LDS BOOK REVIEW: How We Got the Doctrine and Covenants by Richard E. Turley Jr. and William W. Slaughter

HOW WE GOT THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

by Richard E. Turley Jr. and William W. Slaughter

Deseret Book, 2012

ISBN: 978-1-60907-150-9

LDS Nonfiction

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

"The Lord has bestowed a great blessing upon us in giving commandments and revelations," taught Joseph Smith at a Church conference in 1831. Later, the members voted that the revelations were "worth to the Church the riches of the whole Earth."

Yet today many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know little about how these revelations came to be. Fewer still have seen the precious early manuscripts of the revelations or the early editions of the Doctrine and Covenants and its predecessor, A Book of Commandments.
How We Got the Doctrine and Covenants tells the story of this vital book of scripture, tracing each important step in accurate but easy-to-read language. It is richly illustrated with fine photographs of rarely seen manuscripts and books, as well as of the people who sacrificed to help preserve and publish the revelations.

Authors Richard E. Turley Jr. and William W. Slaughter detail the changes, additions, and refinements that occurred with each successive edition of this standard work. The story begins even before Joseph Smith's First Vision and tells how the revelations were reduced to writing, circulated as manuscripts, and published despite mob violence, eventually penetrating the world as prophesied.

How We Got the Doctrine and Covenants will help you come to know that revelation is not just an event. It is part of a continuing process of unfolding God's will and word "line upon line" and "precept upon precept," according to the needs of his people in each generation.

REVIEW

This beautiful book describes the compilation and publication of the book known to people of the LDS or Mormon faith as the Doctrine and Covenants.  But it wasn't originally called that and only through the inspiration and guidance of the Lord did the book come to be at all.  It was fascinating to me to read about how the book came to be and the changes that have occurred over the years, mostly in terms of formatting and footnotes, but also a few changes in regard to content.  The facsimiles of pages from older editions as well as photographs add to the value of this book.  The design of the book makes it feel like a gift book, but the information contained within makes it so much more.  For those who are interested in finding out more about the history of the Doctrine and Covenants I highly recommend this title.