Joseph Smith Biography

Thirty-Seven (1842)

give this revelation gasped after he said this part. The original words of his revelation did not
include verses 19 thru 34, but continued, as Joseph originally gave the revelation:

And when the Lord came to John to be baptized, he questioned the Lord,

because John knew the Lord needed no baptism because the Lord was

sanctified by the higher priesthood. And this priesthood was the glory and

knowledge of the Father, who the Lord represented in the flesh, and who

John recognized by his power and authority in the priesthood [that he received

when he was eight days old]. And the Lord delivered the power of this higher

priesthood to his servants the apostles, who were eyewitnesses of the glory of

God in the flesh. And many did not receive this priesthood because they

received not the Lord or the testimony of his apostles.

Joseph’s scribes and the council took out this part and replaced it with verses 19 thru
34, and then the revelation continued:

And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord. For

he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me

receiveth my Father; and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s

kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this

is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.^28

Everyone, Male and Female, is Born With the Priesthood Power and Authority

Joseph went on to tell the people who were listening to him—which included males
and females—that this priesthood was being confirmed upon them while Joseph was
teaching them:

And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have

received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine

own voice out of the heavens.^29

Joseph was telling the people that the priesthood was not something that was to be
confirmed by the laying on of the hands or in any way other than listening to what the Lord
said “by mine own voice.” The revelation goes on:

And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning

yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall

live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the

word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever

is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit [Jesus Christ]

giveth light to every man [every mortal being] that cometh into the world

[which includes women]; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the

world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.^30

Joseph just explained that John had the priesthood when he was an infant, and
reconfirmed the idea by saying that “every man that cometh into the world” had the same