DOCTRINE & COVENANTS
Doctrine and Covenants
138 sections of modern revelation — God speaking to the Restoration
About the Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of 138 revelations given primarily through the Prophet Joseph Smith during the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unlike the Bible or Book of Mormon, which record ancient history, the D&C is a modern book of scripture — God speaking directly to people in the 19th century about building his kingdom, organizing his church, and preparing for the Second Coming. It contains the foundational doctrines of priesthood authority, temple ordinances, the plan of salvation, and the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
All 138 Sections
Major themes of the D&C
Priesthood Authority
The D&C restores the concept of divine authority — the power to act in God's name — through the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, conferred by heavenly messengers.
Temple & Covenant
Multiple sections reveal the purpose of temples, the nature of eternal covenants, and the sealing power that binds families beyond death.
The Plan of Salvation
Section 76 reveals the three degrees of glory — a detailed vision of the afterlife that expands far beyond the heaven/hell binary.
Gathering of Israel
The Lord commands the gathering of his people — physically and spiritually — as preparation for the Second Coming.
Personal Revelation
The D&C teaches that every individual can receive revelation from God — through study, prayer, and the Holy Ghost — making personal revelation both a right and a responsibility.
Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is the voice of Jesus Christ speaking directly to the modern world. Christ identifies himself as the beginning and the end, the light and life of the world. In Section 19, he describes his own suffering in Gethsemane with a vulnerability found nowhere else in scripture. In Section 76, he is revealed as the glorified King whom Joseph and Sidney saw on the right hand of God. In Section 110, he appears in the Kirtland Temple and accepts it as his house. The D&C presents Christ not as a historical figure but as a living, present, speaking God who is actively directing his kingdom on the earth today.
How to apply the D&C to your life
The Doctrine and Covenants is God speaking to you in modern language about modern problems — and the core message is this: you are not a spectator. D&C 58:27 is the verse that should end every excuse: 'Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will.' God isn't going to micromanage your life. He's given you agency, intelligence, and the Holy Ghost. Use them. Stop waiting for a burning bush and start building something that matters. And D&C 121:7-8 is your anchor when life gets dark: 'Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.' Small moment. That's perspective. The thing crushing you right now is temporary. The character it's building in you is eternal. Endure it well — not just survive it, but grow through it with grace, patience, and faith. That's how you turn a prison cell into a throne room.
Study the D&C in Covenant Path
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