23d And again I say, How glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers.
24a Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand, and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth, for he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap;
24b and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
24c Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter Day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness, and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.
25a Brethren, I have many things to say to you on the subject; but shall now close for the present, and continue the subject another time.
25b I am, as ever, your humble servant and never deviating friend, JOSEPH SMITH
DC 111 Intro: SECTION 111
This section on marriage is not a revelation. It was prepared while the Book of Doctrine and Covenants was being compiled and was read by W. W. Phelps at the general assembly of August 17, 1835. It was adopted unanimously by that assembly as part of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. It has been retained in every edition of the book published by the Reorganization, and the church knows no other law of marriage than that which is set forth here.
1a According to the custom of all civilized nations, marriage is regulated by laws and ceremonies:
1b therefore we believe, that all marriages in this Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose:
1c and that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high priest, high priest, bishop, elder, or priest, not even prohibiting those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married by other authority.
1d We believe that it is not right to prohibit members of this church from marrying out of the church, if it be their determination so to do, but such persons will be considered weak in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
