Month: November 2003

The historical background of Doctrine and Covenants 137

Milton V. Backman Jr., “Witnesses of the Glories of Heaven,” Ensign, Mar. 1981, 59

As members of the Church, we read with joy and gratitude the experience of the Prophet Joseph Smith viewing the glories of the celestial kingdom, and we share some of his own happiness at seeing his beloved brother, Alvin, in that sacred location. But we may not realize that the ten short verses that will appear in new editions of the Doctrine and Covenants later this year as Section 137 (formerly Joseph Smith—Vision, in the Pearl of Great Price) record only one event—even though a very significant one—in a period of Church history when the Lord’s spirit was being poured out upon the Saints in blessing upon blessing.
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Doctrine and Covenants and Church History

From New York to Utah: Seven Church Headquarters

Each place that served as Church headquarters has its own significance in the development of the restored Church.

Keith W. Perkins, “From New York to Utah: Seven Church Headquarters,” Ensign, Aug. 2001, 52

Today it is easy for us to identify Church headquarters as Salt Lake City, Utah. But at various times from 1830 to 1848 if a friend had asked a Church member, “Where is the headquarters of your church?” the answer would not always have been so simple.
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Mary Pratt Parrish, “Food for the Winter,” Friend, Nov. 1971, 42
When Tommy, Betsy, and their parents left Nauvoo, they had enough food to last for one year. They hoped this would be enough food to sustain them until they reached the valley out west and could plant and harvest their own crops. But now they were still at Winter Quarters, and they would be there until next spring.
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Mary Pratt Parrish, “An Indian Never Forgets,” Friend, Sept. 1971, 14
It was a lazy day in August. The sun was hot, and Tommy and Elija were lying on the ground near the creek, enjoying the shade of a big cottonwood tree. They had been assigned to watch the thirty head of cattle, which were grazing a half mile upstream.
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