D&C 68: Scripture, Doctrine, Canon, and Truth

Scripture:

- As defined in D&C 68:4-5, scripture is the:

• Mind
• Will
• Word
• and voice of the Lord

Canon:

• from Latin, ruler, rule, model, standard, measuring rod
• an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture
• an accepted principle or rule; a criterion or standard of judgment
• Binding on members of the Church (What we might say)
• A cursory overview of Latter-day Saint canon:

1835

Book of Mormon

Doctrine & Covenants

Bible

1880

Pearl of Great Price canonized

Twenty five additional sections in the Doctrine & Covenants

The business of canonizing the new scriptures at this General Conference was conducted as follows:

President George Q. Cannon said: I hold in my hand the Book of Doctrine and Covenants and also the book The Pearl of Great Price, which books contain revelations of God. In Kirtland, the Doctrine and Covenants in its original form, as first printed, was submitted to the officers of the Church and the members of the Church to vote upon. As there have been additions made to it by the publishing of revelations which were not contained in the original edition, it has been deemed wise to submit these books with their contents to the Conference, to see whether the Conference will vote to accept the books and their contents as from God, and binding upon us as a people and as a Church.

President Joseph F. Smith said, I move that we receive and accept the revelations contained in these books as revelations from God to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to all the world. The motion was seconded and sustained by unanimous vote of the whole Conference. (Journal History, 10 October 1880, Church Historian's Office, Salt Lake City.)

1921

New footnotes, the Lectures on Faith are removed

1976

Section 137, Section 138 (included in the Pearl of Great Price)

1981

137 & 138 moved to Doctrine & Covenants

Doctrine:

• Latin doctrina, from doctor
• Teaching
• something that is taught
• a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief
• Current Church emphasis

Truth:

• Etymology: Middle English trewthe, from Old English trEowth fidelity; akin to Old English trEowe faithful
• Statement of fact
• Is truth absolute? Elder Maxwell’s circles: Eternal Truth, Scientific Truth, Facts
• What are some examples of truths, yet not gospel truths?

Perhaps these diagrams will help illustrate the principle:

“Letters to individuals are not the channel for announcing the policy of the Church.” (Boyd K. Packer, The Law and the Light, p. 13.)

D&C 107:27, 29: “And every decision made by… [the First Presidency] must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member… must be agreed to its decisions…. Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men.”

President James E. Faust taught: “Who is to declare the doctrine? It is well established by revelation and practice that the current President of the Church and his counselors have the keys to declare the doctrine. The investiture of this authority comes from revelation. The First Presidency are constituted “a quorum … to receive the oracles for the whole church” (D&C 124:126). Of this authority, Elder Stephen L Richards (1879–1959), then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stated:

“They [the Presidency] are the supreme court here on earth in the interpretation of God’s law.

“In the exercise of their functions and delegated powers they are controlled by a constitution, a part of which is written and a part of which is not. The written part consists in authenticated scripture, ancient and modern, and in the recorded utterances of our latter-day prophets. The unwritten part is the spirit of revelation and divine inspiration which are [pertinent] to their calling.

“In formulating their interpretations and decisions they always confer with the Council of the Twelve Apostles who by revelation are appointed to assist and act with them in the government of the Church. When, therefore, a judgment is reached and proclaimed by these officers it becomes binding upon all members of the Church, individual views to the contrary notwithstanding. God’s Kingdom is a kingdom of law and order.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1938, 115–16.) (First Presidency Message, July 2000 Ensign)

“The scriptures are important as standards by which to measure all truth. Those ideas in harmony with the scriptures are true; those out of harmony are false.” (Gospel Principles)

Harold B. Lee: “I say that we need to teach our people to find their answers in the scriptures. If only each of us would be wise enough to say that we aren’t able to answer any question unless we can find a doctrinal answer in the scriptures! And if we hear someone teaching something that is contrary to what is in the scriptures, each of us may know whether the things spoken are false—it is as simple as that. But the unfortunate thing is that so many of us are not reading the scriptures. We do not know what is in them, and therefore we speculate about the things that we ought to have found in the scriptures themselves. I think that therein is one of our biggest dangers of today.” (First Presidency Message, December 1972 Ensign)