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Doctrine and Covenants 1
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Commentary
Book of Mormon Minute is a commentary series made especially for the free ScripturePlus app, which features insights from Book of Mormon scholar Brant A. Gardner. John W. Welch's notes for Come, Follow Me are also available for free.
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, day-by-day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come, Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.
Monday
- Video: The Story of the Doctrine and Covenants with Casey Griffiths
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:1-5
- Commentary: Section 1: Context by Steven C. Harper
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Additional Study
- Commentary: D&C 1: Historical Context by Casey Griffiths
Tuesday
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:6-10
- Video: The Lord's Preface to The Doctrine and Covenants - Casey Griffiths (D&C 1)
- Commentary: Commentary on D&C 1:1–7
Wednesday
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:11-16
- Commentary: Commentary on D&C 1:8–16
- Quote: “If the great and dreadful day of the Lord were near at hand when Elijah came 130 years ago, we are just one century nearer it today. But some will say: “But not Elijah, you are wrong! Surely 130 years have passed, and are we not better off today than ever before? Look at our discoveries, our inventions, our knowledge, and our wisdom! Surely you made a mistake!” So many seem to think and say, and judging by their actions they are sure, that the world is bound to go on in its present condition for millions of years before the end will come. Talk to them; hear what they have to say—these learned men of the world. “We have had worse times,” they say. “You are wrong in thinking there are more calamities now than in earlier times. There are not more earthquakes, the earth has always been quaking, but now we have facilities for gathering the news which our fathers did not have. These are not signs of the times; things are not different from former times.” And so the people refuse to heed the warnings the Lord so kindly gives to them, and thus they fulfill the scriptures. Peter said such sayings would be uttered, and he warned the people. In this warning Peter calls attention to the destruction of the world in the flood and says that at the coming of Christ—which scoffers would postpone or deny—there shall come another cleansing of the earth, but the second time by fire. Is not the condition among the people today similar to that in the days of Noah? Did the people believe and repent then? Can you make men, save with few exceptions, believe today that there is any danger? Do you believe the Lord when he said almost 135 years ago: “For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion” (D&C 1:35). “And behold, and lo, I come quickly to judgment, to convince all of their ungodly deeds which they have committed against me, as it is written of me in the volume of the book" (D&C 99:5). “Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth” (D&C 1:12-13) “Verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled” (JS—M 1:34). Shall we slumber on in utter oblivion or indifference to all that the Lord has given us as warning? I say unto you, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Joseph Fielding Smith, “The Signs of the Lord’s Coming,” General Conference April 1966.
Thursday
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:17-23
- KnoWhy: Why Do We Need Prophets?
Friday
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:24-28
- KnoWhy: Why Does the Lord Speak to Men “According to Their Language”?
Saturday
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:29-33
- Commentary: Commentary on D&C 1:30–33
- KnoWhy: Why Is the Book of Mormon’s Historical Authenticity So Important?
Sunday
- Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 1:34-39
- KnoWhy: What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Prophets?
Bibliography
Introduction
“Historical Context for Each Section.” In Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants. Edited by Craig K. Manscill. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004, ix–xx.
Coleman, Gary J. “You Shall Have My Word: The Personal Ministry of Jesus Christ in the Restoration.” In You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants. Edited by Scott C. Esplin, Richard O. Cowan, and Rachel Cope. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012, 1–18.
Roy W. Doxey, “Doctrine and Covenants,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishers, 1992.
“Doctrine and Covenants,” Church History Topics.
Manscill, Craig K. “The Explanatory Introduction: A Guide to the Doctrine and Covenants.” In Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants. Edited by Craig K. Manscill. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004, 56–67.
Roy W. Doxey, “Doctrine and Covenants: Overview,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 6 vols. (New York, NY: Macmillan Publishers, 1992).
C. Max Caldwell, “Doctrine and Covenants: Contents,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 6 vols. (New York, NY: Macmillan Publishers, 1992).
Section 1
Grant Underwood, “Doctrine and Covenants: Section 1,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 6 vols. (New York, NY: Macmillan Publishers, 1992).
“Doctrine and Covenants 1,” Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers.
Godfrey, Matthew C. “William McLellin’s Five Questions,” Revelations in Context: The Stories Behind the Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2016.
“The Book of Commandments,” Church History Topics.
Saints: Volume 1: The Standard of Truth. Salt Lake City, UT: Church Historian’s Press, 2018.
“Publishing the Revelations,” The Joseph Smith Papers.
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Do We Need Prophets? (3 Nephi 5:1),” KnoWhy 364 (September 14, 2017).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Is the Book of Mormon’s Historical Authenticity So Important? (Moroni 10:27),” KnoWhy 480 (October 30, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “What Does it Really Mean to be Blessed For Keeping the Commandments? (Mosiah 2:41),” KnoWhy 367 (September 26, 2017).
Harper, Steven C. “’That They Might Come to Understanding’: Revelation as Process,” In You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants. Edited by Scott C. Esplin, Richard O. Cowan, and Rachel Cope. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012, 19–33.
Holland, Jeffrey R. “The Lord’s Preface (D&C 1).” In Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants. Edited by Craig K. Manscill. Provo and Salt Lake City: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, and Deseret Book, 2004, 23–34.
Pace, George W. “Doctrine and Covenants: Section 1,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishers, 1992.
Parkinson, Julia. “Twentieth-Century Temples,” BYU Studies Quarterly 39, no. 4 (2000): 162–163.
Walker, Steven C. “Doctrine and Covenants as Literature,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishers, 1992.