Doctrine and Covenants Critiques

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Introduction

The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the kingdom of God on the earth in the last days. Although most of the sections are directed to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages, warnings, and exhortations are for the benefit of all mankind and contain an invitation to all people everywhere to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking to them for their temporal well-being and their everlasting salvation.

Most of the revelations in this compilation were received through Joseph Smith Jr., the first prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Others were issued through some of his successors in the Presidency (see headings to D&C 135, 136, and 138, and Official Declarations 1 and 2).

The book of Doctrine and Covenants is one of the standard works of the Church in company with the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price. However, the Doctrine and Covenants is unique because it is not a translation of an ancient document, but is of modern origin and was given of God through His chosen prophets for the restoration of His holy work and the establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth in these days. In the revelations, one hears the tender but firm voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking anew in the dispensation of the fulness of times; and the work that is initiated herein is preparatory to His Second Coming, in fulfillment of and in concert with the words of all the holy prophets since the world began.

Section 1 - prophecy about Book of Mormon, November 1, 1831

Section 2 - event of Moroni visit in 1823, first published April 15, 1842 in Times and Seasons

Section 3 - revelation about the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon in July 1828

Section 4 - revelation given to Joseph Smith Senior in February 1829

Section 5 - revelation given to Martin Harris in March 1829

Section 6 - revelation given to Oliver Cowdery in April 1829

Section 7 - revelation about the Apostle John never dying in April 1829

Section 8 - revelation given to Oliver Cowdery in April 1829

Section 9 - revelation given to Oliver Cowdery in April 1829

Section 10 - revelation about the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon given in April 1829

Section 11 - revelation given to Hyrum Smith in May 1829

Section 12 - revelation given to Joseph Knight in May 1829

Section 13 - revelation about the Aaronic Priesthood on May 15, 1829

Section 14 - revelation given to David Whitmer in June 1829

Section 15 - revelation given to John Whitmer in June 1829

Section 16 - revelation given to Peter Whitmer in June 1829

Section 17 - revelation about 3 witnesses for the gold plates in June 1829

Section 18 - revelation of the calling of 12 apostles in June 1829

Section 19 - revelation given to Martin Harris for payment on the Book of Mormon in the summer of 1829

Section 20 - revelation on church organization given in the summer of 1829 from Sidney Rigdon

Section 21 - revelation on church organization given on April 6, 1830

Section 22 - revelation on authoritative baptism given on April 16, 1830

Section 23 - revelation on church duties given in April 1830

Section 24 - revelation given to Oliver Cowdery in July 1830

Section 25 - revelation given to Emma Smith in July 1830

Section 26 - revelation about confirming the church at Colesville given in July 1830

Section 27 - revelation about sacrament of bread and wine given in August 1830

Section 28 - revelation about Hiram Page's seer stone given in September 1830

Section 29 - revelation about the end of the world given in September 1830

Section 30 - revelation given to Whitmer brothers in September 1830

Section 31 - revelation given to Thomas Marsh in September 1830

Section 32 - revelation given to Parley Pratt and Zeba Peterson in October 1830

Section 33 - revelation given to Ezra Thayre and Northrup Sweet in October 1830

Section 34 - revelation given to Orson Pratt on November 4, 1830

Section 35 - revelation given to Sidney Rigdon on December 7, 1830

Section 36 - revelation given to Edward Partridge on December 9, 1830

Section 37 - revelation for saints to gather in Ohio given in December 1830

Section 38 - revelation for saints to gather in Ohio to receive law and power given on January 2, 1831

Section 39 - revelation given to James Covel on January 5, 1831

Section 40 - revelation about James Covel rejection given on January 6, 1831

Section 41 - revelations about the law, housing, and Edward Partridge being a bishop given on February 4, 1831

Section 42 - revelations about the law of the church given in February 1831

Section 43 - revelations about other revelators and preaching damnation given in February 1831

Section 44 - revelation about the spirit being poured out at the next conference given in February 1831

Section 45 - revelations about the end of the world given on March 7, 1831

Section 46 - revelation about the gifts of the spirit given on March 8, 1831

Section 47 - revelation given to John Whitmer on March 8, 1831

Section 48 - revelation about housing new saints given on March 10, 1831

Section 49 - revelation about the Shakers given on May 7, 1831

Section 50 - revelation about the manifestions of the spirit given on May 9, 1831

Section 51 - revelation about the housing of new saints given on May 20, 1831

Section 52 - revelation about the next conference being in Missouri given on June 6, 1831

Section 53 - revelation given to Algernon Sidney Gilbert given on June 8, 1831

Section 54 - revelation given to Newel Knight on June 10, 1831

Section 55 - revelation given to William Phelps on June 14, 1831

Section 56 - revelation chastising Ezra Thayre on June 15, 1831

Section 57 - revelation about Independence Missouri being the location of Zion given on July 20, 1831

Section 58 - revelation about the organization of Zion in Independence Missouri given on August 1, 1831

Section 59 - revelation about how saints are to act in Zion given on August 7, 1831

Section 60 - revelation for hierarchy to speedily return to Ohio from Missouri given on August 8, 1831

Section 61 - revelations about traveling by water is dangerous and the wicked given on August 12, 1831

Section 62 - revelation given to a couple of elders on their way to Zion on August 13, 1831

Section 63 - revelation about God being angry and not well pleased given on August 30, 1831

Section 64 - revelations about repentance and forgiveness given on September 11, 1831

Section 65 revelation about the kingdom of God given on October 30, 1831

Section 66 - revelation given to William McLellin on October 29, 1831

Section 67 - revelation about the printed revelations given in November 1831

Section 68 - revelations about preaching the gospel and church offices given on November 1, 1831

Section 69 - revelation about Oliver Cowdery not to carry money by himself given on November 11, 1831

Section 70 - revelation about the importance of previous revelations given on November 12, 1831

Section 71 - revelation given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to preach the gospel given on December 1, 1831

Section 72 - revelation given to Newel Whitney to be bishop and his duties given on December 4, 1831

Section 73 - revelation given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to restart translation work given on January 10, 1832

Section 74 - revelation about circumcision controversy in the early church given in 1830.

Section 75 - revelations to various people about their mission assignments given on January 25, 1832

Section 76 - revelation of vision received while reading John 5:29 on February 16, 1832

Section 77 - revelation about the book of Revelation in March 1832

Section 78 - revelation to establish an everlasting storehouse for the poor given on March 1, 1832

Section 79 - revelation given to Jared Carter on March 12, 1832

Section 80 - revelation given to Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith to preach anywhere on March 7, 1832

Section 81 - revelation given to Frederick Williams to be high priest on March 15, 1832

Section 82 - revelation given to people to manage the affairs of the poor on April 26, 1832

Section 83 - revelation about the claims of women and children given on April 30, 1832

Section 84 - revelation about the New Jerusalem being built in western Missouri in September 1832

Section 85 - revelation about apostates who did not donate their property given on November 27, 1832

Section 86 - revelation about the parable of the wheat and tares given on December 6, 1832

Section 87 - Christmas revelation about World War starting in South Carolina given on December 25, 1832

Section 88 - revelation about the celestial and telestial kingdoms given late December 1832

Section 89 - revelation concerning food and drinks for man and animals given on February 27, 1833

Section 90 - revelation about Sidney Rigdon and Frederick Williams being in the First Presidency given on March 8, 1833

Section 91 - revelation about the Apocrypha given on March 9, 1833

Section 92 - revelation given to Frederick Willaims on March 15, 1833

Section 93 - revelation about the Gospel of John given on May 6, 1833

Section 94 - revelation about erecting a building in Kirtland Ohio given on August 2, 1833

Section 95 - revelation about erecting a worship building in Kirtland Ohio given on June 1, 1833

Section 96 - revelation about Newel Whitney being in charge to construct a holy house given on June 4, 1833

Section 97 - revelation about temple to be built in Missouri given on August 2, 1833

Section 98 - revelation for saints in Missouri who were having problems given on August 6, 1833

Section 99 - revelation to John Murdock given on August 29, 1833

Section 100 - revelation about Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon preaching in New York given on October 12, 1833

Section 101 - revelation about Missouri problems due to transgressions given on December 16, 1833

Section 102 - minutes of the first high council of the church taken on February 17, 1834

Section 103 - revelation about the redemption of Zion by power given on February 24, 1834

Section 104 - revelation about the United Order being everlasting given on April 23, 1834

Section 105 - revelation about the redemption of Zion being delayed due to transgressions given on June 22, 1834

Section 106 - revelation given to Warren Cowdery on November 25, 1834

Section 107 - revelation about the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods given in spring 1835

Section 108 - revelation given to Lyman Sherman on December 26, 1835

Section 109 - prayer offered at dedication of temple at Kirtland Ohio on March 27, 1836

Section 110 - visions received in Kirtland temple on April 3, 1836

Section 111 - revelation about much money in Massachetts for church given on August 6, 1836
 
Section 112 - revelation given to Thomas Marsh on July 23, 1837

Section 113 - revelation on Isaiah given in March 1838

Section 114 - revelation given to David Patten on April 11, 1838

Section 115 - revelation of church name being The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints given on April 26, 1838

Section 116 - revelation about Adam being the Ancient of Days visiting his people in Missouri given in June 1838

Section 117 - revelation about properties in Kirtland Ohio being turned over to debt collectors given on July 8, 1838

Section 118 - revelation about the reorganization of the twelve apostles of the church given on July 8, 1838

Section 119 - revelation about all land property to be turned over to the church given on July 8, 1838

Section 120 - revelation about disposition of tithed properties given on July 8, 1838

Section 121 - prayer of Joseph Smith while in jail dated March 20, 1839

Section 122 - lament of Joseph Smith while in jail dated March 22, 1839

Section 123 - duty of saints to tally property losses in Missouri dated March 22, 1839

Note: Sidney Rigdon suffered from malaria in Nauvoo thus ending the numerous revelations.

Section 124 - revelation for saints to build a temple in Nauvoo Illinois given on January 19, 1841

Section 125 - revelation concerning Iowa saints given in March 1841

Section 126 - revelation given to Brigham Young on July 9, 1841

Section 127 - letter from Joseph Smith in hiding to the saints dated September 1, 1842

Section 128 - letter from Joseph Smith in hiding about baptism for the dead dated September 7, 1842

Section 129 - instructions by Joseph Smith on the nature of angels dated February 9, 1843

Section 130 - instruction from Joseph Smith about the Father and Son dated April 2, 1843

Section 131 - instruction about marriage is needed to achieve the highest heaven dated May 16, 1843

Section 132 - revelation about polygamy being the everylasting covenant given on July 12, 1843

Section 133 - revelation about the soon return of Jesus Christ given on November 3, 1831

Section 134 - declaration about government dated August 17, 1835

Section 135 - announcement of the death of Joseph Smith on June 27, 1844

Note: After the death of Joseph Smith, business manager prophets took over the church with no more wild revelations given.

Section 136 - instruction given by Brigham Young on saints migration to Utah dated January 14, 1847

Section 137 - vision of celestrial heaven and universal salvation on January 21, 1836

Section 138 - vision of Jesus Christ being in the spirit world by Joseph F. Smith on October 3, 1918

Official Declaration 1 on the official end of the practice of polygamy given on October 6, 1890

Official Declaration 2 revelation on priesthood being extending to all worthy males regardless of skin color given on June 1, 1978

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