Church History Matters

030 How Has Canonizing/De-Canonizing Happened in the Doctrine & Covenants?

10 snips
Sep 26, 2023
Take a thrilling ride through the historical twists and turns of the Doctrine and Covenants. Discover how it evolved from the 1833 Book of Commandments to its latest version, revealing major additions and deletions along the way. Dive into the dynamics of canon versus scripture, the rare Book of Commandments, and the controversies surrounding changes influenced by Joseph Smith's martyrdom. Recent textual revisions reflect ongoing efforts for accuracy, making this a fascinating exploration of religious evolution.
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INSIGHT

Scripture vs. Canon

  • Scripture is anything spoken by the power of the Holy Ghost, according to Doctrine and Covenants 68.
  • Canon, however, is an authoritative collection of sacred books used by believers, acting as a measuring rod for scripture.
INSIGHT

Harmonized Canon

  • Latter-day Saints use the "harmonized scriptural canon," meaning truth is found through repeated principles across scripture.
  • Relying on single verses can be hazardous due to potential misunderstandings or misinterpretations.
ANECDOTE

Krakauer's Misunderstanding

  • John Krakauer's book, Under the Banner of Heaven, criticizes a church where anyone can receive revelation.
  • Krakauer misses how Latter-day Saints measure personal revelation against the scriptural canon, as in the Lafferty case.
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