Lectures on Faith

From MormonWiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search

The Lectures on Faith is a collection of seven lectures of early Mormon beliefs. Perhaps the first and foremost systematic statement, it was signed by Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams on February 17, 1835. That very same year they were published as scripture along with the Covenants and Commandments of the Lord (later called the Doctrine and Covenants). The LDS church removed the lectures from the Doctrine and Covenantsin 1921, officially removing them from the LDS canon, claiming that the lectures were never considered to be anymore than lessons.

Minutes of the High Counsel that were published in the LDS journal of the time:

"Wherefore O. Cowdery and S. Rigdon, Presidents of the first presidency, appointed Thomas Burdick, Warren Parrish and Silvester Smith, Clerks, and proceeded to organize the whole assembly, as follows: they organized the high council of the church at Kirtland, and Presidents W. W. Phelps and J. Whitmer proceeded and organized the high council of the church in Missouri. Bishop Newel K. Whitney proceeded and organized his counselors of the church in Kirtland, and acting Bishop John Corrill, organized the counselors of the church in Missouri: and also presidents Leonard Rich, Levi W. Hancock, Sylvester Smith and Lyman Sherman, organized the council of the seventy; and also, Elder John Gould, acting President, organized the travelling Elders; and also Ira Arnes, acting President, organized the Priests; and also Erastus Babbit, acting President, organized the Teachers; and also William Burges, acting President, organized the Deacons; and they also, as the assembly was large, appointed Thomas Gates, John Young, William Cowdery, Andrew H. Aldrich, Job L. Lewis and Oliver Higley, as assistant Presidents of the day, to assist in preserving order, &c. in the whole assembly. Elder Levi W. Hancock being appointed chorister, a hymn was then sung and the services of the day opened by the prayer of President O. Cowdery, and the solemnities of eternity rested upon the audience. Another hymn was sung: after transacting some business for the church the audience adjourned for one hour.
"AFTERNOON. After a hymn was sung, President Cowdery arose and introduced the "Book of doctrine and covenants of the church of the Latter Day Saints," [D&C, Background] in behalf of the committee: he was followed by President Rigdon, who explained the manner by which they intended to obtain the voice of the assembly for or against said book: the other two committee, named above, were absent. According to said arrangement W. W. Phelps bore record that the book presented to the assembly, was true. President John Whitmer, also arose, and testified that it was true. Elder John Smith, taking the lead of the high council in Kirtland, bore record that the revelations in said book were true, and that the lectures were judiciously arranged and compiled, and were profitable for doctrine; whereupon the high council of Kirtland accepted and acknowledged them as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote. Elder Levi Jackman, taking the lead of the high council of the church in Missouri, bore testimony that the revelations in said book were true, and the said high council of Missouri accepted and acknowledge them as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote." -Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1 (October 1834 - September 1835), Vol. 1 August, 1835 No. 11, p.161-162

Cross.jpgThis article is a stub. Please edit it to add information.

[edit] External links

[edit] Non-Mormon

[edit] Mormon

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox