Book of Commandments
Encyclopedia
The Book of Commandments is the earliest published volume said to contain the revelations of Joseph Smith Jr. Text published in the Book of Commandments is now considered scripture by Latter-day Saints as part of the larger Doctrine and Covenants
.
. Smith, leader of the Latter Day Saint movement
, gathered several of his revelations for a High Priest's
council in November 1831. The ten-man council voted to print 10,000 copies, but the actual number of prints was reduced to between three and five thousand.
W. W. Phelps publisher of the book, ran a press in Independence, Missouri
. A faithful Mormon, Phelps also edited an historically important Mormon periodical, The Evening and Morning Star
from September 1831 to July 1833. Most revelations in the Book of Commandments were previously published by Phelps in the Star.
The title page of the book reads "Book of Commandments, for the government of the Church of Christ, organized according to the law on the 6th of April, 1830. / ZION: published by W. W. Phelps & co. / 1833."
On July 20, 1833 an anti-Mormon
and pro-slavery mob destroyed the press. The mob, purportedly frightened of Mormon political power, was incensed by an editorial in Phelps' Evening and Morning Star perceived to be abolitionist. Breaking down the door, they razed Phelps' home and business in less than an hour. At that point, 65 revelations of the Book of Commandments, about two thirds the total, were already printed. Totaling 160 pages, most of the uncut and unbound sheets were destroyed in the ensuing fire. However, some neighbors including teenage sisters Caroline and Mary Elizabeth Rollins saved remnants of nearly 100 copies.
Fewer than 30 are known to exist today, including several incomplete versions. Further enhancing the book's scarcity, several copies of the Book of Commandments are held in permanent collections. For example, the LDS Church and the Community of Christ
have multiple copies, and the rare books divisions of the University of Utah
Marriott Library
, Brigham Young University
Harold B. Lee Library
, and the New York Public Library
each own a copy. When sold on the open market, the book regularly fetches over $100,000. An incomplete copy changed hands for $200,000 in 2001, and a complete volume sold at auction for $391,000. Rare books dealer Ken Sanders claims a copy was sold privately in Utah for $500,000. Lyndon Cook reportedly sold a copy in late 2008 for 1.7 million. By comparison, the 1830 first edition of the Book of Mormon
sells for about $100,000.
, with relatively superficial and typographical edits.
A much more ambitious revision was made in 1835, when all the revelations contained in the Book of Commandments were edited for inclusion in a larger text of Mormon scriptures called the Doctrine and Covenants
(commonly abbreviated D&C). In addition to many superficial changes, this latter work contains significant redactions, deletions, and additions of new material to the older revelations, and the nature of these changes has been controversial, in part because these changes are not widely known by Mormon adherents, and in part because the changes have been used by secular Mormon scholars to support a hypothesis that Mormon theology developed gradually, and underwent theological reversals and significant changes. Apologetic scholars tend to minimize the significance of these changes, or to read the two editions of scripture in a way that makes them roughly consistent.
For example, mention of biblical
apostles Peter
, James
, and John
imparting Joseph Smith Jr. with the Priesthood
is in section 27 of D&C, but is omitted from the equivalent chapter in the Book of Commandments.
Secular Mormon scholars argue that these changes reflect the changing doctrines of Joseph Smith, but Mormon apologetic scholars are more likely to hold that the changes are elaborations or clarifications of previously revealed doctrine. For example, a scripture often cited by Mormon critics says,
This passage refers to Joseph Smith in third person
. However, the re-numbered Doctrine and Covenants reads:
Secular Mormon scholars generally assert that Smith originally claimed only to be charged with translating the Book of Mormon
. According to this view, he had to revise the passage to bring it into accord with his subsequent translation of the Bible
and claim to be sole prophet
in the Church. An apologist
would reply that this misunderstanding of the original text is precisely why it had to be clarified.
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
.
History of the Book of Commandments
The Book of Commandments was planned as a compilation of Joseph Smith Jr.'s early propheciesProphecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
. Smith, leader of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, gathered several of his revelations for a High Priest's
Melchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
council in November 1831. The ten-man council voted to print 10,000 copies, but the actual number of prints was reduced to between three and five thousand.
W. W. Phelps publisher of the book, ran a press in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. A faithful Mormon, Phelps also edited an historically important Mormon periodical, The Evening and Morning Star
Evening and Morning Star
The Evening and the Morning Star was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Independence, Missouri, from June 1832 to July 1833, and then in Kirtland, Ohio, from December 1833 to September 1834...
from September 1831 to July 1833. Most revelations in the Book of Commandments were previously published by Phelps in the Star.
The title page of the book reads "Book of Commandments, for the government of the Church of Christ, organized according to the law on the 6th of April, 1830. / ZION: published by W. W. Phelps & co. / 1833."
On July 20, 1833 an anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and pro-slavery mob destroyed the press. The mob, purportedly frightened of Mormon political power, was incensed by an editorial in Phelps' Evening and Morning Star perceived to be abolitionist. Breaking down the door, they razed Phelps' home and business in less than an hour. At that point, 65 revelations of the Book of Commandments, about two thirds the total, were already printed. Totaling 160 pages, most of the uncut and unbound sheets were destroyed in the ensuing fire. However, some neighbors including teenage sisters Caroline and Mary Elizabeth Rollins saved remnants of nearly 100 copies.
Fewer than 30 are known to exist today, including several incomplete versions. Further enhancing the book's scarcity, several copies of the Book of Commandments are held in permanent collections. For example, the LDS Church and the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
have multiple copies, and the rare books divisions of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
Marriott Library
J. Willard Marriott Library
J. Willard Marriott Library is the library of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was named for J. Willard Marriott, the founder of Marriott International. The library building is over and houses over 3 million volumes. The University of Utah Press is a division of the Marriott...
, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
Harold B. Lee Library
Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library , located in Provo, Utah, is the main academic library of Brigham Young University, the largest religious and second-largest private university in the United States. The library has approximately of shelving for the more than 6 million items in its various collections, as...
, and the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
each own a copy. When sold on the open market, the book regularly fetches over $100,000. An incomplete copy changed hands for $200,000 in 2001, and a complete volume sold at auction for $391,000. Rare books dealer Ken Sanders claims a copy was sold privately in Utah for $500,000. Lyndon Cook reportedly sold a copy in late 2008 for 1.7 million. By comparison, the 1830 first edition of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
sells for about $100,000.
Content of the Book of Commandments
Many of the revelations in the Book of Commandents were also printed in the official church newspaper Evening and Morning StarEvening and Morning Star
The Evening and the Morning Star was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Independence, Missouri, from June 1832 to July 1833, and then in Kirtland, Ohio, from December 1833 to September 1834...
, with relatively superficial and typographical edits.
A much more ambitious revision was made in 1835, when all the revelations contained in the Book of Commandments were edited for inclusion in a larger text of Mormon scriptures called the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
(commonly abbreviated D&C). In addition to many superficial changes, this latter work contains significant redactions, deletions, and additions of new material to the older revelations, and the nature of these changes has been controversial, in part because these changes are not widely known by Mormon adherents, and in part because the changes have been used by secular Mormon scholars to support a hypothesis that Mormon theology developed gradually, and underwent theological reversals and significant changes. Apologetic scholars tend to minimize the significance of these changes, or to read the two editions of scripture in a way that makes them roughly consistent.
For example, mention of biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
apostles Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, James
Saint James the Great
James, son of Zebedee was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle...
, and John
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
imparting Joseph Smith Jr. with the Priesthood
Melchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
is in section 27 of D&C, but is omitted from the equivalent chapter in the Book of Commandments.
Secular Mormon scholars argue that these changes reflect the changing doctrines of Joseph Smith, but Mormon apologetic scholars are more likely to hold that the changes are elaborations or clarifications of previously revealed doctrine. For example, a scripture often cited by Mormon critics says,
- "...and he has a gift to translate the book and I have commanded him that he shall pretend to no other gift, for I will grant him no other gift." — Book of Commandments, 4:2
This passage refers to Joseph Smith in third person
Grammatical person
Grammatical person, in linguistics, is deictic reference to a participant in an event; such as the speaker, the addressee, or others. Grammatical person typically defines a language's set of personal pronouns...
. However, the re-numbered Doctrine and Covenants reads:
- "...and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon you; and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished." — Doctrine and Covenants, 5:4
Secular Mormon scholars generally assert that Smith originally claimed only to be charged with translating the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. According to this view, he had to revise the passage to bring it into accord with his subsequent translation of the Bible
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
The Joseph Smith Translation , also called the Inspired Version , was a revision of the Bible by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith considered this work to be "a branch of his calling" as a prophet. Smith was murdered before he ever deemed it complete, though most of...
and claim to be sole prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
in the Church. An apologist
Mormon apologetics
Mormon apologetics is the systematic defense of Mormonism against its critics. Notable Latter-day Saint apologists include early church leaders such as John Taylor, B. H. Roberts, James E. Talmage and modern scholars such as Hugh Nibley, Orson Scott Card, and Jeff Lindsay...
would reply that this misunderstanding of the original text is precisely why it had to be clarified.
Book of Commandments chapters and Doctrine and Covenants sections
Note that the units of the Book of Commandments are chapters, while the Doctrine and Covenants has sections. Chapters of the book correspond exactly to modern D&C sections except for the revisions discussed above.| 1833 Book of Commandments Chapter (out of 65) | 1835 edition D&C Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement... Section (of 102) |
Modern LDS D&C Section (of 138) | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | 30 | 3 | |
| 3 | 31 | 4 | |
| 4 | 32 | 5 | D&C changes to "and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this" as discussed above. Also, specific mention of three witnesses Three Witnesses The Three Witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the Latter Day Saint movement who signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon and that they had heard God's voice testifying that the book had... removed, perhaps because 8 more witnesses were allowed to view the Golden Plates Golden Plates According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith... . |
| 5 | 8 | 6 | |
| 6 | 33 | 7 | D&C version prophesies John will restore the gospel, see chapter 28. |
| 7 | 34 | 8 | |
| 8 | 35 | 9 | |
| 9 | 36 | 10 | |
| 10 | 37 | 11 | |
| 11 | 38 | 12 | |
| 12 | 39 | 14 | |
| 13 | 40 | 15 | |
| 14 | 41 | 16 | |
| 15 | 43 | 18 | |
| 16 | 44 | 19 | |
| 17-21 | 45 | 23 | These short chapters contained revelations of no more than 4 sentences each directed toward associates of Joseph Smith. They were combined into one D&C chapter. |
| 22 | 46 | 21 | |
| 23 | 47 | 22 | |
| 24 | 2 | 20 | The duties of Elders in the Church and specifics of baptism Baptism In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition... elaborated in D&C. |
| 25 | 9 | 24 | |
| 26 | 48 | 25 | |
| 27 | 49 | 26 | |
| 28 | 50 | 27 | Additional material in D&C constitutes more than half of this section. D&C includes new passages about Joseph Smith being visited by Elijah, Elias (who is separate from Elijah in Mormonism), Peter Saint Peter Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle... , James Saint James the Great James, son of Zebedee was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle... , John John the Apostle John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles... , Archangel Michael Michael (archangel) Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael... (who is Adam Adam and Eve Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews... in Mormonism), and others. This chapter has the most controversial difference between the Book of Commandments and the Doctrine and Covenants. |
| 29 | 10 | 29 | |
| 30 | 51 | 28 | |
| 31-33 | 52 | 30 | Short revelations to David Whitmer David Whitmer David Whitmer was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates.-Early life:... , Peter Whitmer, Jr. and John Whitmer John Whitmer John Whitmer was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He was one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates... combined into one chapter. It concerns missionary work to the "Lamanite Lamanite According to the Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of a dark-skinned nation of indigenous Americans that battled with the light-skinned Nephite nation... s" |
| 34 | 53 | 31 | |
| 35 | 55 | 33 | |
| 36 | 56 | 34 | |
| 37 | 11 | 35 | |
| 38 | 57 | 36 | |
| 39 | 58 | 37 | |
| 40 | 12 | 38 | |
| 41 | 59 | 39 | |
| 42 | 60 | 40 | |
| 43 | 61 | 41 | |
| 44 | 13 | 42 | This chapter was combined with chapter 47 in D&C. |
| 45 | 14 | 43 | |
| 46 | 62 | 44 | |
| 47 | 13 | 42 | This chapter appended to chapter 44 to become one section of D&C. |
| 48 | 15 | 45 | |
| 49 | 16 | 46 | |
| 50 | 63 | 47 | |
| 51 | 64 | 48 | |
| 52 | 65 | 49 | |
| 53 | 17 | 50 | |
| 54 | 66 | 52 | |
| 55 | 66 | 53 | Two sections of the 1835 D&C were inadvertently numbered 66. Thus there were actually 103 sections (although they only numbered to 102). |
| 56 | 67 | 54 | |
| 57 | 68 | 55 | |
| 58 | 69 | 56 | |
| 59 | 18 | 58 | |
| 60 | 19 | 59 | |
| 61 | 70 | 60 | |
| 62 | 71 | 61 | |
| 63 | 72 | 62 | |
| 64 | 20 | 63 | |
| 65 | 21 | 64 | This chapter of the Book of Commandments incomplete when the press was destroyed. |
External links
- Full text of Book of Commandments - includes side-by-side comparisons of significantly divergent Doctrine and CovenantsDoctrine and CovenantsThe Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
chapters, from a non-LDS site, but free of attacking commentary. - SaintsWithoutHalos.com: Doctrine and Covenants - Mormon historical revisionistHistorical revisionismIn historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
site with thoroughly annotated D&C showing changes from various editions including the Book of Commandments. - SaintsWithoutHalos.com: "All in favor?" - notes about the 1831 planning of the Book of Commandments.
- Lightplanet.com: "Book of Commandments" - copy of article from semi-official Encyclopedia of MormonismEncyclopedia of MormonismThe Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a semi-official encyclopedia for topics relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. - Lightplanet.com: "Preparing Early Revelations for Publication" - sympathetic 1985 Ensign article explaining changes between the Book of Commandments and Doctrine and Covenants.
- The Watchman Expositor: Changing the Book of Commandments - page criticizing the alleged inconsistency of the book.
- Scanned Images of the Entire 1833 Book of Commandments and 1835 Doctrine and Covenants.
- Saving the Book of Commandments painting by Clark Kelley Price; see also the explanation.