D&C 47

Section 47 is short, only 4 verses and the topic is of record keeping. The IM gives background information as follows: “Since the beginning of time the Lord has commanded His people to keep record for their posterity detailing ‘what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers.’ Adam kept a book of remembrance written by the spirit of inspiration. Enoch kept a history of his people according to the pattern given by God. Lehi sent his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain a record of their forefathers. Nephi painstakingly kept two histories of his people, a secular record and a sacred record. In the dispensation of the fullness of times, the Lord commanded the Prophet Joseph Smith to keep a regular history of the Church. Oliver Cowdery and others were called to assist in the important task. John Whitmer, who previously had served as a secretary to the Prophet in Fayette, New York, was later asked to write the history of the Church. John’s reaction to the call was by his own report quite negative. He did say, however, ‘The will of the Lord be done, and if He desires it, I wish that He would manifest it through Joseph the Seer.’ Accordingly, on 8 March 1831 at Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet inquired of the Lord and received the revelation known as section 47.”  DJR gives some more background saying, “This revelation was given to John Whitmer, who was one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. It was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, on March 8, 1831. In this revelation, John whiter was called to serve officially as church historian. According to a footnote in volume one of the History of the Church, page 116, John was not particularly pleased with this calling but agreed to do it. The footnote reads as follows: ‘Previous to this Oliver Cowdery had acted as historian and recorded. John Whitmer, according to his own representations, said he would rather not keep the Church history, but observed- ‘The will of the Lord be done, and if He desires it, I wish that He would manifest it through Joseph the seer.’- John Whitmer’s History of the Church, ch.6- Accordingly the revelation was given.’ Brother Whitmer titled his history ‘The Book of John Whitmer’ which, according to the latest research accounts, consists of ninety-six pages and spanned from 1831 to 1838. He gave much good and faithful service to the Church during most of these years, but toward the end of 1838 he became angry with Joseph Smith and refused to give the Church the history he had kept. For this and other reasons, he was excommunicated on March 10, 1838. He never returned to the Church but never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon. In 1893 the Church finally obtained a copy of his history of the Church. This revelation is a reminder to us that we are to be a record-keeping people and that the history of the Church is a vital part of the work of the Lord in these last days. Such has been the case in every dispensation of the gospel, beginning with Adam and Eve.”

47:1-4 - The Lord begins, “Behold, it is expedient in me that my servant John should write and keep a regular history, and assist you, my servant Joseph, in transcribing all things which shall be given you, until he is called to further duties.” The IM asks “Why is keeping accurate records so important?” And quotes Joseph Smith as answering, “It is a fact, if I now had in my possession, every decision which had been had upon important items of doctrine and duties since the commencement of this work, I would not part with them for any sum of money; we have neglected to take minutes of such things, thinking, perhaps, that they would never benefit us afterwards; which, if we had them now, would decide almost every point of doctrine which might be agitated. But this has been neglected, and now we cannot bear record to the Church and to the world, of the great and glorious manifestations which have been made to us with that degree of power and authority we otherwise could, if we now had these things to publish aboard. Since the Twelve are now chosen, I wish to tell them a course which they may pursue, and be benefited thereafter, in a point of light of which they are not now aware. If they will, every time they assemble, appoint a person to preside over them during the meeting, and one or more to keep a record of their proceedings, and on the decision of every question or items, be it what it may, let such decision be written, and such decision will forever remain upon record, and appear an item of covenant or doctrine. An item thus decided may appear, at the time, of little or no worth, but should it be published, and one of you lay hands on it after, you will find it of infinite worth, not only to your brethren, but it will be a feast to your own souls. Here is another important item. If you assemble from time to time, and proceed to discuss important questions, and pass decisions upon the same, and fail to note them down, by and by you will be driven to straits from which you will not be able to extricate yourselves, because you may be in a situation not to bring your faith to bear with sufficient perfection or power to obtain the desired information; or, perhaps, for neglecting to write these things when God has revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may withdraw and God may be angry; and there is, or was, a vast knowledge, of infinite  importance, which is now lost.” I guess that’s a good point, we can’t really determine at any point in our existence what will be of value to someone else. The Lord also tells John Whitmer that “he can also lift up his voice in meetings, whenever it shall be expedient. And again, I say unto you that it shall be appointed unto him to keep the church record and history continually; for Oliver Cowdery I have appointed to another office.” The IM comments on Oliver Cowdery’s role in “keeping church records,” by quoting President Joseph Fielding Smith as teaching, “the earliest records of the Church are in the handwriting of Oliver Cowdery. He acted as scribe and recorder, generally, in the early conference of the Church. These minutes and items of doctrine are recorded in manuscript books now filed in the Historian’s Office. They are invaluable. Later, in February, 1831, Oliver Cowdery was relieved of this responsibility and John Whiter was appointed to ‘write and keep a regular history and assist you, my servant Joseph Smith, in transcribing all things which shall be given you,’ the Lord said, ‘until he is called to further duties.’ Even after this, however, Oliver Cowdery continued to keep minutes of meetings and to record historical items.”