The Book of Doctrine and Covenants Presented to the General Assembly of
the Priesthood and the Church.
A general assembly of the Church of Latter-day Saints was held at
Kirtland on the 17th of August, 1835, to take into consideration the
labors of a committee appointed by a general assembly of the Church on
the 24th of September, 1834, for the purpose of arranging the items
of the doctrine of Jesus Christ for the government of the Church. The
names of the committee were: Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Oliver
Cowdery and Frederick G. Williams, who, having finished said book
according to the instructions given them, deem it necessary to call a
general assembly of the Church to see whether the book be approved or
not by the authorities of the Church: that it may, if approved, become
a law and a rule of faith and practice to the Church. Wherefore, Oliver
Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, members of the First Presidency, (Presidents
Joseph Smith, Jun., and Frederick G. Williams being absent on a visit
to the Saints in Michigan,) appointed Thomas Burdick, Warren Parrish,
and Sylvester Smith clerks, and proceeded to organize the whole
assembly as follows:
They organized [1] the High Council of the church at Kirtland, and
Presidents W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer organized the High Council of
the church in Missouri.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney organized his counselors of the church in {244}
Kirtland, and acting Bishop John Corrill organized the counselors of
the church in Missouri.
Presidents Leonard Rich, Levi W. Hancock, Sylvester Smith and Lyman
Sherman organized the council of the Seventy. Elder John Gould, acting
president, organized the Elders. Ira Ames, acting president, organized
the Priests. Erastus Babbitt, acting president, organized the Teachers.
William Burgess, acting president, organized the Deacons. And they
also, as the assembly was large, appointed Thomas Gates, John Young,
William Cowdery, Andrew H. Aldrich, Job L. Lewis and Oliver Higley
assistant presidents of the day, to assist in preserving order in the
whole assembly.
Elder Levi W. Hancock being appointed chorister, a hymn was sung, and
the services for the day opened by the prayer of President Oliver
Cowdery, and the solemnities of eternity rested upon the audience.
Another hymn was then sung. After transacting some business for the
Church, such as ordaining Morris Phelps to the High Priesthood; Warren
Parrish, to the First Seventy; Sherman Gilbert, an Elder; and blessing
James Foster, Dean Gould, Benjamin Gifford, Elisha H. Groves and Joseph
Hartshorn, the assembly adjourned for one hour.
Afternoon: A hymn was sung, when President Rigdon arose and rebuked
some of the authorities for not being in their seats at the time
appointed.
President Cowdery arose and introduced the "Book of Doctrine and
Covenants of the Church of the Latter-day Saints," in behalf of the
committee. He was followed by President Rigdon, who explained the
manner by which they intended to obtain the voice of the assembly for
or against said book.
According to said arrangement, W. W. Phelps bore record that the book
presented to the assembly was true. President John Whitmer, also, rose
and testified that it was true.
Elder John Smith, taking the lead of the High Council in Kirtland,
bore record that the revelations in said book were true, and that the
lectures were judiciously arranged and compiled, and were profitable
for doctrine. Whereupon, the High Council of Kirtland accepted and
acknowledged them as the doctrine and covenants of their faith by a
unanimous vote.
Elder Levi Jackman, taking the lead for the High Council of the church
in Missouri, bore testimony that the revelations in said book were
true, and the said High Council of Missouri accepted and acknowledged
them as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
President W. W. Phelps then read the written testimony of the Twelve,
as follows:
{245} Testimony of the Twelve Apostles to the Truth of the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants.
"_The testimony of the Witnesses to the Book of the Lord's
Commandments, which commandments He gave to His Church through Joseph
Smith, Jun., who was appointed by the voice of the Church, for this
purpose_.
"We therefore feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of
mankind, to every creature upon the face of all the earth, that the
Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed earth
upon us, that these Commandments were given by inspiration of God, and
are profitable for all men, and are verily true. We give this testimony
unto the world, the Lord being our helper; and it is through the grace
of God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, that we are permitted to
have this privilege of bearing this testimony unto the world, in the
which we rejoice exceedingly, praying the Lord always that the children
of men may be profited thereby.
(Signed)
"THOMAS B. MARSH,
"DAVID W. PATTEN,
"BRIGHAM YOUNG,
"HEBER C. KIMBALL,
"ORSON HYDE,
"WM. E. M'LELLIN,
"PARLEY P. PRATT,
"LUKE S. JOHNSON,
"WILLIAM SMITH,
"ORSON PRATT,
"JOHN F. BOYNTON,
"LYMAN E. JOHNSON." [2]
Elder Leonard Rich bore record of the truth of the book, and the
council of the Seventy accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and
covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney bore record of the truth of the book, and {246}
with his counselors accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and
covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
Acting Bishop John Corrill bore record of the truth of the book, and
with his counselors accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and
covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
Acting President John Gould gave his testimony in favor of the book,
and with the Elder accepted and acknowledge it as the doctrine and
covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
Ira Ames, acting president of the Priests, gave his testimony in favor
of the book, and with the Priests accepted and acknowledged it as the
doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
Erastus Babbitt, acting president of the Teachers, gave his testimony
in favor of the book, and they accepted and acknowledged it as the
doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
William Burgess, acting president of the Deacons, bore record of
the truth of the book, and they accepted and acknowledged it as the
doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
The venerable assistant president, Thomas Gates, then bore record of
the truth of the book, and with his five silver-haired assistants, and
the whole congregation, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine
and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.
The several authorities and the general assembly, by a unanimous vote,
accepted the labor of the committee.
President W. W. Phelps then read the following article on marriage, [3]
which was accepted and adopted and ordered to be printed in said book,
by a unanimous vote, namely:
_Article on Marriage_.
"According to the custom of all civilized nations, marriage is
regulated by laws and ceremonies; therefore we believe that all
marriages in this Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints should be
solemnized in a public meeting or feast prepared for that purpose,
and that the solemnization should be performed by a Presiding High
Priest, High Priest, Bishop, Elder or Priest, not even prohibiting
those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married by
other authority. We believe that it {247} is not right to prohibit
members of this Church from marrying out of the Church, if it be their
determination so to do; but such persons will be considered weak in the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving, and at
the solemnization, the persons to be married, standing together, the
man on the right and the woman on the left, shall be addressed by the
person officiating as he shall be directed by the Holy Spirit, and
if there be no legal objections, he shall say, calling each by name:
'You both mutually agree to be each other's companion, husband and
wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition: that is,
keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during
your lives?' And when they have both answered 'yes,' he shall pronounce
them 'husband and wife,' in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by
virtue of the laws of the country and authority vested in him. 'May God
add His blessing and keep you to fulfill your covenants from henceforth
and forever. Amen.'
"The clerk of every church should keep a record of all marriages
solemnized in his branch. All legal contracts of marriage made before
a person is baptized into this Church should be held sacred and
fulfilled. Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with
the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that
one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except
in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. It is not
right to persuade a woman to be baptized contrary to the will of her
husband; neither is it lawful to influence her to leave her husband.
All children are bound by law to obey their parents, and to influence
them to embrace any religious faith, or be baptized, or leave their
parents without their consent, is unlawful and unjust. We believe that
husbands, parents, and masters, who exercise control over their wives,
children and servants, and prevent them from embracing the truth, will
have to answer for that sin."
President Oliver Cowdery then read the following article on
"Governments and Laws in General," which was accepted and adopted and
ordered to be printed in said book, by a unanimous vote:
_Of Governments and Laws in General_.
"That our belief with regard to earthly governments and laws in general
may not be misinterpreted nor misunderstood, we have thought proper to
present, at the close of this volume, our opinion concerning the same.
"We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of
man, and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to
{248} them, both in making laws and administering them for the good and
safety of society.
"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are
framed and held in violate as will secure to each individual the free
exercise of conscience, and the right and control of property, and the
protection of life.
"We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers
and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same, and that such as will
administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for, and
upheld by the voice of the people (if a republic,) or the will of the
sovereign.
"We believe that religion is instituted of God, and that men are
amenable to Him, and to Him only, for the exercise of it, unless
their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and
liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right
to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences;
of men, or dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil
magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should
punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
"We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective
governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and
inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition
and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should
be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact
such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the
public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom
of conscience.
"We believe that every man should be honored in his station; ruler or
magistrate as such--being placed for the protection of the innocent and
the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect
and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by
anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose
of regulating our interests as individuals and nations between man and
man; and divine laws given of heaven prescribing rules on spiritual
concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his
Maker.
"We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are
bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free
exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they
have a right, in justice, to deprive citizens of this privilege, or
proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are
shown to the laws, and such religious opinions do not justify sedition
or conspiracy.
{249} "We believe that the commission of crime should be punished
according to the nature of the offense, that murder, treason, robbery,
theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be
punished according to their criminality, and their tendency to evil
among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is
committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step
forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws
to punishment.
"We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil
government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another
proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of
its members, as citizens, denied.
"We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with
their members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and
regulations of such societies; provided that such dealings be for
fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious
society has authority to try men on the right of property or life, to
take from them this world's goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either
life or limb; or to inflict any physical punishment upon them; they
can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them
their fellowship.
"We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of
all wrongs and grievances where personal abuse is inflicted, or the
right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as
will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in
defending themselves, their friends and property, and the government
from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of
exigency when immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief
afforded.
"We believe it just to preach the Gospel to the nations of the earth,
and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the
world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond servants;
neither preach the Gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will
and wish of their masters; nor to meddle with or influence them in
the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in
this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference we
believe to be unlawful, and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every
government allowing human beings to be held in servitude."
A hymn was then sung. President Sidney Rigdon returned thanks; {250}
after which the assembly was blessed by the Presidency with uplifted
hands, and dismissed.
OLIVER COWDERY,
SIDNEY RIGDON, Presidents.
THOMAS BURDICK,
WARREN PARRISH,
SYLVESTER SMITH, Clerks. [4]
Footnotes
1. The use of the term "organized" here means merely that the various
councils and quorums were arranged by their respective presidencies in
the order proper for that assembly, not that they were then organized
in the sense of bringing them into existence.
2. In this testimony of the Twelve to the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants, as published in the History of Joseph Smith in the
_Millennial Star_, the names of the Apostles were not appended, but it
is thought proper that they should be inserted here in the order in
which they stood in the quorum. The document was undoubtedly prepared
before the departure of the Twelve for the east, as it was well known
that the work of the committee on selection and compilation would
present the Doctrine and Covenants to a general assembly before the
Twelve would return.
3. It should be observed that this "Article on Marriage" presented by
W. W. Phelps, and also the one on "Government and Laws in General,"
presented by Oliver Cowdery, were not presented as revelations and were
not published as such at the time, but were expressions of course, of
the belief of the Saints at that period on those subjects. It should
also be noted that these two articles were presented and acted upon
in the absence of the Prophet who was at the time visiting Saints and
preaching in Michigan.
4. Following is the title page and preface of the first edition of the
Doctrine and Covenants.
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS OF THE CHURCH OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS:
CAREFULLY SELECTED
FROM THE REVELATIONS OF GOD,
AND COMPILED BY
Joseph Smith, Junior.
Oliver Cowdery,
Sidney Rigdon,
Frederick G. Williams,
(Presiding Elders of the Church,)
Proprietors.
Kirtland, Ohio,
Printed By F.G. Williams and Company.,
For the Proprietors.
1835.
Preface.
_To the Members of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints_,
DEAR BRETHREN:--We deem it to be unnecessary to entertain you with a
lengthy preface to the following volume, but merely to say that it
contains in short the leading items of the religion which we have
professed to believe.
The first part of the book will be found to contain a series of
lectures as delivered before a theological class in this place, and in
consequence of their embracing the important doctrine of salvation, we
have arranged them in the following work.
The second part contains items or principles for the regulation of the
Church as taken from the revelations which have been given since its
organization, as well as from former ones.
There may be an aversion in the minds of some against receiving
anything purporting to be articles of religious faith, in consequence
of there being so many now extant; but if men believe a system,
and profess that it was given by inspiration, certainly the more
intelligibly they can present it, the better. It does not make a
principle untrue to print it, neither does it make it true not to print
it.
The Church, viewing this subject to be of importance, appointed,
through their servants and delegates the High Council, your servants
to select and compile this work. Several reasons might be adduced in
favor of this move of the Council, but we only add a few words. They
knew that the Church was evil spoken of in many places, its faith and
belief misrepresented, and the way of truth thus subverted. By some it
was represented as disbelieving the Bible; by others as being an enemy
to all good order and uprightness; and by others as being injurious to
the peace of all governments, civil and political.
We have, therefore, endeavored to present, though in few words, our
belief, and when we say this, humbly trust, the faith and principles of
this society as a body.
We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than
that we are to be called to answer to every principle advanced, in that
day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and the reward of
every man's labor be given him.
With sentiments of esteem and sincere respect, we subscribe ourselves
your brethren in the bonds of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.,
OLIVER COWDERY,
SIDNEY RIGDON,
FREDERICK G. WILLIAMS.
KIRTLAND, OHIO, February 17, 1835.
{252}