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Date:         Wed, 8 Apr 1992 01:12:00 EST
From:         The Nuzz <V063KC44@UBVMS.BITNET>
Subject:      Revisions in the LDS revelations

    The Mormon Apostle John A. Widtsoe stated, ``The Doctrine and Covenants is
a compilation of the revelations received by Joseph Smith...''

    ``The book itself is a witness for the truth of the Prophet's claims.  The
explanations of old doctrines and presentations of new ones are convincing
evidences of their divine origin. Enemies of the Church have rather carefully
avoided the discussion of this book. They have been afraid of it.'' (_Joseph
Smith --- Seeker After Truth_, 1951, p.251 and 254)

    Contrary to Apostle Widtsoe's statement, anti-Mormon writers have not been
afraid to discuss _Doctrine and Covenants_ (_D&C_).  In fact, they have made
some very serious charges concerning it. The most serious charge is that the
revelations found in _D&C_ have been changed. Melvin J. Petersen quotes the
anti-Mormon writer Henry Caswell as making this statement concerning _D&C_:
``Two editions of this work were published, the first in 1833, and the second
in 1835. Great inconsistances [sic] exist between the several parts of the
book and the editions of 1833 and 1835 are in several respects repugnant to
each other.'' Some of the Mormon writers have admitted that changes have been
made. For instance, the Mormon historian, B.H.  Roberts admitted that
paragraphs were added to the the revelations: ``...some of the early
revelations first published in the `Book of Commandments' [the early title of
_D&C_], in 1833, were *REVISED* by the Prophet himself in the way of
correcting errors made by the scribes and publishers; and some additional
clauses were inserted...and paragraphs added, to make the principles or
instructions apply to officers not in the church at the time some of the
earlier revelations were given.'' (_History of the Church_, vol. 1, page 173)

    In a thesis written at BYU, the Mormon writer John William Fitzgerald
stated: ``1. Differences in wording and differences in wording that change the
meaning have occurred in certain sections that appeared first in _A Book of
Commandments_ published in 1833 and that appeared in _Doctrine and Covenants_
published in 1835.'' (``A Study of the Doctrine and Covenants,'' Master's
thesis, BYU, 1940, p.329) On page 333 of the same thesis we find this
statement: ``2. Changes in wording and in meaning occur not only in the verses
of corresponding chapters and sections but also in the introductions to the
chapters and sections themselves.''

    In another thesis written at BYU, Melvin J. Petersen stated, ``MANY WORDS
WERE ADDED TO THE REVELATIONS in order to more clearly state what Joseph Smith
intended to write...Many times phrases were added to increase the ability of
the reader to get the meaning of the verse.'' (``A Study of the Nature and
Significance of the Changes in the Revelations as Found in a Comparison of the
Book of Commandments and the Subsequent Editions of Doctrine and Covenants,''
Master's Thesis, BYU, 1955, typed copy, page 147)

    On pages 162-163 of the same thesis, Melvin J. Petersen wrote: ``...Joseph
Smith's language, as found in the revelations credited to him, needed
*CORRECTING*. there were many grammatical errors in the revelations he first
published...Joseph Smith in revising the first published commandments, found
many of them needed clarification; therefore he enlarged upon them in order
that the meaning might be more easily discerned...certain omissions were made
when unnecessary material was deleted from the revelations; also incidents
that were past and of no significance except to a few.''

    On page 140 of the same thesis, Melvin J. Petersen said: ``having
discussed the problem of additions to the commandments as being necessary and
practical with a growing organization, we find another problem arising
concerning words that were omitted...In the 1835 edition, section 32, verse
three was added in the place of verses 5 and 6. Why such a change? Joseph
Smith, when viewing the revelations, was dissatisfied with the wording of the
verses five and six in portraying the concept that he had received, and
therefore he omitted verses five and six of Chapter 4 and rewrote in their
place verse 3 of the 1835 edition which is identical with verse 3 of the 1835
edition which is identical with section 5, verse 19 of the present 1921
edition.

    ``In chapter 44 of the _Book of Commandments_ (section 42, 1921 edition)
the last three verses were left off.''

    Strange as it may seem, Dr. Hugh Nibley, who at one time wrote that Mormon
teachings are ``free of revisions,'' has now written a letter in which he
admits that Joseph Smith's revelations have been changed. In this letter he
stated: ``1. Revelations have been revised whenever necessary.  That is the
nice thing about revelation --- it is strictly open-ended.'' (letter from Dr.
Hugh Nibley to Morris L. Reynolds, dated May 12, 1966)

    While there have been afew Mormon writers who have been willing to admit
that Joseph Smith's revelations have been changed, many have not been that
honest. The Mormon Apostle John A. Widtsoe stated that the revelations ``have
remained unchanged. There has been no need for tampering with God's word.''
(_Joseph Smith --- Seeker After Truth_, p.119)

    Joseph Fielding Smith, who became the tenth President of the Mormon Church
in 1970, made this comment concerning Joseph Smith's revelations:
``Inspiration is discovered in the fact that each part, as it was revealed,
dovetailed perfectly with what had come before. There was no need for
eliminating, changing, or adjusting any part to make it fit; but each new
revelation on doctrine and priesthood fitted in its place perfectly to
complete the whole structure, as it had been prepared by the Master Builder.''
(_Doctrines of Salvation_, vol. 1, page 170)

                             +         +         +

     To properly understand the changes that have been made in the revelations
you have to first understand the history of the _D&C_.

     In 1835 the Mormon Church published the revelations of that had been
given to the church by Joseph Smith in a book entitled, ``A Book of
Commandments.'' The Mormon writer William E. Berrett stated: ``In the latter
part of 1831, it was decided by a council of Church leaders to compile the
revelations concerning the origin of the Church and its organization. The
collection was to be called `The Book of Commandments.'...Joseph Smith
received a revelation which was made the preface for the new volume and is now
section 1 of the _Book of Doctrine and Covenants_. In this preface we read:
`Search these commandments for they are true and faithful,...

     ``After accepting the collection as scripture it was voted to print
10,000 copies.'' (_The Restored Church_, 1956, pp. 138-139)

     The church was unable to print as many copies of the _Book of
Commandments_ as they had planned because the printing press was destroyed by
a mob. In 1835 the revelations were printed again, and the name of the book
was changed to the _Doctrine and Covenants_. New revelations were added to
this book,a nd many of the previous revelations were revised. In modern
editions of the _D&C_ we find the following page just following the title
page:
     ``Certain parts were issued at Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, in 1833,
     under the title, _Book of Commandments_ for the government of the Church
     of Christ.

     An enlarged compilation was issued at Kirtland, Ohio, in 1835, under the
     title, _Doctrine and Covenants_ of the Church of Latter-day Saints.''

     The exact number of _Book of Commandments_ printed before the mob
destroyed the printing press is unknown; however, David Whitmer --- one of the
three witnesses to the Book of Mormon --- stated: ``early in the spring of
1833, at Independence, Mo., the revelations were printed in the _Book of
Commandments_. Many of the books were finished and distributed among the
members of the church...'' (_An Address to All Believers in Christ_, Richmond,
Mo., 1887, page 55)

     In February, 1834, Wilford Woodruff --- who became the fourth President
of the Church --- wrote: ``...I saw the _Book of Commandments_ or revelations
given through Joseph Smith, and I believe them with all my heart and rejoiced
therein; and after spending several days, and holding several meetings, we
returned home rejoicing.'' (``Journal History,'' February 1834, as quoted in
``A Study of the Nature and Significance of the Changes in the Revelation
as Found in a Comparison of the Book of Commandments and Subsequent Editions
of the Doctrine and Covenants,'' page 142)

     David Whitmer said that the ``revelations were printed in the _Book of
Commandments_  correctly....

     ``These revelations were arranged for publication by Brothers Joseph
Smith, Sydney Rigdon, Orson Hyde and others, in Hiram Ohio, while I was there,
were sent to Independence to be published, and were printed just exactly as
they were arranged by Brother Joseph and the others. And when the _Book of
Commandments_ was printed, Joseph and the church received it as being printed
correctly.'' (_An Address to all Believers in Christ_, page 56)

     That the church approved of the _Book of Commandments_ and used it from
the year 1833 until 1835, can be seen from a letter written by the leaders of
the church in Missouri in July, 1834. In this letter it was stated: ``It will
be seen by reference to the _Book of Commandments_, page 135, that the Lord
has said to the church --- and we mean to live by his words: `Let no man break
the laws of the land,...' '' (_History of the Church_, vol. 2, page 129)

     In the same letter it was stated: ``...we entreat the philanthropist, the
moralist, and the honorable men of all creeds and sects, to read our
publications, to examine the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and _The
Commandments_,...'' (_History of the Church_, by Joseph Smith, vol. 2, page
133)

     David Whitmer said the following concerning the _Book of Commandments_:
``I say it was printed complete (and copyrighted). It was printed complete and
many copies distributed among the members of the church, before the printing
press owned by the church was destroyed. Brother Joseph and the brethren
received it at first as being printed correctly, but they soon decided to
print the _Doctrine and Covenants_.'' (_An Address to Believers in the Book of
Mormon_, page 5)

     The _D&C_ was printed in the year 1835. Since the same revelations that
were published in the _Book of Commandments_ were put into the first edition
of the _Doctrine and Covenants_, one would expect them to read exactly the
same as when they were first published. This is not the case, however, and
David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, made this
statement concerning the matter:

     ``Some of the revelations as they now appear in the Book of _D&C_ have
been changed and added to. Some of the changes being of the greatest
importance as the meaning is entirely changed on some very important matters;
as if the Lord has changed HIs mind a few years after He gave' the revelations,
and after commanding his servants (as they claim) to print them in the `_Book
of Commandments_;' and after giving his servants a revelation, being a preface
to His _Book of Commandments_, which says: `Behold this is mine authority, and
the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the _Book of Commandments_,
which I have given them to publish unto you, oh inhabitants of the earth.'
Also in this preface, `Behold I am God, and have spoken it; These commandments
are of me.' `Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful.' The
revelations were printed in the _Book of Commandments_ correctly! This I
know,...Joseph and the church received it as being printed correctly. This I
know. But in the winter of 1834 they saw that some of the revelations in the
_Book of Commandments_ had to be changed, because the heads of the church had
gone too far, and had done things in which they had already gone ahead of some
of the former revelations. So the book of `_Doctrine and Covenants_' was
printed in 1835, and some of the revelations changed and added to.'' (Letter
written by David Whitmer, published in the _Saints Herald_, February 5, 1887)
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