“Worth… the Riches of the Whole Earth”

Joseph Smith (American, 1805-1844)
Book of Commandments for the Government of the Church of Christ, Organized According to Law, on the 6th of April, 1830 (1830)
Zion (Independence, Missouri): Published by W.W. Phelps & Co., 1833
Copy in original, homemade binding of polished brown calf, 24o, 4¾ x 3 in

The Church’s website describes that in “the first few years of the Church, the only access most members had to the Lord’s revelations to Joseph Smith was through handwritten copies on loose sheets that circulated among the Latter-day Saints.”

Imagine what would have happened had the Church not collected and published these revelations. We know the volume today as Doctrine and Covenants. Its original title was the Book of Commandments. Publication began at W. W. Phelps’ printshop in Independence, Missouri in 1832. A mob attacked the press and only a few copies were salvaged.

In 2001, an exceedingly rare copy of the Book of Commandments was sold at auction (its preauction high estimate was $500,000). It is shown in the photograph, above. Likely, it does not resemble what most people imagine a book of scriptures looks like. The original binding includes leather tools of heart shapes. Note its small size. It is likely that the leather binding was originally designed for another book altogether, but it was used to protect these rare pages.

Gospel Questions

1. Jesus explains that we can spiritually see Him if we “strip [our]selves from jealousies and fears” and be humble (D&C 67:10). How do you think jealousy, fear and pride keep you from spiritually seeing Jesus?

2. The preface to Section 68 explains that while this revelation was given to certain men (Orson Hyden, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and William McLellin), “much of the content pertains to the whole church.” In these verses, Jesus explains that what we speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost “shall be scripture” (D&C 68:4). How does this suggest you might treat words spoken by someone that are confirmed to you by the Holy Ghost?

3. In describing the concept of a stewardship, Jesus explains that if the Saints “receive more than is needful for their necessities and their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse” (D&C 70:7). How does this apply to your stewardship?

For Children & Youth

Hi. Here’s an amazing story of great courage. A young girl named Mary Elizabeth Rollins, described how she rescued the pages of the Book of Commandments from attackers: "When the mob was tearing down the printing office...they (the mob) brought out some large sheets of paper saying 'Here are the Mormon commandments.' My sister, 12 years old (I was then 14) and myself were in a corner of a fence watching them. When they spoke about them being the commandments, I was determined to have some of them. So while their backs were turned...we ran and gathered up all we could carry in our arms. As we turned away, two of the mob...called for us to stop, but we ran as fast as we could, through a gap in the fence into a large corn field, and the two men after us. We ran a long way in the field, laid the papers on the ground, then laid down on top of them. The corn was very high and thick. They hunted all around us, but did not see us. After we were satisfied they had given up the search, we tried to find our way out of the field...We...came to an old log stable...Sister Phelps [wife of the printer] and family were there...She asked us what we had. We told her and also how we came by them. She took them and placed them between the beds. Subsequently Oliver Cowdery bound them in small books..." Peter Crawley, A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church, Vol.1, no.8.

Discussion Questions

1. Parents are instructed to teach their children about the gospel and Jesus (D&C 68:25-28). What are some lessons about Jesus that you have learned from your parents or other mentors?

2. Do you have any "true and faithful" friends (D&C 69:1)? How have these friends influenced your choices?

3. Oliver Cowdery was commanded to "continue in writing and making a history of all the important things" (D&C 69:3). Make a list of the important things that have happened in your life. Now you can use the things on your list as prompts to write about these events and experiences to create a history of your life. Write these things in a book or in a place where they can be protected and saved.