Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants Benjamin E. Park D&C 77-OD2

The Voice of Revelation “The revelation gave the first inkling of how Joseph would speak in his prophetic voice. The speaker stands above and outside Joseph, sharply separated emotionally and intellectually. The rebuke of Joseph is as forthright as the denunciation of Martin Harris. There is no effort to conceal or rationalize, no sign of Joseph justifying himself to prospective followers. The words flow directly from the messenger to Joseph and have the single purpose of setting Joseph straight.”

The Voice of Revelation “[In these revelations,] God speaks, with no human intermediary present. When Joseph figures in the revelations, he stands among the listeners, receiving instructions. When reprimands are handed out, he is likely to receive one…the voice [of the revelations] is imperious but never argumentative. The words make no appeal to reason or scripture or experience. God pronounces what is and what will be without giving evidence. Hearers must decide to believe or not without reference to outside authority—common sense, science, the Bible, tradition, anything. The hearer faces the personage who speaks, free to hearken or turn away.” -Richard Lyman Bushman

Prophets in Antebellum America Nat Turner Ralph Waldo Emerson Ellen White Anne Lee

Crucial Differences 1.Written down and compiled into publishable form 2.Immediately equated with the Bible, representing an ever-expanding scriptural canon

From Manuscripts to Triple Combinations

“Each sentence was uttered slowly and very distinctly, and with a pause between each, sufficiently long for it to be recorded, by an ordinary writer, in long hand. This was the manner in which all his written revelations were dictated and written. There was never any hesitation, reviewing, or reading back, in order to keep the run of the subject; neither did any of these communications undergo revisions, interlinings, or corrections. As he dictated them so they stood, so far as I have witnessed.” Parley P. Pratt

Editing the Revelations 1.Stylistic Emendations 2.Doctrinal and Organizational Updates 3.Expansive additions “[Critics] cite these changes, of which there are many examples, as though they themselves were announcing revelation, as though they were the only ones of know of them. Of course there have been changes and corrections…When properly reviewed, such corrections become a testimony for, not against the truth of the books.” –Elder Packer

“We believe they [the revelations] are now correct. If not in every word, at least in principle.” Oliver Cowdery, The Evening and Morning Star, June 1832 [January 1835 reprint], 16

“ I do not even believe that there is a single revelation, among the many God has given to the Church, that is perfect in its fulness. The revelations of God contain correct doctrine and principle, so far as they go; but it is impossible for the poor, weak, low, groveling, sinful inhabitants of the earth to receive a revelation from the Almighty in all its perfections. He has to speak to us in a manner to meet the extent of our capacities.” Brigham Young, 8 July 1855, Journal of Discourses 2:314

The Creation of D&C 86 1.Dictated by Joseph Smith in December Written down by Sidney Rigdon 3.Transcribed by Frederick Williams 4.Copied by Orson Hyde 5.Recorded by John Whitmer into Manuscript Revelation Book 6.Edited by Doctrine and Covenants Committee 7.Published in 1835

Different Editions of the D&C

Evening and Morning Star LDS Newspaper in Independence, Missouri Published a handful of the earliest and most important revelation Earliest publication for most of Joseph Smith’s Revelations Preparatory for the Book of Commandments

Book of Commandments First printed book of revelations Contained nearly the first 70 sections of the D&C Destroyed by mob in 1833 before it was completed

1835 Doctrine and Covenants First completed revelation book Contained revelations up until D&C 102 Remained the standard for almost a decade

1844 Doctrine and Covenants Meant to add seven sections: 103, 105, 112, 119, 124, 127, and 128. Delayed because of the martyrdom Because of delay, it included John Taylor’s eulogy, section 135

Orson Pratt Editions Three editions (1876, 1879, 1880) Added 25 Joseph Smith Revelations (2, 13, 77, 85, 87, 108, 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 129, 130, 131, 132) Added one Brigham Young Revelation (136) Rearranged sections into a new order Divided into verses Added footnotes Republished at least 28 times 1908 edition included OD1

1921 Edition Commissioned by Pres. Grant in 1920, appeared in 1921 Updated footnotes and introductions Formatted into two columns Removed Lectures on Faith

1981 Edition New footnotes and study guides Expanded index Added three texts (137, 138, OD2)

The Final 3 Revelations In one sense these three texts complete the Doctrine and Covenants. They reveal how the Lord has included every soul, living and dead, of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, in his plan for the salvation and exaltation of all mankind. These three texts finish what section 1 announced the Doctrine and covenants would do, that is, testify that the Lord’s “eyes are upon all” and manifest his willingness “to make these things known unto all flesh” (D&C 1:1, 34). -Steven Harper

Themes and Tensions in the D&C Collapse of the Sacred Community over the individual Primacy of individual revelation Millennialism Temple Church Organization and Practice

Possible Discussion Questions How does learning of the reception, transcription, and publication of the D&C give you a better appreciation for the revelations? How can we balance looking at the revelations as a composite whole amongst the Gospel of Christ, while still appreciating their individual contexts? What are the benefits of the “collapse of the sacred”? What are the costs? Is it useful to compare Joseph’s revelations to those of Anne Lee, Ellen White, or even Nat Turner?

“In consequence of the book of revelations, now to be printed, being the foundation of the Church in these last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man; and the riches of eternity within the compass of those who are willing to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God—therefore the conference voted that they prize the revelations to be worth to the Church the riches of the whole earth, speaking temporally.” -Joseph Smith