Customer Reviews

Book of Doctrine and Covenants

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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.

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.

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.

Herald was/is the publisher for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now called the Community of Christ, I think).

There are quite a few differences between this edition and the LDS edition. Both churches added sections to the book after the split in the mid-to-late 1840's. I think this edition has about 150 sections compared to the 138 + 2 Official Declarations in the LDS edition.

As I haven't done more than glance at the book, I'm not really qualified to rate it, but all the reviews here are for the LDS edition and I thought I'd offer this clarification. The 3 stars is just because they won't let me leave it blank.

For all of those who have given specific references to look up in this book, ignore them. This book was published by the RLDS (now Community of Christ). This is NOT the "Mormon" Doctrine and Covenants. While some of the early sections are included in both RLDS and LDS editions, the section number and versification are much different and many of the unique doctrines of the LDS Church are not in this book. The publisher, Herald House, is owned by the Community of Christ (RLDS). For the LDS version of the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants, the publisher is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Looking for what Mormons believe? Don't go to the Book of Mormon, you'll only find a poorly written fantasy story there. For the full dirt on the comical aspects of Mormon theological beliefs, read the Doctrine and Covenants. Here you will find the full definition of polygamy, celestial marriage, baptism of the dead, the Adam-God, and other such beliefs. This is the true Mormon Bible.

I give it a Three Star rating not because it is a well-written or enlightening book, but because it is an informative doctrinal work for those curious about this rapidly growing religious sect.

Since 1833 when Joseph Smith, Jr., Mormon prophet and leader, published the "Book of Commandments," this volume as been an essential part of the Latter Day Saint (Mormon) corpus of "scripture." A couple of years later, the name was changed to "Doctrine and Covenants." Back in the 1920s, the "Doctrine" part (Lectures on Faith) was removed, but is still available as a distinct publication. Additionally, since the LDS view scripture as open to addition through living prophets, the modern D&C (as the Doctrine and Covenants is popularly called among the LDS) has additional pronouncements by modern LDS leaders.

The LDS are criticized sometimes fairly and sometimes not for sanitizing their history and documents to comply with the times. The D&C, however, has largely remained free from that sort of editing. As both a document that is historical for most people and canonical for the LDS, it is extremely important for anyone who wishes to converse intelligently with the LDS about religion.

Most of the "Sections" (like chapters in the Bible) are purportedly the words of God to Joseph Smith, Jr. (although some of the very late sections or additions came through his survivors). In them, one sees the development of the young church in its formative, difficult years. Much of the material is rather dry and documents the movements of individuals and groups of people. The principal value of this "dry" material is historical. It also demonstrates a vigorous organization making its place, prinicipally in 19th century America and Great Britain. Section 10 (from the year 1828) has an interesting explanation regarding the famous stolen/lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. Section 20 (1830) documents the official organization of "the Church of Christ" (the original name of the LDS church), and contains the closest thing (prior to the LDS 13 "Articles of Faith") that the early Mormon Church had to a creed in verses 16-36 and also contains a version of their communion meal ("sacrament") prayers.

Highlights: "Eternal" and "endless" punishment may not talk about time, rather the nature of the punishment as God's since those things are his name. (19:6-12) The church works with a component of "common consent" (28:12-13) and is seen today in the LDS "sustaining" activity. Joseph Smith, says God, is not indispensible. (35:18) Not all men are under sin; there are "holy men that ye know not of." (49:8) In some places, "Jew" means "Lamanite," commonly believed at the time to be American Indian (reflecting the LDS belief that the characters in the Book of Mormon were ethnic and religious Hebrews). (57:4) Tithing spares one from the consuming fire at Jesus' coming (64:23-24) There's a revelation with an interpretation of some of the elements of the Book of Revelation. (77) The "New Jerusalem" will be in Missouri. (84:2-5) Then there's a famous revelation that was later seen as predicting the Civil War by the LDS. Critics point to problems with that interpretation. (87) God reveals the "Word of Wisdom," the famous and distinctive LDS dietary code which is a way of life with blessings both spiritual and temporal. (89)

Many of the Sections detail the various endeavors of the church to expand and grow. Some of the passages seem a little self-serving, such as the verses (124:56-60) in which God, through Joseph Smith, instructs the LDS to build the "Nauvoo House" in which Joseph and his posterity will live "from generation to generation." The LDS practice of Plural Marriage (God-sanctioned polygyny) is justified in Section 132 (1844, even though the LDS church admits that the secret practice predates that by at least a decade), and Smith's murder (seen by LDS as martyrdom) in Section 135. (Plural Marriage is rescinded through a later Manifesto which is also a part of the D&C.)

This collection of literature of faith is interesting for another reason: I have a copy of "Doctrine and Covenants" that was published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, etc. (now "Community of Christ") which diverges from the LDS version and contains, in addition to the revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr., the subsequent revelations to his son, Joseph Smith III, and his successors. It's all a fascinating history of the American religious landscape.

The "D&C" is a compilation of revelations, descriptions of visions, and declarations published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of its sections (chapters) were revealed between 1820 and 1844, the formative period of the church. The last several sections were appended by Joseph Smith's successors.

The book contains revelations concerning the organization and doctrine of the Church. While "ancient scripture" (Bible, Book of Mormon) teaches about salvation by stories of ancients, the D&C contains more precise theological clarifications and organizational direction. Jesus Christ is the principle author and subject.

It is the most valuable book in the world in many regards. It is proof Jesus lives.

I've been a member of the Church all my life. I had doubts at various times in my life that caused worries. However, I did the best I could to face these with faith enough to believe they coud be resolved. I had little trouble believing Joseph Smith was a prophet with all that came forth at that time: so many miracles and momentous events and the BoMormon coming forth. I've always been in awe of the man. However, at one point, I began to wonder about later prophets. In the Doctrine and Covenants, I read a section from a later prophet with these doubts in mind. As I read it and finished reading it, I knew it was revelation. Since then, I never had that concern again. I'm really grateful for all that is taught through Joseph Smith, but I am just as grateful that I've gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the modern Church through a later prophet. This may not always be an easy read, but there is so much to be had in this amazing work. This isn't a good missionary tool, like the BoMormon, but it's something to be read and pondered on at some point.

Ļ have heard it explained that the purpose of the Book of Mormon is to bring people to Christ, to accept Him as Savior and Redeemer of the world. The Doctrine and Covenants works in tandem with the Book of Mormon in that it then brings people to know Christ's Church. The two compliment one another.

The Doctrine and Covenants lays the foundation for the Latter-Day church, its organization and policies. It also contains revelations relating to specific issues and questions.

It also contains many prophecies and visions. Of the prophecies, the most interesting may be Section 87, which contains a prediction that a great war will "shortly come to pass," that it will begin in South Carolina, that it will "ėventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls." Now, this revelation was recorded on Christmas Day 1832, 28 years before the outbreak of the civil war. Such detailed and specific knowledge (not the generalities of someone like Nostradamus), naming South Carolina and the slave question, and further predicting that the South would seek the help of Great Britain and that slaves would rise up against their masters, cannot be easily explained away.

Of all the visions, probably the greatest can be found in Section 76, in which Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon see Jesus Christ, and the world that follows this one, how it is constituted, and who lives where.

For anyone interested in knowing more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, this is their core doctrinal "handbook," explaining everything from the ordainance of baptism to the location of the Garden of Eden.

I'll finish off with this quote.
"All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident."
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)