The Record of John

D&C 93 quotes from an otherwise unknown record of John.  The revelation does not specify whether it is speaking of John the Baptist or John the Revelator, but verse 15 makes it seem that it is most likely John the Baptist’s record since the John in question speaks of how “the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon [Christ] in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.”  That almost certainly refers to the baptism of Christ where John the Baptist was present.  So this makes D&C 93 the only place where we have the actual writings of John the Baptist.  Elder McConkie said this regarding his writings: “John the Baptist [was] destined to write of the gospel of the Lord whose witness he is, but his account, perhaps because it contains truths and concepts that the saints and the world are not yet prepared to receive, has so far not been given to men.” (Mortal Messiah, 1:426-27).  It does appear that John the Revelator, though, had these writings of John the Baptist before him when he started his gospel because the language is very similar to that of D&C 93.  Both speak of Christ as the Word and as the Light.  Looking at the JST version of John 1, John the Revelator refers to “the record of John”, quotes John the Baptist as saying “I bear record”, and twice says himself “John bare record” (v. 20, 28, 30, 31).  Clearly John the Baptist had a record that He made with his testimony of the Savior, and along with the record of the Brother of Jared is something we hope someday to obtain.  The Savior promised, “If you are faithful you shall receive the fullness of the record of John” (D&C 93:18).  In the meantime we should be grateful for the eleven verses that we do have from the revelation to the Prophet Joseph.  We learn truths such as the fact that multiple worlds were made by Him (v. 10) and that He did not receive “the fullness at the first, but received grace for grace” (v. 12).  We also have a name for the Savior given that we don’t have elsewhere: “Messenger of Salvation” (v. 8).  It would be incredible to have this account and see the full testimony of John the Baptist.  I think we would find a tremendous testimony of the Savior from a man with spiritual power that defies our typical perception of him as a desert wanderer who ate grasshoppers.