The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C or D. and 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 [RLDS Church]).
The book originally contained two parts: a sequence of lectures setting forth basic church doctrine, followed by a compilation of 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 Community of Christ. The remaining portion of the book contains revelations on numerous topics, most of which were dictated by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, supplemented by materials periodically added by each denomination.
Controversy has existed between the two largest denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement over some sections added to the 1876 LDS edition, attributed to founder Smith. Whereas the LDS Church believes these sections to have been revelations to Smith,Section 132, churchofjesuschrist.org, accessed December 26, 2008. the RLDS Church traditionally disputed their authenticity.Differences between the RLDS and LDS Doctrine and Covenants on the subject of Marriage, accessed December 26, 2008.
History 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, notably Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Before many copies of the book could be printed, 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 revelations. This committee of Presiding Elders, consisting of Smith, 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 and 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."See 1835 D&C, Preface. 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. 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." Each of the 103 revelations was assigned a "section number"; however, section 66 was mistakenly used twice. Thus, the sections of the original work were 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."
The book was first introduced to the church body in a general conference on August 17, 1835. Smith and Williams, two of the Presiding Elders on the committee, were absent, but Cowdery and 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.Joseph Smith, B. H. Roberts (ed.) (1902). History of the Church 2:243–46.
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.
A copy of the Doctrine and Covenants from NASA photographer M. Edward Thomas traveled to the moon and back in 1972 with astronaut John Young aboard Apollo 16.Stephenson, Kathy. "Book of Mormon that traveled to the moon makes a Utah landing", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 October 2019. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
LDS Church editions In the 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 scripture. Together the LDS Church's scriptures are referred to as the "standard works". The LDS Church's version of the Doctrine and Covenants is 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."
Sections Included in LDS edition The 138 sections and two official declarations in LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants break down as follows: Sections 1–134, 137: From the presidency of Joseph Smith (1828–44) Sections 135–136: During the administration of the Quorum of the Twelve (1844–47) Official Declaration 1: From the presidency of Wilford Woodruff (1889–98) Section 138: From the presidency of Joseph F. Smith (1901–18) Official Declaration 2: From the presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (1973–85)
The following sections consist of letters, reports, statements, and other similar documents: 102, 123, 127–131, 134, 135, and Official Declarations 1 and 2.
1844 Edition
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.
1876 Edition
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 26 sections 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 with the early versifications generally following the paragraph structure of the original text. It was with the 1876 edition that the currently used versification was first employed.
In 1876, section 101 from the 1835 edition (and subsequent printings) was removed. Section 101 was a "Statement on Marriage" as adopted by an 1835 conference of the church,History of the Church 2:247.Messenger and Advocate, August 1835, p. 163 and contained the following text:
This section was removed because it had been superseded by section 132 of the modern LDS edition, recorded in 1843, which contains a revelation received by Joseph Smith on eternal marriage and plural marriage, the origin of the principles of which the LDS Church traces to as early as 1831.
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 "men who ... preside over my priesthood" to live plural marriage in order to qualify to hold their church positions. 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.
1921 Edition
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".See Introduction, 1921 edition. The lectures contain theology concerning the Godhead and emphasize the importance of faith and works.
Latter-day Revelation
In 1930, a small volume edited by apostle James E. Talmage titled Latter-day Revelation: Selections from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants was published, which was a highly edited selective version of the Doctrine and Covenants printed in paragraph format rather than verses. Talmage wrote that the book's purpose was "to make the strictly doctrinal parts of the Doctrine and Covenants of easy access and reduce its bulk" by including only "the sections comprising scriptures of general and enduring value".Newell G. Bringhurst, "Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants: Its Complex and Controversial Legacy" in Newell G. Bringhurst and Craig L. Foster (eds.), The Persistence of Polygamy: Joseph Smith and the Origins of Mormon Polygamy (Independence, Missouri: John Whitmer Books, 2010 ) pp. 83-84. Ninety-five of the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were completely omitted—most notably section 132 on plural and celestial marriage—along with parts of 21 others. Twenty complete sections were retained along with parts of 21 others. Fundamentalist Mormons were offended, particularly at the exclusion of section 132, and accused the church of "changing the scriptures."James P. Harris, "Foreword" in James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith (1st ed. photo reproduction, Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 2010 ). As a result, church president Heber J. Grant ordered the withdrawal of the book from sale with the remaining copies shredded in order to "avoid further conflict with the fundamentalists".
+ Sections included in Talmage's Latter-day Revelation Section Complete or Omissions? Description Section 1 Complete The Voice of the Lord to all People Section 2 Complete Predicted Advent of Elijah the Prophet Section 4 Complete Qualifications for the Ministry Section 7 Complete Desire of John the Apostle Granted Section 13 Complete Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood Section 18 Omissions Calling of the Twelve Directed Section 19 Omissions Christ Victorious and Omnipotent Section 20 Omissions Fundamental Principles and Ordinances Section 22 Complete A New and Everlasting Covenant Section 27 Complete Sacramental Emblems and the Future Communion Section 29 Complete Tribulation and Judgment Section 38 Complete Diligence Enjoined Section 42 Omissions Law and Order in the Church Section 43 Omissions In Preparation for the Lord's Coming Section 45 Omissions As the Lord Spake So He Speaks Section 46 Complete Gifts of the Spirit Section 50 Omissions Discernment of Spirits Section 56 Omissions Woes and Blessings Section 58 Omissions Commandment and Obedience Section 59 Complete Commendation and Further Promise Section 63 Omissions Calamities to Befall the Wicked Section 64 Omissions Forgiveness and Sacrifice Required Section 65 Complete Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven Section 68 Omissions To Elders and Parents Especially Section 76 Complete Perdition and Graded Kingdoms of Glory Section 84 Omissions On Priesthood Section 87 Complete Prophecy on War Section 88 Omissions The Olive Leaf Section 89 Complete The Word of Wisdom Section 98 Omissions Divine and Secular Law Section 101 Omissions Encouragement and Assurance Section 107 Complete Orders and Offices of the Priesthood Section 110 Complete A Glorious Theophany Followed By Visitations of Ancient Prophets Section 119 Complete The Law of the Tithe Section 121 Omissions Many Called but Few Chosen Section 124 Omissions Commandment to Build a House of the Lord Section 130 Omissions An Irrevocable Law. The Holy Trinity Section 131 Omissions Matter and Spirit Section 133 Complete Imminence of the Lord's Coming Section 134 Complete Church and State
1981 Edition