ever baptized. Diedrich Willers, a local resident, later recorded that Phillip was “at one time, attracted to the LDS Church, but did not become a member.” Contrary to this, in 1832 Samuel H. Smith and Orson Hyde visited the Burroughs’ home, noting, “He [Phillip] was glad to see us and Sister Burroughs was strong in the faith. [We] held a meeting in the school house. A considerable number of people came to hear and paid good attention.” Orson Hyde wrote, “Brother B. [was] rather low, but left him about persuaded to go to Zion.” Phillip Burroughs apparently never heeded the call to Zion and as late as June 1860 was still living in New York along with his family.
Footnotes
