19 Jul - Newel K. Whitney Store

About Feb. 1, 1831, Joseph and Emma pulled up in front of the Whitney store in a sleigh. Joseph walked into the store and shook Newel K. Whitney’s hand, called him by name, and said, “Thou art the man…I am Joseph Smith, the Prophet. You have prayed me here, now what do you want of me?”

Joseph and Emma lived above the store for 18 months after leaving the Johnson farm. They lived in cramped quarters as two rooms were turned into a translation room and the school of the prophets. It was in the school room that Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to several brethren, including John Murdock and Zebedee Coltrin, on the occasion of the organization of the First Presidency. Joseph Smith records, “I laid my hands on Brothers Sidney and Frederick, and ordained them to take part with me in holding the keys of this last kingdom…. (I gave the brethren) a promise that the pure in heart should see a heavenly vision; and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified; for many present had the eyes of their understanding opened by the Spirit of God, so as to behold many concourses of angels, and many other things, of which each one has a record of what he saw….” (HC 1:334-335)

John Murdock wrote, “During the winter of 1833 we had a number of prayer meetings in the Prophet’s chamber. In one of those meetings the Prophet told us, if we could humble ourselves before God, and exercise strong faith, we should see the face of the Lord. And about midday, the visions of my mind were opened, and the eyes of my understanding were enlightened, and I saw the form of a man, most lovely. The visage of his face was sound and fair as the sun. His hair a bright silver gray, curled in most majestic form, His eyes a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white. And He was covered from neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white, whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most Penetrating and yet most lovely…And while I was endeavoring to comprehend the whole personage from head to feet, it slipped from me. But it left on my mind the impression of love, for months that I never felt before to that degree.” (An abridged Record of the Life of John Murdock, page 23, Church Archives)

“Zebedee [Coltrin] said, speaking of the Savior, ‘I saw Him, and suppose that others did, and Joseph answered “That is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder Brother…”’ “Then, speaking of the Father, Zebedee said, ‘He was surrounded as with a flame of fire which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else but His person. I saw His hands, His legs, His feet, His eyes, nose mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect man. This appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in his Presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones…’ “He also related, ‘The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father ‘… Zebedee concluded by saying, ‘I saw Him.’” (Salt Lake School of the Prophets, 3 Oct 1883)

The Word of Wisdom (D&C 89) was also revealed during this time. Other sections of the Doctrine and Covenants received in the Whitney store include 84-88, 90-98, and 101.
Parley P. Pratt describes the process of receiving revelation. “Each sentence ws uttered slowly and very distinctly, and with a pause between each, sufficiently long for it to be recorded, by an ordinary writer, in long hand. This is the manner in which all [Joseph Smith’s] written revelations were dictated and written. There was never any hesitation, reviewing, or reading back, in order to keep the run of the subject; neither did any of these communications undergo revisions, interlinings, or corrections. As he dictated them so they stood, so far as I have witnessed; and I was present to witness the dictation of several communications of several pages each. (Parley P. Pratt Autobiography, pg. 62)

Newel K. Whitney was also called to be a bishop, and after praying for his own confirmation, he received an assurance. He also testified about the revelations, after reviewing and examining it said, “…the revelations contained in it he knew were true, for God had testified to him by His holy spirit—for many of them were given under his roof and in his presence through President Joseph Smith, Jun., the Prophet of the Lord.” Bishop Whitney’s store became the first bishop’s storehouse.