Revelation, 5 January 1831 [D&C 39]
Joseph Smith, attributed revelator; John Whitmer, manuscript copyist
A revelation dictated in Fayette, New York, on 5 January 1831 for a minister named James, probably the Methodist James Covel. It calls him to baptism and to preach in preparation for Christ’s coming. It is now Doctrine and Covenants 39.
Read on Rainbow Watch
D&C 39: James’s call and the time at hand →
View cited source · josephsmithpapers.org ↗
Edition and location
Joseph Smith Papers featured historical witness: Revelation Book 1, pp. 58–60. Source note and historical introduction consulted 30 September 2026. Catalogue identity for the revelation; the selected reader text is the later official English scripture witness (edition-lds-dc-39-english).
Revelation Book 1, pp. 58–60