Priesthood and Church Organization

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery receive the Aaronic priesthood from John the Baptist. [1]

Joseph Smith receives the Melchizedek priesthood from Peter, James, and John. There is no recorded date of this event. There are only mentions of it from Joseph Smith after the fact (D&C 27:12 and 120:20).[2][3][4]

Oliver Cowdery receives commandment of the Lord for how to "build up his Church", i.e. Articles of the Church of Christ. This is the first time the name of the church is called in writing (Church of Christ).[5]

Articles and Covenants, the first "church handbook", was released (D&C 20). Verses 2 & 3 differ slightly than the existing version. They talk about Joseph Smith "who was called of God and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church, and also to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church, and ordained under his hand, and this according to the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ"[6]

After the church was organized, Joseph Smith dictated a revelation that says that Joseph and Oliver were each an "Apostle of Jesus Christ an Elder of the Church." At this time, there wasn't a distinction between the office of elder and apostle. For example, in the Book of Mormon the apostles were also called elders (Moroni 3:1)[7][8]

Sidney Rigdon is baptized into the Church after meeting missionaries in October.[9]

Edward Partridge is ordained a bishop and tasked to "to leave his merchandise and to spend all his time in the labors of the church;" (D&C 41:9)[10]

Edward Partridge is to have two counselors--elders or high priests. Although a later revelation given to Joseph Smith says to have twelve counselors to the president of the church, this revelation sets the precedent to have only two counselors. [11]

Elders first receive ordination of the "High Priesthood." Lyman Wight ordains 18 others, including Joseph Smith. This is likely the first contemporary mention of the word priesthood relating to offices in the church (see historical intro to the revelation of D&C 84).[12][13][14]

Edward Partridge, a bishop tasked with purchasing land in the City of Zion--Jackson County, Missouri--, believed he had the authority to select the land he thought was best. Joseph Smith engages in a dispute over this selected land. [15][16][17][18]

Joseph receives revelation instructing Partridge to repent of his "unbelief and blindness of heart." His role as bishop is to judge the people "according to the laws of the kingdom", which are "given by the Prophets of God." (D&C 58:14-18)[19]

Edward Partridge is told in revelation that he "hath sinned and Satan seeketh to destroy his soul." He also can receive forgiveness if he repents of his evil. (D&C 64:17)[20]

Church administration responsibilities are created. For example, there is to be a president of the High Priesthood of the Church. The office of a bishop is clarified to not being equal. This revelation is later incorporated into D&C 107:60-100. Also, the concept of a counseling body of 12 is outlined here. Note that there were some later additions to this revelation as it is now in D&C. For example, Aaron and Melchizedek are not mentioned initially.[21]

Joseph Smith is ordained as the president of the High Priesthood. [22]

Joseph Smith ordains Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon as councilors of the ministry of the presidency of the high Priesthood. Even though Smith was told to ordain 12 counselors in November 1831, the presidency with 2 counselors from Edward Partridge likely motived that here.[23]

Joseph Smith receives a revelation that elevates the counselors to positions of authority, second only to Smith, in managing the affairs of the church. This affirmed that “the keys of the Kingdom” belong “always to the prisidency of the high Priesthood."[24]

John Corrill, counselor to Bishop Partridge, writes a letter to Joseph Smith and implies that Joseph Smith was "seeking after Monarchal power and authority." (Note, this letter is not extant. We have recollections from Hyrum Smith and Orson Hyde).[25]

Joseph writes a letter to Emma where he reveals of his deep loneliness and sorrow. He was hurt that Emma "did not take the trouble" to write. He felt abandoned by the Saints in Missouri.

Joseph Smith writes a letter to W. W. Phelps that addresses growing tensions among church leaders in Ohio and Missouri. Here, he notes how Rigdon entered into a "frantick" state of mind, which lead to him having his priesthood license revoked until he repented. Smith also tells Bishop Partridge to stop seeking after signs and to remember Ananias & Sophria (Acts 5:1-10). This is referring to a resistance from Partridge to give up his lands.[27]

The reception of "the holy Priesthood by the ministring of Aangels" along with the "confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after the holy order of the son of the living God" is mentioned in Joseph Smith's history. This only occurs in the introduction, and a detailed account of this is not given.[28]

Joseph Smith receives a revelation that outlines the higher and lesser priesthoods (these priesthoods are not given names). (D&C 84)[29]

Oliver Cowdery receives a blessing from Joseph Smith.[30]

Joseph Smith recounts that "the dignity of the office which has been conferred upon me by the ministering of the Angel of God, by his own voice and by the voice of this Church" [31]

Joseph Smith gave a "relation of obtaining and translating the Book of Mormon, the revelation of the Priesthood of Aaron, the organization of the Church in 1830, the revelation of the High Priesthood, and the gift of the Holy Ghost poured out upon the Church." These topics follow the history he wrote in 1832.[32]

In a letter to W. W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery aims to help bolster the faith in the church by recounting the visitation of an angel to confer the priesthood and authority to him and Joseph Smith in May 1829. "in the name of Messiah, confer this priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon Earth, that the Sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."[33]

Oliver Cowdery is ordained as assistant/co-president to Joseph Smith. In Joseph Smith's journal, Oliver writes that the call to be co-president came during the visitation of an angel in May 1829. The reason for waiting so long was Oliver's "necessary attendance in Zion to assit Wm W. Phelps in conducting the printing business"[34][35]

The names of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are read and nine of them are ordained.[36]

Fourty-three men are appointed as members of the Seventy.[37]

Additions to revelations are given to the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Details about the visitation of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John are given in D&C 27. The two priesthoods: Aaronic and Melchezidec, are described in section 107. Joseph is described as "first elder" with Oliver Cowdery "second elder" in D&C 20.[3][4][38]

Oliver copies blessings from Joseph Smith over to Patriarchal Blessings Book 1 and makes significant modifications. For example, in his (Oliver's) 1833 blessing, he omits some negative comments about himself and adds details about the priesthood restoration. This blessing mentions the "the holy priesthood under the hands of they who had been held in reserve for a long season, even those who received it under the hand of the Messiah, while he should dwell in the flesh"[30][39]

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery see a vision of Jesus Christ and Moses, Elias, and Eliajah in the Kirkland Temple, receiving the sealing keys.[40]

Joseph Smith recounts a history of the church as says that he received a command from the Lord while in Peter Whitmer's house to "ordain Oliver Cowdery to an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ, and that he also should ordain me to the same office"[41]