THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 72
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, December 4, 1831. HC 1: 239—241. Several elders and members had assembled to learn their duty and to be further edified in the teachings of the Church. This section is a compilation of two revelations received on the same day.
Verses 1—8 make known the calling of Newel K. Whitney as a bishop. He was then called and ordained, after which
verses 9—26 were received giving additional information as to a bishop’s duties.
1 H
EARKEN, and listen to the voice of the Lord, O ye who have assembled yourselves together,
who are the high priests of my church,
[ The Lord is addressing the leadership of the church. ] to whom the kingdom and power have been given.
2 For verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me for
a bishop [ The Greek term “episkopos”, appearing in the NT occurrences of “bishop” in the KJV, translates best to “overseer”. The Lord wants someone to take an accounting of those who have responsibilities within the Church as is discussed in verse 3. ] to be appointed unto you, or of you, unto the church in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.
3 And verily in this thing ye have done wisely, for it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward,
to render an account of his stewardship,
[] both in time and in eternity.
[ The same applies to both earth life and in the eternities - leaders are and will be held accountable. ]
4 For
he who is faithful and wise in time [ Temporal life or our mortal probation. ] is accounted worthy to inherit the
mansions prepared for him of my Father.
[ Eternal life. ]
5 Verily I say unto you, the elders of the church in this part of my vineyard shall render an account of their stewardship unto the bishop, who shall be appointed of me in this part of my vineyard.
6 These things shall be had on record, to be handed over unto the bishop in Zion.
[ Compare with D&C 69:5-6. ]
7 And the duty of the bishop shall be made known by the commandments which have been given, and the voice of the conference.
8 And now, verily I say unto you, my servant Newel K. Whitney is the man who shall be appointed and ordained unto this power. [ Edward Partridge had been called ten months earlier (February 1831) to be the first bishop in the Church. (See D&C 41:9.) In the meantime, Bishop Partridge (D&C 58:24) and Sidney Gilbert, an agent (D&C 64:18), had been directed to move to Missouri. This left nobody in Ohio to administer temporal affairs there. Thus, in August the Lord had called Newel K. Whitney to be the agent (D&C 63:42-45), and now, here in December 1831, Newel Whitney is to be the bishop in Ohio. ] This is the will of the Lord your God, your Redeemer. Even so. Amen.
[ The duties of a bishop. He is to administer the storehouse and the Church’s finances (v. 9-15). ]
[ The duties of a bishop continued. take an accounting of member’s responsibilities and issue appropriate certificates (v. 16-19). ]
[ The duties of a bishop continued. To administer the recompense for those who labor for the Church (v. 20-22). ]
9 The word of the Lord, in addition to the law which has been given, making known the duty of the bishop who has been ordained unto the church in this part of the vineyard, which is verily this—
10 To keep the Lord’s storehouse; to receive the funds of the church in this part of the vineyard;
11 To take an account of the elders as before has been commanded; and to administer to their wants, who shall pay for that which they receive, inasmuch as they have wherewith to pay;
12 That this also may be consecrated to the good of the church, to the poor and needy.
13 And he who hath not wherewith to pay, an account shall be taken and handed over to the bishop of Zion, who shall pay the debt out of that which the Lord shall put into his hands.
14 And the labors of the faithful who labor in spiritual things, in administering the gospel and the things of the kingdom unto the church, and unto the world, shall answer the debt unto the bishop in Zion;
[ Compare D&C 70:12. ]
15 Thus it cometh out of the church, for according to the law every man that cometh up to Zion must lay all things before the bishop in Zion.
16 And now, verily I say unto you, that as every elder in this part of the vineyard must give an account of his stewardship unto the bishop in this part of the vineyard—
17 A certificate from the judge or bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the bishop in Zion, rendereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things, for an inheritance, and to be received as a wise steward and as a faithful laborer;
18 Otherwise he shall not be accepted of the bishop of Zion.
19 And now, verily I say unto you,
let every elder who shall give an account unto the bishop of the church in this part of the vineyard be recommended by the church or churches,
[ Bishop Whitney was to render an accounting to Bishop Partridge, thus setting the pattern of a plurality of bishops, some having local jurisdictions working under a presiding bishop. Whitney was to "recommend" those who were worthy and who were going to Zion (verse 19); this may have been the beginning of the custom of calling one's membership records his "recommends." (Richard O. Cowan, The Doctrine and Covenants: Our Modern Scripture, pages 108-109). ] in which he labors, that he may render himself and his accounts approved in all things.
20 And again,
let my servants who are appointed as stewards over the literary concerns of my church have claim for assistance upon the bishop or bishops in all things—
[ Those involved in the publication of the revelations (i.e., the Literary Firm) are to be recompensed out of the storehouse for their time, cp. D&C 70:1. ]
21 That the revelations may be published, and go forth unto the ends of the earth; that they also may obtain funds which shall benefit the church in all things;
22 That they also may render themselves approved in all things, and be accounted as wise stewards.
23 And now, behold,
this shall be an ensample for all the extensive branches of my church,
[ These things are to regulate all of the Church, and not just the local branch headed by Whitney. ] in whatsoever land they shall be established. And now I make an end of my sayings. Amen.
24 A few words in addition to the laws of the kingdom, respecting the members of the church—they that are appointed by the Holy Spirit to go up unto Zion, and they who are privileged to go up unto Zion—
25
Let them [ The members of the church goiong up to Zion] carry up unto the bishop a certificate from three elders of the church, or a certificate from the bishop;
[ The intent was probably to formally keep congregrations infomred as to status and in accord with D&C 58:56 and D&C 63:24. ]
26 Otherwise he who shall go up unto the land of Zion shall not be accounted as a wise steward. This is also an ensample. Amen.
[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 72 Excerpt from History of the Church Knowing now the mind of the Lord, that the time had come that the Gospel should be proclaimed in power and demonstration to the world, from the Scriptures, reasoning with men as in days of old, I took a journey to Kirtland, in company with Elder Sidney Rigdon on the 3rd day of December, to fulfil the above revelation (i.e., D&C 71). On the 4th, several of the Elders and members assembled together to learn their duty, and for edification, and after some time had been spent in conversing about our temporal and spiritual welfare, I received the following: [text of D&C 72 quoted] (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 1, page 239) Excerpt from Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith On 1 December 1831, the Prophet received a revelation (section 71) instructing him and Sidney Rigdon to preach the gospel in the “regions round about.” In obedience to this directive, they stopped translating the Bible and on 3 December 1831 journeyed to Kirtland. On the following day several elders and members assembled in Kirtland, Ohio, to learn their duty and be edified. After those assembled had spent some time in conversation, the Prophet received section 72. (Lyndon W. Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith) Excerpt from The Doctrine and Covenants: Our Modern Scripture Edward Partridge had been called ten months earlier (February 1831) to be the first bishop in the Church. (See D&C 41:9.) In the meantime, Bishop Partridge (D&C 58:24) and Sidney Gilbert, an agent (D&C 64:18), had been directed to move to Missouri. This left nobody in Ohio to administer temporal affairs there. Thus, in August the Lord had called Newel K. Whitney to be the agent (D&C 63:42-45), and now, in December 1831, to be the bishop in Ohio (See D&C 72:8). Bishop Whitney was to render an accounting to Bishop Partridge, thus setting the pattern of a plurality of bishops, some having local jurisdictions working under a presiding bishop. Whitney was to "recommend" those who were worthy and who were going to Zion (verse 19); this may have been the beginning of the custom of calling one's membership records his "recommends." (Richard O. Cowan, The Doctrine and Covenants: Our Modern Scripture, pages 108-109)]