Dear Reader,
Have you ever thought about just how incredible the Doctrine and Covenants really is? Unlike other scriptures, it wasn’t translated from ancient records—it came directly through revelation to modern prophets. It’s a living testament that God is still speaking today!
The Story Behind the Doctrine and Covenants
When the Church was restored in 1830, the Saints didn’t have a handbook, a general conference archive, or even a collection of modern revelation. They had the Book of Mormon—which was life-changing—but they also needed direct guidance on how to build up Christ’s church in the latter days. That’s where the Doctrine and Covenants comes in.
Joseph Smith received revelation after revelation—answers to questions, instructions on church organization, counsel for individuals, and even profound teachings about the nature of God and the eternal plan. By 1831, Church leaders realized these revelations needed to be shared.
So, in 1833, the first edition of what we now call the Doctrine and Covenants was published under the title The Book of Commandments. However, before all the copies could be bound, a mob attacked the printing press in Independence, Missouri, destroying most of the pages. (Talk about opposition!) But thanks to some brave Saints—including a few young girls, namely Mary Elizabeth Rollins (15 years old) and Caroline Rollins (13), who gathered pages from the streets and hid with them in a nearby cornfield—many pages were preserved!
Here's a picture of Mary below.
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Mary had this to say about what happened:
"We went into the house and saw the men throw the type out of the window. … We heard them swear they would destroy every written and printed paper in Zion. My sister and I were small, but we had large sunbonnets on, and, stepping out, we gathered all the papers we could carry, and before we were observed, we turned a corner, and ran toward a large cornfield. … We ran as fast as we could, and lay down between the rows of corn, placing the papers between us and the ground," Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, Statement, published in The Young Woman’s Journal, December 1905, p. 559.
What amazing faith these young women had!
In 1835, the revelations were republished in a more complete volume, officially titled the Doctrine and Covenants. The "Doctrine" part came from a section on theology (the Lectures on Faith, which were later removed), and the "Covenants" part referred to the revelations themselves.
Fun Facts About the Doctrine and Covenants
🔹 It Almost Had a Different Name – Before settling on Doctrine and Covenants, early Saints referred to the revelations as the Book of Commandments. Imagine if that name had stuck!
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🔹 Not All Sections Are in Order – The sections aren’t arranged chronologically. Instead, they were organized with some logical groupings, so if you feel like you're jumping around in time while reading, you’re not alone!
🔹 The Lost 116 Pages Tie Into It – When Martin Harris lost the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript, Joseph Smith was temporarily unable to translate. But during that time, he received many revelations that are now in the Doctrine and Covenants,like Sections 3 and 10—both of these revelations not only helped Joseph through a difficult time but also provided powerful lessons for all of us about repentance, trust in God, and the unstoppable nature of His work. What seemed like a setback actually became a huge blessing!
🔹 It’s the Only Book of Scripture with Modern Additions – Unlike the Bible and Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants continues to be updated with revelations given to modern prophets. That’s why Sections 137 (Joseph Smith’s Visions of the Celestial Kingdom) and 138, (Joseph F. Smith’s vision of the the spirit world), plus the two Official Declarations (Wilford Woodruff’s The End of Plural Marriage and Spencer W. Kimball’s Priesthood and Temple Blessing for all Worthy Males), were added later.
🔹 It Includes the Only Recorded Voice of the Savior – Section 110 is one of the most powerful moments in scripture because it contains the words of Jesus Christ as He appeared in the Kirtland Temple. Imagine being there when He declared, "Your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me"!
🔹 One Section Was Given in the Presence of 200 People – Most revelations were given privately, but Section 76 (the Vision of the Three Degrees of Glory) was received while Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were surrounded by about 200 people—many of whom saw their faces glowing during the experience!
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Why It Still Matters Today
What makes the Doctrine and Covenants so powerful is that it reminds us that revelation didn’t stop in ancient times. The same God who spoke to Moses and Nephi also spoke to Joseph Smith—and He still speaks today.
This book is proof that personal revelation is real, that questions can be answered, and that Christ is actively leading His Church. And here’s the best part: Some of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants came because people asked questions. That means we can do the same. If you’ve ever felt lost or needed guidance, take a page from early Church history—ask, seek, and listen. You never know what answers you might receive.
Do you have a favorite section or verse from the Doctrine and Covenants? I’d love to hear.
And stay tuned for next week’s email—the last one in the Doctrine and Covenants series. We’ll be talking about miracles and the Doctrine and Covenants. You won’t want to miss it!
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Love,
Emily Clark
Acquisitions & Marketing Manager
The Cedar Fort Family
P.S. If you're looking to dive deeper into the early history of the church and fun facts about the Doctrine and Covenants, be sure to check out our Doctrine and Covenants Collection here!
P.P.S. Read the full Doctrine and Covenants Series below.
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