Episode 118: The Doctrine and Covenants as Living Scripture (Casey Griffiths)
Dec 15, 2024
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In this engaging discussion, Casey Paul Griffiths, a BYU professor and author of the Scripture Central Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, highlights the ongoing nature of revelation within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He emphasizes the significance of the newly released four-volume commentary and the Joseph Smith Papers project. Griffiths reveals how the Doctrine and Covenants serves as living scripture, encouraging personal interaction with divine guidance. He passionately asserts that miracles continue today, inviting everyone to actively participate in this unfolding narrative.
The Doctrine and Covenants serves as a modern conduit for Christ's teachings, emphasizing its role in ongoing personal revelation and spiritual guidance.
Understanding the historical context and structure of the Doctrine and Covenants enriches comprehension of its revelations, highlighting its dynamic and evolving nature.
Engagement with significant church history sites deepens personal faith, illustrating the ongoing communication between the Savior and his followers today.
Deep dives
The Doctrine and Covenants as a Voice of Christ
The Doctrine and Covenants serves as a direct conduit for the words of Jesus Christ, emphasizing its significance as more than just historical revelations. Each section often begins with an invitation to listen to the Savior's voice, making nearly every part feel like a personal message from Christ. When flipping through other scriptures like the Book of Mormon, where Christ’s words are highlighted, there's a yearning for a similar format for the Doctrine and Covenants, where almost all sections could be red-lettered. This highlights the ongoing relevance of Christ’s guidance in the lives of believers today and encourages deeper engagement with this unique modern scripture.
The Importance of Contextual Understanding
Understanding the context behind the revelations within the Doctrine and Covenants is essential, as it is different from other scriptural texts. Unlike the narratively structured Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants presents raw revelations that require additional study to fully grasp their historical and theological significance. The revelations are more akin to the epistles of Paul, lacking extensive contextual narratives that may help inform readers. Consequently, a strong commentary that includes updates and contextual insights from resources like the Joseph Smith Papers enhances accessibility for those who wish to understand these modern scriptures better.
The Living Nature of Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is considered a dynamic text, open to future revelations that could be added to the canon. While the Book of Mormon is termed the keystone of Latter-day Saint faith, the Doctrine and Covenants is seen as the capstone, representing ongoing revelation and governance of the church. This modern scripture is not static; it continues to receive updates and insights that reflect the evolving understanding of church leadership and doctrine. The anticipation of future revelations reinforces the importance of this text in guiding the faith and practices of Latter-day Saints in contemporary society.
Orson Pratt's Contribution and Historical Context
Orson Pratt played a pivotal role in organizing the Doctrine and Covenants, ensuring it reflected the ongoing revelations and needs of the church. He contributed to the structure of the text, added significant sections, and emphasized key revelations that might otherwise have remained obscure. By understanding Pratt's contributions, including his decisions about which sections to canonize and the arrangement of the text, readers gain deeper insight into how the Doctrine and Covenants has been curated. This historical context not only enriches the reading experience but also highlights the collaborative efforts involved in making this sacred text relevant for future generations.
Personal Experiences and Strengthening Faith
Engaging with the Doctrine and Covenants can profoundly impact personal faith, particularly through visits to significant church history sites. Travel and interactions with these sites help to bridge the gap between historical revelations and contemporary spirituality, reinforcing the idea that the Savior continues to engage with His followers. The teachings and guidance found in the Doctrine and Covenants resonate deeply, showing how the Savior's counsel is tailored to individuals' challenges, much like the counsel offered to early church members. This connection fosters a profound realization that the Lord is aware of and concerned about personal struggles, reinforcing the belief in a living God who communicates with His people today.
When BYU professor Casey Paul Griffiths teaches a scripture class, he often concludes the semester by saying, “The end.” But when he finishes a course on the Doctrine and Covenants, he says, “To be continued . . .” This reflects the ongoing nature of revelation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a living church led by the Savior through his prophets. In this episode, Dr. Griffiths discusses the recently released four-volume work, Scripture Central Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, and draws on insights from the Joseph Smith Papers project, launched in 2005. The project ushered in a “golden age” of Church history, making a wealth of historical documents readily available and creating a need for updated commentary on the revelations given to the early Saints. The Doctrine and Covenants stands as a testament to God’s ongoing work, revealing his tender guidance and care for individuals and the Church collectively. Griffiths emphasizes how the Lord communicates with his children, stating, “What happened anciently in the Old Testament still continues today. . . . The day of miracles is not past.” It reminds us that ours is an open canon—living scripture still being written, with each of us invited to play a part.
