THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE
CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Explanatory Introduction
Chronological Order of Contents
Sections
Official Declaration 1
Official Declaration 2
The Standard Works
The Doctrine And Covenants
Sections
1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21,
22, 23, 24,
25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30,
31, 32, 33,
34, 35, 36,
37, 38, 39,
40, 41, 42,
43, 44, 45,
46, 47, 48,
49, 50, 51,
52, 53, 54,
55, 56, 57,
58, 59, 60,
61, 62, 63,
64, 65, 66,
67, 68, 69,
70, 71, 72,
73, 74, 75,
76, 77, 78,
79, 80, 81,
82, 83, 84,
85, 86, 87,
88, 89, 90,
91, 92, 93,
94, 95, 96,
97, 98, 99,
100, 101, 102, 103, 104,
105, 106, 107, 108, 109,
110, 111, 112, 113, 114,
115, 116, 117, 118, 119,
120, 121, 122, 123, 124,
125, 126, 127, 128, 129,
130, 131, 132, 133, 134,
135, 136, 137, 138
The Standard Works
The Doctrine And Covenants
EXPLANATORY INTRODUCTION
The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of divine revelations and inspired
declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the kingdom of God
on the earth in the last days. Although most of the sections are directed to
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages,
warnings, and exhortations are for the benefit of all mankind, and contain an
invitation to all people everywhere to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ,
speaking to them for their temporal well-being and their everlasting salvation.
Most of the revelations in this compilation were received through Joseph Smith,
Jun., the first prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Others were issued through some of his successors in the
Presidency. (See headings to Sections 135, 136, and 138, and Official
Declarations 1 and 2.)
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 restoration of his holy work and the establishment
of the kingdom of God on the earth in these days. In the revelations one hears
the tender but firm voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking anew in the
dispensation of the fulness of times; and the work that is initiated herein is
preparatory to his second coming, in fulfillment of and in concert with the
words of all the holy prophets since the world began.
Joseph Smith, Jun., was born December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County,
Vermont. During his early life he moved with his family to Manchester, in
western New York. It was while he was living near Manchester in the spring of
1820, when he was fourteen years of age, that he experienced his first vision,
in which he was visited in person by God, the Eternal Father, and his Son Jesus
Christ. He was told in this vision that the true Church of Jesus Christ that
had been established in New Testament times, and which had administered the
fulness of the gospel, was no longer on the earth. Other divine manifestations
followed in which he was taught by many angels; it was shown to him that God
had a special work for him to do on the earth, and that through him the Church
of Jesus Christ would be restored to the earth.
In the course of time Joseph Smith was enabled by divine assistance to
translate and publish the Book of Mormon. In the meantime he and Oliver Cowdery
were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist in May 1829 (D&C 13), and soon thereafter they were also ordained
to the Melchizedek Priesthood by the ancient apostles Peter, James, and John (D&C 27: 12). Other ordinations followed in which
priesthood keys were conferred upon them by Moses, Elijah, Elias, and many
ancient prophets (D&C 110; 128: 18, 21). These ordinations were, in fact, a
restoration of divine authority to man on the earth. On April 6, 1830, under
heavenly direction, the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Church, and thus the
true Church of Jesus Christ is once again operative as an institution among
men, with authority to teach the gospel and administer the ordinances of
salvation. (See Pearl of Great Price, Joseph
Smith—History 1: 1-75; D&C 20.)
These sacred revelations were received in answer to prayer, in times of need,
and came out of real-life situations involving real people. The Prophet and his
associates sought for divine guidance, and these revelations certify that they
received it. In the revelations one sees the restoration and unfolding of the
gospel of Jesus Christ and the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness
of times. The westward movement of the Church from New York and Pennsylvania,
to Ohio, to Missouri, to Illinois, and finally to the Great Basin of western
America, and the mighty struggles of the saints in attempting to build Zion on
the earth in modern times, are also shown forth in these revelations.
Several of the earlier sections involve matters regarding the translation and
publication of the Book of Mormon (see Sections 3, 5, 10, 17,
19). Some later sections reflect the work of the
Prophet Joseph Smith in making an inspired translation of the Bible, during
which many of the great doctrinal sections were received (see, for example,
Sections 37, 45, 73, 76, 77,
86, 91, and 132, each of which has some direct relationship to the
Bible translation).
In the revelations the doctrines of the gospel are set forth with explanations
about such fundamental matters as the nature of the Godhead, the origin of man,
the reality of Satan, the purpose of mortality, the necessity for obedience,
the need for repentance, the workings of the Holy Spirit, the ordinances and
performances that pertain to salvation, the destiny of the earth, the future
conditions of man after the resurrection and the judgment, the eternity of the
marriage relationship, and the eternal nature of the family. Likewise the
gradual unfolding of the administrative structure of the Church is shown with
the calling of bishops, the First Presidency, the Council of Twelve, and the
Seventy, and the establishment of other presiding offices and quorums. Finally,
the testimony that is given of Jesus Christ—his divinity, his majesty, his
perfection, his love, and his redeeming power—makes this book of great value to
the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth.
A number of the revelations were published in Zion (Independence), Missouri, in
1833, under the title A Book of Commandments for the Government of the
Church of Christ. Concerning this publication the elders of the Church gave
solemn testimony that the Lord had borne record to their souls that these
revelations were true. As the Lord continued to communicate with his servants,
an enlarged compilation was published two years later in Kirtland, Ohio, with the
title Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. To
this publication in 1835, the written testimony of the Twelve Apostles was
attached as follows
TESTIMONY OF THE
TWELVE APOSTLES TO THE TRUTH OF
THE BOOK OF DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
The Testimony of the Witnesses to the Book of the Lord’s
Commandments, which commandments He gave to His Church through Joseph Smith,
Jun., who was appointed by the voice of the Church for this purpose:
We, therefore, feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to
every creature upon the face of the earth, that the Lord has borne record to
our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments
were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men and are verily
true.
We give this testimony unto the world, the Lord being our helper; and it is
through the grace of God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, that we are
permitted to have this privilege of bearing this testimony unto the world, in
the which we rejoice exceedingly, praying the Lord always that the children of
men may be profited thereby.
The names of the Twelve were
Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Brigham
Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Wm. E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke S.
Johnson, William Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, Lyman E. Johnson
In successive editions of the Doctrine and Covenants, additional revelations or
other matters of record have been added, as received, and as accepted by
competent assemblies or conferences of the Church.
Beginning with the 1835 edition a series of seven theological lessons was also
included; these were titled the “Lectures on Faith.” These had been prepared
for use in the School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1834-1835. Although
profitable for doctrine and instruction, these lectures have been omitted from
the Doctrine and Covenants since the 1921 edition because they were not given
or presented as revelations to the whole Church.
In the current edition of the Doctrine and Covenants three documents have been
included for the first time. These are Sections 137 and 138, setting forth the
fundamentals of salvation for the dead; and Official Declaration 2, announcing
that all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without
regard for race or color.
It is evident that some errors have been perpetuated in past editions,
particularly in the historical portions of the section headings. Consequently
this edition contains corrections of dates and place names and also a few other
minor corrections when it seemed appropriate (such as discontinuing the unusual
names beginning with Section 78). These changes have been made so as to bring
the material into conformity with the historical documents. Other special
features of this latest edition include maps showing the major geographical
locations in which the revelations were received, plus improvements in cross
references, section headings, and subject-matter summaries, all of which are
designed to help readers to understand and rejoice in the message of the Lord
as given in the Doctrine and Covenants.
The Standard Works
The Doctrine And Covenants
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF CONTENTS
1823
September
Manchester, New York
2
1828
July
Harmony, Pennsylvania
3
Summer
Harmony, Pennsylvania
10
1829
February
Harmony, Pennsylvania
4
March
Harmony, Pennsylvania
5
April
Harmony, Pennsylvania
6, 7, 8,
9
May
Harmony, Pennsylvania
11, 12, 13
June
Fayette, New York
14, 15, 16,
17, 18
1830
March
Manchester, New York
19
April
Fayette, New York
20*, 21
April
Manchester, New York
22, 23
July
Harmony, Pennsylvania
24, 25, 26
August
Harmony, Pennsylvania
27
September
Fayette, New York
28, 29, 30,
31
October
Fayette, New York
32*, 33
November
Fayette, New York
34
December
Fayette, New York
35, 36, 37
1831
January
Fayette, New York
38, 39, 40
February
Kirtland, Ohio
41, 42, 43,
44
March
Kirtland, Ohio
45, 46, 47,
48, 49
May
Kirtland, Ohio
50
May
Thompson, Ohio
51
June
Kirtland, Ohio
52, 53, 54,
55, 56
July
Zion, Jackson County, Missouri
57
August
Zion, Jackson County, Missouri
58, 59, 60
August
By Missouri River, Missouri
61, 62
August
Kirtland, Ohio
63
September
Kirtland, Ohio
64
October
Hiram, Ohio
65
October
Orange, Ohio
66
November
Hiram, Ohio
1, 67, 68,
69, 133
November
Kirtland, Ohio
70
December
Hiram, Ohio
71
December
Kirtland, Ohio
72
1832
January
Hiram, Ohio
73, 74
January
Amherst, Ohio
75
February
Hiram, Ohio
76
March
Hiram, Ohio
77, 78, 79,
80, 81
April
Jackson County, Missouri
82, 83
April
Independence, Missouri
83
August
Hiram, Ohio
99
September
Kirtland, Ohio
84
November
Kirtland, Ohio
85
December
Kirtland, Ohio
86, 87*, 88
1833
February
Kirtland, Ohio
89
March
Kirtland, Ohio
90, 91, 92
May
Kirtland, Ohio
93, 94
June
Kirtland, Ohio
95, 96
August
Kirtland, Ohio
97, 98
October
Perrysburg, New York
100
December
Kirtland, Ohio
101
1834
February
Kirtland, Ohio
102, 103
April
Kirtland, Ohio
104*
June
Fishing River, Missouri
105
November
Kirtland, Ohio
106
1835
March
Kirtland, Ohio
107
August
Kirtland, Ohio
134
December
Kirtland, Ohio
108
1836
January
Kirtland, Ohio
137
March
Kirtland, Ohio
109
April
Kirtland, Ohio
110
August
Salem, Massachusetts
111
1837
July
Kirtland, Ohio
112
1838
March
Far West, Missouri
113*
April
Far West, Missouri
114, 115
May
Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri
116
July
Far West, Missouri
117, 118, 119, 120
1839
March
Liberty Jail, Clay County, Missouri
121, 122, 123
1841
January
Nauvoo, Illinois
124
March
Nauvoo, Illinois
125
July
Nauvoo, Illinois
126
1842
September
Nauvoo, Illinois
127, 128
1843
February
Nauvoo, Illinois
129
April
Ramus, Illinois
130
May
Ramus, Illinois
131
July
Nauvoo, Illinois
132
1844
June
Nauvoo, Illinois
135
1847
January
Winter Quarters (now Nebraska)
136
1890
October
Salt Lake City, Utah
1918
October
Salt Lake City, Utah
138
1978
June
Salt Lake City, Utah
* At or near place specified.