It seemed that the Lord was telling the saints to strive for excellence, but simultaneously instituted a program that punished and stifled it. The Use of the New Testament in the Doctrine and Covenants. Question: How would a statement that "God is a spirit" be interpreted in ancient Judasism? Question: Was Oliver Cowdery aware that some in the Church were practicing polygamy in 1835 at the time he authored the "Article on Marriage"? The saints were condemned for the lack of ability to stifle pride and live the Law of consecration, but Heavenly Father is forever merciful to his children.

2nd ed. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I continuously pursue the path that leads me highest in any endeavor—be it academic, physical, or spiritual. The other standard works are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price.. Summary. Ensign, "Great and Marvelous Are the Revelations of God", Revelations in Context on history.lds.org: "Cowdery was among those who believed in and used a divining rod".

Nauvoo, IL: John Taylor, 1844. Pride is a disease.

The “other vices” Lewis speaks of include all other sins, including greed or immorality. Question: Who wrote the Lectures on Faith? Question: What are the reasons for the changes to the Doctrine and Covenants? This was my objection to forced equality. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.

While many of the doctrinal teachings deal with Jesus Christ and His role as Savior and Redeemer,[2] other teachings are those that set Mormons apart as a faith. Gospel Topics: "the Bible mentions other physical instruments used to access God’s power: the rod of Aaron, a brass serpent, holy anointing oils, the Ark of the Covenant, and even dirt from the ground mixed with saliva", Dallin H. Oaks (1987): "It should be recognized that such tools as the Urim and Thummim, the Liahona, seerstones, and other articles have been used appropriately in biblical, Book of Mormon, and modern times", Alleged contradictions in the Doctrine and Covenants, Criticisms of the use of the New Testament in the Doctrine and Covenants. Thus, the order was officially dissolved.

Revelation through Joseph Smith, Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833.

It is comforting to know that our Lord will never give us greater commandments than what we are worthy of.

This page was last modified on 13 July 2016, at 11:44. However, God is not a god of contradiction and confusion.

Eventually, however, as outlined primarily in section 104, the law of consecration was rescinded only two years after its introduction to the saints. Question: Did Joseph Smith attempt to "cover up" Oliver Cowdery's work with a divining rod by changing the wording of the revelation that became Doctrine and Covenants 8:6–8? "Lectures on Faith" is a set of seven lectures on the doctrine and theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, first published as the doctrine portion of the 1835 edition of the canonical Doctrine and Covenants, but later removed from that work by both major branches of the faith. FairMormon is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Question: Have edits to the revelations been discussed in the present day? Lewis tells us that “Pride is essentially competitive—is competitive by its very nature—while the other vices are competitive only, so to speak, by accident” (Mere Christianity, p. 110).

Question: Were the changes to the revelations hidden from the Church members? Doctrine and Covenants is comprised of 138 sections (similar to chapters) and two Official Declarations. Doctrine and Covenants Section 101 The modern Mormon doctrine that temple weddings are essential was not taught in the Mormon church for at least its first 40 years. I now understand why—it is contrary to the very essence of excellence to force a group of people into dead-level equality; I have always, consciously or otherwise, believed that there is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people. FreeOnlineReseaerchPapers.com is a global community of students who enjoy publishing essays, research papers, and term papers on the internet.

In this Law, the central principle dictates the saints are to be equal; they are to “be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also…” (D&C 78:5, italics added). In this same manner, the Latter-day Saints have also been given tithing, a schoolmaster to bring us to the celestial principles of consecration outlined by Christ.

You punish ability and talent; you stifle competence and genius. Question: Was the revelation comprising the current Doctrine and Covenants 27 altered to include mention of the priesthood restoration? The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God.

I … Question: Under what circumstances was Doctrine and Covenants Section 132 committed to writing? We are a volunteer organization. Herein lies the paradox.

Question: Was the practice of polygamy general knowledge among Latter-day Saints in 1835 when the "Article on Marriage" was published?

Lecture of Faith 5 teaches the Father is "a personage of spirit", Removal of the Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants, Noel B. Reynolds, "The Authorship Debate concerning Lectures on Faith: Exhumation and Reburial". In section 82 of the Doctrine and Covenants we come to a scene in the spring of 1832 where the Lord has decided to introduce a key element in the path towards creating a people worthy of Zion—worthy of living under the glory of a celestial law. Question: What does Lecture 5 of the Lectures on Faith say about the nature of God?

Furthermore, for 41 years this revelation prohibiting polygamy was part of the LDS canon. And for a short time, it seemed that the law of consecration was just this very thing—after all, wasn’t it a commandment? Brigham Young (1855): "I do not even believe that there is a single revelation, among the many God has given to the Church, that is perfect in its fulness". Question: Were the Lectures on Faith revelations?

You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. First, “equality” in that sense as it is spoken by the Lord in sections 78 and 82 does not mean dead-level equality. This element is the law of consecration.

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Furthermore, coming back to the nature of the people who comprise the celestial society of Zion—they are not the bottom-feeding, looter type. The most important thing the reader must understand in examining this apparent incongruity is the very nature of the people who make up the true United Order, the Law of consecration. The early saints, although certainly not as evil and malicious as Lucifer, nevertheless were perpetrators of the sin of pride. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies.

Does it really repress talent? Truly, we have nothing to fear. Unable to live the higher law, the Israelites were given a law of carnal commandments, which was a “schoolmaster” to bring them to Christ (Galatians 3:24). By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Question: Was Zarahemla located near present-day Nauvoo?

The true follower of celestial law espouses excellence by free will and endeavors to seek “the interest of his neighbor,” and do “all things with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 82:19). The Doctrine and Covenants has more than 10 examples of “expedient in me that S” with should, as well as one with shalt. FairMormon Answers Wiki Table of Contents.

Question: Who made the changes to the Doctrine and Covenants?