Sometimes the darkest circumstances can lead to the brightest inspiration. On March 20, 1839, after enduring 109 days in the inhumane environment of Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith wrote an epistle to the Church containing extraordinary gems of wisdom. Excerpts from that letter now appear as three sections in the Doctrine and Covenants. Here are some... Continue Reading →

Adam-ondi-Ahman "Strengthen Thy Stakes" (Doctrine and Covenants 115-117) "Enlarge the place of thy tent," said Isaiah, as he prophesied of the gathering of Israel. "Let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes" (Isaiah 54:2). The imagery is one of thrilling expansion and growth. When the Savior visited... Continue Reading →

Thomas B. Marsh records the revelation given to him through Joseph Smith. Be Thou Humble, by Julie Rogers. 111 - "More treasures than one" In August 1836, the Church faced serious financial challenges. Several church leaders, including Joseph Smith, traveled to Salem, Massachusetts, after hearing rumors of "hidden treasures" in the city. While they were there, Joseph... Continue Reading →

Detail from "Vision in the Kirtland Temple," by Gary E. Smith On Sunday, March 27, 1836, about 1,000 people gathered in the newly constructed Kirtland Temple for the dedication of the building. They sang hymns, including "The Spirit of God," which was composed for the occasion. They heard sermons and testimonies. They participated in the... Continue Reading →

Detail from "Melchizedek Blesses Abram" by Walter Rane King David prophesied that God would confirm Jesus Christ's authority with these words: "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4). Melchizedek was the king of Salem during Abraham's life. He blessed Abraham, and Abraham paid tithing to him. (See Genesis 14:18-20.)... Continue Reading →

"Zion's Camp at Fishing River," by Judith Mehr The High Council (Doctrine and Covenants 102) In February 1834, a group of church members gathered at the home of Joseph Smith and organized a new governing organization called the high council. The group consisted of twelve high priests and operated under the direction of the First... Continue Reading →

"Saints Driven from Jackson County Missouri" By C. C. A. Christensen - Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Public Domain Trouble in Missouri During the summer of 1833, church members experienced severe persecution in Jackson County, Missouri. By July, some people in the community demanded that they leave and inflicted violence on members of the... Continue Reading →

The Kirtland Temple How do you build a house for God? As imperfect mortals, it seems presumptuous to build a dwelling place for the Creator of the Universe. Yet that is what the Lord commanded a small group of believers to do in the city of Kirtland, Ohio in 1833. In a series of revelations... Continue Reading →

Portion of "Sunrise in morning mist near Dülmen (Hülstener Straße), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (2012)": Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Dülmen, Umland, Sonnenaufgang -- 2012 -- 8069” / CC BY-SA 4.0 The Savior is our source of light. He gives light to everyone. The tragedy is that, so often, we refuse to receive the light He offers us. We do this by turning... Continue Reading →

The heading to the Word of Wisdom, as it appeared in the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants Wisdom is good judgment. It's the ability to make reasonable decisions. Wisdom requires more than adherence to minimum standards of behavior. It requires striving toward ideals of behavior. That's why Jacob concludes his counsel to his... Continue Reading →