Beginning on the evening of the 22nd of June 1832,

Joseph Smith received what he called a revelation on the priesthood.

The prophet had recently returned to Kirtland and was meeting with six missionaries returning from the east.

A later revelation described the men together in these seasons of joy.

When Joseph asked a question of the Lord and received the revelation that we now know

is Section 84, the revelation continued late into the night, perhaps into the early morning

hours.

We presume they got a bit of sleep before Joseph continued the revelation the next day,

then in the presence of 11 elders.

An understanding of priesthood was still developing for Joseph and the members of the Church of

Christ. This knowledge began to be revealed when Joseph and Oliver Cowdery asked God about the

power required to baptize in the Book of Mormon in 1829. But the word priesthood wasn't specifically

used until June of 1831.

So Joseph Smith Papers teach us by this time the priesthood was understood to refer to the office

of high priests specifically, as well as broader authority. This section will continue to build

on that understanding of priesthood in expansive directions.

Hi, Joey.

Hey, Janice. How are you?

I'm good. How are you today?

Oh, I'm just living the dream. I love Section 84.

It's something that has meant a lot to me in my religious life.

And as researcher and educator, it's meant a lot to my students as well.

...