Foundations of the Resto

Doctrine Statement

• Not every statement from church leader is doctrine

Where is Doctrine found?

Standard works, unified voice of the first pres and 12, official declarations

Is all doctrine equal?

No - core docs, supporting doc, policy, esoteric

How to evaluate a source

• Primary vs secondary

• How close the date was to the event

• Intent / tone

• Is it supported?

JS 1832 First Vision Account

• Personal journal

• Concerned about his salvation

• Sins were forgiven

1835 Account

• Conversation with Robert Matthew’s (Jewish dude)

• Joseph’s struggle with adversary

• Angels

1838 Account

• Published in times and seasons (PoGP)

• To the general public and church

• Religious excitement, James 1:5, all sects were wrong

1842 Account

• Wentworth Letter

• Straightforward

• Also had AoF and Standard of Truth

What was proven about JS accounts?

There was religious excitement at the time

JS personal life during translation

• Alvin died

• Married Emma despised disapproval

• First child (Alvin) died shortly after 116 pages lost

Emma’s comment about Jospeh’s literary abilities

• Affirmed work was divine bc Joseph wasn’t very skilled in that field

More expansive meaning of Uris and Thummim

Umbrella term for any divine instrument or seer stone used to translate

116 Pages Resolution (D&C 110)

• Jospeh no translate bc of bed men

• Centuries earlier commanded Nephi to cover the same historical period as lost pages

3 vs 8 witnesses

3 (OC, MH, DW) - Supernatural experiences and saw everything

8 - Physical experience

Witness Family

Whitmer’s

D&C 18-19 Atonement Truths

1. Worth of souls great in God’s sight

2. Suffering in garden

3. Pleading with martin Harris

Aaronic Priesthood Date

May 15, 1829

Aaronic Priesthood Location

Harmony, Pennsylvania

Aaronic Priesthood Performance

John the Baptist

When and where was the church organized

April 6th, 1830

Fayette, NY

Priesthood Offices

Developed slowly (Offices like bishop, high priest, high council, quorum of 12 were developed later)

Elder Oaks & Aaronic priesthood quote

Aaronic Priesthood holds keys of gospel of repentance, baptism, and find companionship of the Holy Ghost

D&C 20

• Known as articles and covenants

• First revelation accepted by sustaining vote

• Foundational “Constitution” of church

D&C 21

• Received day church was received

• JS called as prophet, seer, revelator

How were earliest D&C revelations recorded and preserved

• Dictated on loose sheets of paper

• Called manuscript revelation books (book of commandments

What occurred in Nov 1831 conference in Hiram, OH

• Leaders published Book of Commandments (10,000 copies)

• Some leaders were challenged to write a revelation

D&C 67

Lord challenged William E. McLellin to write a revelation (he failed)

Why is D&C 1 first

• Lord’s preface

• Validates revelations

What happened to book of commandments in Jackson County

Mob destroyed printing office (Rollins sisters saved it)

Why is it called doctrine and covenants?

Doctrine - lectures on faith

Covenants - revelations received by JS

Why did JS revise some revelations

• Correct grammatical errors

• Clarify

• Add additional light and knowledge

Definition of scripture in D&C 68:4

• anything spoken when moved on by the Spirit

• Scriptural cannon is authoritative tho

Shared theme of D&C 28 and 43 (church and governance)

28 - Addressed Hiram Page and told him JS was the only person able to receive revelation for whole church

43 - reiterated that only one person was able to receive revelations for whole church (addressed hubbles)

When was Moses1 received?

June 1830, shortly after church was organized, before translation of bible

What did JS change in the JST

• Restoration of lost text

• Clarification of confusing passages

• Harmonizing contradictions

• Inspired additions

JST translation order

OT, NT, OT

How did JST impact D&C

• lots of revelations in D&C

• D&C 76, 74, 86, 93

How did the church obtain the papyri

Michael Chandler brought em and JS bought em

What do we know about translation of Book of Abraham

• Translated by gift and power of God

• Don’t know translation method

“Abraham and the Ancient World” idea

• Details in Book of Abraham

• Human sacrifice, foreign deities, names unknown in JS day but found later

Major doctrinal contributes of BoA

• Premortal life, great spirits chosen before world, council in heaven, purpose of mortal probation, eternal nature of intelligences

Chronological order of JS 3 major projects

• Book of Abraham

• JST

• Abraham

how did Kirkland become church headquarters

Oliver Cowdery and Parley Pratt stopped on their way to Missouri. Preached to Sidney Rigdons congregation and baptized a bunch of people

“Three legs” of law of consecration

• Ownership: everything belongs to the Lord

• Stewardship: we are given a portion of the Lord’s resources (accountability)

• Surplus: surplus beyond’s ones needs should be donated

Was the Law of Consecration ever revoked? How is it lived now?

• Never revoked

• Lived through covenants today (tithing, fast offerings, callings, time, talents, etc.)

What is Zion? What does it mean to build Zion and gather saints?

Zion - pure in heart, one in mind

Building Zion - Cultivating unified community founded on love and covenants

Purpose of Gathering - Endowed with power, receive ordinances

Where were early saints referring to when they spoke of “going to Zion”

Jackson County

D&C 1

• Lord’s Preface

• Restore truth and sustains JS

D&C 3

• Received after loss of 116 pages

• Work of God cannot be frustrated

D7C 6

• Comfort and guidance to Oliver Cowdery

• Reminds Oliver of peace spoken to his mind

D&C 8

Teach OC about spirit of revelation (coming to heart and mind)

D&C 10

How to handle lost 116 pages (translate plate of Nephi instead)

D&C 13

Words spoken by John the Baptist restoring Aaronic Priesthood

D&C 20

Articles and Covenants (foundational doctrines, ordinances, offices, etc.)

D&C 21

April 6 1830 - Jospeh smith called as prophet, church commanded to keep record

D7C 25

Revelation to Emma Smith (elect lady) expound scripture, compile hymn book

D7C 43

Address Mrs. Hubble’s false revelations (only one person allowed to receive revelation from church)

D&C 67

Lord’s challenge to write a revelation like JS

Palmyra NY

• JS family home

• Sacred grove

• Hill Cumorah

• Location 8 witnesses saw plates

• BoM printed

Harmony, PA

• Home of Emma’s parents

• Majority of BoM translated

• Restoration of Aaronic priesthood

Fayette, NY

• Whitmer farm

• BoM translation completed

• Where 3 witnesses saw angel and plates

• Organization of church

Kirtland, OH

• First church headquarters

• Site of first temple

• Numerous revelations

Hiram, OH

• Book of commandments conference

• JS mobbed

• Received D&C 76

Jackson County, MO

• Center place of Zion

• W.W. Phelp’s printing press destroyed

Martin Harris

• Scribe

• Lost 116 pages

• 1 of 3 witnesses

• Mortgaged farm for BoM printing

Oliver Cowdery

• Primary BoM scribe

• Present for restoration of Aaronic and Melchizedek

• 1 of 3 witnesses

• 2 elder of church

Emma Smith

• JS wife

• Early scribe

• Elect lady

• Hymns for church

David Whitmer

• 1 of 3 witnesses

• Early Church leader in Missouri

John Whitmer

• Scribe for BoM translation

• 1 of 8 witnesses

• Called as official church historian

Mary & Caroline Rollins

Saved book of commandments

Hiram Page

• 1 of 8 witnesses

• False revelations were corrected

Edward Partridge

• First bishop of church

• Administered law of consecration

• Tried and feathered

W. W. Phelps

• Church Printer in Missouri

• Office destroyed

• Wrote hymns

Sidney Rigdon

• Converted and brought congregation with hum

• Counselor in first presidency

Robert J. Matthews

• Scholarship made it possible for LDS church to get JST

Spring 1820

First vision

May 15

John the Baptist Aaronic Priesthood

April 6, 1830

Church is organized

Tragic events of JS life

Child died during same summer of lost 116 pages