Doctrine And Covenants Section 150 Analysis

W. Wallace Smith presented Doctrine and Covenants Section 150 in the midst of some unique challenges to the church. Richard Howard reminded us that the 1960s and early 1970s was filled with mistrust of church leadership. W. Wallace Smith provided this revelation in 1972 seeking to address these challenges and boldly reminded the church to “get along.” This revelation touched upon a variety of issues; leadership responsibilities, relationships, stewardship, education and training, monogamy, unity and differences. I think apostle Charles Neff described the attitude that the variety of aspects reminds us of, no matter what boundaries or differences we might face, we must never sense to find ways to teach. We must allow God’s grace to realize

With further review and study of these words, I realized there were different circumstances which prompted the tone that is presented within this text. The tone I sensed in Section 150 was also consistent with the tone found in Doctrine and Covenants 148, 151, and 152, which was that of compassion, frustration, and expectation.

Textual Criticism / Comparison of Editions

With Doctrine and Covenants 150 acceptance in 1972, I could find no revisions to the text. Other examples of revelations that address similar issues are;

• Doctrine and Covenants 111:4b - speaking to our belief of one man with one wife.

• Doctrine and Covenants 129:9B, 151:8b, 157:10 - encouraging us to look past our differences.

• Doctrine and Covenants 9:3b, 85:36a, 87:5b, 149:5, 156:11a, 158:11b - reminding the church of the importance of study and learning.

• Doctrine and Covenants 57:1d, 58:13a, 83:1c, 149:6a, 149A:5 & 6 - honoring the vision for the

Wallace Smith was President of the church during times of great social revolution and cultural change in the United States and Europe. Section 150 of the Doctrine and Covenants was accepted by the church on April 11, 1972. This revelation seemed to provide direction for many of the distractions we as a church had faced as well as social awareness’s. The 60’s was a decade of disruption to the “picket fence” life style many dreamed. The Vietnam War began, JFK assassinated, Martin Luther King dreamed and thousands marched, the United States flag was placed on the moon, and the “loss” values of the Woodstock seemed to tempt the minds of our young. And in 1967, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were introduced again to the issues of polygamy among the Saora tribes in India. W. Wallace Smith through revelation of Doctrine and Covenants 150 brings divine guidance amidst chaos and disruption that existed among the RLDS as well as society. For the purpose of this exegesis paper I will explore verses 150:6,7,10,11, and