DC 1:Intro Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at a special conference held at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, November 1, 1831. It was to serve as a preface to the "Book of Commandments." W.W. Phelps and Company began the printing of the "Book of Commandments" at Independence, Missouri, but the plant was destroyed by a mob in July 1833 before the book could be completed. The last section to be set up ended with the words, "blood of Ephraim" (D. and C. 64:7b).
When the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants was published in 1835, it included the sections (chapters) set in type for the "Book of Commandments" and also instructions received prior to July 1833 but not included in the "Book of Commandments." To this was added further instruction received and a statement of principles approved prior to the date of publication. The preface was continued as Section 1.
If the preface had been included in the order it was received, it would have appeared immediately prior to Section 67 in recent editions.
A revelation received November 3, 1831, known as the Appendix, does not appear in the "Book of Commandments," as was originally intended, but will be found as Section 100 of the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and as Section 108 in all subsequent editions.
DC 55:Intro SECTION 55
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at Kirtland, Ohio, in June 1831. While Joseph and those who were to accompany him were preparing for their journey to Missouri, William W. Phelps and his family arrived at Kirtland. William desired to know the will of God concerning his work and was instructed to join the church and accompany Joseph and his party to Missouri. He made a major literary and musical contribution to the church during the next few years.
DC 57:Intro SECTION 57
Revelation addressed to the elders who had come to Independence, Missouri, in fulfillment of the instructions given them in Kirtland. It was given through Joseph Smith, Jr., in July 1831. In it the Center Place and "the spot for the temple" are designated, and the instructions previously given to Edward Partridge, Sidney Gilbert, W. W. Phelps, and Oliver Cowdery are confirmed.
DC 57:5a And again, verily I say unto you, Let my servant William W. Phelps be planted in this place, and be established as a printer unto the church; and lo, if the world receiveth his writings (behold, here is wisdom), let him obtain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for the good of the Saints.
DC 58:Intro SECTION 58
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., prophet and seer to the church, August 1, 1831, in Jackson County, Missouri. Groups of Saints were arriving in Jackson County. The Colesville Saints from the Thompson Branch arrived under the leadership of Newel Knight. On the first Sunday after the arrival of the prophet and party, W. W. Phelps preached to a mixed audience of white pioneers, Negroes, and Indians. On this day two were baptized. The Saints were eager for the dedication of the land and to learn of God's will concerning their work. This revelation is addressed to the elders of the church in Missouri, the "Land of Promise," the place for the "City of Zion."
DC 58:9a And also let my servant William W. Phelps stand in the office which I have appointed him, and receive his inheritance in the land.
DC 61:Intro SECTION 61
Revelation given to eleven elders camped at McIlwain's Bend on the Missouri River, August 12, 1831. It was received by Joseph Smith, Jr., after prayer concerning a vision received by W. W. Phelps in which was depicted the danger of travel by water.
DC 61:2a Wherefore it is expedient that my servant Sidney Gilbert, and my servant William W. Phelps, be in haste upon their errand and mission;
DC 61:2c but now verily I say, It behooveth me that ye should part; wherefore let my servants Sidney Gilbert and William W. Phelps, take their former company, and let them take their journey in haste that they may fill their mission, and through faith they shall overcome; and inasmuch as they are faithful, they shall be preserved, and I, the Lord, will be with them.
DC 69:Intro SECTION 69
Revelation given through rough Joseph Smith, Jr., November 1831, at Hiram, Ohio. The compilation of the revelations to comprise the "Book of Commandments" was authorized at one of the four special conferences held in Hiram during the first half of November 1831. It was decided that Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer should carry the revelations to Independence, Missouri, where they would be printed by W. W. Phelps and Company. This instruction was sought and received in connection with the mission of these brethren.
DC 70:1a Behold and hearken, O ye inhabitants of Zion, and all ye people of my church, who are far off, and hear the word of the Lord, which I give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and also unto my servant Martin Harris, and also unto my servant Oliver Cowdery, and also unto my servant John Whitmer, and also unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also unto my servant William W. Phelps, by the way of commandment unto them, for I give unto them a commandment;
DC 85:Intro SECTION 85
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at Kirtland, Ohio, December 27, 1832. There had been some friction between leaders in Independence and those in Kirtland. Joseph sent a copy of this revelation with a letter to William W. Phelps, who was in Missouri, and referred to it as the "Olive leaf . . . the Lord's message of peace to us." It has since been known as "The Olive Leaf."
DC 107:Intro SECTION 107
This statement was removed from the main body of the book by the action of the 1970 World Conference. Its subject is primarily concerned with arrangements for the construction of a boardinghouse in Nauvoo and with the practice of the ordinance of baptism for the dead. It will be noted that several paragraphs are devoted to references to such practices as "washings," "anointings," and "memorials for your sacrifices" and matters which "have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world" (paragraphs 10, 11, 12, 13).
Concerning such esoteric practices the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints declared as early as April 9, 1886, that "we know of no temple building, except as edifices wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early saints on Pentecost Day." And also, "that 'baptism for the dead' belongs to those local questions of which the body has said by resolution: 'That the commandments of a local character, given to the first organization of the church, are binding on the Reorganization only so far as they are either reiterated or referred to as binding by commandments to this church.' And that principle has neither been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment" (Conference Resolution 308, paragraphs 2, 3).
Instruction to the church bearing on this matter is contained in a revelation through W. Wallace Smith on April 5, 1968, referring to temple building in which the church is told that "there is no provision for secret ordinances now or ever" and that one temple function is priesthood education (Doctrine and Covenants 149A:6).
This section is retained in the Appendix for its historical value in relation to the development of ordinances for the dead and other ordinances for which the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints finds no justification either in the historical scriptures or in the documents approved by the church as latter--day revelation.
A series of messages given by Joseph Smith, Jr., prophet and seer to the church, January 19, 1841, at Nauvoo, Illinois. A portion of it was published in "Times and Seasons," June 1, 1841, vol. 2, page 424. It was first included in the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants as Section 103. It has been included in every succeeding edition since that date. With other sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, it came under the blanket motion passed in the General Conference of 1878.
GENERAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTION NO. 215
"That this body, representing the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, recognize the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Mormon, the revelations of God contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and all other revelations which have been or shall be revealed through God's appointed prophet, which have been or may be hereafter accepted by the church as the standard of authority on all matters of church government and doctrine, and the final standard of reference on appeal in all controversies arising, or which may arise in this Church of Christ."
Under this recognition it has been included in all editions of the Reorganization.
DC 107:41a And again I say unto you, I give unto you a high council, for the corner stone of Zion; namely: Samuel Bent, H. G. Sherwood, George W. Harris, Charles C. Rich, Thomas Grover, Newel Knight, David Dort, Dunbar Wilson.
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.
DC 117:3a Let my servants, William W. Blair and David H. Smith, be chosen and ordained to be counselors to my servant, the presiding elder of my church.
DC 117:4a Let my servants William H. Kelley, Thomas W. Smith, James Caffall, John H. Lake, Alexander H. Smith, Zenas H. Gurley, and Joseph R. Lambert, be chosen as especial witnesses, even of the Quorum of Twelve, for they are called thereunto, that they may take this ministry upon them.
DC 117:4b Let them be ordained and set apart to this office by the laying on of the hands of my servants Joseph Smith, Jason W. Briggs, and William W. Blair.
DC 117:7a It is my will that my servants, Jason W. Briggs, Josiah Ells, and Edmund C. Briggs, remain and stand in their lot as especial witnesses before me.
DC 117:8b and let my servants E. C. Brand, Charles W. Wandell, and Duncan Campbell be appointed as special witnesses of the Seventy in their places;
DC 119:1a It is not yet expedient that the Quorum of the Twelve shall be filled; nevertheless separate my servants, James W. Gillen, Heman C. Smith, Joseph Luff, and Gomer T. Griffiths, unto the office of apostles, that the quorum may be more perfectly prepared to act before me.
DC 121:2b President Joseph Smith replied: "The voice of the Spirit is that E.C. Briggs be sustained for the present. J.W. Briggs and Z.H. Gurley are in your hands, to approve or disapprove as wisdom may direct. Be merciful, for to him that is merciful shall mercy be shown."
DC 122:15 My servant Thomas W. Smith is in my hand; and his bishopric shall be continued for a season; if he fully recover he will enter again into the work; if I take him unto myself, another will be appointed in his stead when the quorum is filled.
DC 123:1b There were present: Joseph Smith and W.W. Blair, of the First Presidency; Alexander H. Smith, E.C. Briggs, James Caffall, W.H. Kelley, J.H. Lake, J.R. Lambert, Heman C. Smith, Joseph Luff, and Gomer T. Griffiths, of the Twelve; E.L. Kelly, G.H. Hilliard, and E.A. Blakeslee, of the Bishopric.
DC 123:13b From this decision President W.W. Blair dissented.
DOCTRINAL TRACTS
DC 123:28a The council then knelt and was led in prayer by President Joseph Smith, who earnestly invoked the divine blessing upon Brother Caffall and his labors, after which Brethren Joseph Smith, W.W. Blair, A.H. Smith, and E.L. Kelley laid their hands upon him and set him apart, President W.W. Blair being mouth in supplication.
DC 124:2b Also, appoint my servant E. L. Kelley, Bishop of the church, to act as counselor to the President of the church, for the conference year, or until one shall be chosen to succeed my servant W. W. Blair, whom I have taken unto myself;
DC 124:4a And, that the quorum may be filled and be prepared to stand as a unit in the councils of the church, in equality with the Presidency and the Seventy, choose and set apart to act as apostles in the Quorum of Twelve, my servants I. N. White, J. W. Wight, and R. C. Evans, for they are called unto this office and calling.
DC 124:7a The sons of my servant the President of the church, the sons of my servant William W. Blair, whom I have taken to myself, the sons of my servant the Bishop of the church, and the sons of my servants of the leading quorums of the church are admonished,
DC 125:1 The successor of my servant W. W. Blair is with the body, but the conditions are not ripe for this addition to the presidency; but it shall be made in due time. In the meantime, let the presidency continue as at present constituted.
DC 126:7b Those whom I saw sitting with the Quorum of the Twelve were Frederick A. Smith, Francis M. Sheehy, Ulysses W. Greene, Cornelius A. Butterworth, and John W. Rushton.
DC 130:Intro SECTION 130
Instruction given through President Joseph Smith III, April 14, 1913, at Lamoni, Iowa. It was endorsed by the quorums and the assembly as a revelation from God, and the Conference authorized its inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Elder Joseph R. Lambert had been acting as Presiding Evangelist since the death of Elder Alexander H. Smith in 1909. There was widespread concern that a more permanent successor should be selected. Bishop E. L. Kelley and Apostles W. H. Kelley, I. N. White, and J. W. Wight were also finding the burdens of their several responsibilities arduous. These, and other needs of the church, undoubtedly found a prominent place in the petitions of the prophet and of the Saints in general prior to the convening of the Conference and while it was yet in session.
DC 130:2b it is expedient that Elders W. H. Kelley, I. N. White, and J. W. Wight be released from the active duties of the apostolic quorum, on account of increasing infirmities of age and incapacity, caused by illness of body,
DC 133:1 Let Francis M. Sheehy and Peter Andersen be released from the Quorum of Twelve; and to fill the vacancies created by these releases let Myron A. McConley and Thomas W. Williams be ordained apostles.
DC 134:2 Let Gomer T. Griffiths, Ulysses W. Greene, Cornelius A. Butterworth, and Robert C. Russell be released from further responsibility as apostles, to devote their activities as their strength and opportunity might permit, to local work or as evangelical ministers as might be determined by subsequent procedure.
DC 140:3 My servant John W. Rushton has served his generation and the church long and faithfully, and he is honorably released from further responsibility as a member of the Quorum of Twelve, continuing to minister in his priesthood as he can and may desire, without specific assignment. His works are with me and his reward is sure.
DC 140:4a W. Wallace Smith is called and should be ordained an Apostle and take his place in the councils of the church.
