Sacred Texts: Mormons

Mormon Doctrine & Covenants 11. Revelation through Joseph Smith to his brother Hyrum Smith, Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829.

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This is a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) scriptural text — specifically Doctrine and Covenants Section 11 — presented as a divine revelation dictated through Joseph Smith to his brother Hyrum Smith in 1829, during the early translation period of the Book of Mormon. The text belongs to the genre of prophetic oracle or divine command, modeled closely on biblical prophetic speech, and speaks in the first-person voice of Jesus Christ addressing Hyrum directly. Its central argument is that Hyrum should not yet go forth to preach but should first study and assist in the translation work, building a firm doctrinal foundation before undertaking public ministry. The revelation emphasizes spiritual preparation over action: seeking wisdom rather than riches, obtaining God's word before speaking it, and trusting the Spirit as a guide to righteousness. A distinctive feature is its explicit restraint — it repeatedly tells Hyrum to wait, hold his peace, and not assume a preaching calling prematurely — which functions to both validate Hyrum's eagerness and redirect it toward supporting Joseph's translation effort. The text closes with a christological self-identification ("I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God") drawn from Johannine language, anchoring the personal counsel within a cosmic theological framework.

Mormon Doctrine & Covenants 11. Revelation through Joseph Smith to his brother Hyrum Smith, Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829.

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