D&C 49 and the Shaker Mission The Rise of the Shakers and Their Unusual Theology The movement known as the Shakers—formally The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing—emerged in late-18th-century England under the leadership of Mother Ann Lee. Their beliefs set them apart from every other Christian body of their time. Celibacy was … Read more
This article explores Doctrine and Covenants 58, revealed to Joseph Smith in August 1831 shortly after arriving in Independence, Missouri—the newly designated center place of Zion (D&C 57). Many elders expected Zion to be a thriving holy city, but instead found a small frontier settlement. Their disappointment created the need for this revelation, in which … Read more
Printing and Distributing the Book of Mormon: 1830–1831 When the Book of Mormon finished printing in March 1830 at E. B. Grandin’s shop in Palmyra, New York, the work was far from over. The thousands of printed sheets still required binding, a lengthy process carried out by Luther Howard, who partnered with Grandin to complete … Read more
March Email Madness A Season Immersed in the Doctrine and Covenants As the podcast continues its deep dive into the Doctrine and Covenants, the hosts explain that most recent episodes have centered on early revelations received by Joseph Smith. These revelations—given in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and beyond—form the backbone of Latter-day Saint scriptural history. … Read more
Early Uncanonized Revelations of Joseph Smith (1830–1843): Historical Overview Early Latter-day Saints understood that more revelations existed than those published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Church members knew Joseph Smith received numerous revelations recorded in journals, letters, manuscript books, and loose documents kept by scribes. These uncanonized revelations were treated as genuine, publicly read, … Read more
Introduction Doctrine and Covenants 49 is one of the more unusual sections of the Doctrine and Covenants because it directly addresses another specific religious group: the Shakers. Most revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants present teachings without naming other churches, though Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts include the instruction not to join other churches and, … Read more