Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History

*** Lesson by Nancie*******

Some personal thoughts:
Two years ago we concluded a study of the New Testament. New Testament history ends with the lives of the Apostles and church leaders ending in a brutal fashion. Priesthood authority was lost. The light of the everlasting gospel faded and the eastern hemisphere entered a night of spiritual darkness.

Over the past few weeks we have studied and discussed the end of Nephite civilization. Mormon and his son Moroni were the last of their people. These two righteous men spent much of their remaining days preparing a history of their people. Moroni concluded the record, buried it in the hill Cumorah, and then, like a single candle that has burned to the end of its wick, Moroni passed on and the world was engulfed in spiritual darkness, a darkness that would remain for over a millennium.

Many centuries later, a spiritual awakening began. Martin Luther, followed by many others, began a search for truth. Though they studied the scriptures and did their best to adhere to the word of the Lord, only God himself could shine spiritual light on the world and restore the priesthood authority held by the ancient apostles. Roger Williams, pastor of the oldest Baptist Church in America, said that there was "no regularly-constituted church on earth, nor any person authorized to administer any Church ordinance: nor could there be until, new apostles are sent by the great Head of the Church, for whose coming, he is seeking" (quoted by LeGrand Richards in A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, p27-28).

We are about to embark on a study of the greatest event since the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the restoration of ancient authority and the building of the kingdom of God on earth in anticipation of the return of our Eternal King, Jesus Christ. As I contemplate the events of the Restoration, I am moved. This is a great story and it cannot be given sufficient fanfare. Elder LeGrand Richards said, "The establishment of his kingdom by the God of heaven was to be the greatest event in the latter days. Though small and insignificant as its beginning would be, its ultimate destiny is to fill the whole earth, with Christ our Lord at its head. The kingdom was to be given to the saints of the Most High that they might possess it forever" (Ibid., p36).

1. The revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants address the needs of our day.
• Read the third paragraph in the Explanatory Introduction, found at the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants (this paragraph begins with the phrase “The book of”).
And the sixth paragraph in the Explanatory Introduction (this paragraph begins with the phrase “These sacred revelations”).

How is the Doctrine and Covenants different from other books of scripture?
These revelations were given in English, and are therefore not a translated document, given directly from the Lord, through the mouth of the Prophets, and written down and published as they are given.

The revelations are generally answers to specific questions offered by specific individuals or which came as a result of specific situations. They are not in story or historical form such as the Book of Mormon, or The Gospels of the New Testament. The revelations, however, as a whole, form their own history when placed in context.

Why is it helpful to understand that most of the revelations came as answers to prayers?
The Doctrine and Covenants were given in very near history, the oldest recorded revelation of which is only 178 years old. The last recorded words of the Book of Mormon, the next youngest scripture, dates to approximately 1,580 years ago.

The Doctrine and Covenants is modern scripture, a living proof of continuing revelation, showing to the world that we do "believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (See 9th Article of Faith)

The Doctrine and Covenants is a living scripture, being added upon as recently as twenty-two years ago with Official Declaration 2, the extending of the Priesthood to all worthy male members of the Church.

Sections 137 and 138, though given in the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Prophet Joseph F. Smith respectively (1836 and 1918) were added into the official canon of scripture twenty-five years ago (1976). Other revelations may be added as needed.

While the Book of Mormon invites us all to come unto Him, the Doctrine and Covenants announces that He is coming to us—each of us—and soon!
All of the above are certainly good answers and give us some idea of the unique nature of the Doctrine and Covenants, but none of those answers is the most compelling about this year's course of study.

All other courses of study of past dispensations, that is, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon are careful studies of a people who were given instructions from the Lord, were taught by Him, were even visited by Him personally, and all of those peoples as they began to not heed the word of the Lord and not follow His teachings, by an by, ended in apostasy. This year's course of study is about a Dispensation that will not end in apostasy but it will usher in the great Dispensation when the Lord Himself will come and rule and reign personally upon the earth for a thousand years. The teachings and instructions of the Doctrine and Covenants are for a people preparing to meet the Lord, and they will meet Him. "For the great Millennium, of which I have spoken by the mouth of my servants, shall come." (D&C 43:30)

• Read the eighth paragraph in the Explanatory Introduction (this paragraph begins with the phrase “In the revelations”).

Some of the doctrines of the gospel that are explained in the Doctrine and Covenants
Nature of the Godhead Origin of Man Reality of Satan
Necessity for obedience need for repentance workings of Holy Spirit
Ordinances for salvation destiny of earth man after resurrection and judgment
Eternal marriage eternal families administrative structure of church
Bishops, 1st Pres, Council of 12 Seventy and presiding quorums
Testimony of divinity of Jesus Christ and of his love and redeeming power!

How our lives would be different without the truths that are revealed about them in the Doctrine and Covenants?

Setting for Receiving the PrefaceA conference was called in the late fall of 1831 to convene at the home of Brother John Johnson in the township of Hiram, Ohio about 31 miles to the south of Kirtland. Eight conferences of the Church would be held at the Johnson Farm, this conference was the most significant. These conferences were generally small with anywhere from six to twelve brethren in attendance, sometimes a few more. At this particular conference it was decided that the many revelations that had already been received by the Prophet Joseph (approximately 65 to that time) should be compiled and published so that the people could have easier access to read them and that the missionaries could use them in their preaching.
To that time, brethren or sisters might have been with the Prophet or with someone who had been with him and received a hand-written copy of one of the revelations that was copied from a copy of Oliver Cowdery's or John Whitmer's record. That single revelation would be carefully folded and kept as a treasure in the pocket of the person obtaining it. But having one revelation and only hearing of the others in second, third and fourth-hand recounting was not conducive to harmony and accuracy in the building of the Lord's little kingdom.

At this conference it was decided that the sixty-five revelations should be taken to Missouri by Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer and there Brother W.W. Phelps would compile, print and publish them as the Book of Commandments. Of course this book needed an introduction or a preface, and the Lord saw fit to reveal the preface to the Prophet Joseph on November 1, 1831.

In D&C 1 the Lord issues a warning and foretells the great destiny of his latter-day work

Read Doctrine and Covenants 1:6
Doctrine and Covenants 1 is placed first in that book of scripture because it was designated by the Lord as his "preface" to the revelations (D&C 1:6). A preface, of course, is where a book's author sets forth his purposes in writing and explains what the reader should expect to gain. Chronologically, however, section 1 was received in November 1831 after section 66 and before section 67.

Who are these Revelations written for?

The Doctrine and Covenants is a series of revelations and personal directions from the Lord Himself, given to us "to guide us in these latter days." The revelations are personal and intimate. The revelations are transcendent, meaning if they were given, for example, to Oliver Cowdery, the teachings, blessings, promises and warnings are for all. After speaking very candidly and very personally to Emma Smith, the Lord concluded that revelation by saying, "And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all." (D&C 25:16) "Therefore, what I say unto one I say unto all," the Lord repeated elsewhere. (See D&C 82:5; 93:49).
Read Doctrine and Covenants 1:16
Why can today's world be called Babylon or Idumea?
The ancient kingdoms of Babylon and Idumea (or Edom) were noted for their hedonistic wickedness. Hence their names are apt labels for today's sinful society, often contrasted with Zion, which is made up of the "pure in heart" (D&C 97:21).
Read Doctrine and Covenants 1:17
What does this reveal about our Heavenly Father’s opinion of Joseph Smith?
The Lord makes it clear in this revelation that he trusts His servants and that He knows who it is He is calling.

What an amazing statement from the Lord! Knowing of great destructions and evils and calamities and great spiritual darkness which would come upon the earth, the Lord called from among the great and noble ones His servant Joseph Smith to do his work. Joseph F. Smith recorded of his uncle Joseph the Prophet, his father Hyrum and others, "I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men." (D&C 138:55,56)
These noble and great ones came to earth disguised as the weak and simple ones. Who would lay the foundations of the Kingdom of God on the earth in the last Dispensation? Two simple farmers and a one-room school teacher would become the principle witnesses of the Book of Mormon. A potter, glazer and simple carpenter would be called to stand firm by the Prophet Joseph. A twenty-three year old printer, who never joined the Church, would actually print and publish the Book of Mormon. A simple German farming family would provide a small 20 x 30 foot cabin as the first headquarters of the Church. A poor, unsuccessful homesteader who had never really been able to finish his payments on his land would be called off a canal boat to become one of the great missionaries of these last days. The list could go on and on. And all of these led by a simple farm boy from western New York. And this would indeed be the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that will roll forth and fill the whole earth.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 1:35

Is it futile to work for peace?

The Lord has warned that "the day speedily cometh... when peace shall be taken from the earth" (D&C 1:35), but we still have the responsibility to promote the cause of peace. {See D&C 98:16.} The gospel must be preached worldwide before the Savior's second coming (see Matthew 24:14), and experience has shown that that can best be accomplished during peacetime.Even though an ultimate goal cannot be realized immediately, we should not overlook ways to do good in the meantime. Elder Glen L. Pace instructed: "We know the prophecies of the future. We know the final outcome. We know the world collectively will not repent and consequently the last days will be filled with much pain and suffering. Therefore, we could throw up our hands and do nothing but pray for the end to come so the millennial reign could begin. To do so would forfeit our right to participate in the grand event we are all awaiting. We must all become players in the winding-up scene, not spectators. We must do all we can to prevent calamities, and then do everything possible to assist and comfort the victims of tragedies that do occur" (Ensign, Nov. 1990, 8).

Read Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
How should we regard the statements of Church leaders?
The scriptures are the standard works, by which the correctness of other statements or concepts can be judged, and the inspired words of our living prophets apply gospel teachings to our present circumstances.

Who is the most important of the church leaders?

"The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned," affirmed President Ezra Taft Benson, "is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today's instructions from God to us today. God's revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord's mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words in current Church publications" (Korea Area Conference Report, 1975, 52).

Ask class members to look around the room at the people in the class. Explain that we are not here on earth at this time by accident. We have been sent by God to help build His kingdom in this last dispensation. President Ezra Taft Benson said, “There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us” (quoted by Marvin J. Ashton, in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, 48; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, 36).

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The most serious challenge we face, and the most wonderful challenge, is the challenge that comes of growth” (quoted in “President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, Apr. 1995, 6).

What are some challenges that are presented by the Church’s tremendous growth?
What are some examples of the Church’s efforts to meet these challenges?

The Doctrine and covenants is an introduction to the work in these latter-days. We are a continuance of that work. We must strive to continually work to move this gospel forward.
In short, this Church is to be governed by revelation- current, daily, modern revelation-and not by written documents alone. All of God's purposes for his children cannot be codified. Nothing is more fixed, set, and established than the fact that among the people of God the canon of scripture is open, flexible, and expanding.

There are few things about which the membership of the Church need be anxious. We need to learn the gospel. We need to live the gospel, to put on Christ and put off the works of the flesh; we need to become Christian. We need to be anxiously engaged in publishing the message of the Restoration to all the world. We need to be worthy to receive the ordinances of salvation and then make the same available to our kindred dead. We need to rivet ourselves, our children, and our children's children to the redemption that is in Christ, that we and they might know to what source we must look for a remission of our sins (see 2 Nephi 25:26). Further, and this is vital, we need to look to the presidency of this Church, heed the counsel of those called and appointed to direct its destiny, and follow the Brethren as they point the way to eternal life.