Book Description
1925. Talmage is one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church. The substance of this book originated from a series of addresses delivered before the Theology classes of the Church University and at other schools. Contents: God and the Holy Trinity; Transgression and the Fall; The Atonement and Salvation; Faith and Repentance; Baptism; The Holy Ghost; The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; Authority in the Ministry; The Church and Its Plan of Organization; Spiritual Gifts; The Bible; The Book of Mormon; Revelation, Past, Present, and Future; The Dispersion of Israel; The Gathering of Israel; Zion; Christ's Reign on Earth; Regeneration and Resurrection; Religious Liberty and Toleration; Submission to Secular Authority; and Practical Religion. ... Read more

Book Description
1943. This pamphlet by Smith, presiding patriarch of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, explains the differences between The Reorganized Church, with which the descendants of Joseph Smith the Seer have cast their fortunes and the Utah Mormon Church, which is made up of those who chose to follow the fortunes and leadership of Brigham Young. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just so you know
The reorganized church that the author of this book is talking about isn't The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It's a church that branched off of the LDS(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Just so you don't confuse the 2 churches. A few, I know @ least 2 churches-the reorganized and the flds(the fundamentalist)that have taken the LDS religion and changed it to the way they wanted it to be. They are in no way affiliated with the LDS church. The teachings are not the same and their doctrines are not to be confused with the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The others are merely sad branched off churches that people always seem to confuse with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ... Read more

Product Description
This exciting publication is a faith promoting work which features well over three hundred pages of Spiritual Manifestations that were given to the founding fathers of Mormonismincluding Revelations, Visions, Dreams, Healings, Prophetic Warnings, Signs and Miracles, and much, much more. From cover to cover this edition contains detailed accounts of real life experiences that highlight and distinguish true Mormonism from other contemporary religions of the day. Historic events include all variant accounts of the First Vision and nearly every eye-witness account of the Restoration, including the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood. There are numerous accounts of miraculous events which happened to early missionaries as well as the great and glorious Pentecostal visions which were given to the Saints in the Kirtland Temple. These together with many other events make this volume an excellent history of the miraculous power of God, ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

2nd Best Book Available to Gain Understanding of Mormonism
There is only one better choice of a book to read for those seeking to understand Mormonism and that is The Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ.)The Doctrine and Covenants will have much more meaning once you have become familiar with the Book of Mormon.Combining these two great books with the Bible will elevate you to even greater understanding of the Saviour -- Jesus Christ, and will add strength and depth to your relationship with him.

You will always read a variety of opinions on these books, many of which will try to steer you away from actually reading these books themselves.

Realize that this book is claiming to be scripture from God -- I don't recommend you rest your judgment on the opinions of others (mine included) when it regards something that claims to be scripture from God.Every true prophet that has ever lived on this earth (and even the Saviour himself) has faced opposition from those who disagreed.Cast all opinions aside and formulate your own after you have read -- it will be between you and God.

Here are some of my favorite verses (and a great example of the teachings found in these modern-day scriptures) found in Section 58:

26For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28For the power is in them, where-in they are agents unto themselves.And inasmuch as men do good they shall in no wise lose their reward.

29But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

These are among the many verses in the Doctrine and Covenants that teach us (as part of our belief in Christ) we should get involved in our communities, do the good deeds, and each use our own unique talents and abilities to bring to pass righteousness in our respective parts of the world.

This is a great book -- read for your self, but if you want to learn about Mormonism, spend the extra $0.95 and get a copy of the Book of Mormon (or contact church representatives in your area for a free copy) as well because you are doing yourself a great disservice if you don't.(I'd recommend a Bible too if you don't already have one.)

A fascinating insight into the mind of a cult leader...
Forget reading this book for an entertaining read.Even the mormon faithful hardly understand it's flow and they read and re-read the book searching for just exactly what it all means.It is repetition, strange "revelation," and written in a style to mimic the bible so that it will resemble traditional scripture as much as possible.What it really is, is a collection of rules written down by the cult leader Joseph Smith that are meant to manipulate and subjegate faithful members into doing his will.As another reviewer also pointed out, it contains his justification for the practice of polygamy, even over the heated and vehement objections of his own wife.As also mentioned, it opened the door for the mormon version of communism which is still regarded as a holy practice but has long since been abandoned by the mormon religion due to it's ineffectiveness.Nowadays, instead of asking for all of the member's posessions, they ask for a mere 10%.

I'd leave this part out of it but since many of the mormon faithful seem to want to bring up the fact that this book contains true revelations from God, I'll make just a few comments.From the outside looking in, people will see a clean, moral group of happy industrious people that practice the religion, thereby verifying that it is the "one and only true church."Many are good people that are earnestly trying to make the most of their lives and live as they believe God has commanded them.But the good things notwithstanding, there are dark deep secrets and practices in the mormon religion that have their roots in some of the "doctrines" laid out in this book.It is a book threatening fire and damnation to those who don't strictly adhere to it's commands and beliefs.The happy facade of mormonism covers many destructive beliefs such as polygamy (not practiced but still preached as revelation).Women are still subjegated to men in the religion and the views and attitudes of their practices has made Utah the highest state in the nation for prozac and anti-depressant use among women.The child suicide rate is very high and more than alarming (20+ attempts a day throughout the state), child sexual abuse is high and until recent laws and pressure due to lawsuits, well hidden (I believe child molestation will eventually rival the catholic church in scandal).Another weird statistic is that Utah was voted one of the top 10 states for rude drivers?

The mormon religion has a strange habit of re-writing their history.They have a very prevelant habit of buying up historical documents that might embarrass them and storing them in a granite vault deep in the mountains.This habit actually led to a scandal in the 1980's where a member and document forger (Mark Chapman) sold the church many puzzling and embarrasing documents until he was discovered and pipe bombed and murdered 2 or 3 faithful members involved in purchasing the documents for the highest echelons of the church (one of whom is their current "prophet," Gordon Hinckley).

There are countless other scandals recorded throughout history...The mountain meadows massacre being one of them.One does not have to look far.A good beginning for getting a feel of this strange cult started by Joseph Smith is John Karakauer's best selling book, "Under the Banner of Heaven:A History of Violent Faith."It is an engaging book which gives a good feel of the early beginnings of the mormon church and it's past and present practices which have lead to several violent and abusive fundamentalist offshoots of the mormon faith that still practice polygamy.Keep in mind that these are not the larger mormon church but offshoots that still paractice polygamy.But either way it's useful and interesting to know that even though the actual mormon church doesn't practice polygamy, the original "revelation" is still found in the Doctrine and Covenants and the practice is still considered as holy and necessary for the next life.

Striking how many of these "revelations"
bore such resemblance to each other. It made me think of the form letters I used to do as a secretary.I can just see Joe Smith taking a "master" and adjusting the wording to bring about whatever righteous directive was needed in order to feed the insatiable demands of his ego, greedy ambition and lust.

I give it an extra star for the section on Polygamy
Section 132 deals with Polygamy and WOW! what an interesting read that is. This isn't really a story like the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a story about racial and religious differences between white and red Native Americans between 600 BC and 400 AD.

The Doctrine and Covenants is not a story, it's a list of rules, regulations and instructions given to the early mormon church. These are some of my favorites(warning spoilers):

The handshake test is described in section 129.

4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.
6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear.
7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.
8 If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him.
9 These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.

Section 124 designates stock payouts on the Nauvoo house. I am not sure why this was recorded as scripture:

59 Therefore, let my servant Joseph and his seed after him have place in that house, from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord.
60 And let the name of that house be called Nauvoo House; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting-place for the weary traveler, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the corner-stone thereof;....
64 And they shall not receive less than fifty dollars for a share of stock in that house, and they shall be permitted to receive fifteen thousand dollars from any one man for stock in that house.
65 But they shall not be permitted to receive over fifteen thousand dollars stock from any one man.
66 And they shall not be permitted to receive under fifty dollars for a share of stock from any one man in that house.
67 And they shall not be permitted to receive any man, as a stockholder in this house, except the same shall pay his stock into their hands at the time he receives stock;
68 And in proportion to the amount of stock he pays into their hands he shall receive stock in that house; but if he pays nothing into their hands he shall not receive any stock in that house.

And this verse in section 52 got the mormons off on the wrong foot in Missouri:

42 And thus, even as I have said, if ye are faithful ye shall assemble yourselves together to rejoice upon the land of Missouri, which is the land of your inheritance, which is now the land of your enemies.

My favorite is D&C 132. This is the section explaining polygamy. I can see why women were afraid to complain, lots of fire and brimstone in this one. Here are some of the highlights:

4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant (polygamy); and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those (polygamist wives) that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.

54And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law.

61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood-if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.

62 And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.

63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed

64 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her

So there are some intersting tidbits, but it is mostly monotonous and boring. I don't understand why Joseph Smith felt he needed to write in King James style English. It doesn't help.

Good for people trying to understand Mormonism
This book is good only for people tyring to understand Mormon theology, yet it is scary at the same time while reading it to know that people actually believe that what is in it was actually inspired by God.It is blatenly contradictory to the teachings in the Bible.It is interesting to note that the revelations received from God decrease majorly after Jeseph Smith is killed.To those offended, my apologies, but blind exceptence is no excuse for believing something. ... Read more

Product Description
Church History in the Fulness of Times is a text prepared by the Church Educational System for students of Religion 341, 342, and 343, 'Latter-day Saint History.' It is designed to help students increase their faith, knowledge, and understanding of the restoration and progress of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith to the administration of President Ezra Taft Benson. Because it is not possible to include in one volume every facet of Latter-day Saint history, emphasis has been given to show that (1) the hand of the Lord has been manifest from the early days of the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith to the present, (2) the Lord works through living prophets in the last days as he has always done, and (3) the Church has survived in times to trial and persecution and will continue to roll forth until it fills the whole earth (taken from the front inside dust jacket flap). ... Read more

Book Description
1914. An interesting read for students of Church history as this volume offers a day-by-day account of the key happenings of the Church for a number of years. Contents: Introductory: The First Presidency; Council of Twelve Apostles; Presiding Patriarchs; First Council of Seventies; Presiding Bishopric; Church Historians and Recorders; The Holy Priesthood; Church Chronology, 1805-1898; 1899-1905 (supplement); and 1906-1913 (supplement). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Remember him!
Because he was only prophet for nine months, we sometimes overlook this man. He was as much a prophet as Brigham Young or Gordon B. Hinckley.This books is in topical format, with quick excerpts form talks taken from his stake presidency days up to and including the talk he had prepared for the 1995 General Conference , but never gave due to his death.

We need to remember his words. The testator is now dead, and his testimony is in force. ... Read more

Product Description
Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1985: 341 LDS Hymns (1985 Green Hardcover Printing). ISBN 108543401X. 456 Pages. Limited Edition. LDS Hymnal. Independent Sellers you do not own this listing. Stop trying to change and deface it. It was right when it was first put up, and limited only by how many people can be listed as contributors in a particular listing. That is what the keywords section is for at the bottom of a page, so you can suggest without altering the listing itself. As much as anybody may disagree with anyone else's opinion or any / all facts, that is no reason to burn down a bookstore or a library or a church. This is a hymnal book of religious songs (hymns) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published in Green Hardcover, as originally shown, in 1985. It has hymns in it by many people of many faiths, as well as by people of the LDS faiths, and many people both in and out of the LDS Churches worked on writing, composing, arranging, translating, as well as compiling these hymns in this book as it stands for people to sing, in the USA and most of the world. That does not change the fact that it exists the way that it does, and that it is a book of religious songs (hymns) of praise to God and Jesus (usually this is called Christianity by most people in most places). It does not matter how much you like or dislike this statement. Freedom of Speech and Beliefs (thoughts / feelings / opinions / understandings), in the USA is guaranteed and protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Thank you, to you, for reading and respecting this message to all, and other beliefs and opinions that are, or are not, in fact from your own head / heart. :) More informational reading: [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment ][ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDS_Hymns ][ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hymns_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_%281985_book%29 ] ... Read more

Product Description
A history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), period one. Written by the prophet Joseph Smith. Notes by B. H. Roberts. Produced by the Church. An invaluable aid to those studying Mormon history and the early foundations of the Church. ... Read more