Doctrine and Covenants Revelation Sites

Thompson, Ohio

Leman Copley farm

Section 51

May 1831

Scripture

"And let every man deal honestly, and be alike among this people, and receive alike, that ye may be one, even as I have commanded you.

". . . let the bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church; and let all things both in money and in meat, which are more than is needful for the wants of this people, be kept in the hands of the bishop.

Members of the Colesville Branch from New York stayed on the Copley farm for several weeks in 1831.

"And whoso is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life."

Doctrine and Covenants 51:9, 13, 19

Leman Copley was a recent convert, who became disaffected with the Church shortly after allowing saints from New York to live on and improve his lands.

Key Events

The Law of Consecration was first implemented here with the arrival of Church members from New York.

Leman Copley was involved in presenting a revelation to a religious group called the Shakers (Doctrine and Covenants 49), with whom he had been previously associated. The revelation was rejected, and Copley soon broke his covenant of allowing Saints to stay on his land.

When Leman Copley broke his promise, and the saints were directed by the Prophet to continue on to Jackson County, Missouri.

Words of Joseph Smith

"More honesty and familiarity in societies would make less hypocrisy and flattery in all branches of the community; and open, frank, candid decorum to all men, in this boasted land of liberty, would beget esteem, confidence, union, and love; and the neighbor from any state or from any country, of whatever color, clime or tongue, could rejoice when he put his foot on the sacred soil of freedom, and exclaim, The very name of 'American' is fraught with 'friendship!' Oh, then, create confidence, restore freedom, break down slavery, banish imprisonment for debt, and be in love, fellowship and peace with all the world! Remember that honesty is not subject to law. The law was made for transgressors. Wherefore a good name is better than riches." (History of the Church 6:205-206)