The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. Originally published in 1835 as Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God, editions of the book continue to be printed mainly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
The book originally contained two parts: a sequence of lectures setting forth basic church doctrine, followed by a compilation of important revelations, or "covenants" of the church: thus the name Doctrine and Covenants. The "doctrine" portion of the book, however, has been removed by both the LDS Church and the Community of Christ. The remaining portion of the book contains many revelations on numerous topics, most of which were dictated by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., supplemented by materials periodically added by each denomination.
Contents |
The Doctrine and Covenants was first published in 1835 as a later version of the Book of Commandments, which had been partially printed in 1833. This earlier book contained 65 early revelations to church leaders including Joseph Smith, Jr. and Oliver Cowdery. Before many copies of the book could be printed, however, the printing press and most of the printed copies were destroyed by a mob in Missouri.
On September 24, 1834 a committee was appointed by the general assembly of the church to organize a new volume containing the most significant Latter Day Saint revelations. This committee of Presiding Elders, consisting of Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, began to review and revise numerous revelations for inclusion in the new work. The committee eventually organized the book into two parts: a "Doctrine" part followed by a "Covenants" part.
The "Doctrine" part of the book consisted of a theological course now called the "Lectures on Faith". The Lectures were a series of doctrinal courses used in the School of the Prophets which had recently been completed in Kirtland, Ohio. According to the committee, these Lectures were included in the compilation "in consequence of their embracing the important doctrine of salvation."[1] The "Covenants" part of the book, labeled "Covenants and Commandments of the Lord, to his servants of the church of the Latter Day Saints", contained a total of 103 revelations on church governance. These 103 revelations were said to "contain items or principles for the regulation of the church, as taken from the revelations which have been given since its organization, as well as from former ones."[2] Each of the 103 revelations was assigned a "section number"; however, section 66 was used twice. Thus, the sections of the original work numbered only to 102.
On February 17, 1835, after the committee had selected the book's contents, the committee wrote that the resulting work represents "our belief, and when we say this, humbly trust, the faith and principles of this society as a body."[3]
The book was first introduced to the church body in a general conference on August 17, 1835. Joseph Smith, Jr. and Frederick G. Williams, two of the Presiding Elders on the committee, were absent, but Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon were present. The church membership at the time had not yet seen the Doctrine and Covenants manuscript as it had been compiled and revised solely by the committee; however, various church members who were familiar with the work "bore record" of the book's truth. At the end of the conference, the church "by a unanimous vote" agreed to accept the compilation as "the doctrine and covenants of their faith" and to make arrangements for its printing.[4]
In 1835, the book was printed and published under the title Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God.
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), The Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands alongside the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and The Pearl of Great Price as holy scripture. Together they are referred to as the "Standard Works." The LDS Church's version of the Doctrine and Covenants is officially described by the church as "containing revelations given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, with some additions by his successors in the Presidency of the Church."[5]
The 138 Sections in LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants break down as follows:
The following sections are not revelations, but letters, reports, statements, and so forth: 102, 123, 127–131, 134, and 135
In 1844, the church added eight sections not included in the 1835 edition. In the current edition, these added sections are numbered 103, 105, 112, 119, 124, 127, 128, and 135.
In 1876, a new LDS Church edition renumbered most of the sections in a roughly chronological order instead of the earlier topical order, and included twenty-six revelations not included in previous editions, now numbered as Sections 2, 13, 77, 85, 87, 108–111, 113–118, 120–123, 125, 126, 129–132, and 136. Previous editions had been divided into verses, however, the early versifications generally followed the paragraph structure of the original text. It was with the 1876 edition that the currently used versification was first employed.
During the 1880s, five foreign editions contained two revelations to John Taylor that were received in 1882 and 1883; these revelations "set in order" the priesthood, gave more clarification about the roles of priesthood offices—especially the Seventy—and required Priesthood leaders to live plural marriage in order to qualify to hold their church positions. Probably due to the LDS Church's change in attitude to polygamy in 1890, these sections were not included in future English editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.
In 1930, a small volume edited by Apostle James E. Talmage titled Latter-day Revelations was published, which was a highly edited selective version of the Doctrine and Covenants. Some believe it was intended to replace the Doctrine and Covenants, but that due to the controversy that arose this plan was dropped. Talmage's work did not contain the section on plural marriage.[6]
Sections 137 and 138 were added to the LDS Church's 1981 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which is the edition currently in use by the church. These were accounts of two visions, one from Joseph Smith and the other from his nephew, Joseph F. Smith in 1918. The revelations were earlier accepted as scripture when added to The Pearl of Great Price in April 1976.[7] No new revelatory sections have been added since 1981.
The LDS Church's 1981 edition also contains two "Official Declarations" at the book's conclusion, the first renouncing polygamy in 1890, and the second in 1978 announcing the opening of priesthood ordination to all worthy male members including previously restricted members of African descent. These two "Official Declarations" are not revelations, but they serve as the formal announcements that a revelation was received. In neither case is the entire revelation included in the Doctrine and Covenants, and it is possible that these two revelations were not of the nature of a writable piece of text. The text of Official Declaration—1 has been included in every LDS Church printing of the Doctrine and Covenants since 1908.
In 1876, Sections 101 and 103 from the 1835 Edition (and subsequent printings) were left out entirely. 101 contained the church's Statement on Marriage,[8][9] with the controversial,
“ | "Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again."[10] | ” |
In 1921, the LDS Church removed the "Lectures on Faith" portion of the book, with an explanation that the Lectures "were never presented to nor accepted by the Church as being otherwise than theological lectures or lessons".[11] The Lectures contain theology concerning the Godhead and emphasize the importance of faith and works.
Until 1981, editions of the book used code names for certain people and places in those sections that dealt with the United Order. The 1981 LDS edition replaced these with the real names, relegating the code names to footnotes. The Community of Christ edition still uses the code names. See List of code names in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Officials of Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) first published an edition of the Doctrine and Covenants in 1864, based on the previous 1844 edition. A General Conference of the church in 1878 approved a resolution that declared that the revelations of the Prophet–President Joseph Smith III had equal standing to those previously included in the work. Since that time, the church has continually added sections to its edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, containing the revelations of succeeding Prophet-Presidents. (The numbers of the sections and versification differ from the edition published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and both modern editions differ from the original 1835 edition numeration).
The 165 Sections of the Community of Christ's Doctrine and Covenants break down as follows:
The following sections are not revelations, but letters, reports, statements, and so forth: 99, 108A, 109–113, and 123.
Community of Christ removed the "Lectures on Faith" ("Doctrine" portion of the work) in 1897. The 1970 World Conference concluded that several sections that had been added between the 1835 and 1844 editions—mainly dealing with the subjects of temple worship and baptism for the dead—had been published without proper approval of a church conference. The World Conference removed Sections 107, 109, 110, 113 and 123 to a historical appendix (which also included documents that were never published as sections). Of these, only Section 107 was a revelation. The World Conference of 1990 subsequently removed the entire appendix from the Doctrine and Covenants. Section 108A contained the minutes of a business meeting, which, because of its historical nature, was moved to the Introduction in the 1970s. After 1990, the Introduction was updated, and what was section 108A was removed entirely.
The ongoing additions to the Community of Christ edition provide a record of the leadership changes and doctrinal developments within the denomination. When W. Grant McMurray became Prophet–President, he declared that instruction specific to leadership changes would no longer be included, so that the focus of the work could be more doctrinal in nature, and less administrative. The record of these leadership changes are still maintained in the form of published letters of counsel. Prophet–President Stephen M. Veazey has conformed to this pattern. Although these letters are not formally published in the Doctrine and Covenants, they are still deemed to be inspired, and are dealt with in the same manner that revelations are (i.e., they must be deliberated and approved by the voting members of a World Conference).
A modern revelation that resulted in some "disaffection" and "led to intense conflict in scattered areas of the RLDS Church"[12] is contained in the Community of Christ version's Section 156,[13] presented by Prophet-President Wallace B. Smith and added in 1984, which called for construction of the Independence Temple and the ordination of women to the priesthood, among other changes.
While some of the prose in the new revelations seems designed to guide the denomination on matters of church governance and doctrine, others are seen as inspirational. One such example can be cited from Section 161, presented as counsel to the church by W. Grant McMurray in 1996: "Become a people of the Temple—those who see violence but proclaim peace, who feel conflict yet extend the hand of reconciliation, who encounter broken spirits and find pathways for healing."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) uses the 1846 edition that was published in Nauvoo, Illinois; this version is virtually identical to the 1844 edition. Most recently a facsimile reprint was produced for the church at Voree, Wisconsin by Richard Drew in 1993.
The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) contends that the thousands of changes made to the original revelations as published in the Book of Commandments (including the change of the church's name) are not doctrinal and result from Joseph Smith's fall from his original calling. As a result, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) prefers to use reprints of the Book of Commandments text.
The Restoration Branches generally use the older RLDS Church Doctrine and Covenants, typically sections 1–144.
The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also uses the older RLDS Church version of the Doctrine and Covenants up to section 144, and also contains new revelations from their prophet–president Fredrick Larsen. These new sections are R 145–R 152.
The following chart compares the current editions of the Doctrine and Covenants used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS ed.) and the Community of Christ (CofC ed.) with the 1833 Book of Commandments (BofC), the 1835 edition published in Kirtland, and the 1844 edition published in Nauvoo. Unless otherwise specified, the document is styled a "revelation" of the person delivering it.
LDS ed. | CofC ed. | BofC (1833) |
Kirtland ed. (1835) |
Nauvoo ed. (1844) |
Date | Delivered by | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | November 1, 1831 | Joseph Smith | Lord’s 'Preface' |
2 | September 21, 1823 | Joseph Smith (angelic visitation) | Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith | ||||
3 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 30 | July 1828 | Joseph Smith | lost 116 pages |
4 | 4 | 3 | 31 | 31 | February 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Joseph Smith, Sr. |
5 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 32 | March 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Martin Harris; golden plates |
6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | April 1829 | Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery | To Oliver Cowdery |
7 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 33 | April 1829 | Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery | To Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery; John the Apostle |
8 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 34 | April 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Oliver Cowdery; Book of Mormon translation |
9 | 9 | 8 | 35 | 35 | April 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Oliver Cowdery; Book of Mormon translation |
10 | 3 | 9 | 36 | 36 | Summer 1828 | Joseph Smith | lost 116 pages |
11 | 10 | 10 | 37 | 37 | May 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Hyrum Smith |
12 | 11 | 11 | 38 | 38 | May 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Joseph Knight, Sr. |
13 | May 15, 1829 | Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (angelic visitation) | Conferral of Aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist | ||||
14 | 12 | 12 | 39 | 39 | June 1829 | Joseph Smith | To David Whitmer |
15 | 13 | 13 | 40 | 40 | June 1829 | Joseph Smith | To John Whitmer |
16 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 41 | June 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Peter Whitmer, Jr. |
17 | 15 | 42 | 42 | June 1829 | Joseph Smith | To Three Witnesses | |
18 | 16 | 15 | 43 | 43 | June 1829 | Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer | selection of Twelve Apostles |
19 | 18 | 16 | 44 | 44 | March 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Martin Harris |
20 | 17 | 24 | 2 | 2 | April 1830 | Joseph Smith | Church organization and government |
21 | 19 | 22 | 46 | 46 | April 6, 1830 | Joseph Smith | Joseph Smith’s calling |
22 | 20 | 23 | 47 | 47 | April 1830 | Joseph Smith | baptism |
23 | 21 | 17-21 | 45 | 45 | April 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph Smith, Sr., Joseph Knight, Sr. |
24 | 23 | 25 | 9 | 9 | July 1830 | Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery | Callings of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery |
25 | 24 | 26 | 48 | 48 | July 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Emma Smith |
26 | 25 | 27 | 49 | 49 | July 1830 | Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and John Whitmer | Common consent |
27 | 26 | 28 | 50 | 50 | August 1830 | Joseph Smith | Sacrament and priesthood ordinations |
28 | 27 | 30 | 51 | 51 | September 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Oliver Cowdery; Joseph Smith to receive revelations until another appointed |
29 | 28 | 29 | 10 | 10 | September 1830 | Joseph Smith | To six elders; Second Coming; origin of Satan; redemption of children |
30 | 29 | 31-33 | 52 | 52 | September 1830 | Joseph Smith | To David Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer |
31 | 30 | 34 | 53 | 53 | September 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Thomas B. Marsh |
32 | 31 | 54 | 54 | October 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson | |
33 | 32 | 35 | 55 | 55 | October 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Ezra Thayre and Northrop Sweet |
34 | 33 | 36 | 56 | 56 | November 4, 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Orson Pratt |
35 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 11 | December 1830 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | Callings Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon; signs and miracles; the elect |
36 | 35 | 38 | 57 | 57 | December 1830 | Joseph Smith | To Edward Partridge |
37 | 37 | 39 | 58 | 58 | December 1830 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | Saints to gather in Ohio |
38 | 38 | 40 | 12 | 12 | January 2, 1831 | Joseph Smith | equality; wars |
39 | 39 | 41 | 59 | 59 | January 5, 1831 | Joseph Smith | To James Covill |
40 | 40 | 42 | 60 | 60 | January 1831 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | concerning James Covill |
41 | 41 | 43 | 61 | 61 | February 4, 1831 | Joseph Smith | To the church; Edward Partridge called as bishop |
42 | 42 | 44, 47 | 13 | 13 | February 9, 1831 | Joseph Smith | "the law" of the church |
43 | 43 | 45 | 14 | 14 | February 1831 | Joseph Smith | Role of President of the Church; missionary work; forces of nature |
44 | 44 | 46 | 62 | 62 | late February 1831 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | Church conference called |
45 | 45 | 48 | 15 | 15 | March 7, 1831 | Joseph Smith | Matthew chapter 24 explained; missionary work; Christ as advocate |
46 | 46 | 49 | 16 | 16 | March 8, 1831 | Joseph Smith | sacrament meeting, gifts of the Spirit |
47 | 47 | 50 | 63 | 63 | March 8, 1831 | Joseph Smith | John Whitmer to keep history of church |
48 | 48 | 51 | 64 | 64 | March 1831 | Joseph Smith | purchase of lands |
49 | 49 | 52 | 65 | 65 | March 1831 | Joseph Smith | To Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt and Leman Copley; Shaker beliefs |
50 | 50 | 53 | 17 | 17 | May 1831 | Joseph Smith | Recognizing the Spirit |
51 | 51 | 23 | 23 | May 1831 | Joseph Smith | property division | |
52 | 52 | 54 | 66 | 66 | June 7, 1831 | Joseph Smith | sending elders to Missouri |
53 | 53 | 55 | 66[14] | 67 | June 1831 | Joseph Smith | To A. Sidney Gilbert |
54 | 54 | 56 | 67 | 68 | June 1831 | Joseph Smith | To Newel Knight |
55 | 55 | 57 | 68 | 69 | June 1831 | Joseph Smith | To W.W. Phelps |
56 | 56 | 58 | 69 | 70 | June 1831 | Joseph Smith | the rebellious; the rich and the poor |
57 | 57 | 27 | 27 | July 20, 1831 | Joseph Smith | location of Zion at Jackson County, Missouri | |
58 | 58 | 59 | 18 | 28 | August 1, 1831 | Joseph Smith | tribulations; gather to Zion |
59 | 59 | 60 | 19 | 19 | August 7, 1831 | Joseph Smith | the sabbath; reward for the righteous |
60 | 60 | 61 | 70 | 71 | August 8, 1831 | Joseph Smith | elders to travel to Cincinnati; missionary work |
61 | 61 | 62 | 71 | 72 | August 12, 1831 | Joseph Smith | "destruction upon the waters" |
62 | 62 | 63 | 72 | 73 | August 13, 1831 | Joseph Smith | missionary work |
63 | 63 | 64 | 20 | 20 | late August 1831 | Joseph Smith | signs; mysteries; impending war and woe; gather to Zion; authority to use Lord's name |
64 | 64 | 65[15] | 21 | 21 | September 11, 1831 | Joseph Smith | forgiveness; financial debt; tithing; Zion to flourish |
65 | 65 | 24 | 24 | October 1831 | Joseph Smith (prayer) | Prayer of Joseph Smith; keys of the kingdom | |
66 | 66 | 74 | 75 | October 25, 1831 | Joseph Smith | To William E. M’Lellin | |
67 | 67 | 25 | 25 | November 1831 | Joseph Smith | testimony of the Book of Commandments | |
68 | 68 | 22 | 22 | November 1831 | Joseph Smith | To Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson and William E. M’Lellin; ; bishops; parents | |
69 | 69 | 28 | 28 | November 1831 | Joseph Smith | Assignments for John Whitmer | |
70 | 70 | 26 | 26 | November 12, 1831 | Joseph Smith | stewardship; equality | |
71 | 71 | 90 | 91 | December 1, 1831 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon called to preach | |
72 | 72 | 89 | 90 | December 4, 1831 | Joseph Smith | bishops | |
73 | 73 | 29 | 29 | January 10, 1832 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible | |
74 | 74 | 73 | 74 | late January 1832 | Joseph Smith | Explanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14; salvation of children | |
75 | 75 | 87 | 88 | January 25, 1832 | Joseph Smith | missionary work; families of missionaries | |
76 | 76 | 91 | 92 | February 16, 1832 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (vision) | Jesus Christ; resurrection; degrees of glory; origin of Satan | |
77 | March 1832 | Joseph Smith | certain verses from Revelation explained | ||||
78 | 77 | 75 | 76 | March 1832 | Joseph Smith | United Order; equality | |
79 | 78 | 76 | 77 | March 1832 | Joseph Smith | To Jared Carter | |
80 | 79 | 77 | 78 | March 1832 | Joseph Smith | To Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith | |
81 | 80 | 79 | 80 | March 1832 | Joseph Smith | To Jesse Gause; on March 18, 1833 application transferred to Frederick G. Williams | |
82 | 81 | 86 | 87 | April 26, 1832 | Joseph Smith | obedience; United Order; equality | |
83 | 82 | 88 | 89 | April 26, 1832 | Joseph Smith | husbands and fathers; widows and orphans | |
84 | 83 | 4 | 4 | 22-23 September 1832 | Joseph Smith | priesthood | |
85 | November 17, 1832 | Joseph Smith (letter) | Letter from Joseph Smith to W.W. Phelps; United Order; One Mighty and Strong; equality | ||||
86 | 84 | 6 | 6 | December 6, 1832 | Joseph Smith | Parable of the Tares explained | |
87 | December 25, 1832 | Joseph Smith | prophecy of war, calamity | ||||
88 | 85 | 7 | 7 | 27-28 December 1832; January 3, 1833 | Joseph Smith | the "olive leaf"; "Lord's message of peace" | |
89 | 86 | 80 | 81 | February 27, 1833 | Joseph Smith | A word of wisdom | |
90 | 87 | 84 | 85 | March 8, 1833 | Joseph Smith | keys of the kingdom; First Presidency | |
91 | 88 | 92 | 93 | March 9, 1833 | Joseph Smith | the Apocrypha | |
92 | 89 | 93 | 94 | March 15, 1833 | Joseph Smith | To Frederick G. Williams | |
93 | 90 | 82 | 83 | May 6, 1833 | Joseph Smith | John’s record of Christ; intelligence; innocence of children | |
94 | 91 | 83 | 84 | May 6, 1833 | Joseph Smith | To Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon and Jared Carter; construction of various buildings commanded | |
95 | 92 | 95 | 96 | June 1, 1833 | Joseph Smith | temple to be built; purpose of temples | |
96 | 93 | 96 | 97 | June 4, 1833 | Joseph Smith | division of property | |
97 | 94 | 81 | 82 | August 2, 1833 | Joseph Smith | Saints in Jackson County, Missouri; temple to be built in Jackson County, Missouri | |
98 | 95 | 85 | 86 | August 6, 1833 | Joseph Smith | promises and warnings; martyrs; when war is justified; forgiving enemies | |
99 | 96 | 78 | 79 | August 1832[16] | Joseph Smith | To John Murdock | |
100 | 97 | 94 | 95 | October 12, 1833 | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon | Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to preach gospel; Rigdon to be Smith's spokesman; welfare of Orson Hyde and John Gould | |
101 | 98 | 97 | 98 | December 16. 1833 | Joseph Smith | redemption of Zion; parables; United States and U.S. Constitution; Saints to seek redress | |
102 | 99 | 5 | 5 | February 17, 1834 | Oliver Cowdery and Orson Hyde (minutes of meeting) | Minutes for first high council meeting | |
103 | 100 | 101 | February 24, 1834 | Joseph Smith | redemption of Zion; organization of Zion’s Camp | ||
104 | 101 | 98 | 99 | April 24, 1834 | Joseph Smith | United Order | |
105 | 102 | 102 | June 22, 1834 | Joseph Smith | redemption of Zion; purpose of Kirtland Temple; peace | ||
106 | 103 | 99 | 100 | November 25, 1834 | Joseph Smith | To Warren A. Cowdery; Second Coming | |
107 | 104 | 3 | 3 | various times; completed March 28, 1835 | Joseph Smith | priesthood; quorums | |
108 | December 26, 1835 | Joseph Smith | To Lyman Sherman | ||||
109 | March 27, 1836 | Joseph Smith (prayer) | Dedicatory prayer for Kirtland Temple | ||||
110 | April 3, 1836 | Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (vision and angelic visitations) | Visitation of Jesus Christ to accept Kirtland Temple; conferral of priesthood keys; coming of Elijah | ||||
111 | August 6, 1836 | Joseph Smith | temporal needs of the church | ||||
112 | 105 | 104 | July 23, 1837 | Joseph Smith | To Thomas B. Marsh; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; First Presidency | ||
113 | March 1838 | Joseph Smith (answers to questions) | Answers to questions on the Book of Isaiah provided by Joseph Smith | ||||
114 | April 17, 1838 | Joseph Smith | concerning David W. Patten | ||||
115 | April 17, 1838 | Joseph Smith | name of the church; stakes; temple to be built at Far West, Missouri | ||||
116 | May 19, 1838 | Joseph Smith | Adam-ondi-Ahman | ||||
117 | July 8, 1838 | Joseph Smith | concerning William Marks, Newel K. Whitney and Oliver Granger; property; sacrifice | ||||
118 | July 8, 1838 | Joseph Smith | vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles filled | ||||
119 | 106 | 107 | July 8, 1838 | Joseph Smith | tithing | ||
120 | July 8, 1838 | Joseph Smith | Council on the Disposition of the Tithes | ||||
121 | March 20, 1839 | Joseph Smith (prayer and prophecies) | Prayer and prophecies of Joseph Smith; why many are called but few chosen | ||||
122 | March 1839 | Joseph Smith | destiny of Joseph Smith | ||||
123 | March 1839 | Joseph Smith (letter) | Letter to church; duty in relation to their persecutors | ||||
124 | 107[17] | 103 | January 19, 1841 | Joseph Smith | Nauvoo Temple and Nauvoo House to be built; baptism for the dead | ||
125 | March 1841 | Joseph Smith | Saints in Iowa | ||||
126 | July 9, 1841 | Joseph Smith | To Brigham Young | ||||
127 | 109[18] | 105 | September 1, 1842 | Joseph Smith (letter) | Letter to church; baptism for the dead | ||
128 | 110[19] | 106 | September 6, 1842 | Joseph Smith (letter) | Letter to church; baptism for the dead | ||
129 | February 9, 1843 | Joseph Smith (instructions) | distinguishing the nature of angels and disembodied spirits | ||||
130 | April 2, 1843 | Joseph Smith (instruction) | Various items of instruction; corporeal nature of God and Jesus Christ; intelligence; seer stones | ||||
131 | 16 May 16-17 May 1843 | Joseph Smith (instruction) | Various items of instruction; celestial marriage; eternal life | ||||
132 | Recorded July 12, 1843 (received earlier?) | Joseph Smith | plural marriage; celestial marriage; sealing power; exaltation | ||||
133 | 108 | 100 | 108 | November 3, 1831 | Joseph Smith | original "Appendix"; Second Coming; missionary work | |
134 | 112 | 102 | 110 | August 15, 1835 | Church (declaration) | secular governments and laws in general | |
135 | 113[20] | 111 | June 27, 1844 | John Taylor (eulogy) | Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith | ||
136 | January 14, 1847 | Brigham Young | Organization of Mormon pioneer westward journey | ||||
137[21] | January 21, 1836 | Joseph Smith (vision) | salvation for the dead; salvation of little children | ||||
138[22] | October 3, 1918 | Joseph F. Smith (vision) | Jesus Christ preached to spirits in prison; salvation for the dead | ||||
OD—1 | September 24, 1890 | Wilford Woodruff (declaration) | cessation of plural marriage | ||||
OD—2 | June 8, 1978 | Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney (declaration) | cessation of priesthood restrictions based on race | ||||
[23] | 22[24] | June 1830 | Joseph Smith | God’s words to Moses | |||
[25] | 36[26] | December 1830 | Joseph Smith | Prophecy of Enoch | |||
111 | 101 | 109 | August 17, 1835 | Church (declaration) | Declaration on marriage; one spouse only | ||
114 | October 7, 1861 | Joseph Smith III (letter) | Tithing | ||||
115 | March 1863 | Joseph Smith III | Calling of William Marks | ||||
116 | May 4, 1865 | Joseph Smith III | Priesthood ordination of other races | ||||
117 | April 10, 1873 | Joseph Smith III | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
118 | September 28, 1882 | Joseph Smith III | Foreign missions | ||||
119 | April 11, 1887 | Joseph Smith III | Instructions to the elders | ||||
120 | April 8, 1890 | Joseph Smith III | Branch and district presidents | ||||
121 | April 11, 1885 | Joseph Smith III | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
122 | April 15, 1894 | Joseph Smith III | Duties of quorums | ||||
123[27] | April 20, 1894 | Joint council of the First Presidency, Council of Twelve Apostles, and Presiding Bishopric (report) | Lamoni College; church publications; relations with LDS Church; doctrinal tracts; interpretation of various scriptures; gospel boat; branch in Detroit | ||||
124 | April 1894 | Joseph Smith III | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
125 | April 15, 1901 | Joseph Smith III | patriarchs; foreign missions | ||||
126 | April 16, 1902 | Joseph Smith III (vision) | quorums | ||||
127 | April 14, 1906 | Joseph Smith III | Sanitarium | ||||
128 | April 18, 1909 | Joseph Smith III | Organization and colonization | ||||
129 | April 18, 1909 | Joseph Smith III | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
130 | April 14, 1913 | Joseph Smith III | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
131 | April 14, 1914 | Joseph Smith III | Presiding Bishopric | ||||
132 | April 5, 1916 | Frederick M. Smith | Presiding Bishop | ||||
133 | April 7, 1920 | Frederick M. Smith | Missionary work | ||||
134 | October 2, 1922 | Frederick M. Smith | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
135 | April 18, 1925 | Frederick M. Smith | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
136 | April 14, 1932 | Frederick M. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; unity | ||||
137 | April 7, 1938 | Frederick M. Smith | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
138 | April 10, 1940 | Frederick M. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; work toward Zion | ||||
139 | April 9, 1946 | Israel A. Smith | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
140 | April 7, 1947 | Israel A. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; Zion | ||||
141 | October 2, 1948 | Israel A. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; counsel | ||||
142 | April 2, 1950 | Israel A. Smith | Commendation; urge to work | ||||
143 | April 7, 1954 | Israel A. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; counsel | ||||
144 | April 7, 1954 | Israel A. Smith (letter) | New Church President named | ||||
145 | October 8, 1958 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions | ||||
146 | April 2, 1960 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions; unity commended | ||||
147 | March 11, 1964 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions; stewardship | ||||
148 | April 18, 1966 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions; counsel | ||||
149 | April 1, 1968 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions; relationship between ministerial programs; prepare to build temple at Independence | ||||
149A | April 5, 1968 | W. Wallace Smith | Clarification of 149 | ||||
150 | April 14, 1972 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions; counsel on culture; temple preparation; ecology | ||||
151 | April 1, 1974 | W. Wallace Smith | Changes in leadership positions; reconciliation | ||||
152 | March 29, 1976 | W. Wallace Smith | New precedent on Presidential succession; Presidential successor named; changes in leadership positions; reconciliation | ||||
153 | April 6, 1978 | Wallace B. Smith | New Church President; changes in leadership positions; counsel on outreach | ||||
154 | April 8, 1980 | Wallace B. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; counsel on outreach | ||||
155 | March 29, 1982 | Wallace B. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; counsel on witness | ||||
156 | April 3, 1984 | Wallace B. Smith | Purpose of Independence Temple; priesthood opened to women; changes in leadership positions | ||||
157 | April 12, 1988 | Wallace B. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; unity; humility | ||||
158 | April 5, 1992 | Wallace B. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; the spiritual life | ||||
159 | April 10, 1994 | Wallace B. Smith | Changes in leadership positions; trusting the Spirit; Independence Temple accepted | ||||
160 | April 14, 1996 | Wallace B. Smith | New Church President named | ||||
161 | April 4, 2000 | W. Grant McMurray | Proclaim peace; reach out; patience; embrace differences; respect tradition | ||||
162 | March 29, 2004 | W. Grant McMurray | Be a prophetic people; diversity; tithing | ||||
163 | March 29, 2007 | Stephen M. Veazey | Strive for peace; missionary work; use and misuse of scripture; equality; generosity |
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