D&C 135 – John Taylor reports the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith Historical Context Steven Harper gives the following historical background to D&C 135: It was “a deliberate political assassination, committed or condoned by some of the leading citizens of Hancock County.”[1]Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill, CarthageContinue Reading

D&C 133.3 Make bare his holy arm – Isaiah 52.10 D&C 133 quotes a great passage of Isaiah from the very start: The Lord shall suddenly come to his temple… for he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends ofContinue Reading

D&C 129 – Instructions by Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Feb. 9, 1843 Historical Background When the Prophet first learned these principles contained in D&C 129 is not known. We can be confident, however, that it was some time before this section was recorded. Given that all priesthood and keys restored inContinue Reading

D&C 125 – March 1841, Nauvoo, Illinois Historical Background The following is offered by Steven Harper: From the confines of a jail cell in Liberty, Missouri, Joseph wrote to Bishop Partridge in Illinois that the Saints could buy land in Iowa Territory for $2 per acre over twenty years withContinue Reading

Historical Background Casey Paul Griffiths[1]Casey Paul Griffiths, Doctrine and Covenants Minute. Accessed 9.20.21. provides background for this section: Following their forced exodus from Missouri, the Latter-day Saints regrouped in Illinois as refugees on the banks of the Mississippi River. Joseph Smith and his companions were freed from their captivity in LibertyContinue Reading

Much of the background to this section is related in the previous discussion surrounding the events in D&C 115-120, events surrounding the details of the Mormon War of 1838.[1]Leland Gentry and Todd Compton, Fire and Sword: A History of the Latterday-Saints in Northern Missouri, 1836-1839, Greg Kofford Books, 2010.; Stephen LeSueur, TheContinue Reading

D&C 115-120 Quotes and Notes We worked to make sure that the majority of what we cover in this podcast is in our show notes. However, there is so much material in this podcast, that we were unable to put everything in these notes, and for this, I apologize. MuchContinue Reading

Historical Background to Section 111 After the great spirit that was felt at the dedication of the Kirtland temple in the spring of 1836, missionaries for the church left in every direction to go and preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop Edward Partridge, who had come north toContinue Reading

D&C 106 Directions to Warren A. Cowdery About 8 months before this revelation was received, the Prophet Joseph Smith was on a mission in New York in March of 1834. It was at this time that Joseph established the Freedom, New York branch. Joseph Smith documented that on “Sunday, MarchContinue Reading

D&C 102 February 17, 1834 Historical Background During the winter of 1833-4, while the Saints in Missouri were still in distress at having been driven out of Jackson County and the Kirtland Saints were making preparations to come to their aid, Joseph Smith continued to receive revelation on a numberContinue Reading