Book of Doctrine and Covenants [Paperback]

Community of Christ (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1978

BLACK COVER, Triple Combination | Includes the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price bound in one book. It contains cross-references to all the standard works. It also includes an index and a section of maps, pictures, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints history chronology. Softcover. SEE PHOTO

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Herald Publishing House (June 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830902775
• ISBN-13: 978-0830902774
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,086,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The book to read if you are considering becoming a Mormon, April 14, 2006

By 

calvinnme - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Book of Doctrine and Covenants (Paperback)

The Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism. The book exists in numerous forms published by different Latter Day Saint denominations. Generally, modern versions of the book primarily include revelations concerning church governance. If you want to know how the Mormon church is organized and get a detailed view of Mormon beliefs, this is the book to read. It is a very long document, so I will indicate what I consider to be the most interesting doctrines found within:
*Heaven consists of three levels or "glories". The lowest level is actually hell (D&C 76:81-90). Only Mormon apostates do not go to heaven, but instead go to "outer darkness" (D&C 76:31-39).
*Jesus and God the Father are separate beings according to D&C 130:22.
*God has a body of flesh and bones according to D&C 130:22.
*Human beings can become gods according to D&C 76:58.
*Humans lived with God in a spirit world, having a "premortal existence", before being born into this life according to D&C 49:17, 93:23-29, and 138:55-56.
*The New Jerusalem will be in Missouri according to D&C 84:1-5.
*Those who do not accept the gospel in this life will have the opportunity to do so after death, and can receive baptism by proxy according to D&C 127 and 128.
*Exaltation, which is salvation in the highest heaven, requires marriage in a Mormon temple according to D&C 131:1-4.
There is no mention of any of these ideas in the Book of Mormon. In fact several passages of the book of Mormon contradict some of the statements above.
Many people take issue with the fact that the use of not only alcohol, but coffee or tea is forbidden according to D&C 89. I'm not sure what to think of the health edicts of the LDS church, mainly because Mormons (at least in the U.S) have a longevity that has been proved to be greater than that of non-Mormon Americans. Take Gordon Hinckley, the current LDS President, for example. He is currently 96 and still quite articulate and mobile.
At the end of the D&C there are two additional declarations. The first, written in 1890, refutes polygamy. The second, written in 1978 makes the priesthood available to all worthy males of the church. Prior to 1978, black men were excluded from the priesthood. Many like to make hay over this last fact to make the Mormons appear racist. However, let's face it, most churches in the U.S. were segregated by race until at least the 1960's, so I don't think it's fair to single out the Mormons on this issue.
If you are interested in becoming a Mormon be sure to study this book, since Mormons put it on an equal footing with the Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible.
I think it is nearly impossible to rate a book of religious doctrine, so I will just give it three stars, or a neutral rating. However, let me just say you can really get caught up in cross-referencing and researching the contents of the D&C, and it is neither elementary nor boring by any literary standard.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The source of most Latter-day Saint doctrines, August 13, 2005

By 

Bobby Boylan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book of Doctrine and Covenants (Paperback)

The Doctrine and Covenants are, mainly, a collection of canonised revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith from 1823 to 1843, with some exceptions (e.g. section 135 was composed by John Taylor). This is where the real "meat of Mormonism" lies, with God the Father and Jesus Christ being presented as anthropormorphic, the Church's Priesthood and their duties being established, accounts of the various visions of the Prophet, such as the Angel Moroni in 1823 informing him of the coming of Elijah (section 2).

Anyone with even the remotest interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints MUST read this volume of scripture to understand Latter-day Saint doctrines, beliefs, and practices.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Book, March 21, 2004

By 

Brother Garold (Rochester MN US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book of Doctrine and Covenants (Paperback)

While the Book of Mormon is a mytho(-historical?) epic, the D&C is more theological in nature. Joseph Smith must be acknowledged, no matter your personal view of him, as a highly imaginative, creative (though unsystematic) thinker. If he hadn't been murdered/martyred and made it to Utah with the other Saints the D&C would have continued to evolve and perhaps would have become more systematic.

Like the Book of Mormon, the D&C have been edited to some extent, primarily correcting grammatical and punctuation errors, but also some editing that has altered the meaning/interpretation of some verses. Do an online search for the Book of Commandments to see an original version of what became the D&C.

The Book of Abraham is based on an ancient Egyptian papyrus that Smith purchased and is similar to some of the Old Testament pseudepigrapha but with Mormon mythological elements. The Book of Moses is an extract from Smith's "inspired translation" of Genesis.

Like the Bible, the Quran, and the Book of Mormon, the D&C contains a number of contradictions and errors, but is none-the-less vital to understanding Mormon theology.