Doctrines & Covenants
Read each book's title and tell
what you think the book contains
Read each book's title and tell what you think the book
contains
Read each book's title and tell what you think the book
contains
Read each book's title and tell what you think the book
contains
Read each book's title and tell what you think the book
contains
Read each book's title and tell what you think the book
contains
Why the name “Doctrine and
Covenants”?
Define the word “doctrine” and the
word “covenant”:
"In the Doctrine and Covenants our
Lord teaches us what to believe
concerning the Godhead, the Church,
the Priesthood, the Millennium, the
resurrection, the state of man after
death in eternal glory, or the opposite,
and many other subjects about which it
is necessary to have true information.
Why the name “Doctrine and
Covenants”?
Define the word “Covenant”
"The word 'covenant' is a term by
which God indicates the settled
arrangement between Him and His
people. It shows us what
obligations we take upon ourselves in
baptism, and what blessings we
secure; it teaches us how to worship
God and reveals to us the way back
to the presence of God" (Hyrum M. Smith
and Janne M. Sjodahl, The Doctrine and Covenants
Commentary, rev. ed. (1972), xiii–xv).
The Book of Mormon is the
keystone of our religion,
and the Doctrine and
Covenants is the capstone,
with continuing latter-day
revelation.
Ezra Taft Benson, April 1987 General Conference
Capstone and Keystone of our
Religion
The Book of Mormon
brings men to Christ.
The Doctrine and
Covenants brings men to
Christ’s kingdom.
Ezra Taft Benson, April 1987 General Conference
Joseph Smith
Hyrum Smith
Emma Smith
Oliver
Cowdery
Lucy Smith
Brigham Young
David
Whitmer
Martin Harris
Edward Partridge
Sidney Rigdon
1. New York and Pennsylvania – D&C 2-37
2. Ohio – D&C 1, 38-56, 61-81, 84-99, 102-104, 106110, 112, 137
3. Missouri — D&C 57-62, 82-83, 113-123
4. Illinois — D&C 124-135
5. Nebraska — D&C 136
6. Utah — D&C 138, Official Declarations 1 and 2
TOP 10 REASONS How the Doctrine & Covenants
is different from the other standard works
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10. It's the only book of scripture in its original language.
9. It's the only book with no historical thread.
8. It's the shortest work we study in seminary.
7. The text covers the shortest time span (24 years).
6. It's the only book written in our dispensation.
5. It's the only work to which new scripture has been added in our
lifetime.
4. It's the only book in the world with a preface dictated by God.
3. It's the only book of scripture where all but a tiny portion is written
by one writer.
2. It's the youngest of the standard works.
1. It's the only scripture that the majority of church members have
memorized the order of the books.
The Purpose of the Doctrine and Covenants
Read the first paragraph of the Explanatory Introduction looking for the
purpose of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Scan any section, looking for examples of:
 Doctrines

Covenants

Commandments

Warnings

Exhortations (invitations)

The Voice of Jesus Christ

Messages for temporal (life) well-being

Messages about salvation
What is the purpose of the
Doctrine and Covenants?
Read the first two sentences of the sixth
paragraph of the introduction (beginning
with “These sacred revelations …”).
When (under what circumstances) were most
of the revelations in the Doctrine and
Covenants were received?
(“In answer to prayer,” “in times of need,” and “real-life situations”).
Whenever you find a
section in the Doctrine and
Covenants that deals with
the situation in which you
find yourself, you can
accept it as if you had gone
to the Prophet himself and
he inquired of the Lord and
received a revelation for
you personally.
Bruce R. McConkie, Mission President’s Training, 1984
In what ways does the world view:
The God of the
The God of the
Old Testament
New Testament
How do we view:
The God of the
The God of the
The God of the
Old Testament
New Testament
Doctrine and
Covenants
What do we learn about the “God” of
the Doctrine and Covenants?
Doctrine and Covenants 1:3738
Doctrine and Covenants
18:34–36
Doctrine and Covenants 45:3-5
“The testimony that is
given of Jesus Christ—his
divinity, his majesty, his
perfection, his love, and
his redeeming power—
makes this book of great
value to the human family
and of more worth than
the riches of the whole
earth.”
Doctrine and Covenants, Explanatory Introduction, p. iv, 1981
Doctrines & Covenants