A Book of Commandments

So what is the Book of Commandments? As many of you know, it is a basis for what we now know as the Doctrine and Covenants. It is a collection of revelations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith which the brethren determined at a special conference "were from God and should be published for the world. The Lord confirmed His approval by giving the preface (now D&C 1) and the appendix (now D&C 133) to the collection of revelations that were to be published, which would be called the Book of Commandments."(D&C Student Manual Section 70 Historical Background) "Commissioned during a November 1831 Church conference in Ohio to publish the collected revelations, John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery carried the “Book of Commandments and Revelations” to Missouri where they, along with W. W. Phelps, set about publishing A Book of Commandments (see D&C 67)." (The Joseph Smith Papers: The Manuscript Revelation Books by Elder Marlin K. Jensen)

I can only imagine how the saints felt about these revelations being printed - it is a book of scripture we enjoy today, but likely take for granted as it is so readily available to us. Read the following story of two young Latter-day Saint girls who risked their lives to save the Book of Commandments from a mob:

"After moving with their mother to Independence, Missouri, in the fall of 1831, young sisters Mary Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins soon learned of the hardship and persecution the Saints faced there. One night an angry mob attacked their home; on another occasion, they witnessed an attack on the newly constructed printing office located on the upper floor of the William W. Phelps residence. UAdd a Note"

During the attack on the printing office, the mob forced the Phelps family from their home and threw their belongings into the street. Mobsters then went to work destroying the printing equipment upstairs and throwing unbound manuscripts from the building. Some brought out large sheets of paper and declared, “Here are the Mormon Commandments!”¹ By this time, the Prophet Joseph Smith had received many sacred revelations, some as early as 1823, when the angel Moroni appeared to the boy prophet. Joseph had recorded numerous revelations in his own handwriting, but no text had been prepared and distributed for the benefit of members of the Church. With much excitement, the Saints in Missouri anticipated the publication of these revelations as a “Book of Commandments.” This work was under way at the printing office when the mob struck. Mary Elizabeth, then 15, described what happened:

“My sister Caroline [age 13] and myself were in a corner of a fence watching them; when they spoke of the commandments I was determined to have some of them. Sister said if I went to get any of them she would go too, but said ‘they will kill us.’”²

While the mob was busy at one end of the house, the two girls ran and filled their arms with the precious sheets. The mob saw them and ordered the girls to stop. Mary Elizabeth recalled: “We ran as fast as we could. Two of them started after us. Seeing a gap in a fence, we entered into a large cornfield, laid the papers on the ground, and hid them with our persons. The corn was from five to six feet high, and very thick; they hunted around considerable, and came very near us but did not find us.”³

This courageous act by two young girls helped preserve the printed text of the Prophet Joseph’s early revelations, paving the way for the subsequent completion of the Book of Commandments, which later became the Doctrine and Covenants." (Treasuring the Doctrine and Covenants by Elder Steven E. Snow)

God speaks through His prophets to us. I know that is true. We hear His words and counsel as we listen to the Prophet, and I know that as we study from the Doctrine & Covenants we draw closer to the God of Heaven who wants to guide us back to Him. This is not a book of scripture for Mormons alone...just like all scripture, it is for the benefit of all the world.

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) said the following about this book of scripture: "The Doctrine and Covenants is the binding link between the Book of Mormon and the continuing work of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors.” He testified, “The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ. The Doctrine and Covenants brings men to Christ’s kingdom, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. … The Book of Mormon is the ‘keystone’ of our religion, and the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter-day revelation." (Treasuring the Doctrine and Covenants by Elder Steven E. Snow)

What have been your experiences as you have read from the Doctrine & Covenants?

What are you feelings/testimony about this sacred book?