A READER’S EDITION THE DOCTRINE & COVENANTS BY THEMES THE TEXT OF THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS ARRANGED TOPICALLY THIRD EDITION, FOR THE WEB JOHN W. & JEANNIE WELCH BYU STUDIES PROVO, UTAH 2009 1 For John, Christian, Allison, and Gregory This is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but is designed to assist in reading and understanding the Doctrine and Covenants. Any royalties from this book have been dedicated to promoting scriptural research. Copyright © 1985 (Bookcraft), 1997 (FARMS), 2009 (BYU Studies) All rights reserved. First Edition, Bookcraft, 1985. Second Edition, in paperback, 1997. Printed in the United States of AMerica Third Edition, for the web, 2009 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Welch, John W. (John Woodland) The Doctrine and Covenants by theMes / John W. & Jeannie Welch. — 2nd ed. p. cM. — (FARMS reprint series) “The text of the Doctrine and Covenants arranged topically.” Includes index. Contents: A voice of warning — The plan and way of salvation — Revelations about scripture — The priesthood of God — Church practices and coMMandMents to MeMbers — Missionary work and instructions to missionaries — StateMents to individuals — MartyrdoM and testiMony of Joseph SMith — Scripture index — TheMatic index. ISBN 0-8425-2339-1 1. Doctrines and Covenants—CriticisM, interpretation, etc. I. Welch, Jeannie. II. Title. III. Series. BX8628.W45 1997 289.3'2—dc21 96-51283 CIP 2 SYNOPTIC OUTLINE Preface The Voice of Warning Revelations about the Plan of Salvation Revelations about the Scriptures Revelations about the Priesthood Revelations about Church Practices and Commandments to Members Revelations about Missionary Work and Instructions to Missionaries Revelations of Personal Instructions to Individuals 1. A Voice of Warning These Words Are God’s Commandments Given with a Stern Warning to All People Listen to God Obey the Commandments of the Lord, for the Day of Judgment Is Coming All Must Beware A Warning to World Leaders Severe Judgments Will Fall Upon Mankind Because of Their Willful Unrighteousness Woe to the Unrighteous Curses for the Wicked but Blessings for the Obedient God Will Not Be Mocked by Those Who Speak without Authority God Will Judge the Corrupt and He Will Claim The Righteous Who Are Prepared All People Are Called To Repent and to Come Unto Christ or Suffer Severe Condemnation A Call upon the Nations to Repent A Call upon the Saints to Live the Commandments and to Receive Light Warnings to the Saints Who Reject the Light Those Who Have Been Warned Should Warn Others of the Impending Days of Judgmental War and Destruction The Day of Judgment is Coming War is Coming Zion Will Be Redeemed when the Saints Are Obedient and Have Endued Tribulations Suffering Purifies and Brings Soberness Sin Brings Chastening Righteousness Brings Victory Tribulations Precede Blessings Overcoming Tribulations Engenders Inner Strength The Lord Will Judge the Wicked God Promises Blessings to Those Who Heed His Warnings and Establish Zion The Weak and the Poor Shall Be Exalted Zion Shall Be Glorious 3 Zion Shall Be Pure and Shall Prevail God Reassures and Encourages the Righteous with Great Love and Rejoicing The Lord is Generous God’s Sprit and Protection will be Poured out upon the Faithful Rejoice and Be Glad 2. The Plan and Way of Salvation Knowledge of the Godhead The Father Jesus Christ The Comforter and the Light of Christ The Holy Ghost The Creation of the World, the Fall of Man and the Worth of Souls The Creation Mankind’s Responsibility and the Fall A Way Is Prepared for Salvation The Worth of Souls Salvation of Little Children Man Has the Agency to Obtain Forgiveness Blessings Are Predicated upon Obedience and Repentance Forgiveness Mankind is Accountable Through Coming to Christ, All Mankind Can Grow in Light and Truth The Eternal Nature of Man Those Seeking Salvation Must Not Be Deceived by Signs or False Doctrines or Spirits Examples of False Doctrines and Deceptions The Pattern to Avoid Deception True Gifts of the Spirit Discerning and Obtaining the Spirit of God Testing Visiting Spirits Christ Will Come Again and Will Reign During the Millenium The Day of His Coming and Judgment Signs of the Times The Second Coming The Millennium The Resurrection and Degrees of Glory Will Be Bestowed Upon All People The Resurrection From Resurrection to Judgment Those Who Inherit the Celestial Glory Those Who Inherit the Terrestrial Glory Those Who Inherit the Telestial glory Of Kingdoms in General God’s Habitation 4 The Highest Degree of Glory is Obtained Through the Covenant of Eternal Marriage Prerequisites for Celestial Glory The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage The Abrahamic Covenant The Continuation of Abraham’s Covenant in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times Eternal Punishment Will Be Visited upon Satan and His Ardent Followers Who Do Not Take Advantage of the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ The Fall of Lucifer The Unforgivable Sin 3. Revelations about Scripture What is Scripture? The Book of Mormon Translated by the Power of God The Book of Mormon Witnesses The Lost 116 Pages The Book of Commandments The Prophet Joseph Smith’s Inspired Translation of the Bible Explanations of Specific Biblical Passages Isaiah 11:1-5, 10 (the Stem, rod, and root of Jesse) Isaiah 52:1-2, 6-8 (priesthood holders to gather scattered remnants of Israel) Matthew 5:13 (chastening those who break their covenants) Matthew 6:9-13 (on the Lord’s Prayer) Matthew 13:24-30 (gathering the wheat from among the tares) Matthew 24 (the signs of Christ’s second coming) John 14:23 (the Father and the Son abiding with man) John 21:20-23 (the apostle John’s request to have power over death) 1 Corinthians 7:14 (sanctification of children through the atonement of Christ) Revelation 2:17; 4:6; 7:1-2, 8-11; 20:12 (interpreting elements in the book of Revelation) Noncanonical Writings 4. The Priesthood of God Restoring the Priesthood The Aaronic Priesthood The Melchizedek Priesthood Extending the Priesthood to All Worthy Males The Organization and Essential Nature of the Priesthood The Church of God The Ministry of the Melchizedek Priesthood Priesthood Callings and the Proper Exercise of Priesthood Power Priesthood Offices The Prophet The First Presidency Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 5 High Council and High Priests Seventies Elders Church Historian Patriarchs Bishops and Presiding Bishops Priests Teachers Deacons Priesthood Blessings, Ordinances, and Dedications Healing the Sick and Blessing Children Baptism The Sacrament Endowment Baptism for the Dead Dedicatory Prayer for the Kirtland Temple Reception into the School of the Prophets Excommunication and Blotting Out 5. Church Practices and Commandments to Members The Church of God Organized and Named, and Records to be Kept The Church Established by God Membership Records History of the Church How Meetings Are to Be Held: Affairs Conducted by Common Consent Commandments to Church Members Love the Lord and Recognize His Hand in All Things Treat Others as Equals Duty to Support the Family and Teach Children No Murder No Adultery No Theft and Robbery No Dishonesty No Pride No Idleness No Evil Speaking Be Fair in Stewardships Teach the Gospel Observe the Sabbath; Work on Other Days Keep the Word of Wisdom Prepare for the Lord’s Coming Behave Properly in Many Ways Pray Seek Learning by Study and Faith Revelations About War and the Treatment of Enemies 6 Duty to Obey the Laws of the Land The Manifesto Ending the Practice of Plural Marriage Build Zion Care for the Poor and Widows; Keep and Storehouse for Their Welfare Instructions Regarding Property Management, Tithing, and Consecration Attitude toward Materialism and Debt Law of Consecration, Stewardship, and Property Tithing Gather to Zion; Instructions Regarding the Acquisitions Travel to Ohio Travel to Missouri and Purchase Land There Commandment to Continue to Gather Travel to Iowa Build Temples and Church Buildings In Kirtland In Missouri The Nauvoo Temple The Nauvoo House 6. Missionary Work and Instructions to Missionaries How to Proselyte Have Personal Virtue Be Called to Labor, for the Field Is White Raise a Warning Voice Preach with the Spirit Preach to Every Creature Bear Witness for the Truth Labor with Might Bless and Curse as Moved by the Spirit Signs Shall Follow the Believers Prove Yourselves, Prove the World Labor Individually and Be Edified Together Reprove the World and Sing this New Song Preach Repentance unto the Wicked Warn the World of All Their Unrighteousness Go to Every Nation Particular Missionary Calls and Instructions 7. Statements to Individuals Almon Babbitt: Follow the Prophet John C. Bennett: Receive Counsel and Continue Stephen Burnett: Preach the Gospel 7 Jared Carter: Be Glad John Corrill: Labor in the Vineyard James Covill: Reject Not the Lord Oliver Cowdery Preach Repentance Do Not Trifle with Sacred Things Witness of the Truth Gift to Translate Fear Not Ask in Faith The Gift of Aaron The Opportunity to Translate Cancelled for a Season Rely upon the Word of God Have Joy in Bringing Souls unto God Keep All the Commandments Beware of Pride, and Prune the Vineyard Seek the Spirit through Obedience The Beginning of Oliver’s Stewardship Warren A. Cowdery: A High and Holy Calling Amos Davies: Prove Faithful in All Things Robert D. Foster: Repent of Folly Isaac Galland: Go With Hyrum Sidney Gilbert: Preach the Gospel and Endure to the End Oliver Granger: Be a Merchant unto the Lord Martin Harris Repent and Preach Nothing but Repentance Learn from the Lord Covet Not Pray Always and Preach in Gladness Vienna Jaques: Go up to Zion John Johnson: Assist Financially Jesse Knight: Bring forth Zion Joseph Knight: Pray, Unite, and Exhort Newel Knight: Faithfully Go to Missouri Vinson Knight: Plead for the Poor William Law: Trust, Proclaim without Guile William E.