DC 83 Intro: SECTION 83
Joseph Smith and some of his close associates returned from Independence to Kirtland, and here work on the Scriptures was resumed. During August and September many of the elders who had been on missions in the East also returned to Kirtland. Here, on September 22 and 23, 1832, the following revelation was given through Joseph Smith. It was received in the presence of six elders and is known as "the revelation on priesthood."
In the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, this revelation comprised Section 4. It followed the revelations now numbered 17 and 104 and came immediately before those which are now numbered 99, 84, and 85. These six revelations were all concerned with priesthood and church government.
1a A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high;
1b yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his Saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city New Jerusalem;
1c which city shall be built, beginning at the Temple Lot, which is appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and dedicated by the hand of Joseph Smith, Jr., and others, with whom the Lord was well pleased.
2a Verily, this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the Saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation;
2b for verily, this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.
2c And the sons of Moses, according to the holy priesthood, which he received under the hand of his father-in-law, Jethro; and Jethro received it under the hand of Caleb; and Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu;
2d and Elihu under the hand of Jeremy; and Jeremy under he hand of Gad; and Gad under the hand of Esaias; and Esaias received it under the hand of God;
2e Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham and was blessed of him, which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchisedec; who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah;
2f and from Noah till Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers; and from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother; who received the priesthood by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man;
2g which priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.
