D&C 27:5-14 “The Hour Cometh” After revealing what is important—and what is not—in relation to the ordinance of the sacrament (see verse 2), the Lord teaches Joseph Smith about a future event that will involve the sacrament. Jesus had also...
read moreD&C 20:1-36 “The Rise of the Church of Christ” Section 20 may be considered our first church “handbook,” given within a few days after the April 6, 1830 formal organization of the Church, and containing various instructions relating to...
read moreD&C 14:1-6 We Are Called to His Work As persecution in Harmony increased, Oliver Cowdery wrote to his friend David Whitmer to ask for help. The Whitmer family invited Joseph and Oliver to continue the translation of the Book of Mormon at their home in Fayette, New...
read moreD&C 10:1-9 “It Is Now Restored” Section 10 (along with Section 3) addresses the loss of the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon translation. Read the section heading and Words of Mormon 1:3-7. An important theme we can draw from Section 10 is that...
read moreTo better understand the Lord’s words in the Doctrine and Covenants, the thoughtful student will read the section headings for helpful background and other information. Occasional further information will be added herein. Section 3 was given for Joseph Smith,...
read moreJS—H 1:1-2 “In Truth and Righteousness” As stated in the Introduction to the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith—History contains “excerpts from Joseph Smith’s official testimony and history, which he and his scribes prepared in 1838-39.”...
read moreD&C 23 The Lord Personalizes His Messages Section 23 is actually a series of five revelations. The Lord told the first four recipients that they were “under no condemnation,” but did not say this to Joseph Knight, perhaps because he was the only one of...
read moreD&C 18:1-6 “The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail” This section is for Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, who (along with Martin Harris), would have a role in the calling of the twelve apostles. The Lord’s words to Oliver in verses 2-6 provide a...
read moreD&C 12:7-9 Joseph Knight and You Joseph Knight, Sr. resided in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and he and his family had been supportive of Joseph Smith since they first met in 1825. The first six verses of this revelation, which is directed to Brother Knight, are...
read moreD&C 6 Oliver Cowdery and You In 1829 Joseph and Emma Smith were living near Emma’s parents in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Almost 300 miles away, 22-year-old Oliver Cowdery became acquainted with the Smith family in New York, and learned about Joseph and the gold...
read moreJS—H 1:27-28 “The Weakness of Youth” For three and a half years after the First Vision, Satan continued his attempts to derail the Lord’s great latter-day work, as Joseph Smith was “all the time suffering severe persecution,” in addition...
read moreDoctrine and Covenants Introductory Helps The Title Page states that the Doctrine and Covenants contains “revelations given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, with some additions by his successors.” These revelations include messages from God given through the...
read more
