DC 66:Intro SECTION 66
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at Orange, Ohio, October 1831. William E. McLellin had recently joined the church. He asked for instruction concerning his work, and this revelation was given in answer to Joseph's prayer on his behalf. In 1835 Elder McLellin became one of the charter members of the Council of Twelve.
DC 66:1a Behold, thus saith the Lord, unto my servant, William E. McLellin, Blessed are you, inasmuch as you have turned away from your iniquities, and have received my truths, saith the Lord your Redeemer, the Savior of the world, even of as many as believe on my name.
DC 67:Intro SECTION 67
Revelation addressed to theelders of the church, given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at a special conference held at Hiram, Ohio, November 1831. There had been some criticism among the elders regarding the language of the revelations. William E. McLellin accepted the challenge of this revelation but was unable to produce any improvement.
DC 68:Intro SECTION 68
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., November 1831, at a special conference held at Hiram, Ohio. Joseph wrote, "The mind and will of the Lord was made known by the voice of the Spirit to a conference concerning certain elders, and also certain items as made known in addition to the covenants and commandments." The instructions concerning church government found in this revelation should be read in connection with the "Articles and Covenants" which now constitute Section 17.
The message is specifically addressed to Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and William E. McLellin, although its contents are of continuing importance to the entire church.
DC 68:1e This is the word of the Lord unto you my servant, Orson Hyde, and also unto my servant, Luke Johnson, and unto my servant, Lyman Johnson, and unto my servant, William E. McLellin; and unto all the faithful elders of my church.
DC 75:2a Therefore, verily I say unto my servant William E. McLellin, I revoke the commission which I gave unto him, to go unto theeastern countries, and I give unto him a new commission and a new commandment, in the which I, the Lord, chasteneth him for the murmurings of his heart; and he sinned,
DC 87:8c and I am not well pleased with my servant William E. McLellin, neither with my servant Sidney Gilbert; and the bishop also; and others have many things to repent of;
DC 107:40b they are: Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith.
DC 117:8b and let my servants E. C. Brand, Charles W. Wandell, and Duncan Campbell be appointed as special witnesses of the Seventy in their places;
DC 121:2b President Joseph Smith replied: "The voice of the Spirit is that E.C. Briggs be sustained for the present. J.W. Briggs and Z.H. Gurley are in your hands, to approve or disapprove as wisdom may direct. Be merciful, for to him that is merciful shall mercy be shown."
DC 121:3 On the 14th of the month, theeighth day of the session, when the mission of Elder E.C. Briggs was being considered, the following instruction was presented as the will of the Lord concerning the Chicago mission, over which some trouble had occurred:
DC 123:1b There were present: Joseph Smith and W.W. Blair, of the First Presidency; Alexander H. Smith, E.C. Briggs, James Caffall, W.H. Kelley, J.H. Lake, J.R. Lambert, Heman C. Smith, Joseph Luff, and Gomer T. Griffiths, of the Twelve; E.L. Kelly, G.H. Hilliard, and E.A. Blakeslee, of the Bishopric.
DC 123:2a President Joseph Smith was chosen to preside, and E.A. Blakeslee to act as secretary.
DC 123:18 Resolved as the opinion of this joint council, that Brother E.L. Kelley should proceed to San Francisco at theearliest possible time and secure the proposed boat for the Society Islands.
DETROIT BRANCH
DC 123:28a The council then knelt and was led in prayer by President Joseph Smith, who earnestly invoked the divine blessing upon Brother Caffall and his labors, after which Brethren Joseph Smith, W.W. Blair, A.H. Smith, and E.L. Kelley laid their hands upon him and set him apart, President W.W. Blair being mouth in supplication.
DC 123:30b Brother Gomer T. Griffiths was excused and left for home on the 23d, and brother E.A. Blakeslee at noon on the 25th. Brother Joseph Luff was then chosen secretary for the closing session.
DC 124:2b Also, appoint my servant E. L. Kelley, Bishop of the church, to act as counselor to the President of the church, for the conference year, or until one shall be chosen to succeed my servant W. W. Blair, whom I have taken unto myself;
DC 128:Intro SECTION 128
At the annual Conference of 1909, Presiding Bishop E. L. Kelley requested that a meeting of theeldership be called to consider organizations and procedures in connection with the Gathering and the care of the poor. At the meeting called in this connection the elders asked the First Presidency for instruction. At a subsequent meeting President Smith asked for the support and prayers of the ministry as he sought divine guidance, and accordingly April 18, was observed by the eldership as a day of fasting and prayer for such guidance.
The following revelation through President Joseph Smith was presented to the elders April 19, 1909, and by them referred to the quorums. After receiving their approval, the elders adopted a resolution "that the document be accepted as a whole," and their action was reported to the Conference. The revelation is dated April 18, 1909, at Lamoni, Iowa. It was accepted by the Conference and ordered included in the Doctrine and Covenants.
To the Eldership; Brethren: So far as the burden of the conference and its peculiar conditions have enabled me to do I have steadfastly presented the matter stated by the Bishop for our consideration to the Lord for instruction. Whether that which has come to me will bring relief to the situation, I know not; but such as it is, I hereby present it.
DC 130:Intro SECTION 130
Instruction given through President Joseph Smith III, April 14, 1913, at Lamoni, Iowa. It was endorsed by the quorums and the assembly as a revelation from God, and the Conference authorized its inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Elder Joseph R. Lambert had been acting as Presiding Evangelist since the death of Elder Alexander H. Smith in 1909. There was widespread concern that a more permanent successor should be selected. Bishop E. L. Kelley and Apostles W. H. Kelley, I. N. White, and J. W. Wight were also finding the burdens of their several responsibilities arduous. These, and other needs of the church, undoubtedly found a prominent place in the petitions of the prophet and of the Saints in general prior to the convening of the Conference and while it was yet in session.
DC 130:4a To fill the vacancies caused by the release of theseelders from the apostolic quorum, Elders James E. Kelley, William M. Aylor, Paul M. Hanson, and James A. Gillen may be chosen and ordained as apostles to take with others of the quorum active oversight of the labors in the ministerial field.
DC 130:5a The Spirit saith further: Elder E. A. Blakeslee is hereby called into the more active participation of the duties of the Bishopric than he has hitherto engaged in,
DC 130:5b in order that he may give such assistance to the Bishop, E. L. Kelley, as is essential unto the success of the work intrusted to the Bishopric.
DC 132:Intro SECTION 132
President Joseph Smith died at Independence, Missouri, December 10, 1914. His oldest living son, Frederick Madison Smith, had been designated as his successor and was accepted by the church in this capacity. He was set apart as President of the Church and the High Priesthood at the Stone Church in Independence on May 5, 1915.
The Conference of 1915 had given consideration to the honorable release of Presiding Bishop E. L. Kelley, but referred any necessary action to the Presidency and Council of Twelve. President F. M. Smith reported the situation to a council of the Presidency, Council of Twelve, and Presiding Bishopric. By action of this council the text of the revelation was taken from the body of President F. M. Smith's report and presented to the General Conference, where it was endorsed and approved for inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants.
The matter of selecting one to succeed Bishop E.L. Kelley in the office of Presiding Bishop has received by me careful and prayerful consideration.
DC 132:1 I am therefore now prepared to say that the voice of the Spirit to me is, that Bishop E. L. Kelley should be released from the responsibilities of Presiding Bishop, though he may act as traveling bishop, counseling and advising on the law of temporalities in harmony with his successor and the Presidency.
DC 140:2 To fill vacancies already existing, let RoscoeE. Davey and Maurice L. Draper, now serving as Seventies, be ordained Apostles and occupy with their brethren in the Quorum of Twelve.
DC 141:3 In order that the Council of Twelve may be filled and the work of that Quorum be carried forward, it is my will that my servants Percy E. Farrow and Reed M. Holmes be ordained and set apart unto the apostolic office and appointed to mission responsibility.