Explanatory Introduction

Previous editions of the Doctrine and Covenants called the explanatory pages the “preface,” such as in the earliest edition in 1835. Since section 1 has always been referred to as the Lord’s preface, this seeming discrepancy of two prefaces has led to some confusion over the years. To resolve the confusion, in the 1921 edition the preface was renamed the “Explanatory Introduction.”

This Explanatory Introduction for the 1981 edition was completed under the direction of President Spencer W. Kimball, with Elders Thomas S. Monson (acting as chair), Bruce R. McConkie, and Boyd K. Packer supervising the work of Ellis T. Rasmussen and Robert J. Matthews. It is noteworthy that this introduction was authored by general authorities of the Church who sought the spirit of revelation as they wrote it.

The text of this Explanatory Introduction (in bolded blue text) will be interrupted on a few occasions by a few words of commentary (in regular black text).

The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the kingdom of God on the earth in the last days. Although most of the sections are directed to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages, warnings, and exhortations are for the benefit of all mankind, and contain an invitation to all people everywhere to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking to them for their temporal well-being and their everlasting salvation.

Most of the revelations in this compilation were received through Joseph Smith, Jun., the first prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Others were issued through some of his successors in the Presidency. (See headings to Sections 135, 136, and 138, and Official Declarations 1 and 2.)

The book of Doctrine and Covenants is one of the standard works of the Church in company with the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price. However, the Doctrine and Covenants is unique because it is not a translation of an ancient document, but is of modern origin and was given of God through his chosen prophets for the restoration of his holy work and the establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth in these days. In the revelations one hears the tender but firm voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking anew in the dispensation of the fulness of times; and the work that is initiated herein is preparatory to his second coming, in fulfillment of and in concert with the words of all the holy prophets since the world began.

With few exceptions, the speaker in the revelations is the resurrected Jesus Christ. On occasion, Christ speaks as if he were the Father by the principle of divine investiture of authority. The language of the revelations, with the exception of a few words by heavenly angels (see D&C 2; 7; 13), is the language of Joseph Smith. As the inspired ideas and thoughts came into his mind, he composed the revelatory language from his own linguistic background (see D&C 1:24).

Joseph Smith, Jun., was born December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont. During his early life he moved with his family to Manchester, in western New York. It was while he was living near Manchester in the spring of 1820, when he was fourteen years of age, that he experienced his first vision, in which he was visited in person by God, the Eternal Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. He was told in this vision that the true Church of Jesus Christ that had been established in New Testament times, and which had administered the fulness of the gospel, was no longer on the earth. Other divine manifestations followed in which he was taught by many angels; it was shown to him that God had a special work for him to do on the earth, and that through him the Church of Jesus Christ would be restored to the earth.

In the course of time Joseph Smith was enabled by divine assistance to translate and publish the Book of Mormon. In the meantime he and Oliver Cowdery were ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist in May 1829 (D&C 13), and soon thereafter they were also ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood by the ancient apostles Peter, James, and John (D&C 27:12). Other ordinations followed in which priesthood keys were conferred upon them by Moses, Elijah, Elias, and many ancient prophets (D&C 110; 128:18, 21). These ordinations were, in fact, a restoration of divine authority to man on the earth. On April 6, 1830, under heavenly direction, the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the Church, and thus the true Church of Jesus Christ is once again operative as an institution among men, with authority to teach the gospel and administer the ordinances of salvation. (See Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith–History 1:1-75; D&C 20.)

These sacred revelations were received in answer to prayer, in times of need, and came out of real-life situations involving real people. The Prophet and his associates sought for divine guidance, and these revelations certify that they received it.

A number of the revelations are directed to specific individuals. There are 136 individuals mentioned by name in the Doctrine and Covenants. From these revelations, a number of personal instructions, warnings, commands, and counsels emerge. The revelations warn against murder, theft, dishonesty, adultery, pride, and idleness—to name a few. Also included is counsel on Sabbath-day observance, loving the Lord and one’s neighbor, treating others as equals, supporting one’s family, seeking an education, and teaching one’s children. Though these revelations and instructions are to specific individuals, they hold great importance in that many of them are expressions of gospel principles from which all can benefit. As the Lord said, “What I say unto one I say unto all” (D&C 93:49). Readers should therefore each apply the principles included in the Lord’s instructions to themselves.

In the Doctrine and Covenants we observe the pattern of how the Lord deals with his people, particularly in helping them solve their problems. He insists that we reach out to him in order to obtain his counsel and blessings: “Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 4:7).

In the revelations one sees the restoration and unfolding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times.

Beginning with the First Vision, we can follow—in the Doctrine and Covenants— the unfolding of the restoration of the Church and gospel to the earth. We read of such seminal events as the coming forth of the Book of Mormon; the calling of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon; the restoration and reestablishment of the order of the priesthood (including the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, the keys of the priesthood, and the extending of the blessings of the priesthood to all men regardless of race); and the establishment of the Church organization.

The westward movement of the Church from New York and Pennsylvania, to Ohio, to Missouri, to Illinois, and finally to the Great Basin of western America, and the mighty struggles of the saints in attempting to build Zion on the earth in modern times, are also shown forth in these revelations.

The westward movements of the Church, as detailed in this section, all took place in the spirit of the doctrine of gathering (see D&C 29:8).

Several of the earlier sections involve matters regarding the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon (see Sections 3, 5, 10, 17, 19). Some later sections reflect the work of the Prophet Joseph Smith in making an inspired translation of the Bible, during which many of the great doctrinal sections were received (see, for example, Sections 37, 45, 73, 76, 77, 86, 91, and 132, each of which has some direct relationship to the Bible translation).

The Joseph Smith Translation (actually Joseph’s inspired revision) of the Bible had a substantial influence on the content of the Doctrine and Covenants, particularly on those revelations received during the years 1830-33. Joseph’s translation of the Bible was a primary source for many of the doctrinal statements in the Doctrine and Covenants. Often Joseph’s work on the Bible was the “trigger” that resulted in his inquiring of the Lord about certain doctrines. See the supplemental article, Joseph

Smith’s Inspired Revision of the Bible—The JST. The Doctrine and Covenants also contains counsel from the Lord to Joseph on the project of doing this translation. Joseph was told when to begin (see D&C 9:1-2), when to pause (see D&C 37:1-4), when to recommence translation (see D&C 41:7), who the scribe was to be (D&C 35:20: 47:1), and the time in which the parts of the Bible should be translated (see D&C 45:60- 62). These came with the exhortation to move more rapidly (see D&C 73:3-4; 93:53) and to make plans for publication (see D&C 94:10; 124:89).

In the revelations the doctrines of the gospel are set forth with explanations about such fundamental matters as the nature of the Godhead, the origin of man, the reality of Satan, the purpose of mortality, the necessity for obedience, the need for repentance, the workings of the Holy Spirit, the ordinances and performances that pertain to salvation, the destiny of the earth, the future conditions of man after the resurrection and the judgment, the eternity of the marriage relationship, and the eternal nature of the family.

The Doctrine and Covenants teaches the doctrines of salvation. This is seen in part in the 598-page Topical Guide to the Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon, and Pearl of Great Price. In fact, every doctrine taught by the Church is found or referred to in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is the most important doctrinal book we have in the Church, teaching some doctrines that are not taught in the other books of scripture.

Likewise the gradual unfolding of the administrative structure of the Church is shown with the calling of bishops, the First Presidency, the council of the Twelve, and the Seventy, and the establishment of other presiding offices and quorums.

The Doctrine and Covenants instructs the small initial body of priesthood holders how to act in the administrative affairs in the kingdom. The revelations teach of the nature, the offices, and the ordinances of the priesthood of God. Examples of the latter include blessings of children, healing the sick, baptism, the sacrament, the endowment, baptism for the dead, and dedicatory prayers for a new temple. The revelations teach the necessity of membership records, the keeping of a history of the Church, and the conduct of meetings. In short, these revelations constitute the first handbook of instructions for Church leaders.

Finally, the testimony that is given of Jesus Christ—his divinity, his majesty, his perfection, his love, and his redeeming power—makes this book of great value to the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth.

A number of the revelations were published in Zion (Independence), Missouri, in 1833, under the title A Book of Commandments for the Government of the Church of Christ. Concerning this publication the elders of the Church gave solemn testimony that the Lord had borne record to their souls that these revelations were true. As the Lord continued to communicate with his servants, an enlarged compilation was published two years later in Kirtland, Ohio, with the title Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. To this publication in 1835, the written testimony of the Twelve Apostles was attached as follows:

TESTIMONY OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES TO THE TRUTH OF THE BOOK OF DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

The Testimony of the Witnesses to the Book of the Lord’s commandments, which commandments He gave to His Church through Joseph Smith Jun., who was appointed by the voice of the Church for this purpose:

We, therefore, feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to every creature upon the face of the earth, that the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men and are verily true.

We give this testimony unto the world, the Lord being our helper; and it is through the grace of God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, that we are permitted to have this privilege of bearing this testimony unto the world, in the which we rejoice exceedingly, praying the Lord always that the children of men may be profited thereby.

#The names of the Twelve were:

Thomas B. Marsh Orson Hyde William Smith David W. Patten Wm. E. McLellin Orson Pratt

Brigham Young Parley P. Pratt John F. Boynton Heber C. Kimball Luke S. Johnson Lyman E. Johnson

In successive editions of the Doctrine and Covenants, additional revelations or other matters of record have been added, as received, and as accepted by competent assemblies or conferences of the Church.

Beginning with the 1835 edition a series of seven theological lessons was also included; these were titled the “Lectures on Faith.” These had been prepared for use in the School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1834-1835. Although profitable for doctrine and instruction, these lectures have been omitted from the Doctrine and Covenants since the 1921 edition because they were not given or presented as revelations to the whole Church.

In the current edition of the Doctrine and Covenants [1989] three documents have been included for the first time. These are Sections 137 and 138, setting forth the fundamentals of salvation for the dead; and Official Declaration 2, announcing that all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color.

It is evident that some errors have been perpetuated in past editions, particularly in the historical portions of the section headings. Consequently this edition contains corrections of dates and place names and also a few other minor corrections when it seemed appropriate (such as discontinuing the unusual names beginning with Section 78). These changes have been made so as to bring the material into conformity with the historical documents. Other special features of this latest edition include maps showing the major geographical locations, in which the revelations were received, plus improvements in cross references, section headings, and subject-matter summaries, all of which are designed to help readers to understand and rejoice in the message of the Lord as given in the Doctrine and Covenants.

The Doctrine and Covenants is challenging book to comprehend because it reads more like a compilation of random historical accounts and doctrinal dissertations. Unlike the Book of Mormon, there is no story line other than the history of the Church. Reading the Doctrine and Covenants is more like reading the letters of Paul. Each one has its own topic containing its own insights and background. Yet, the reader must persist, and he will learn, as the Explanatory Introduction explains, that the Doctrine and Covenants is “of great value to the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth.”