In Doctrine and Covenants 27, Joseph Smith receives new revelation about the sacrament wine, a future sacrament with Christ and disciples from other dispensations, and the armor of God. Section 28 instructs Oliver Cowdery to prepare for a mission and to instruct Hiram Page to cease writing revelations.
Doctrine and Covenants 27-28, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Follow the links on this page to historical information about sections 27-28. “A Mission to the Lamanites” tells about Oliver Cowdery’s later mission with Peter Whitmer Jr., Parley P. Pratt, Frederick G. Williams, and Ziba Peterson. “‘All Things Must Be Done in Order’” tells how Oliver Cowdery learned he did not have authority to control the content of revelations, namely “Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ.”
“‘The Testimony of Men’: William E. McLellin and the Book of Mormon Witnesses,” Mitchell K. Schaefer, BYU Studies50, no. 1
Section 28 instructs that Hiram Page cease his revelations, which he did. Page was a valiant witness of the Book of Mormon. William E. McLellan’s notes report that Hiram Page suffered for his testimony. McLellan writes: “While the mob was raging in Jackson Co. Mo. in 1833 some young men ran down Hiram Page in the woods one of the eight witnesses and commenced beating and pounding him with whips and clubs. He begged, but there was no mercy. They said he was a damned Mormon, and they meant to beat him to death! But finally one then said to him, if you will deny that damned book, we will let you go. Said he, how can I deny what I know to be true? Then they pounded him again. When they thought he was about to breathe his last, they said to him, Now what do you think of your God, when he dont save you? Well said he, I believe in God—Well, said one of the most intelligent among them, I believe the damned fool will stick to it though we kill him. Let us let him go. But his life was nearly run out. He was confined to his bed for a length of time. So much for a man who knows for himself. Knowledge is beyond faith or doubt. It is positive certainty.” Page joined McLellin’s Church of Christ in 1848. See “Page, Hiram,” at Joseph Smith Papers.
Doctrine and Covenants Central
We recommend the videos and other resources are available regarding these sections, such as “Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: The 2nd Coming (Lessons 12-13).”
Sustaining the Law, Legal Chronology, Gordon A. Madsen, Jeffrey N. Walker, and John W. Welch
Joseph Smith’s legal activity during summer 1830: In June and July 1830, Joseph Smith was tried and discharged and then rearrested and acquitted again on the charge of being a disorderly person. In August 1830, Joseph Smith managed his debt to Isaac Hale by executing a promissory note to pay George H. Nobel $190.95, which was paid in full in June 1831.
