• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Book of Commandments?

G

Gaura Priya

IRL
Hello there!

I am just curious on how the Book of Commandments relates to the Latter-Day Saint movement at large.

I have been reading bits and pieces, and have found that the so-called Rigdonite church (Church of Jesus Christ) make the most sense in regarding a proper understanding of the Book of Mormon's role in the daily Christian. Heck, even the Community of Christ (RLDS) also makes some sense, although in a very liberal way. But of course, I do not believe in denominations, and that the Book of Mormon testifies that ALL believers of Christ are saved.

However, I specifically would like to know how the current CoJCoLDS deals with the Book of Commandments, since it gives a very strong indication that Joseph Smith changed much of the text before giving it as today's Doctrine and Covenants, and according to some denominations, had corrupted the simple and pure teachings that the Book of Mormon testifies, as the fullness of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ.

www.bomchristian.com influenced me, lol. Thanks, David Whitmer and Arlin Nusbaum!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sola'lor

Sola'lor

LDSUJC
The Book of Commandments was the original Doctrine and Covenants, as I'm sure you know. The printing press was destroyed and the Book of Commandments was unable to be completed. As far as Joseph Smith changing the revelations. I think that original revelations were modified as further light and knowledge was revealed. Rather than writing a whole new revelation that was 95% the same as the previous one, just modify the old one with the new information.

The Book of Mormon does contain the fulness of the Gospel 3 Nephi 11. It also tells us what the Church is

Mosiah 26:22
22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.
 
G

Gaura Priya

IRL
Sola'lor said:
The Book of Commandments was the original Doctrine and Covenants, as I'm sure you know. The printing press was destroyed and the Book of Commandments was unable to be completed. As far as Joseph Smith changing the revelations. I think that original revelations were modified as further light and knowledge was revealed. Rather than writing a whole new revelation that was 95% the same as the previous one, just modify the old one with the new information.

The Book of Mormon does contain the fulness of the Gospel 3 Nephi 11. It also tells us what the Church is

Mosiah 26:22
22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.
Click to expand...

There's a gigantic argument (or conspiracy?) that the Book of Commandments made claims in which in the Doctrine and Covenants have completely changed, and it is of no surprise to me that because of this some churches in the Restoration movement only find their faith in the Bible and the Book of Mormon alone as the Scriptures of God. Joseph Smith's character in this situation completely changes from an unerring prophet to a temporal prophet, whose prophesying only lasted until after the Book of Mormon was accomplished.

This claim is made in comparing the Book of Commandments to Doctrine and Covenants.

In any case, I am somewhat saddened that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints know little about this part of history! I think knowing of these little things and the differing schisms after the passing away of Joseph Smith Jr. is very important in understanding the Latter Day Saint movement at large.
 
tomato1236

tomato1236

Ninja Master
madanbhakta said:
'Correct' info is pretty subjective, especially when other Latter Day Saint churches actually do not believe in the Doctrine and Covenants as made by the larger Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Click to expand...

They don't believe it because it contradicts the basis of their respective organizations. If they believed it, they wouldn't be they.
 
Arkholt

Arkholt

Non-vessel
madanbhakta said:
There's a gigantic argument (or conspiracy?) that the Book of Commandments made claims in which in the Doctrine and Covenants have completely changed, and it is of no surprise to me that because of this some churches in the Restoration movement only find their faith in the Bible and the Book of Mormon alone as the Scriptures of God. Joseph Smith's character in this situation completely changes from an unerring prophet to a temporal prophet, whose prophesying only lasted until after the Book of Mormon was accomplished.

This claim is made in comparing the Book of Commandments to Doctrine and Covenants.

In any case, I am somewhat saddened that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints know little about this part of history! I think knowing of these little things and the differing schisms after the passing away of Joseph Smith Jr. is very important in understanding the Latter Day Saint movement at large.
Click to expand...

Alright then, which changes were made and how do they contradict each other?
 
G

Gaura Priya

IRL
silvermoon383 said:
Except their D&C is different than ours. They dropped a bunch of revelations that and added a bunch of their own.
Click to expand...

Well they profess belief in the power of the Prophet, do they not? Just like how the Prophet in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints receives revelations from the Lord, so does the Prophet of the Community of Christ.

Was it not through the revelation of the Lord that changed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to accept that all men regardless of colour can receive the priesthood, or that monogamous relationships are for this period of time?

In the same way that is how the Doctrine and Covenants work among the Community of Christ. A new revelation is added every few years (six years?).
 
G

Gaura Priya

IRL
Arkholt said:
Alright then, which changes were made and how do they contradict each other?
Click to expand...

A Book of Commandments - Chapter 4

I think some of these contentions brought about that succession crisis after.

"And now, behold this shall you say unto him:--I the Lord am God, and I have given these things unto my servant Joseph, and I have commanded him that he should stand as a witness of these things, nevertheless I have caused him that he should enter into a covenant with me, that he should not show them except I command him and he has no power over them except I grant it unto him; 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
Click to expand...

The current Doctrine and Covenants leads one to believe that Joseph Smith would receive further revelations from the Lord after revealing the Book of Mormon. However, according to the Book of Commandments, the prophet was given no other gift *save* revealing the Book of Mormon.

I believe in the Bible, and in the Book of Mormon as the revelator of the truths of Jesus Christ, and restoring the plain and precious parts of the Gospel. However, I can not put the Doctrine and Covenants or even the Book of Commandments on the same level as the Scriptures. If anything is to be of a Christian fashion, it must weigh against the Book of Mormon. If it does not, then it cannot be a revelation from God.
 
Arkholt

Arkholt

Non-vessel
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top