Before many copies of the book could be printed, however, the printing press and most of the printed copies were destroyed by a. It contains divine instruction from the lord on how to organize his church once again on the earth. The 1835 and 1844 editions of the doctrine and covenants included a series of lectures. For instance, the revelation in chapter 28 of the book of commandments. It is claimed that the revelation was published in the book of commandments in its original form, then subsequently modified in the doctrine and covenants in order to hide the reference to the rod of nature. Scanned images of the entire 1833 book of commandments and 1835 doctrine and covenants use these to verify the many changes made to joseph smiths revelations. This earlier book contained 65 early revelations to church leaders, including joseph smith and oliver cowdery. What could the prophet have learned about temple covenants as he translated moses 58 in 183031. The doctrine and covenants is the compilation of revelations received primarily by joseph smith jr, but also by other early prophets of the mormon church, during the churchs restoration on the earth.
A good deal of unnecessary distrust is thrown upon the book of doctrine and covenants by illadvised persons, who, if they were better informed would neither distress themselves, nor disturb others, by giving undue prominence to the book of commandments. Book of commandments, 1833, page 0 the joseph smith. Doctrine and covenants, 1844 second edition 1st edition by joseph smith jr author 4. All sixtyfive chapters of the book of commandments are listed below. A book of commandments for the government of the church of christ. The doctrine and covenants is the prime published foundation of mormon doctrine.
Doctrine and covenants, 1835, page i the joseph smith. In 1972, herald house, the publishing arm of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints now known as the community of christ published a reprint of the book of commandments. 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. It was very nice to have biographies of people who are briefly mentioned in the doctrine and covenants of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, helping me to know what became of them after they were. Section 89, the word of wisdom church of jesus christ. On september 24, 1834, a committee was appointed by the general assembly of the church to. Book of commandments and book of doctrine and covenants.
Below each 1833 book of commandments photo reprint, we have provided a photo image of a current edition of doctrine and covenants. To receive the promise, we must obey the principle. Doctrine and covenants, 1844, page 0 the joseph smith. The doctrine and covenants was originally known as the book of commandments. The book of commandments was a small work which elder w.
How we got the doctrine and covenants salt lake city. Rdc rlds doctrine and covenants ldc lds doctrine and covenants bc book of commandments 1833 kdc kirtland doctrine and covenants 1835 rch rlds church history ts times and seasons. Editorial changes have been made in editions of the doctrine and covenants throughout the history of the church. Those chapters marked with have been extensively modified in doctrine and covenants. Kelly ogden provides an extensive treatment of figurative language in his essay, biblical language and imagery in the doctrine and covenants, the doctrine and covenants. Ogden shows how the doctrine and covenants perpetuates many of the timeless comparisons. Title page of the 1903 reprint of the book of commandments. Significant changes in lds doctrine and covenants 4mormon. The book of doctrine and covenants is one of the standard works of the church in company with the holy bible, the book of mormon, and the pearl of great price.
This earlier book contained 65 early revelations to church leaders including joseph smith, jr. Doctrine and covenants of the church of the latter day saints. The result of all this is that the model of canonicity at work in the book of commandments became yet another precanonical projection, like its predecessors, giving way to what would be, really, the first fully articulated and accepted model of canon in the 1835 publication of the doctrine and covenants. What is the mormon book doctrine and covenants about. The book of commandments is the precursor of the doctrine and covenants. Two years later, when these revelations were republished in the first edition of doctrine and covenants, significant changes became apparent.
Full text of book of commandments includes sidebyside comparisons of significantly divergent doctrine and covenants chapters, from a nonlds site, but free of attacking commentary. Use these to verify the many changes made to joseph smiths revelations. The 1835 edition included two sections numbered 66 here referred to as 66a and 66b. The underlined portions of the text in the current edition display what has been added to the revelation since its original publication in book of commandments. While the revelations were appearing in the evening and morning star, the same manuscripts were being used to print the book of commandments. Many of the original revelations of the mormon doctrine and covenants scripture were published in the 1833 book of commandments. A book of commandments for the government of the church of. The book of mormon may be more famous to the world at large, but offers things quite apart from the crucial book now at hand. This nauvoo press reprint edition contains two supplements located at the end of the book. The second edition reprinted the seven lectures on faith and all 103 numbered sections included in the covenants and commandments part of the 1835 doctrine and covenants. The story of the doctrine and covenants the church of. Slaughter, how we got the doctrine and covenants salt lake city.
Changing the revelations, the case against mormonism chapter 6. The doctrine and covenants is a compilation of the revelations received by joseph smith to individuals and for the guidance of the church the book itself is a witness for the truth of the prophets claims. Making such copies for use in study, preaching, and missionary work was a common practice among the early members of the church before the book of commandments 1833 and the doctrine and covenants 1835 were printed. West section 120 section 2140 section 4160 section 6180 section 81100 section 101 120 general assembly covenants and commandments of the lord, to his servants of the church of the latter day saints.
Joseph smiths revelations some surprisingly altered from the aborted publishing attempt in the book of commandments two years earlier. In the woodruff copy of the book of commandments featured herein, these corrections are marked in an unidentified hand. The first contains a crossreference to the substitute names that were used in this and the 1835 edition, the second crossreferences this edition to the earlier book of commandments 1833 and doctrine and covenants 1835 as well as the 1981 and 2004. The 1978 reprint of the 1835 edition and the 1993 photo reprint of the 1846. Only some 27 copies of the original edition exist today. Wilford woods reprint wilford wood this name should not be confused with the name wilford woodruff has also published the book of commandments and the first edition of the doctrine and covenants under the title of joseph smith begins his work, vol. Text published in the book of commandments is now considered scripture by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church as part of the larger doctrine and covenants. Others say he knew a great deal about temple matters long before that time. A couple of years later, the name was changed to doctrine and covenants. When comparing the book of commandments to the more developed doctrine and covenants, several questions emerge. Therefore, it is claimed that joseph attempted to cover up oliver cowderys work with a divining rod by changing a revelation. A collection of joseph smiths revelations was first published in 1833 as the book of commandments.
Doctrine and covenants dc issue simply boils down to this. Changing the revelations the case against mormonism vol. The doctrine and covenants is a book of scripture containing revelations from the lord to the prophet joseph smith and to a few other latterday prophets. In reality, doctrine and covenants is a compilation of messages from joseph smith designed to bolster his image as a prophet. This original book was a collection of 65 purported revelations given to joseph smith, jr. Doctrine and covenants editions the encyclopedia of mormonism. When doctrine and covenants was printed, the first fourteen issues of the evening and morning star were reprinted so as to agree with the revised revelations. The first of these revelations were printed in the book of commandments in the year 1833. The doctrine and covenants is one of four books of scripture used in the church of jesus christ of latterday. The book of doctrine and covenants is one of the standard works of the church in company with the holy bible, the book of mormon, and the pearl of great price however, the doctrine and covenants is unique because it is not a translation of an ancient document, but is of modern origin and was given of god through his chosen prophets for the resto.
First edition doctrine and covenants moons rare books. The purpose of the word of wisdom is more spiritual than physical. Scanned images of the entire 1833 book of commandments and. It is unique in scripture because it is not a translation of ancient documents. A book of commandments, published in independence, missouri, in 1833.
There he copied by hand several of the revelations received by the prophet joseph smith. Scanned images of the entire 1833 book of commandments and 1835 doctrine and covenants. The doctrine and covenants was originally called the book of commandments the continuation of the thus saith the lord revelations is called the second book of commandments. Had the 1835 doctrine and covenants, which was printed in octavo format, been printed on super royalsize paper with a sheetwise technique one gathering per. The book of commandments was first published in 1833. Book of commandments, 1833, page 0 the joseph smith papers.
The doctrine and covenants contained the lectures on faithseven theological treatisesin the first part, which was titled on the doctrine of the church of the latterday saints. A book of commandments for the government of the church of christ, organized according to law on the 6th of april 1830. It was heartening to find how often portions of it are quoted in the byu religion 324325 doctrine and covenants student manual. Unfortunately, differences between the revelations as printed in the book of commandments and the doctrine and covenants exist, prompting a debate as to which rendition is more accurate and divine. The book of commandments is the earliest published volume said to contain the revelations of joseph smith jr. Doctrine and covenants mormonism, the mormon church. The message from the lord to the lds church is to repent and gather to places of. This book of revelations would no longer be called a book of commandments. Since that time many of these revelations have been radically altered, with words and even whole sentences deleted. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Back in the 1920s, the doctrine part lectures on faith was removed, but. The book was entitled the book of commandments the name was later changed to the doctrine and covenants in 1835, when an expanded version of the book was printed in kirtland, ohio, and the revelation found in doctrine and covenants 1 was to be included as the preface to the book.
The mormon scripture called the doctrine and covenants is a series of revelations which joseph smith and other lds prophets claimed to receive directly from god. Some people believe that the basic teachings and covenants available today in lds temple ordinances were not revealed to joseph smith until he got to nauvoo. Shown is the 1833 edition of the book of commandments and the 1835, 1844, 1876, and 1921 editions of the doctrine and covenants. The doctrine and covenants was first published in 1835 as a later version of the. The newly found manuscript of doctrine and covenants. The doctrine and the covenants commentary by hyrum m.