Doctrine and Covenants - Scripture recognized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . The book contains “revelations” given to the founder of the church, Joseph Smith , as well as several revelations received by other prophets of the last days (sections 135, 136 and 138, “Official Statements 1 and 2”). The book does not contain a translation of ancient scriptures, unlike most other holy books.
The Doctrine and Covenants is dedicated to the rules for organizing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and contains some important points of the church’s teachings that are not found in other so-called “exemplary works” of the church ( Bible , Book of Mormon , “ The Pearl of Great Price ”). The book describes church sacraments and rites, the administrative structure of the church. Some sections also refer to the work of Joseph Smith on the "translation" of the Book of Mormon and a number of chapters of the Bible.
Some of these revelations were first published in Zion (now Independence ), Missouri, in 1833 under the title A Book of Commandments for the Government of the Church of Christ. As the stream of revelation continued, two years later, in Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, the extended Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints was published in Kirtland , Ohio .
Joseph Smith, revered by the Mormons as a prophet, not only “translated” the Book of Mormon , but also collected other revelations he received from God. Most of these revelations are found in two other books of modern scriptures: Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price.
Doctrine and Covenants is the “exemplary work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” The main purpose of the Book is to explain to the members and leaders of the Church how the Mormon Church should be organized and how to lead it “so that it is in harmony with the kingdom of Christ”. The book also contains many revelations of important teachings. Most of the revelations were “received by the prophet Joseph Smith” (133 sections). The remaining sections (including two official statements) were written by other leaders of the Mormon Church.
Most of the passages in the Doctrine and Covenants have a special historical character and “were received from God” in response to special prayers. Many sections were written at the request of a specific member of the Church, but the words in these sections are universal in nature and relevant and significant in our time.
Church members recognize these revelations as “the will of the Lord, ... the mind of the Lord, ... the word of the Lord, ... the voice of the Lord and the strength of God for salvation” (Doctrine and Covenants 68: 4).
It is important to note that not all revelations received by Joseph Smith are contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. Some of them are included in Church History. The decision on what revelations should be made in the Doctrine and Covenants is made by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For members of the Mormon Church, Doctrine and Covenants is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ . This book of scripture confirms the teachings of the Book of Mormon, reveals new principles, explains them in more detail, and gives more instruction about the leadership of His Church. The book also warns of the extermination in the future of all those who do not repent. Thus, the book “Doctrine and Covenants” interprets and “confirms” the prophecies about the last days that are in the Bible.
Doctrine and Covenants History
Joseph Smith received many revelations about the basics of the gospel and how to lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although many of the revelations were announced at conferences, and Joseph handed out copies of the revelations to missionaries and church leaders, most people did not know what the revelations were about.
The Missouri-based printing business, William W. Phelps , helped solve this problem. In November 1831, many meetings and conferences were held on the publication of revelations. By this time, Joseph Smith had recorded 60 revelations. It was decided to publish ten thousand copies of these revelations in book form. Later, the number of copies was reduced to three thousand. The title of the book was “The Book of the Commandments” (in 1835 the name was changed to “Doctrine and Covenants” when a new version of the book with additions was printed in Kirtland, Ohio), and the revelation from the first section of “The Doctrine and Covenants” became the introduction to the book.
An appendix was added to the book, and Joseph checked all the manuscripts of the revelations so that they did not contain any errors. John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery were tasked with delivering the manuscripts to Missouri . They left on November 20, 1831 and arrived in the city of Independence on January 5, 1832 . In June, William W. Phelps began to type for the book. The first edition was published in 1833 and consisted of only five to six sections. After the first edition, other revelations were received and some early materials were deleted until the Book took on its current form.
Almost one third of all revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants was received between August 1831 and April 1834 . Joseph Smith said the revelations in the Book of Commandments were “the foundation of the Church in the last days.”
The introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants says: “Most of the revelations of this collection were received through Joseph Smith, Jr., the first Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other revelations were received through some of his successors in the Presidency of the Church (see Sections 135, 136, and 138 and “Official Statements 1 and 2”). ”
As one of the Church’s exemplary works, the Doctrine and Covenants is unique, “because it is not a translation of an ancient manuscript, but the modern scripture given by God through His chosen prophets to restore His holy works and to create the Kingdom of God on Earth these days” (see Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants).
These revelations provide the teachings of the gospel with explanations of such fundamental issues as the nature of the Divine , the origin of man , the reality of Satan , the purpose of mortal life , the need for obedience, the need for repentance , the work of the Holy Spirit , the Sacraments and rituals related to salvation , the duties and nature of the Priesthood , fate Earth, the future state of man after the resurrection and judgment , the eternity of marital relations , the eternal essence of the family . The Doctrine and Covenants also shows the gradual disclosure of the administrative structure of the Church through the calling of the Bishop, the creation of the First Presidency , the Council of the Twelve , the Council of the Seventy , and the creation of other leadership structures and quorums.
And finally, the Doctrine and Covenants is a testament that Jesus is the Christ and that He leads His Church and speaks to His chosen servants these days, just as He spoke to His servants in ancient times.
Literature
- The Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Containing Revelations Given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, with Some Additions by his Successors in the Presidency of the Church , Intellectual Reserve: Salt Lake City, UT, 1981.
- Book of Doctrine and Covenants: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God and Given in the Order of their Dates , Herald Publishing House: Independence, MO, 2000.
- Joseph Smith, The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God , photo enlarged and reprinted from the 1846 Nauvoo edition by Richard Drew, Burlington (Voree), Wisconsin, 1993, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite).
- Peter Judd, Journey in Trust: A Study Resource for D&C 161 , Herald House, 2004. ISBN 0-8309-1122-7
- Book of Commandments: Herald Heritage Reprint , Herald House , 1833 (reprint). ISBN 0-8309-0066-7
- F. Henry Edwards, The Edwards Commentary on the Doctrine & Covenants , Herald House, 1986. ISBN 0-8309-0187-6
- Robert J. Woodford, Doctrine and Covenants Editions , Encyclopedia of Mormonism 1 : 425-427
Links
- Doctrine and Covenants
- Doctrine and Covenants (pdf)
- Doctrine and Covenants - The Complete Official Edition of Jesus Christ's LDS Church 1981 (in English)
- The Doctrine and Covenants in a single file - 1989 Edition