No specific Sections studied in this lesson.
Takeaways:
- The Heavens are open in our day
- The Lord directs his Church
- Revelations come as answers to questions (and questions come as responses to the situation).
Notes on the lesson manual:
Suggestions for Lesson Development:
-A keystone is a wedge inserted at the top of an arch which holds the arch together. Also defined as a principle on which all others depend.
-A capstone is a finishing stone, also defined as a crowning achievement, element or event
These definitions are in reference to President Benson's quote calling the D&C the capstone of our religion and the Book of Mormon as the Keystone of our religion.
1. The revelations in the D&C address the needs of our day:
-New doctrines in the D&C include the Word of Wisdom, Eternal Marriage, process of the Atonement, the officers of the Church and others.
-The word "doctrine" translated in the N.T. and O.T. as "instruction". In the 19th century doctrine meant "instruction and content". Covenant in the O.T. means to "form a compact". In the 19th century it meant "mutual agreement to act in agreed ways".
-Most revelations in the D&C were given to a scribe (from J.S.) and copied into one of two books called Revelation Book A and Revelation Book B.
-J.F. Smith-"in my judgement there is no book on earth yet come to man as important as the book known as the Doctrine and Covenants with all due respect to the Book of Mormon, the Bible and the Pearl of Great Price because it was revealed in our day". And, "and so I say it belongs to all the world not only to the Latter Day Saints, and they will be judged by it, and you will be judged by it".
-Neil Maxwell-"in the D&C we recieve the voice as well as the word of the Lord. We can almost hear him talking".
-Hugh Nibley-"The purpose of the D&C, you will find, is to implement the Law of Consecration. It is explained there not once but many times so there is no excuse for not understanding it."
-Boyd K. Packer referred to the D&C as "the book that would never be closed". conf report April 1990
Historical summary of how we got the D&C:
-Kirtland/Hiram Ohio an area of religious ferment. Cambellites had instituted reforms to create alignment with the N.T. Church but were still waiting for more, specifically for the heavens to open in some way.
-Immediately after Church was created, four missionaries were sent west to preach (with a focus on Lamanite peoples). Parley Pratt, Oliver Cowdrey started teaching religious seekers (mainly Cambellites) the restored Gospel. Many (including congregations) joined the Church. Services were unstructured, speaking in tongues was common. Joseph came west to bring order to this new, significant branch of the Church.
-NK Whitney (wealthy merchant) prayed that the Prophet would visit. When Joseph arrived he strode into his store, held out his hand, introduced himself and said, "I'm Joseph the Prophet, you prayed me hear, what would you have me do".
-New members who were viewed as men of integrity (inside the Church and out) such as NK Whitney and Sidney Rigdon believed J.S. was a Prophet. Not only a function of the BofM, but of events such as the healing of Elsa Johnson's withered arm (which Joseph never mentions) and answering William McClellan's five questions in revelation which he confirmed he had shared with no one (see Sec 66).
-Very clear that Joseph viewed Christ as the leader and source of the Church from the fact that he rarely spoke of miracles he performed and that all including himself) received direction and correction in the revelations
-As Joseph tried to bring order to the chaos (speaking in tongues, members receiving revelations) members continually asked him for a revelation (as well as for their personal status). These revelations were cherished by the Saints, hand copied and distributed creating the initial thrust for the D&C. There was such a thirst for the revelations that when the leadership met in John Johnson's house in Nov 1831 to consider how to publish the revelations they voted to print 10K copies, twice the number of the original printing of the Book of Mormon.
Editions of the D&C:
-Original Book of Commandments printed by WW Phelps in Missouri. Of the committed 10Ku run, most of whatever was printed lost in mob violence. Unlikely more than 100 copies survived. Only two known copies today (most valuable historical Church publication).
-1834-approved in Kirtland. Started in 1835 (Aug) and approved by common consent
-1844-Delayed after the martyrdom (included Section 135)
-1876-Orson Pratt under Brigham Youngs direction-rearranged sections, included footnotes. Reprinted -28 times
-1921-Under Heber J Grants direction-deleted Lectures on Faith
-1981-Major rework-included maps, footnotes, new Sections
2. The Lord authored the preface to the Doctrine and Covenants
In class I shared the story from my Mission of E.T. Benson (President of Quorum of the Twelve) in a Stake Conference in Orange Park, Florida. He started off with what appeared to be a few prepared points, then he started to speak unscripted, quoting almost exclusively from the D&C from memory and providing commentary as he moved from quote to quote.
A committee drafted a preface to the revelations but the brethren couldn't agree on the wording. As usual, they turned to Joseph to receive a revelation. After prayer, Joseph spoke slowly as Sidney dilated what became D&C 1, the Lord's Preface to his revelations. (Note: I believe this was at the same meeting referenced above in the Johnson home).
President Benson-"A preface prepares the reader for the message of the book. The Doctrine and Covenants is the only book on earth with a preface from Christ".
Notes from my scriptures:
1:2 "voice of the Lord" that is Christ gave all revelations and "none to escape" that is that all shall hear the Gospel
1:4 "voice of warning to all people"-quite a statement given there were less than 1000 members at the time.
1:10 much of how we will be judged will be from how we treat others
1:13-14 the wicked will be destroyed at the 2nd coming. Arm of the Lord = strength of the Lord
1:19 the weak are chosen because they are humble and teachable
1:24-40 the Lord's testimony of the restoration
1:30 "bring it forth out of obscurity" fulfilled by the Church under President Hinckley
1:36 reference to Idumea. Idumea referred to an area populated by wicked people through which the trade route known as the King's Highway passed through (geographically in Egypt/Arabia). Symbolic of traveling through sin.
Link to PDF of Lesson Manual w/ my written notes:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B78D5btorZEebHl4TDJLN2Nvd0E/view?usp=sharing
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