Lectures on Faith removed from Doctrine and Covenants

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Contents

Criticism

Critics argue that the Lectures on Faith was removed from the Doctrine and Covenants without general church membership consent.

Source(s) of the criticism

Response

History

The Lectures were published in 1835 as the Doctrine portion of The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. The Lectures were suggested to be added to this version of the D&C by a committee appointed on September 24, 1834 by a general assembly of the church to arrange the doctrines and revelations of the church into a single volume. That committee consisted of Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams. The general body of the church accepted the committee's compilation on August 17, 1835 as "the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote." [1]

Authorship

The authorship of the Lectures on Faith is not entirely known. Recent authorship studies ascribe the wording of the lectures "mainly to Sidney Rigdon," with Joseph Smith substantially involved, and others perhaps having some influence. [2] Willard Richards writes in his history that Joseph was "busily engaged" in November in making "preparations for the School for the Elders, wherein they might be more perfectly instructed in the great things of God." [3] Furthermore, in January 1835 Joseph was engaged in "preparing the lectures on theology for publication." [4]

Removal from the D&C

The Church removed the Lectures from the Doctrine and Covenants in the 1921 edition with an explanation that the Lectures "were never presented to nor accepted by the Church as being otherwise than theological lectures or lessons". [5] This is in contrast to the remaining pages of the original Doctrine and Covenants which are officially recognized as divine revelation given specifically to the church.

Joseph Fielding Smith said the following concerning their removal:

a) They were not received as revelations by the prophet Joseph Smith.
b) They are instructions relative to the general subject of faith. They are explanations of this principle but not doctrine.
c) They are not complete as to their teachings regarding the Godhead. More complete instructions on the point of doctrine are given in section 130 of the 1876 and all subsequent editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.
d) It was thought by Elder James E. Talmage, chairman, and other members of the committee who were responsible for their omission that to avoid confusion and contention on this vital point of belief, it would be better not to have them bound in the same volume as the commandments or revelations which make up the Doctrine and Covenants. [6]

Current Use of the Lectures

Bruce R. McConkie wrote regarding the lectures, "They were not themselves classed as revelations, but in them is to be found some of the best lesson material ever prepared on the Godhead; on the character, perfections, and attributes of God; on faith, miracles, and sacrifice. They can be studied with great profit by all gospel scholars." [7] The 1990 republication of the lectures signals the desire of some LDS scholars to stimulate interest in their historical and doctrinal significance for the Church.

Conclusion

While the Lectures on Faith were at one time included in the Doctrine and Covenants, they were subsequently removed (along with other items D&C Textual Changes) that were not considered official revelation and binding doctrine by the church.

Endnotes

  1. [back]  Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 2:243–246. GospeLink
  2. [back]  http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/emmain.asp?number=219
  3. [back]  Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 2:169–170. GospeLink
  4. [back]  Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 2:180. GospeLink
  5. [back]  Doctrine and Covenants, 1921 edition's introduction.
  6. [back]  As told to John William Fitzgerald, A Study of the Doctrine and Covenants, M.A. Thesis, Brigham Young University, page 344. http://patriot.lib.byu.edu/u?/MTAF,31813
  7. [back]  Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd edition, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 439. GospeLink

Further reading

FAIR wiki articles

D&C Wiki articles

Lectures on Faith

FAIR web site

  • FAIR Topical Guide: Lectures on Faith FAIR link
  • FAIR Topical Guide: Changes in D&C FAIR link

External links

D&C articles with links
  • The Lectures on Faith off-site
  • Larry E Dahl, "Lectures on Faith," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 2:818–821. ISBN 002904040X. off-site off-site off-site
  • Leland H. Gentry, "What of the Lectures on Faith?," Brigham Young University Studies 19:1 (Fall 1978): 5–19. PDF link
  • Stephen R. Gibson, "Why Did Joseph Smith Make Changes In the Doctrine & Covenants?," One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Questions (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers, 2005) ISBN 0882907840. off-site
  • Boyd K. Packer, "We Believe All That God Has Revealed," Ensign (May 1974): 93. off-site; also in Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report (April 1974): 137.
  • Melvin J. Petersen, "Preparing Early Revelations for Publication," Ensign (February 1985): 14. off-site
  • Melvin J. Petersen, A Study of the Nature of and the Significance of the Changes in the Revelations as Found in a Comparison of the Book of Commandments and Subsequent Editions of the Doctrine and Covenants, master's thesis, Brigham Young University, 1955. off-site
  • Noel B. Reynolds, "The Case for Sidney Rigdon as Author of the Lecture on Faith (8 June 2004) [based on version given at Mormon History Association meeting at Kirtland 2003]. PDF link
  • Robert J. Woodford, "Doctrine and Covenants Editions," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 1:425–427. ISBN 002904040X. off-site off-site off-site
  • Robert J. Woodford, "How the Revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants Were Received and Compiled," Ensign (January 1985): 27. off-site (Key source)
  • Robert J. Woodford, "The Story of the Doctrine and Covenants," Ensign (December 1984): 32. off-site

Printed material

D&C print works
  • Donald Q. Cannon, "Latter-day Visions of the Savior" in Hearken, O Ye People: Discourses on the Doctrine and Covenants (Sandy, UT: Randall Book, 1984), 119–131.
  • Larry Dahl and Charles Tate, The Lectures on Faith in Historical Perspective (Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1990).
    • Review of Dahl and Tate by Kevin Barney, By Common Consent, 4 November 2006 off-site
  • Robert J. Woodford, The Historical Development of the Doctrine and Covenants, Ph.D. dissertation (3 volumes), Brigham Young University, 1974. (CD-ROM version from BYU Studies.) (Hard copy available from UMI Dissertation Express; order number 8027231.) (Key source)
  • Richard S. Van Wagoner, Steven C. Walker, and Allen D. Roberts, "The ´Lectures on Faith´: A Case Study in Decanonization," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 20:3 (Fall 1987): 71–77. off-site

link title

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