Alma 25:28 And he said, Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron, save he will withdraw his purpose, as I have stated in my epistle; for I will not grant unto him that he shall have any more power than what he hath got.
DC 52:Intro SECTION 52
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., early in June 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio. This revelation is addressed to the elders of the church. It was received the day following a conference at which the first high priests in the Restoration were ordained. Missouri is designated as the land of the inheritance of the Saints. The specific location of the point of gathering is not stated, but it must have been sufficiently understood for the elders to meet there after traveling and preaching along many different routes.
DC 110:1a As I stated to you in my letter before I left my place, that I would write to you from time to time, and give you information in relation to many subjects, I now resume the subject of the baptism for the dead;
DC 113:Intro SECTION 113
This section is not a revelation. It was published in the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and has been retained in all subsequent editions. The Reorganized Church has deemed it better to leave it as it is rather than to omit or revise it. As far as the facts are stated, they are a part of the history of the event discussed. The conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix.
DC 117:Intro SECTION 117
As he approached the annual conference of 1873, President Smith was deeply concerned that he was again the only member of the First Presidency (Counselor William Marks had died in May 1872) and that the death of Apostle Samuel Powers in February 1873 had left the Quorum of Twelve with but five members. This concern was shared by the remaining members of the Twelve, and these were joined by a number of the Seventy in requesting that the prophet seek divine guidance.
In presenting the following revelation to the elders of the church, President Smith stated that it had been received "in answer to long and continued and earnest prayer to God upon the condition of the Quorums of the Church."
The revelation was approved by the available apostles and, on April 10, 1873, was endorsed by the conference. With the ordination of William Wallace Blair and David H. Smith, as provided for in this instruction, the quorum of the First Presidency was now complete for the first time since the reorganization of the church. This was also the first time in the Reorganization that members of the Twelve had been called by revelation through the President of the Church. Prior to this time, and on occasions in the early church, members of the Twelve had been selected by committees.
DC 120:1a The epistle is to be left without approval, or disapproval by the conference, as the judgment of the Quorum of the Twelve, until further experience shall have tested the matters therein stated.
DC 125:7a My servant was directed to present to the church rules of representation, and he so stated to the body at different times that he was so led; but the conferences of my people saw proper to change these articles and rules of representation, and propositions are pending that they be still further changed.
DC 125:11c They should be short, clearly stated, and a sufficient number should be printed to furnish the traveling ministry with the quantities desirable for them to distribute.
DC 126:10c and unless the liberties of the people of the church should be in jeopardy, the application of the law as stated by the bishopric should be acceded to.
DC 127:Intro SECTION 127
In the first decade of the twentieth century, the establishment of the Independence and Lamoni stakes (1901) and the kingdom concern of President Frederick M. Smith combined with other favorable factors to quicken church-wide interest in the Gathering. The building of Zionic institutions is vital to any significant gathering. By 1906 Graceland College had weathered her fist ten difficult years, the Saints' Home was giving good ministry, and leading women were showing interest in a children's home.
At the pre-Conference sessions of April 1906, the First Presidency recommended to the Quorum of Twelve that a sanitarium be established with Dr. Joseph Luff of that quorum as its presiding officer. The Twelve favored the basic proposal, but expressed concern regarding the assignment of an apostle to the responsibilities proposed for Dr. Luff. The Quorum stated that they would "gladly engage in an effort to learn the Master's will" in this matter. The prayerful inquiries resulting from this action prepared the way for the following revelation given through President Joseph Smith. It was presented to the General Conference, April 14, 1906, at Independence, Missouri, and accepted by unanimous vote.
Thus saith the Spirit unto the Church:
DC 127:1a It is the will of the Lord that a sanitarium, a place of refuge and help for the sick and afflicted, be established by the church, at Independence, Missouri, as my servant Joseph Smith has already stated to you.
DC 128:Intro SECTION 128
At the annual Conference of 1909, Presiding Bishop E. L. Kelley requested that a meeting of the eldership 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.
