Revelation on Church organization and government, given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at or near Fayette, New York. Portions of this revelation may have been given as early as summer 1829. The complete revelation, known at the time as the Articles and Covenants, was likely recorded soon after April 6, 1830 (the day the Church was organized). The Prophet wrote, “We obtained of Him [Jesus Christ] the following, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation; which not only gave us much information, but also pointed out to us the precise day upon which, according to His will and commandment, we should proceed to organize His Church once more here upon the earth.”
1 The a of the b of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the c of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly d and established agreeable to the e of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—
2 Which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jun., who was a of God, and b an c of Jesus Christ, to be the d e of this church;
3 And to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the a elder of this church, and ordained under his hand;
4 And this according to the a of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, both now and forever. Amen.
5 After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a a of his sins, he was b again in the c of the world;
6 But after a, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy b, whose c was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness;
7 And gave unto him a which inspired him;
8 And a him power from on high, by the b which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
9 Which contains a a of a fallen people, and the b of the c of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
10 Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to a by the ministering of angels, and is b unto the world by them—
11 Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are a, and that God does b men and call them to his c work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
12 Thereby showing that he is the a God yesterday, today, and b. Amen.
13 Therefore, having so great witnesses, by a shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work.
14 And those who receive it in faith, and work a, shall receive a b of eternal life;
15 But those who a their hearts in b, and c it, it shall turn to their own d—
16 For the Lord God has spoken it; and we, the elders of the church, have heard and bear a to the words of the glorious Majesty on high, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
17 By these things we a that there is a b in heaven, who is infinite and c, from everlasting to everlasting the same d God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;
18 And that he a man, male and female, after his own b and in his own likeness, created he them;
19 And gave unto them commandments that they should a and b him, the only c and true d, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship.
20 But by the a of these holy laws man became b and c, and became d man.
21 Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his a, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.
22 He a b but gave no heed unto them.
23 He was a, b, and c again the third day;
24 And a into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the b, to c with almighty power according to the will of the Father;
25 That as many as would a and be baptized in his holy name, and b in faith to the end, should be saved—
26 Not only those who believed after he came in the a, in the b, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who c as they were inspired by the d of the Holy Ghost, who truly e of him in all things, should have eternal life,
27 As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the a and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which b record of the Father and of the Son;
28 Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are a, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
29 And we know that all men must a and b on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and c in d on his name to the end, or they cannot be e in the kingdom of God.
30 And we know that a through the b of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;
31 And we know also, that a through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who b and serve God with all their c, minds, and strength.
32 But there is a possibility that man may a from b and depart from the living God;
33 Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into a;
34 Yea, and even let those who are a take heed also.
35 And we know that these things are true and according to the revelations of John, neither a to, nor diminishing from the prophecy of his book, the holy scriptures, or the revelations of God which shall come hereafter by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, the b of God, or the ministering of angels.
36 And the Lord God has a it; and honor, power and glory be rendered to his holy b, both now and ever. Amen.
37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who a themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and b, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the c of Jesus Christ, having a d to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their e that they have received of the f unto the g of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.
38 The a of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and members of the church of Christ—An b is an c, and it is his calling to d;
39 And to a other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons;
40 And to administer a—the b of the flesh and blood of Christ—
41 And to a those who are baptized into the church, by the laying on of b for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures;
42 And to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the church;
43 And to confirm the church by the laying on of the hands, and the giving of the Holy Ghost;
44 And to take the a of all meetings.
45 The elders are to a the b as they are c by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God.
46 The a duty is to preach, b, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament,
47 And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to a b and in secret and attend to all c duties.
48 And he may also a other priests, teachers, and deacons.
49 And he is to take the a of meetings when there is no elder present;
50 But when there is an elder present, he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize,
51 And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties.
52 In all these duties the priest is to a the elder if occasion requires.
53 The a duty is to b over the c always, and be with and strengthen them;
54 And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither a with each other, neither lying, b, nor c d;
55 And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.
56 And he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest—
57 And is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the church, by the a, if occasion requires.
58 But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the a, or lay on b;
59 They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.
60 Every a, b, teacher, or deacon is to be c d to the gifts and callings of God unto him; and he is to be e by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains him.
61 The several elders composing this church of Christ are to a in conference once in three months, or from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint;
62 And said conferences are to do whatever church business is necessary to be done at the time.
63 The elders are to receive their licenses from other elders, by a of the church to which they belong, or from the conferences.
64 Each priest, teacher, or deacon, who is ordained by a priest, may take a certificate from him at the time, which a, when presented to an elder, shall entitle him to a license, which shall authorize him to perform the duties of his calling, or he may receive it from a conference.
65 No person is to be a to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the b of that church;
66 But the presiding elders, traveling bishops, high councilors, high priests, and elders, may have the privilege of ordaining, where there is no branch of the church that a vote may be called.
67 Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder), a, high councilor, and b, is to be ordained by the direction of a c or general conference.
68 The a of the members after they are received by b—The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the church of Christ to their c, previous to their partaking of the d and being confirmed by the laying on of the e of the elders, so that all things may be done in f.
69 And the members shall manifest before the church, and also before the elders, by a a walk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and b agreeable to the holy scriptures—walking in c before the Lord.
70 Every member of the church of Christ having a is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their b upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.
71 No one can be received into the church of Christ unless he has arrived unto the years of a before God, and is capable of b.
72 a is to be administered in the following manner unto all those who repent—
73 The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
74 Then shall he a him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
75 It is expedient that the church a together often to b of c in the d of the Lord Jesus;
76 And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this a shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:
77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this a to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and b unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his c which he has given them; that they may always have his d to be with them. Amen.
78 The a of administering the wine—he shall take the b also, and say:
79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this a to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
80 Any member of the church of Christ a, or being b in a fault, shall be dealt with as the scriptures direct.
81 It shall be the duty of the several churches, composing the church of Christ, to send one or more of their teachers to attend the several conferences held by the elders of the church,
82 With a list of the a of the several members uniting themselves with the church since the last conference; or send by the hand of some priest; so that a regular list of all the names of the whole church may be kept in a book by one of the elders, whomsoever the other elders shall appoint from time to time;
83 And also, if any have been a from the church, so that their names may be blotted out of the general church b of names.
84 All members removing from the church where they reside, if going to a church where they are not known, may take a letter a that they are regular members and in good standing, which certificate may be signed by any elder or priest if the member receiving the letter is personally acquainted with the elder or priest, or it may be signed by the teachers or deacons of the church.