Community of Christ - Doctrine and Covenants

Book of
Doctrine and Covenants

CAREFULLY SELECTED FROM

THE REVELATIONS OF GOD,

AND GIVEN IN THE ORDER OF THEIR DATES

Community of Christ

Herald Publishing House

Independence, Missouri

Produced by Community of Christ

1001 W. Walnut St.

Independence, MO 64050-3562

2016 Herald Publishing House

1001 W. Walnut St.

Independence, MO 64050-3562

USA

All rights in this book are reserved. No part of the text may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Communications, Community of Christ, 1001 W. Walnut St., Independence, Missouri, 64050 USA.

ISBN 978-0-8309-1673-3

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Introduction to the 2015
E-book Edition

Introduction to the 2015
E-book Edition

Community of Christ affirms the Enduring Principle of Continuing Revelation and upholds the Book of Doctrine and Covenants as inspired scripture. Additional sections may be added after inspired documents presented by the prophet-president are approved by the churchs World Conference.

The revelatory documents date to 1828 and the founding prophet of the Restoration movement, Joseph Smith Jr. Each has been a product of its historical setting, the particular gifts and sensitivities of the eight prophet-presidents of the church during its more than 180 years of existence, and the spiritual receptivity of the church as a whole. The careful reader of these covenants and commandments will find many different kinds of instruction, guidance, and information, visionary experiences, changes in church leadership and quorum organization, doctrinal explanations, pleas of warning and urgency, and challenging messages from prophets attuned to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Some sections may seem obscure or dated; others ring clear prophetically across the decades. All should be approached humbly and prayerfully.

The first attempt to publish the early revelations in book form was begun in November 1831. Before the work could be completed, however, a mob in Independence, Missouri, destroyed the printing press on July 20, 1833, and scattered through the streets five completed signatures or galley sheets, each with thirty-two pages. A high council in Kirtland, Ohio, on September 24, 1834, authorized a second attempt.

The quorums of the church met at Kirtland in general assembly on August 17, 1835, to consider the labors of this committee. The minutes of the September 1834 High Council and of that August 17 general assembly which ratified the first edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants were adopted and published in the first edition as Section 103. In later editions those minutes appeared as Section 108A, and from 1970 to 1990 the First Presidency included them in the Introduction rather than the main body of the text because of their historical rather than doctrinal nature.

Additional sections were published in 1844 and in later editions of the book. Some were included without prior General Conference or quorum approval and remained in later editions on the basis of custom but with otherwise uncertain authority. The 1970 World Conference (WCR 1080) authorized placement of several such sections (Sections 107, 109, 110, 113, and 123) in an Appendix.

Two other documents subsequently were added to the Appendix. In 1978 the letter of resignation and instruction from President W. Wallace Smith and a document titled, The Joseph Smith Prayer of Blessing and Designation. However, forensic tests made in 1986, cast doubt on the documents validity, and the 1988 World Conference authorized its removal from the Appendix.

On April 7, 1990, the World Conference authorized the removal of all of the historical appendixes from the Doctrine and Covenants.

Revised excerpts from Introduction to the 2002 Printing of the 1990 Edition

Discerning Gods will and vision is a matter of study, prayer, and faith. By presenting this growing compilation of scriptural writings in e-book form, the church is expanding the accessibility of these important words. May these words inform and inspire you as you seek to understand their true meaning and relevance to the life of the church and to faithful discipleship.

The First Presidency

Stephen M. Veazey

Becky Savage

Scott Murphy

THE
COVENANTS AND COMMANDMENTS
OF THE LORD

SECTION 1

Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at a special conference held at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, November 1, 1831. It was to serve as a preface to the Book of Commandments. W. W. Phelps and Company began the printing of the Book of Commandments at Independence, Missouri, but the plant was destroyed by a mob in July 1833 before the book could be completed. The last section to be set up ended with the words, blood of Ephraim (D. and C. 64:7b).

When the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants was published in 1835, it included the sections (chapters) set in type for the Book of Commandments and also instructions received prior to July 1833 but not included in the Book of Commandments. To this was added further instruction received and a statement of principles approved prior to the date of publication. The preface was continued as Section 1.

If the preface had been included in the order it was received, it would have appeared immediately prior to Section 67 in recent editions.

A revelation received November 3, 1831, known as the Appendix, does not appear in the Book of Commandments, as was originally intended, but will be found as Section 100 of the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and as Section 108 in all subsequent editions.

1 a. Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say, Hearken ye people from afar, and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together;

b. for verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape, and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated;

c. and the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed;

d. and the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days, and they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.

2 a. Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth;

b. wherefore fear and tremble, O ye people, for what I the Lord have decreed, in them, shall be fulfilled.

c. And verily, I say unto you, that they who go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal, both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious;

d. yea, verily, to seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure;

e. unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellowman.

3 a. Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear;

b. prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; and the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth; and the arm of the Lord shall be revealed;

c. and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;