D&C
59:13 textual variant
Speaking
of “the Lord’s day” (Sunday), D&C 59:13 states that “on this day thou shalt
do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of
heart . . .” This revelation was first printed in the Evening and Morning
Star (July, 1832) at Independence. This is the reading found in the EMS, as
well as all editions of the D&C, the manuscript of the history of the
Church and all published versions, and also an early manuscript of the
revelation in “Revelations Collection” (HDC). There is, however, evidence that
this probably was not the original reading of the passage. The 14 numbers of
the EMS printed at Independence (June 1832-Juliy 1833) were reprinted at
Kirtland in 1834 with Oliver Cowdery as editor. There were several variant
readings in this printing of D&C 59, one of which was this verse, which
reads: “on the day thou shalt do not one other work . . .” This is
probably the original reading, which was altered due to an early transcription
error.
In
the “Prospectus” for the reprint Oliver Cowdery stated “that in the first 14
numbers, in the Revelations, there are many errors, typographical, and others,
occasioned by transcribing manuscripts; but as we shall have access to
originals, we shall endeavor to make proper corrections.” Again (on p. 16 of
the reprint), he wrote:
On
the revelations we merely say, that we were not a little surprised to find the
previous print so different from the original. We have given them a careful
comparison, assisted by individuals whose known integrity and ability is
uncensurable . . . We believe they are now correct. If not in every word, at
least in principle.
There
is an early manuscript of D&C 59 in the Newel K. Whitney collection (BYU
Special Collections) which was probably the immediate source of the EMS
printing of the revelation. Whitney was the bishop at Independence during the
printing of the EMS. His collection of papers, acquired at BYU, is sizeable,
and contains copies of a number of other revelations. This manuscript of
D&C 59 contains a coon copyist error. One word was left out at the end of a
line as follows:
.
. . and on this day thou shalt do none other <thing>
“Thing”
was written above the line in a different hand. “Work” also fits the context of
the passage better. The intent seems to be to rest from daily labors on Sunday
(“do none other work”), rather than “do none other thing.” The significance of
the two readings depends on whether or not “work” and “thing” are interpreted
as being synonymous. “None other thing” seems to be more restrictive than “none
other work.” (Van Hale, Mormon Miscellaneous Notecards, 3 vols. [Sandy,
Utah: Mormon Miscellaneous, 1985], 2:19)
