Book of the Week: Doctrine and Covenants
Compendium published in 1960 by Sidney Branton Sperry
(1895–1977), a leading LDS scholar of the Book of Mormon and Bible, joined the
Religion Department at Brigham Young University in 1932 and retired in 1969.
The first Sperry Symposium was held four years later in 1973.
Section 60 - How to get home
Vs. 2-3-
Open your mouth
Vs. 5 - See Ether 2- No answer is
likely to come to a person who seeks guidance in choosing between 2
alternatives that are equally acceptable to the Lord. Thus, there are times
when we can serve productively in two different fields of labor. Either answer
is right. Similarly, the Spirit of the Lord is not likely to give us
revelations on matters that are trivial. I once heard a young woman in a
testimony meeting praise the spirituality of her husband, indicating that he
submitted every question to the Lord. She told how he accompanied her shopping
and would not even choose between different brands of canned vegetables without
making his selection a matter of prayer. That strikes me as improper. I believe
the Lord expects us to use the intelligence and experience He has given us to
make these kind of choices. When a member asked the prophet Joseph Smith for
advice on a particular mater, the Prophet stated, It is a great thing to
inquire of at the hands of God, or to come into His presence: and we feel
fearful to approach Him on subjects that are of little or no
consequence."(Dallin H. Oaks, “Revelation,” New Era, Sep 1982, 38)
Vs. 13 -
It's hard to steer a parked car
Section 61 - See Section Heading (See also Revelation 8:8-11; 16:3-4)
The canoe in
which the Prophet & Sidney were riding ran into a tree, lodged &
bobbing in the river. The canoe was upset & the occupants were almost
drowned.
Vs. 2 -
During the 3 days on the river some disagreements & ill feelings developed
& reconciliations had become necessary (CHC 1:262-3)
Vs. 3 - See
D&C 60:1-9 (8)
Vs. 5 -
During the year 1843, it was estimated that for a number of weeks the loss of
steamboats averaged 1 a day.
Vs. 27- See
LeGrand Richards CR, April 1941 p. 84) His grandfather was crossing the ocean
and used the power of the Priesthood to calm a storm. Ralph Cottrell as a
missionary.
Vs. 30
Cincinnati was a small village like Independence where wickedness prevailed.
Section 62 - See section heading- (Hyrum Smith, John Murdock,
David Whitmer & Harvey Whitlock)
Vs. 3- See
James 5:20- Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of
his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Section 63 - Date Aug. 30th added to Section heading
Vs. 3 - See
Verse 3 of Section 62
Vs. 8-11 -
Sign seekers " He who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person & that
principle is eternal, undeviating & firm as the pillars of heaven, for
whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an
adulterous man." (TPJS p. 157) A sign seeker may say, 'Remove the
need for faith and I will have faith.'
Vs. 39 -
Titus Billings was one of the first settlers of Manti, Utah
Vs. 42 -
Newel K. Whitney was a bishop 3X
Vs.
61-62- "Presumptuous and
blasphemous are they who purport to baptize, bless, marry, or perform other
sacraments in the name of the Lord while in fact lacking his specific
authorization. And no one can obtain God's authority from reading the Bible or
from just a desire to serve the Lord, no matter how pure his motives"
(SWK, The Miracle of Forgiveness"
p. 55) (Couple killed in Airplane crash-married at funeral.)
Vs. 65 -
Soon after this revelation, Joseph and Sidney moved to Hiram, Ohio.
Section 64 - A revelation received on 9/11 - Immediately
following Joseph's return from Mo. and the day before he moved to Hiram where
he lived for the next 6 1/2 months.
Vs. 2- Those
who overcome the world are those whose 1st loyalty is to God.
Vs. 6-7 - "I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the
Kingdom, It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all
eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the
Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous,
then know assuredly, that that man is on the high road to apostasy; and if he
does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives." (TPJS p. 56-57)
Church History by the Year - Ezra
Booth
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1792-April 30
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Born Connecticut
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1819-Mar. 10
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Married Doracas Taylor
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Methodist Minister
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1831
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Stayed up all night reading Book of Mormon with John Johnson
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1831- May
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Visited Kirtland w/ Johnsons. Elsa's arm healed. Ezra Baptized &
ordained Elder. Served short mission to Portage County where he convinced
Symonds Ryder to investigate.
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1831-June
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Attended 4th Gen. Conf. in Kirtland- Possessed by Evil Spirit-Cast
out by Joseph
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1831-June 7
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Called on Mission to Mo. with Isaac Morley (D&C 52:23)
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1831-Aug.
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Attended Conference in Mo. Ryder was ordained Elder & called to
serve. Mis-spelled
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1831-Sept. 1
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Returned to Kirtland discontented w/ imperfections in Joseph,
lightness, levity, & a proning to jesting & joking & a temper
easily irritated. (CHC 1:266)
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1831-Sept. 6
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Fellowship withdrawn, Sept. 11-chastized for evil actions
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1831-Sept. 12
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Officially denounced Mormonism-1st apostate to publish Anti Mormon
literature
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1831-Oct-Dec
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9 letters published in Ohio Star. Later used in E.D. Howe's
"Mormonism Unveiled" 1. Inconsistent Revelations. 2. 1 prophet. 3.
Inconsistent conduct by Joseph 4. Members divided & selfish. 5. Didn't
feel Spirit. 6. Mission harder than his previous Church.
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1831-Dec. 1
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D&C 71 - Joseph & Sidney called to discontinue work on Bible
& defend Church
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1832-Mar. 24
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Participated in tarring and feathering of Joseph and Sidney in Hiram?
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1860
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Owned farm in Mantua, Portage County, Ohio
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Vs. 9-11 - "John,
leave it alone." (BKP, "Balm of Gilead", Ensign, Nov. 1987) "How do you expect me to forgive the man
who killed my son?" Elder Cook's April 2013 Conference talk on Peace.
Vs. 12-22 -
Disciplinary Councils and Bill O'Reilly
Vs. 23 - The
Law of Tithing as we live it today was not revealed until 1838. Here it means
giving or sacrificing without counting the cost.
Vs. 33 - See
Alma 37:6-7
Section 65 - First of 13 Hiram revelations. With Wm. E. McClellan
as scribe, the prophet asked the lord if the Lord's prayer was translated
correctly. The message of the Restoration is that the Lord's Prayer is being
fulfilled. His Kingdom is come.
Vs. 2 - A
pretty amazing prophecy for a local church with 1000 members.
Vs. 6 - The
Church is the Kingdom of God on Earth preparing for the Kingdom of Heaven may
come.
Section 66 - Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram,
Ohio, October 29, 1831. William E. McLellin had petitioned the Lord in
secret to make known through the Prophet the answer to five questions, which
were unknown to Joseph Smith. At McLellin’s request, the Prophet inquired of
the Lord and received this revelation.
William had
5 questions. Joseph answered all 5 without knowing that Wm. had questions. My
guess is that verse 10 was not one of those questions.
Section 67- Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Hiram,
Ohio, early November 1831. The occasion was that of a special conference, and
the publication of the revelations already received from the Lord through the
Prophet was considered and acted upon (see the heading to
section 1). William W. Phelps had recently established the Church
printing press in Independence, Missouri. The conference decided to publish the
revelations in the Book of Commandments
and to print 10,000 copies (which because of unforeseen difficulties was later
reduced to 3,000 copies). Many of the brethren bore solemn testimony that the
revelations then compiled for publication were verily true, as was witnessed by
the Holy Ghost shed forth upon them. Joseph Smith’s history records that after
the revelation known as section 1
had been received, some conversation was had concerning the language used in
the revelations. The present revelation followed.
Vs. 1 - Joseph
Jr., Oliver, Sidney R. Wm. E. McLelllin, David, John, Peter Whitmer Jr., Orson Hyde, Luke &
Lyman Johnson.
For my notes
on the coming forth of the D&C see Day 1 or help me find my book I lost on
the first day. D&C 1 and 133 received at this same conference
Church History by the Year - William
E. McLellin- taught school in 5 states
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1806-Jan. 18
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Wm. born in Smith County, Tenn. - Father Charles
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1831-Summer
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First heard of Mormonism via testimony of Harvey Whitlock & David
Whitmer
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1829-July 30
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Married Cynthia Ann. She died before 1832
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1831-July 29
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Closed school in Paris, Tenn. & left for Independence to meet
Joseph. (Joseph in Ohio)
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1831-Aug. 20
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Baptized by Hyrum Smith. Had strong testimony of BoM and the Church
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Moved to Ohio, met & lived with Joseph for 3 weeks
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1831-Oct. 29
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D&C 66 given to Wm. in answer to his prayer and request.
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1831-Nov. 1
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D&C 67 given in response to criticism of Revelations by Wm. and
others
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1832-Apr. 26
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Married Emeline Miller. 3 known children
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1832-Winter
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Served mission with PPP in Mo and Illinois.
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1834
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High Council in Clay County
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1835-Feb. 15
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Called to Quorum of the 12 Apostles
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1835
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Wrote letter censuring the 1st Presidency
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1836-Aug
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Left Church "because the Leading men to a great extent left
their religion"
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1838-May 11
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Bishop's court in Far West, Mo. Lost confidence in 1st Presidency led
him to quit praying and keeping the commandments and led him to sinful lusts. Excommunicated
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1838-Nov
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Asked permission to flog Joseph while Joseph was in Richmond Jail.
(Robbed Joseph's home.
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After 1844
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Joined with apostates Wm Law & Robert Foster in Hampton Ill.
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1847-Jan.
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Organized the Church of Christ with Martin Harris in Kirtland. Church
gone by 1849
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1869-June 5
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Joined the Hedrickites, but lost interest by Nov.
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1870
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His wife joined the Reorganized Church and they moved to
Independence, Mo.
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In final years bore strong testimony of BoM. Joseph F. Smith visited
him 0n 1878.
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1883-Apr. 24
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Died in obscurity at age of 77. Tried to get David Whitmer to
organize new church.
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