Digital Only: Young Adults
4 Resources to Enhance Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants This Year
What will you learn as you immerse yourself in the Doctrine and Covenants this year?
The first time I studied Doctrine and Covenants on my own, I had a lot of questions. Luckily, I had a seminary teacher who showed me several resources to help me better understand this unique book of scripture. Utilizing these resources gave me a chance to develop better study patterns and gain an appreciation for Church history.
This year’s Come, Follow Me curriculum is focused on the Doctrine and Covenants. You can take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about Church history and how God speaks to each of us by dedicating sincere effort to studying Doctrine and Covenants. Here are four resources that can all be found in Gospel Library in the Church History tab:
Revelations in Context
Revelations in Context is a collection of essays that give historical context for nearly every section of the Doctrine and Covenants. These short entries can help you understand who each section of the Doctrine and Covenants was written for, where it falls on a timeline, and why it was needed.
Saints Series
Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days tells the story of the Restoration of the Church from its earliest days until now in a simplified, transparent narrative. It’s published in four volumes, although the first two volumes may be most helpful in your study of Doctrine and Covenants.
If you’re not much of a reader, you can listen to the Saints podcast! The podcast is produced by the Church History Department and features interviews with historians, General Authorities, writers, and others involved with the publication of the Saints series.
The Joseph Smith Papers Podcasts
“The Joseph Smith Papers Project is an effort to gather together all extant Joseph Smith documents and to publish complete and accurate transcripts of those documents.”
In conjunction with this project, the Joseph Smith Papers Project produced a five-season, documentary-style podcast about the Restoration. Each season highlights a different aspect of the Restoration, including the First Vision, the restoration of the priesthood, the city of Kirtland, the Nauvoo Temple, and Carthage Jail.
Church History Topics
With over 200 entries, Church History Topics is a great tool to help you find more information on a wide range of people, events, and topics from the early days of the restored Church. Each entry has an explanation of the designated topic, resources for additional study, and links to related topics. You can use Church History Topics to learn more about specific subjects on your mind or scroll the table of contents and choose a subject that catches your eye.
Ask of God
These resources are meant to help you as you “seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118). Remember that sincere prayer and pondering are just as important as helpful books and podcasts. When you “lack wisdom,” you can follow the example of Joseph Smith and “ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, … and it shall be given [you]” (James 1:5).