Customer Reviews

The Doctrine and Covenants, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Containing the Revelations Given to Joseph Smith, Jun., the Prophet, ... Up of the Kingdom of God in the Last Days

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

During the formation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Joseph Smith in Eastern & Mid-America during the first half of the 19th century, this document was accepted as the word of Smith's God to his new-found followers. Developing in a time when many were searching fo divine guidence as a hedge against the odds of frontier life, this tome contains a record of directions to members of the infant church, its leadership, a record of some blessings given others by Smith. Topics vary widely and visit subjects ranging from dietary advice, care of wives and children, the giving of blessings, church organizational structure and the document proclaiming the Church's end of polygamy. The book provides an insight into the early politic of the Church, which has since grown to ten million. Other than as a religious reference for this body, this is should be considered something to read when one is trying to sleep. Since the book is published by The Mormon Church, its historical reliability should be considered questionable. The Church has consistantly made unnannounced changes to other documents over the years, to support theological shifts with its ever changing management.

There is only one better choice of a book to read for those seeking to understand Mormonism and that is The Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ.) The Doctrine and Covenants will have much more meaning once you have become familiar with the Book of Mormon. Combining these two great books with the Bible will elevate you to even greater understanding of the Saviour -- Jesus Christ, and will add strength and depth to your relationship with him.

You will always read a variety of opinions on these books, many of which will try to steer you away from actually reading these books themselves.

Realize that this book is claiming to be scripture from God -- I don't recommend you rest your judgment on the opinions of others (mine included) when it regards something that claims to be scripture from God. Every true prophet that has ever lived on this earth (and even the Saviour himself) has faced opposition from those who disagreed. Cast all opinions aside and formulate your own after you have read -- it will be between you and God.

Here are some of my favorite verses (and a great example of the teachings found in these modern-day scriptures) found in Section 58:

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, where-in they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in no wise lose their reward.

29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

These are among the many verses in the Doctrine and Covenants that teach us (as part of our belief in Christ) we should get involved in our communities, do the good deeds, and each use our own unique talents and abilities to bring to pass righteousness in our respective parts of the world.

This is a great book -- read for your self, but if you want to learn about Mormonism, spend the extra $0.95 and get a copy of the Book of Mormon (or contact church representatives in your area for a free copy) as well because you are doing yourself a great disservice if you don't. (I'd recommend a Bible too if you don't already have one.)

bore such resemblance to each other. It made me think of the form letters I used to do as a secretary. I can just see Joe Smith taking a "master" and adjusting the wording to bring about whatever righteous directive was needed in order to feed the insatiable demands of his ego, greedy ambition and lust.

Forget reading this book for an entertaining read. Even the mormon faithful hardly understand it's flow and they read and re-read the book searching for just exactly what it all means. It is repetition, strange "revelation," and written in a style to mimic the bible so that it will resemble traditional scripture as much as possible. What it really is, is a collection of rules written down by the cult leader Joseph Smith that are meant to manipulate and subjegate faithful members into doing his will. As another reviewer also pointed out, it contains his justification for the practice of polygamy, even over the heated and vehement objections of his own wife. As also mentioned, it opened the door for the mormon version of communism which is still regarded as a holy practice but has long since been abandoned by the mormon religion due to it's ineffectiveness. Nowadays, instead of asking for all of the member's posessions, they ask for a mere 10%.

I'd leave this part out of it but since many of the mormon faithful seem to want to bring up the fact that this book contains true revelations from God, I'll make just a few comments. From the outside looking in, people will see a clean, moral group of happy industrious people that practice the religion, thereby verifying that it is the "one and only true church." Many are good people that are earnestly trying to make the most of their lives and live as they believe God has commanded them. But the good things notwithstanding, there are dark deep secrets and practices in the mormon religion that have their roots in some of the "doctrines" laid out in this book. It is a book threatening fire and damnation to those who don't strictly adhere to it's commands and beliefs. The happy facade of mormonism covers many destructive beliefs such as polygamy (not practiced but still preached as revelation). Women are still subjegated to men in the religion and the views and attitudes of their practices has made Utah the highest state in the nation for prozac and anti-depressant use among women. The child suicide rate is very high and more than alarming (20+ attempts a day throughout the state), child sexual abuse is high and until recent laws and pressure due to lawsuits, well hidden (I believe child molestation will eventually rival the catholic church in scandal). Another weird statistic is that Utah was voted one of the top 10 states for rude drivers?

The mormon religion has a strange habit of re-writing their history. They have a very prevelant habit of buying up historical documents that might embarrass them and storing them in a granite vault deep in the mountains. This habit actually led to a scandal in the 1980's where a member and document forger (Mark Chapman) sold the church many puzzling and embarrasing documents until he was discovered and pipe bombed and murdered 2 or 3 faithful members involved in purchasing the documents for the highest echelons of the church (one of whom is their current "prophet," Gordon Hinckley).

There are countless other scandals recorded throughout history...The mountain meadows massacre being one of them. One does not have to look far. A good beginning for getting a feel of this strange cult started by Joseph Smith is John Karakauer's best selling book, "Under the Banner of Heaven: A History of Violent Faith." It is an engaging book which gives a good feel of the early beginnings of the mormon church and it's past and present practices which have lead to several violent and abusive fundamentalist offshoots of the mormon faith that still practice polygamy. Keep in mind that these are not the larger mormon church but offshoots that still paractice polygamy. But either way it's useful and interesting to know that even though the actual mormon church doesn't practice polygamy, the original "revelation" is still found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the practice is still considered as holy and necessary for the next life.

Section 132 deals with Polygamy and WOW! what an interesting read that is. This isn't really a story like the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a story about racial and religious differences between white and red Native Americans between 600 BC and 400 AD.

The Doctrine and Covenants is not a story, it's a list of rules, regulations and instructions given to the early mormon church. These are some of my favorites(warning spoilers):

The handshake test is described in section 129.

4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.
6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear.
7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.
8 If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him.
9 These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.

Section 124 designates stock payouts on the Nauvoo house. I am not sure why this was recorded as scripture:

59 Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him have place in that house, from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord.
60 And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting-place for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the corner-stone thereof;....
64 And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house.
65 But they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen thousand dollars stock from any one man.
66 And they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for a share of stock from any one man in that house.
67 And they shall not be permitted to receive any man, as a stockholder in this house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands at the time he receives stock;
68 And in proportion to the amount of stock he pays into their hands he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pays nothing into their hands he shall not receive any stock in that house.

And this verse in section 52 got the mormons off on the wrong foot in Missouri:

42 And thus, even as I have said, if ye are faithful ye shall assemble yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Missouri, which is the land of your inheritance, which is now the land of your enemies.

My favorite is D&C 132. This is the section explaining polygamy. I can see why women were afraid to complain, lots of fire and brimstone in this one. Here are some of the highlights:

4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant (polygamy); and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those (polygamist wives) that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.

54 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law.

61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood-if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.

62 And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.

63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed

64 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her

So there are some intersting tidbits, but it is mostly monotonous and boring. I don't understand why Joseph Smith felt he needed to write in King James style English. It doesn't help.

This book is good only for people tyring to understand Mormon theology, yet it is scary at the same time while reading it to know that people actually believe that what is in it was actually inspired by God. It is blatenly contradictory to the teachings in the Bible. It is interesting to note that the revelations received from God decrease majorly after Jeseph Smith is killed. To those offended, my apologies, but blind exceptence is no excuse for believing something.

In the rating system they have for us to rate. I would have rated it off the charts. This book is truly inspired of God. It oulines the fundemental doctrines and principles of the Plan of Salvation. It answers questions such as these ( Who we are?, Where we came from?, What is the purpose of this life?, and What happens after we die?) . It also outlines many fundemental Doctrines as that of faith, repentance, Baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, THe Preisthood ( Aaronic and Melchizedec preisthoods) , Eternal Marriage, the true nature of GOd, and many more things that are innumerable to list here. I know this book is true. ANd even if you are not a member of the LDS church if you read this book you can gain a better understanding of why we beleive the way we do. This is absolutely a wonderful book that anyone will recognize as truth is they are honest with themselves and are truly seeking truth..

The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of the revelations of Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph Smith and some of his successors. It is a masterful book full of deep doctrine, and presents an eloquent case for the validity and truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are revelations in this book that are as powerful, and some more so, than any in the Holy Bible, which Mormons accept and believe. Ask yourself this: if you wanted to learn about the doctrines of the early Christians, who would you ask, a Christian, or a Jewish person? The LDS Church has the right to define their own beliefs; Anti-Mormons can only distort the facts. The Doctrine and Covenants, along with the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price, is true scripture from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Book of Doctrine & Covenants are most insightful in providing knowledge and understanding and answers about the mind and will of God for the races of people in the world today. They were divinely given to Joseph Smith in answer to many questions related to Bible docterines.