This year I am studying the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the context surrounding my ancestors’ membership in the early church. Many of my ancestors and my husband’s ancestors were baptized into the Church in the 1830s and 1840s. A study of the digitized manuscripts available from The Joseph Smith Papers as well as The Church History Catalog shed light on the context surrounding our ancestor’s lives. My goal is to follow the yearly Come Follow Me – For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 study program and connect the topic with one of our ancestors (mine or my husband’s) whose records mention related topics or places. I hope to then write a vignette about the ancestor and include context from associated church history manuscripts. For the first week, I chose Joseph Lee Robinson, since he is one of our only ancestors who mentions reading the “Book of Covenants,” which would have been published just a few months before it came into his hands.
Joseph Lee Robinson and the Book of Covenants
Joseph Lee Robinson is my husband’s 4th-great-grandfather on his father’s mother’s side, born 18 February 1811 in Shaftsbury, Bennington County, Vermont, to Nathan and Mary Robinson.[1] In January of 1883, while living in Hooper, Utah, he wrote an autobiography about “some of the most important incidents” of his life.[2] He started by writing about his birth, his parents, his grandparents, and his great-grandfather who he was named for—Joseph Lee.[3]
He told of his father selling the farm in Shaftsbury and moving his family into the state of New York when Joseph was five years old.[4] He then jumped forward to a pivotal time in his life. After recording the birth of his son Ebenezer in 1835 in his autobiography, he wrote,
About these days my mind was wonderfully wrought upon, the Spirit constrained me, I praid much and earnestly unto the Lord for the People, that God would pour out of his Spirit, and cause a revival, or a reformation among the people, and I received a testimony in the Spirit, that the Lord would grant my request, and that I should see the day when the people should bow to the mild cepter of king Immanuel.[5]
Joseph was part of the religious fervor growing in the United States at the time. In the 1820s and 1830s, religious fervor spread from Kentucky and Tennessee up to New York and frontier areas of the Ohio River Valley and the Midwest so much that historians termed the period the Second Great Awakening.[6] Circuit riding Methodist ministers reached frontier settlers and preached anywhere they could – in cabins, courthouses, fields, and street corners.[7] Areas of New York state became so excited over religion at this time that it became known as the “burned-over district,” alluding to intense spiritual passion spreading like a wildfire.[8] One of the movements established there was the “Church of Christ,” founded on 6 April 1830 by Joseph Smith at Fayette, Seneca County, New York.[9] The church’s present name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wasn’t adopted until 1838.[10]
Joseph Lee Robinson was looking for a reformation, and he found one through his brother, Ebenezer. He recorded:
At this time I knew nothing of the work of God on the earth, that he had revealed the holy gospel to man … until my brother Ebenezer came to me in the month of August 1836. He brought to me the holy gospel. He was an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he opened up the holy scriptures to me as I had never seen them before. I saw the light of truth, I received it readily in a few days and believed every word he said. I received it with great joy and he, my brother, baptized me and confirmed me a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in the name of Jesus Christ he gave to me the Holy Ghost … I received from him the Book of Mormon and a copy of the Book of Covenants. I read them much and thanks to my Heavenly Father that I lived in this day in the which God had spoken from the heavens and has committed the dispensation of the fulness of times.[11]
The “Book of Covenants” that Joseph Lee Robinson spoke of was what the Church today calls The Doctrine and Covenants, a publication of Joseph Smith’s revelations. The Church attempted to publish them in 1833 as A Book of Commandments for the Government of the Church of Christ, but they were thwarted by a mob attack on the printing press.[12] On 24 September 1834, a committee was appointed by a council of church leaders to compile the Church’s doctrines and revelations. The minutes of the council meeting mention the Book of Covenants:
The council then proceeded to appoint a committee to arrange the items of the doctrine of Jesus Christ for the government of the church of Latter-Day Saints … These items are to be taken from the bible, book of mormon, and the revelations which have been given to the church up to this date or shall be, until such arrangement is made. Brother Samuel H. Smith then nominated brethren Joseph Smith Junr. Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams, to compose said committee which was seconded by brother Hyrum Smith. The Counsellors then gave their vote, which was also agreed to by the whole conference. The council then decided that said committee, after arranging and publishing said book of covenants, have the avails of the same.[13]
Joseph Lee Robinson referred to the book the same way the original council did, as the Book of Covenants. This is probably what it was known as colloquially. In this time period, one of the definitions of the word covenant, in addition to a mutual agreement of two or more persons, was a “solemn agreement between members of a church, that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection,” specifically when used in the context of church affairs.[14]
They committee completed their work and published the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in 1835. The preface was dated 17 February 1835 and explained that the book contains “the leading items of the religion.”[15] Although the committee originally thought to combine doctrine from the Bible and Book of Mormon with the revelations, they decided to go a different direction, including instead, seven doctrinal lectures on faith (hence the first part of the Doctrine and Covenants) traditionally attributed to Joseph Smith, but possibly written by Sidney Rigdon.[16] The second part, or “covenants and commandments of the Lord, to his servants of the church of the Latter Day Saints,”[17] included 102 revelations—and although making up most of the book, the revelations were placed second, possibly due to being ready to typeset later than the doctrinal lectures on faith.[18]
The book was reviewed at a general assembly of the Church on 17 August 1835. According to the meeting minutes:
Convened in Kirtland August 17th. A.D. 1835 by the presidency of the Church of the Latter-Day-Saints, for the purpose of Examining a book of commandments and covenants, which has been compiled and written by the following committee. … This Committee having finished said Book according to the instructions given them, it was deemed necessary to call the general assembly of the Church to see whether the book be approved or not by the Authoroties of the church, that it may, if approved, become a law unto the church, and a rule of faith and practice unto the same.[19]
After Levi Hancock led the singing of “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken,” Oliver Cowdery said the opening prayer. Another song, “Beyond These Earthly Scenes in Sight,” was sung, then several items of business were taken care of, including ordaining men to priesthood offices and giving priesthood blessings by laying on of hands.[20] They then adjourned for one hour, and upon returning to the assembly, the following was recorded in the minutes:
President O. Cowdery then arose with the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, (284 pages) contain[in]g the faith articles and covinants of the Latter Day Saints, then proceeded to take the vote of the whole House commencing with the Presidents of Zion. President Wm. Wm. Phelps arose & spoke in high commendation of the book aforenamed & said, That he had examined it carefully, that it was well arranged and calculated to govern the church in righteousness, if followed would bring the members to see eye to eye. And further that he had received the testimony from God, that the Revelations and commandments contained therein are true, wherefore, he knew assuredly for himself having received witness from Heaven, & not from men. President John Whitmer testified also that he was well acquainted with the work & knew it to be true and from God. President John Smith arose and testified his joy that we have at length received the long wished for document to govern the church in righteousness and bring the Elders to see eye to eye: and further that he was present when some of the revelations contained therein were given, and was satisfied they come from God.[21]
The minutes continue stating the names of presidents of various bodies with the Church, including the high council, the twelve apostles, seventy, bishopric, elders, priests, teachers, and deacons, and their testimonies that the book was true followed by their group’s vote to confirm it. [22] Finally, all members present voted:
Brother Tho. Gates Then took the Book and expressed his satisfaction with it, and also called a vote of all the members present, both male & female, & They gave a decided voice in favor of it & also of the committee. There being a very large portion of the church present. All of the above testimonies and votes were voluntarily & unhesitatingly given with the utmost freedom of conscience on part of the Assembly.[23]
Joseph Lee Robinson’s autobiography mentions that he read the Book of Covenants. Right after, he recorded that he was thankful born in a time that he could be part of God building his kingdom in the latter days, and “that our God was about to gather his people Israel from their long dispersions and built up his kingdom in the earth and bring forth his Zion preparatory to the milenial reign of Christ on earth which is to last for 1,000 years according to the predictions of the holy prophets.”[24] This language is similar to the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, generally known as a revelation given to preface the Book of Commandments published in 1833, which talks about the second coming of Christ, and the fulfillment of prophecies from God’s prophets:
I say unto you O inhabitants of the Earth for I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh for I am no respector to persons & willeth that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh the hour is not yet but is nigh at hand when peace shall be taken from the Earth & the Devil shall have power over his own dominion & also the Lord shall have power over his saints & shall reign in their midst & shall come down in Judgement upon Idumea (or the World) search these commandments for they are true & faithfull & the Prophecies & promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled what I the Lord have spoken I have spoken & I excuse not myself & though the Heaven & ^the^ Earth pass away my word shall not pass away but shall all be fulfilled whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my Servants it is the same.[25]
Section 1 as copied into the manuscript called “Revelation Book 1” and printed in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants
Joseph Lee Robinson is one of our family’s few ancestors whose own words mention receiving and reading the Book of Covenants. He is also one of the earliest of our family’s ancestors to join the Church of Jesus Christ. He was baptized in August 1836, while most of our ancestors first joined in the 1840s. Joseph Lee Robinson shared his conviction that Joseph Smith’s revelations were true in his autobiography:
We are now living in the day of prophets and apostles and evangelists. Yea, a day of vision and dreams of revelations of miracles and tongues. We have long since believed and verily known that Joseph Smith was a fine and humble prophet of God, but now our eyes to see him and our ears hear his voice, which is like the voice of the mighty thunder of heaven. Yet his language is meek and instructive. … For he is a mighty prophet, holy man of God. … He had received many revelations from Almighty God on very important matters, had organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints according to the apostolic order with prophets and apostles and patriarchs. With high priests and seventies and elders, bishops, priests, teachers and deacons, with all the gifts and graces that adorned the ancient church of Christ.[26]
Notes
[1] Shaftsbury Town Clerk, records of births, marriages, and deaths, vol. 1, p. 45, Joseph Lee Robinson, birth recorded 9 December 1816, citing birth on 18 February 1811; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8999-2WPV : accessed 13 January 2025).
[2] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, preface, January 1883, Hooper City, Weber County, Utah; image copy, Church of Jesus Christ (https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/20a71b14-5ad4-4fb1-944a-21a05ad0b986/0/0 : accessed 13 January 2025), image 2 of 182.
[3] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, p. 1.
[4] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, p. 2.
[5] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, p. 3.
[6] “Second Great Awakening,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening : last modified 10 December 2024).
[7] “Circuit rider (religious),” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_rider_(religious) : last modified 15 November 2024).
[8] “Burned-over district,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned-over_district : last modified 23 December 2024).
[9] Joseph Smith, John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, William W. Phelps, and Sidney Rigdon, “A Book of Commandments & Revelations of the Lord given to Joseph the Seer & others by the Inspiration of God & gift & power of the Holy Ghost which Beareth Re[c]ord of the Father & Son & Holy Ghost which is one God Infinite & eternal World without end Amen,” Revelation Book 1, p. 28, 17th commandment, 6 April 1830; image, The Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-book-1/12 : accessed 13 January 2025).
[10] “Name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints : last modified 7 November 2024).
[11] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, pp. 3-4.
[12] Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/introduction : accessed 13 January 2025).
[13] Church of the Latter-day Saints, Minute Book 1, p. 76, minutes of a high council held in Kirtland, Ohio, 24 September 1834; image, The Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minute-book-1/80 : accessed 13 January 2025).
[14] Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (New York: White and Sheffield, 1841), p. 202, “covenant,” third definition.
[15] Joseph Smith Junior, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, compilers, Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God (Kirtland, Ohio: F.G. Williams & Co., 1835), iv; image copy, The Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835/12 : accessed 13 January 2025).
[16] Historical introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, 1835, The Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835/1#historical-intro : accessed 13 January 2025).
[17] Joseph Smith Junior, et. al. compilers, Doctrine and Covenants, 75.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Church of Latter-day Saints, Minute Book 1, p. 98, minutes of a general assembly held in Kirtland, Ohio, 17 August 1835; image, The Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minute-book-1/102 : accessed 13 January 2025).
[20] Ibid., pp. 99-103.
[21] Ibid., pp. 103-104.
[22] Ibid., pp. 104-106.
[23] Ibid., p. 106.
[24] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, p. 4.
[25] Joseph Smith, et.al., Revelation Book 1, p. 127, Revelation given in Hiram, [Ohio], 1 November 1831–[B]; image, The Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-book-1/113 : accessed 13 January 2025). The modern section and verse is D&C 1:34-38.
[26] Joseph Lee Robinson, autobiography and journal, pp. 21-22.
2 Comments
Leave your reply.