Doctrine and Covenants, Connected
Doctrine and Covenants 83 “Widows and orphans shall be provided for”
On April 30, 1832, Joseph Smith sat in council with other church members in Independence, Missouri, and dictated this revelation. The church’s earlier teachings on consecration explained how members could give property to help those in need, but did not clearly settle what would happen to property claims when a husband or father died. This revelation sets out support and inheritance claims for women and children, and directs that the church storehouse help widows, orphans, and the poor. A later copy of the revelation appears to have been written by Sidney Rigdon for Newel K. Whitney.
4 of 6 verses connected · 6 talks · 11 verse-to-talk connections
Doctrine and Covenants 83
- Verily, thus saith the Lord, in addition to the laws of the church concerning women and children, those who belong to the church, who have lost their husbands or fathers:
- Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken; and if they are not found transgressors they shall have fellowship in the church. (2 connected talks)
- And if they are not faithful they shall not have fellowship in the church; yet they may remain upon their inheritances according to the laws of the land. (2 connected talks)
- All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age. (5 connected talks)
- And after that, they have claim upon the church, or in other words upon the Lord's storehouse, if their parents have not wherewith to give them inheritances.
- And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church; and widows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the poor. Amen. (2 connected talks)
Read Doctrine and Covenants 83 on the official scripture site
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Data version: D&C Connected v1 · built 2026-10-15 · conference through 2026-10