Doctrine and Covenants 102–105 contains instructions for the Camp of Israel, later referred to as Zion’s Camp. In the summer of 1834, Zion’s Camp marched from Michigan, Ohio, and New York to assist the persecuted Saints in Missouri. Their volunteer numbers were few, but those who went learned a valuable lesson about trials and blessings. And the ending revelation to this armed march was a message to “sue for peace … to all people” (Doctrine and Covenants 105:38)
God is aware of everything you are going through right now, and He has words of comfort for us. Doctrine and Covenants 98–101 has words from God given through Joseph Smith to the Saints at Jackson County. Even though Joseph did not know the details of their trials, God did, and we can trust that He knows ours as well. So, “let your hearts be comforted” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:1), no matter what you are facing.
The Saints in 1833 were split between two Zions and were commanded to build two temples to bless God’s people. Doctrine and Covenants 94–97 makes the commandment of building temples a priority. Today, temples are still being constructed across the many places we call Zion. And for those of us not on the building committee, we can still make visiting and honoring the house of the Lord a personal priority.
Doctrine and Covenants 93 contains eternal truths that overturned the traditional religious ideas of that time. While it is not the longest section of revelation by the number of verses, it is packed with doctrinal principles—from the nature of God to how we can learn about Him. The light and truth in these scriptures can illuminate the rest of the doctrine that we and the early Saints both will come to understand.
Understanding history is all in the stories of the people who lived it. This week’s Come, Follow Me study of Doctrine and Covenants 89–92 features the Word of Wisdom. But today, we’ll learn from a historian about Emma Smith, the School of the Prophets, the translation of the Bible, and the attitudes at the time toward alcohol and tobacco that colored the world when this revelation took place. We’ll also discuss a woman who lived a whole life of service around this one event in scripture.
Two days after the revelation on war given in Doctrine and Covenants 87, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a breath of fresh air with a revelation on peace in section 88. This section is known as the “olive leaf” revelation, containing eternal truths about our relationship with God and a command to draw closer to Him in a temple. We now live in the world they wished for—where temples dot the earth, and Zion can be anywhere we gather.
Jesus relays a parable in Matthew about wheat and weeds called tares. To us, these two plants can grow together and seem indistinguishable from each other. Sections 85–87 of the Doctrine and Covenants have more insight on who we are and what our job is (and isn’t) in this story.
Six years ago, in the October 2019 women’s session of general conference, President Nelson said to all the women, “I entreat you to study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power. You might begin with Doctrine and Covenants sections 84 and 107.” This week, we will be studying the first of those powerful revelations on the oath and covenant of the priesthood and how it holds truths relevant to all of God’s children.
In Doctrine and Covenants 81-83 the Lord reiterates a command to care for the poor and needy among the church. With this (and every commandment) he also gives a promise. We can learn in these sections about the nature of covenants and callings and the promises from God when we are faithful to the end.
Elder Renlund first suggests making sure we are doing what God has asked of us and “not something extra that we impose on ourselves.”
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Elder Kearon believes this truth “can console all of us.”
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These resources can help any family dive deeper into the Doctrine and Covenants in 2025.
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Scholars have described the Whitmer home as a “celebrated dwelling place.” It is where the first conference was held, the Church was organized, and the revelation we are discussing this week was received. Doctrine and Covenants 20–22 describe the order in which God keeps His house, and as we study these sections, we can explore how to make our homes celebrated Christlike dwelling places.
Doctrine and Covenants 19 is an account of our Savior, Jesus Christ telling us about His own personal suffering from His perspective. It is a deeply personal section–deeply personal for Martin Harris who it is directed towards and deeply personal for all of us who need a reminder of what Christ did. But no matter who we are, the Atonement of Christ is the answer when we are asking questions.
Doctrine and Covenants section 18 contains many eternal truths that have been immortalized in song. By the end of this week’s study you’ll be able to remember that the worth of souls is great, your joy will be great with those you love, and faith, hope, and charity are great attributes to strive for. And hopefully when doubts or struggles come, this music can be there can bring the spirit and remind you that you are God’s favorite.
Doctrine and Covenants 12–17 are about this great and marvelous work we call the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With regards to our time in this ongoing restoration process, President Nelson encouraged us to take our vitamins because we all have a great work to do.
Are you a notetaker during Sunday School or scripture study? Jotting down ideas can be a useful method for remembering your thoughts or asking questions. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had lots of questions during the translation of the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants 10–11 contain the answer to their desires. So, sit down and take note to see the hand of God.
One month into this new year, how are you and your goals doing? Resolutions are often about bringing our lives in line with God’s will and growing closer to Him. But knowing what He has for us and hearing His answers can be difficult. This week’s Come, Follow Me discussion of Doctrine and Covenants 6–9 centers on how one man recognized those answers.