July 06, 1830 - D&C 26 was received

[Hemidakota]

July 06, 1830— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith received D&C 26, a revelation regarding scripture study and common consent. (History of the Church, 1:104)

Historical Setting: In early July of 1830 the fledgling Church was barely ninety days old. There were, at that time, no wards or stakes, no seventies, high priests, or bishops. There were no quorums. There was not as yet a First Presidency, or general authorities. The only executive or presiding officers were the First and Second Elders of the Church.

The Prophet Joseph had just returned to Harmony, Pennsylvania from Colesville, New York. The main body of the Church—if we call the small handful of members a body—was still in New York and now growing mostly in and around Colesville. Persecution was on the rise. Joseph's missionary work aroused the ire of some in Colesville; he was tried and acquitted of disorderly conduct and for setting the country in an uproar by preaching the Book of Mormon. But the foundation had been laid, and the first thirteen members of a vital and historic branch of the Church had just been baptized.

Section 26, just two verses long, was one of three revelations which came to the Prophet shortly after his return from Colesville. In this short message, the Lord told Joseph how he should spend time until the next conference. "And then it shall be made known unto you what you shall do." The Prophet was to continue his study and translation of the Bible, 1 as well as build up and strengthen the members of the Colesville Branch (v. 1). Then he was reminded that "all things shall be done by common consent in the church" (v. 2). (Studies in Scripture, Vol. 1: The Doctrine and Covenants, by Robert L. Millet, Kent P. Jackson, p.144)

Joseph Smith, Jun. - We now became anxious to have that promise realized to us, which the angel that conferred upon us the Aaronic Priesthood had given us, viz., that provided that we continued faithful, we should also have the Melchizedek Priesthood, which holds the authority of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We had for some time made this matter a subject of humble prayer, . . . and more particularly to seek of the Lord what we now so earnestly desired; and here, to our unspeakable satisfaction, did we realize the truth of the Savior's promise—"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you"—for we had not long been engaged in solemn and fervent prayer, when the word of the Lord came unto us in the chamber [of father Whitmer in Fayette], commanding us that I should ordain Oliver Cowdery to be an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ; and that he should also ordain me to the same office; and then to ordain others, as it should be made known unto us from time to time. We were, however, commanded to defer this our ordination until such times as it should be practicable to have our brethren, who had been and who should be baptized, assembled together, when we must have them decide by vote whether they were willing to accept us as their spiritual teachers or not; when also we were commanded to bless bread and break it with them, and to take wine, bless it, and drink it with them; afterward to proceed to ordain each other according to the commandment; then call out such men as the Spirit should dictate, and ordain them; and then attend to the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, upon all those whom we had previously baptized, doing all things in the name of the Lord. (HC 1:60-61, italics added.)

Background Narration:

Charles W. Penrose

It may seem rather a dry and formal matter to some of the people to come together and lift up their hands to sustain the authorities of the Church, but it is a necessary duty and if we look at it properly, we shall take pleasure therein. It may seem a little monotonous, but as I have said, it is necessary, for it was designed by the Almighty in the organization of this Church, that the voice of the people should respond to the voice of the Lord. It is the voice of the Lord and the voice of the people together in this Church that sanctions all things therein. [sec. 20:63-66.] In the rise of the Church the Lord gave a revelation which said that "all things shall be done by common consent." And the Lord designs that every individual member shall take upon him or her the spirit of the Church, and be an active living member of the body. (JD, November 29, 1879, 21:45-46.)

Joseph F. Smith

President Smith. . . presented the authorities of the Church, first remarking that "we desire that the brethren and sisters will all feel the responsibility of expressing their feelings in relation to the propositions that may be put before you. We do not want any man or woman who is a member of the Church to violate their conscience. Of course, we are not asking apostates or non-members of the Church to vote on the authorities of the Church. We are only asking for members of the Church in good standing to vote on the propositions that shall be put before you, and we would like all to vote as they feel, whether for or against." (CR, October 1902, p.83)

Section Header Notes: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, Oliver Cowdery, and John Whitmer, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, July, 1830. Instructions as to immediate duty—Reaffirmation of the principle of common consent in Church affairs.

Versus amount: 2

Suggested link: D&C 24 & 25

Summary and Conclusion: It is important to note that the Lord gave every individual the opportunity to know for himself of the source of callings and actions within the Church. The Lord said the implementation of the Law of Common Consent shall be accompanied " . . . by much prayer and faith, for all things you shall receive by faith." (D&C 26:2) (Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants , vol. 1 by L. G. Otten, C. M. Caldwell, p.123)