The Book of Mormon – A Witness and a Warning

December 2016

Part I – The Supremacy of the Book of Mormon

[This is Part 1 of a book I wrote in 2016 where I detail what the Book of Mormon says in contrast with what the LDS church actually teaches and does. I am requesting feedback before publishing this in book form.]

Some years ago, when I was a temple ordinance worker at the Oklahoma City Temple, I had a dream in which a messenger from the Lord told me that the Book of Mormon was the key to my receiving the blessings of the Second Comforter.  He instructed me that I must first and foremost be guided and instructed by the Book of Mormon, that I should read and study it continually, that if I did so I could not go wrong, that if I did so I would indeed receive the blessings of the Second Comforter. 

This was a messenger sent by the Lord to teach me the supreme importance of the Book of Mormon in establishing His doctrine, His covenants, and His commandments to all those who would receive salvation within the kingdom of the Most High God.  The Book of Mormon itself bears this out, as follows:[1]

Nephi: “And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records [The Book of Mormon, etc…], which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first [the Bible], which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them, and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.  

“And they must come [unto Him] according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed [which is the Book of Mormon], as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb [the Bible]; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.

“And the time cometh that he [Jesus Christ] shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. 

“AND it shall come to pass that if the Gentiles [the non-Jews] shall hearken unto the Lamb of God, then in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, [they shall receive the visitation of Jesus Christ] unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks.

“And if they harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God [by not turning away from the Book of Mormon], they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.”[2]

Clearly, the Book of Mormon is the record of Nephi’s seed.  

The Book of Mormon is the scripture which Jesus Christ has established as “the words of the Lamb.” 

We are promised that if we will “hearken unto the Lamb of God,” that He will manifest Himself to us in word, in power, and in very deed; which is to receive the literal visitation of Jesus Christ.

Nephi: “Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!”[3]

The Book of Mormon is the tool we have been given to learn of Christ and to come unto Him in a very literal way.  The Book of Mormon has been established by Christ for this very purpose.

Nephi:  “[Wherefore] it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost…”[4]

Those who truly receive the Holy Ghost will also receive the literal manifestation of Jesus Christ.  This is how we are to “come unto Him.”  This is the doctrine of the Second Comforter, as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith.[5]

That we must all “come unto Him” is a very literal invitation.  We must all “come unto Him” or we “cannot be saved.”[6]  If you do not believe that then you do not believe the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the standard against which we will all be measured and judged.  The Book of Mormon is preeminent and supreme!  It has been established[7] by the Lord as His word.  His word is eternal.  No other scripture, no other prophet, no other handbook or publication supersedes the Book of Mormon.  It cannot be overstated how vital, supreme, and preeminent the Book of Mormon is.

The Book of Mormon has been “established by the mouth of the Lamb” as “the words of the Lamb…”  Nothing supersedes that!  Nothing.

If you believe that the words of “living prophets” somehow supersede the words of dead prophets as contained in the Book of Mormon then you do not believe the Book of Mormon.  Not even Jesus Christ claimed such a thing.  Said He:  “Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many [of their words] as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.”[8]

For one prophet to claim precedence over other prophets is to “destroy the prophets.”  There should never be any question of precedence or discontinuity.  All true prophets are able to maintain and manifest unity and continuity, the one with the others.

The Lord reiterated the eternal, binding efficacy of the prophets when he declared: “Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.  And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.”[9]  “And ye may know that the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled…”[10]  

The word of the Lord is eternal, and cannot pass away.[11]

This principle was confirmed in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith when he declared: 

“Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.  What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”[12]

Notice that the Lord did not say that whatever His servants say is the same as if He said it.  No, indeed.  The Lord simply confirmed that His words shall all be fulfilled “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

All of the Lord’s words given though prophetic messengers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are of eternal efficacy.  And though the prophets that reveal, utter, and record the living word of God do indeed die, His words nonetheless remain living and of full force, eternally. 

“For as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for as they go forth out of my mouth they must be fulfilled.”[13]

“And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.”[14]

“And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.”[15]

The word of God and the words of eternal life have no expiration date.  They do not mold, rot, decay, rust, or loose relevance with time or with the changing of the guard.  The living waters from the living God remain alive, active, and of full force and efficacy regardless of the date when they were first spoken and recorded by man.

Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to determine and discern the true word of God from that which is fraudulent, or somehow perverted. 

If there is ever any question as to what the definitive word of God is, then we are to look to the Book of Mormon as the established word of God, NOT the living prophet.  Mortal men, including prophets, can make mistakes, they can go astray.  The Lord recognizes this and so He has established the Book of Mormon as His word in our day.

We are told over and over again that the Book of Mormon contains the word of God written for our day.  But then we are told that “The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet”[16] and that “the living prophets always take precedence.”[17]  In effect we are told that the words of living prophets supersede and take precedence over the words of dead prophets.  Well, which is it?  Was the Book of Mormon written for us or not?  The Book of Mormon itself answered this question when Moroni declared:

Moroni: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not.  But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing. And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.”[18]

The Prophet Joseph Smith always upheld the Book of Mormon as the definitive scripture for us in our day.  He never contradicted it or took action to supersede it.  He took every opportunity to witness of the Book of Mormon as the word of God containing the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel to his dying day.  If we choose to regard the words of any “modern prophet,” church leader, or church publication, as in any way superior or preeminent over the words of the Book of Mormon, we do so at our own eternal peril.   

Nephi: “Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!”[19]

Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”[20]

Did you catch that?  The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion!  Not the Church Handbook of Instructions, not the words of modern prophets, not anything else.  The Book of Mormon declares and expounds the doctrine of Christ and the law of the gospel unto the church.  It sets policy.  It sets precedent that cannot be nullified, expunged, or erased.  If and when we decide to replace the preeminence of the Book of Mormon as the supreme ruling document of the church with anything else then suddenly this church and this religion becomes something else entirely than what the Prophet Joseph Smith established.

Joseph declared that we are to abide by its precepts.  Think about that. 

The Book of Mormon sets forth policy.  We are to abide by the precepts contained in the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the New Covenant.  It is God’s charter with us in this dispensation.

Keep in mind that Joseph Smith made this statement in November of 1841, after the church had been fully organized with priesthood quorums, stakes, and branches.  None of the subsequent revelations received by Joseph Smith concerning the organization of the church did anything to supplant or nullify anything contained in the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon remained supreme throughout the prophet’s life.

In February of 1831 the Lord declared:

Jesus Christ: “Hearken, O ye elders of my church whom I have called, behold I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall assemble yourselves together to agree upon my word; And by the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law, that ye may know how to govern my church and have all things right before me. And I will be your ruler when I come; and behold, I come quickly, and ye shall see that my law is kept. He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not my disciple, and shall be cast out from among you…  These words are given unto you, and they are pure before me; wherefore, beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment. Even so. Amen.”[21]

When we agree upon the Book of Mormon as the word of God and the law of God, and then turn around and say that the words of “living prophets” somehow supersede the Book of Mormon, then we provoke the judgement and condemnation of the Lord. 

We are supposed to meet together to agree upon the word of God that we might know how to govern the church.  When the policies of the church contradict the directions and doctrines of the Book of Mormon and even the Doctrine and Covenants, then we have a problem.  When new policy, procedures, and doctrines are put in place without the sustaining vote of the general membership of the church then we fail to keep the commandment that we are to assemble together to agree upon God’s word.

Interestingly, in September of 1832, in D&C 84:47–58, the Lord solemnly warned the saints that they were under condemnation.  The Lord verified and reiterated the supremacy and preeminence of the Book of Mormon as containing the new covenant which has been renewed and confirmed upon us.  Within the Book or Mormon the Lord declared by covenant that if we would hearken to “the words of the Lamb” as “established by the mouth of the Lamb” within the Book of Mormon, that we would be empowered to come unto Him, in word , in power, and in very deed.

Jesus Christ: “And everyone that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you[22], which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world…

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.  And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. 

“And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.”[23]

We are “to do according to that which I have written” in the Book of Mormon.  This is a commandment from God!  The Lord has not and will not suddenly change His mind about this.

The Book of Mormon contains the covenant the Lord has made and renewed upon us in this dispensation.  Not anybody or anything supersedes this law and this covenant which the Lord has given to us.  Regrettably, “the whole church” in Joseph’s day brought themselves under condemnation for disregarding the Book of Mormon.   They did not “do according to that which [was] written” in the Book of Mormon.  The Lord made it very clear that this condemnation rested upon “the whole church,” from top to bottom, “even all.”

We are “not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written…”  It is easy to say all the right things.  Even today we do much to promote the Book of Mormon.  We testify of the book’s authenticity constantly.  We advocate reading and studying the Book of Mormon.  We quote the Book of Mormon.  But in so many ways we do not do what the Book of Mormon tells us to do—especially today.  In so many ways, our actions scream that we do not actually believe in the Book of Mormon, although we constantly claim otherwise.

Jesus Christ: “Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—

“Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid. 

“And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord!  And their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us?…

“But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.”[24]

The Book of Mormon contains the Everlasting Covenant which the Lord has offered us to prepare the way before Him.

Jesus Christ: “And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.”[25]

Of all people, of all the Gentiles, who among the Gentiles would be more accountable for what they did with the Book of Mormon than the members and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  Would it not be the members and leaders of this church?  Are we not the Gentiles most accountable and most culpable of the judgements and condemnations warned of in the Book of Mormon?  Should we not be the ones to take these warnings the most seriously, saying “Lord, is it I?” 

Both D&C 84:58 and 45:31-33 sternly warn us of the “scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion” if we do not “remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.”

Eighteen months prior to the revelations consisting of D&C 84, the Lord predicted that the Gentiles would reject the fullness of the gospel, as contained in the Book of Mormon.

Jesus Christ: “And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel; but they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.  And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.”[26]

“The whole church” has indeed rejected the fullness of the gospel as contained in the Book of Mormon.  “…they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.”  Even before the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, starting as early as 1832, many members and leaders of the church turned their hearts from the Lord, preferring instead the precepts of men, as evidenced by the Lord’s words in D&C 84. 

Joseph Smith continuously had to deal with church members and leaders trying to persuade him to do things their way, or the New Testament way, not according to the commandments and patterns set forth in the Book of Mormon for us in our day.  They wanted another New Testament church.  The New Testament church had its chance and mainly failed.  That was then.  That was a former dispensation.  The Lord prepared the Book of Mormon for us in our day, in this dispensation, setting forth the covenants and commandments we are to follow preparatory for the establishment of the latter day Zion.  However, even in Joseph’s day, most of the saints were hell-bent on following the Hellenistic philosophies of men which demand the rule of man through hierarchal authority.  They did not realize that the Lord would indeed give unto them according to their desires, even if their desires were contrary to His.[27]  The Lord always does give liberally.[28] 

By January of 1841, the Lord indicated that the church had lost the fullness of the priesthood.  Accordingly, a commandment was given that they (the church members) must build another temple within an appointed time, “that he may come to restore again that which was lost unto you, or which he hath taken away, even the fullness of the priesthood.”[29] 

Regrettably, the temple was still far from complete by the time Joseph and Hyrum were assassinated, and the temple was never completed, per the contemporary accounts of those that were there.  The saints were much more concerned about getting rich, building fine houses, and aspiring to the honors of men, than they were about building the Lord’s house in a timely manner.  They were careless.  They allowed Joseph to be killed before the restoration had been completed.  Apparently, without Joseph Smith, this restoration could not be completed.  Joseph Smith, alone among mortal men, held the seals and keys necessary to bring about this restoration.  Without him it became impossible.   So instead of bringing again Zion, Joseph had to be content with sealing his testimony with his blood.  The saints were accordingly “moved out of their place.”[30]  And it came to pass, even as the Lord declared: “For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before me, saith the Lord.”[31]

What testimony did Joseph Smith Jr. seal with his blood? 

It was his testimony of the Book of Mormon![32]

The fact that Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith sealed their testimony of the Book of Mormon with their blood has powerful implications.  We largely do not comprehend the laws and principles of power and of judgement set in motion by the sacrifice they made, relative to us and the new covenant contained within the sacred pages of the Book of Mormon.  These two prophets sealed their testimony with their blood.  We will be held accountable before the judgement bar of God for what we do with the Book of Mormon as witnessed and sealed by these two prophets. 

The Lord has commanded that we be “believer[s] in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith the Lord your God; for that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God.  Even so.  Amen.”[33]

The Lord is not trifling with us.  He means what He says. 

The Book of Mormon constitutes the New Covenant whereby we can each be redeemed by the Lord.  It tells us what we must do and not do in order to be blessed of the Lord.  Ultimately, to be blessed of the Lord is to receive the blessings that Enos received anciently.[34] 

Joseph and Hyrum sealed this covenant with their blood, even as Jesus Christ did anciently.  This covenant is binding upon all of us.  A scourge and judgement will be poured out upon all those that reject the Book of Mormon as a binding covenant between God and man.

Jesus Christ: “Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; and he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue.”[35]

The supernal importance of the doctrine, covenants, and commandments within the Book of Mormon must not be ignored or gainsaid by those that would elevate the policies and commandments of a church hierarchy above the word of God as established by Him within the sacred pages of the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon was brought to us by Joseph Smith the Seer by the gift and power of God.

Jesus Christ: “But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

“Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers [the ancient Patriarchs] in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants [which He made with the Fathers, the Patriarchs], saith the Lord.

And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”[36]

Joseph Smith is the seer who brought forth the word of God as contained in the Book of Mormon.  The restoration commenced and unfortunately ended with Joseph Smith.  No other “prophet” since Joseph has manifested the gifts of prophecy, seership, or revelation that he has.  There is hardly even any comparison!  To suggest that the words of “living prophets” who manifest none of these gifts should somehow supersede Joseph’s words or the words of the Book of Mormon as established by the Lamb of God is absurd.

I solemnly bare my witness that the Book of Mormon is not just the word of God for us in our time, but is the New Covenant which we must be faithful to in order to receive Zion, both individually and collectively.  There is no other way.  Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the light.  No man or woman can come unto the Father but by Him.  And the way He has established for developing faith in Christ, to the extent that the fullness of the gospel is received, is in and through obedience to the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.

That we should look to the scriptures as the standard and measuring stick by which to judge the truthfulness of any gospel teaching is not new doctrine.  President Harold B. Lee had this to say:

“I say 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…  I think therein is one of our biggest dangers of today.”[37]

As it turns out, President Lee was only echoing what the Prophet Joseph Smith had declared 128 years earlier:

“If any man preaches to you doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter…  Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you[38] as useless and dangerous branches, and if they are belonging to any of the quorums of the church, report them to the president of the quorum to which they belong.”[39]

The Prophet Joseph Smith did not exempt himself from this requirement.  On April 7, 1844, just six days later, he delivered what is now known as the King Follett Discourse.[40]  In this discourse the Prophet expounded on what is ostensibly regarded as some of the deepest doctrine ever expounded by the Prophet in public.  Throughout this discourse he makes a sound and learned appeal to the Bible to back up the truthfulness of his theology.  If only our modern prophets and apostles were as devoted to this principle today as the Prophet Joseph was back in 1844. We need to start paying more attention to the scriptures.  We need to prove our assertions of theology with the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.  If we truly love truth and if we are honest about what the scriptures actually say in context, then we will pursue the truth of these things even if said truth is damning to ourselves, our institution, or the official historical narrative we have all been parroting for so long.

---

[1] I have added my own editorial clarifications in blue and in [blue brackets].  Emphasis in red, underlines, and italics added.

[2] 1 Nephi 13:40 – 42, 1 Nephi 14:1 – 2, emphasis mine

[3] 2 Nephi 27:14

[4] 2 Nephi 26:12 – 13

[5] Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 150-151, 195-196

[6] 1 Nephi 13:40

[7] 1 Nephi 13:41, 2 Nephi 24:14

[8] 3 Nephi 15:6

[9] 3 Nephi 15:6 – 7

[10] 3 Nephi 29:2

[11] 2 Nephi 9:16 “And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away…”

[12] Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38

[13] Moses 4:30

[14] D&C 98:11

[15] D&C 84:43 – 44

[16] Elder Claudio R. M. Costa, Conference Report Ensign, November 2010

[17] TEACHINGS OF PRESIDENTS OF THE CHURCH: EZRA TAFT BENSON, CHAPTER 11:FOLLOW THE LIVING PROPHET

[18] Mormon 8:35 – 36

[19] 1 Nephi 13:14

[20] Book of Mormon | Preface Introduction:6; also History of the Church, 4:461, 28 November 1841

[21] Doctrine and Covenants 41:2-5, 12

[22] See Title Page to the Book of Mormon: “ —Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—”

[23] Doctrine and Covenants 84:47 – 48, 54 – 58

[24] 2 Nephi 27:25-28

[25] Doctrine and Covenants 45:9

[26] Doctrine and Covenants 45:28 – 31

[27] Alma 29:4

[28] James 1:5-6

[29] Doctrine and Covenants 124:28

[30] Doctrine and Covenants 124:45

[31] Doctrine and Covenants 124:48

[32] Doctrine and Covenants 135:1-7

[33] Doctrine and Covenants 124:119-120

[34] Enos 1:1-8, 27

[35] Doctrine and Covenants 42:59-60

[36] 2 Nephi 3:11 – 13

[37] First Presidency Message, Ensign, December 1972

[38] Isn’t it convenient that Brigham Young dissolved the Standing High Council which would have the authority and responsibility for trying and excommunicating church leaders who act contrary to the established and acknowledged word of God?  See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presiding_high_council

[39] Times & Seasons, 5:490-491, April 1, 1844

[40] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Follett_discourse

http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/accounts-of-the-king-follett-sermon