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 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 108:Intro SECTION 108
Revelation received through Joseph Smith, Jr., prophet and seer to the church, November 3, 1831, at Hiram, Ohio. The revelation, originally given as the "Preface" to the "Book of Commandments,"* given November 1, 1831, is now Section 1 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The following revelation was to constitute the "close" or "appendix" to the "Book of Commandments." The "Book of Commandments" was never completed; the printing press was destroyed by a mob while the book was in the process of being printed, and the printed material was scattered in the street. This revelation was not included in the incomplete copy. However, it was included in the revelations contained in the 1835 edition as the "appendix." It will be better understood if read in connection with the revelations given prior to November 1831. To follow the precedent of previous editions, it is retained in this place as Section 108.
*A number of bound copies of the "Book of Commandments" are in the Historian's Library of the Reorganized Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints.
DC 109:Intro SECTION 109
The following letter from Joseph Smith, Jr., addressed to the Saints of Nauvoo, Illinois, September 1, 1842, was published first in "Times and Seasons," 3:919. It was included in the second (1844) edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and has been continued in all subsequent editions. The Conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix. Concerning "baptism for the dead" see the introduction to Section 107 (Appendix A).
NAUVOO, SEPTEMBER 1, 1842
DC 110:Intro SECTION 110
This section is a continuation of the letter of Joseph Smith, Jr., addressed to the Saints of Nauvoo, Illinois (Doctrine and Covenants 109). It was written September 6, 1842, while Joseph was hiding from his persecutors and was first published in the "Times and Seasons" for October 1, 1842 (3:934). It was included in the second (1844) edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and has been retained in all subsequent editions. The Conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix. Concerning "baptism for the dead" see the Introduction to Section 107 (Appendix A).
NAUVOO, SEPTEMBER 6, 1842
DC 113:Intro SECTION 113
This section is not a revelation. It was published in the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and has been retained in all subsequent editions. The Reorganized Church has deemed it better to leave it as it is rather than to omit or revise it. As far as the facts are stated, they are a part of the history of the event discussed. The conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix.
DC 114:Intro SECTION 114
The first General Epistle of the Twelve under the presidency of Joseph Smith III, son of the Martyr, was addressed: "To all the Saints scattered abroad." To this Epistle an appendix was added by President Smith. The appendix was in the nature of a revelation from God and was so accepted by the church at the semiannual conference of 1871. Its inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants was authorized by the semiannual conference of 1878.
This is the first revelation given to the church through President Joseph Smith III. It was dated October 7, 1861. The Epistle and appendix were published October 25, 1861.
DC 123:Intro SECTION 123
This section is a report of the Joint Council held in compliance with the instruction of Doctrine and Covenants 122:13. It was included in the Doctrine and Covenants at the request of the Council of Twelve and concurred in by the General Conference of 1895. It is not a revelation. The Conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix.
JOINT COUNCIL
