A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, Vol. 3: Sections 81-105

by Stephen E. Robinson

What can latter-day revelation teach us about the vital doctrines of the restored gospel? How can knowing the history of the early days of the Restoration help us understand the future blessings promised to a worldwide Church? In this third volume of a comprehensive, four-volume series, authors Stephen E. Robinson and H. Dean Garrett draw from numerous sources to bring to life the history and doctrine of the Doctrine and Covenants in an easy-to-read format. Using original diaries, journals, maps, and atlases, they set a historical context that helps clarify what is being said in the scriptures. Understand latter-day scripture in a whole new light!

Genres: Religion

361 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2004

About the author

Stephen E. Robinson has taught at Brigham Young University since 1986. He received a B.A. from Brigham Young University in 1971 in English Literature and a PhD from Duke University in 1978 in Biblical Studies. He and his wife, Janet, have six children.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth will operate in its determined course whether human beings accept it or not, whether they believe it or not, or whether they even know it or not.

This volume which covers Sections 81-105 of the Doctrine and Covenants is more densely compact than the previous two volumes. It covers relatively few sections but a few of the covered sections are deeply dissected. I think section 84 alone was a goodly portion of this volume.

I especially appreciated the sections which dealt with the relativity of truth, the Constitution of the United States, and what constitutes the Lord's voice.

While I have read the Doctrine & Covenants a few times previous to this, I have not ever appreciated it as much as I have this time. I am not sure that can all be attributed to these volumes of commentary, to the study group I am participating in, or to the fact that I have been reading it for the first time while also reading The Book of Mormon, but something is making the experience very rich indeed. At least to the extent that this volume introduces the words of past prophets and apostles and their recorded statements about specific verses or sections, I am very happy indeed to have this additional resource.

That said, the volume I have been reading was published in 2004 and I do wish I was reading something that had been updated with more contemporary leadership, but I knew that I was reading an older volume when I began, so I cannot hold this volume accountable for something it did not purport to be.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remains my favorite commentary to date on the Doctrine and Covenants, with the understanding that some of it needs to be updated in light of the recent Joseph Smith Papers project. The authors do a tremendous job of providing relevant contextual background, both historical and doctrinal. They offer generally reliable doctrinal interpretation (although there will always be some points on which their can be other valid perspectives). And they also regularly include insights that foster valuable personal reflection leading toward personal application that will sanctify the reader seeking to enter Christ's Kingdom, which President Benson said was a major purpose of the Doctrine and Covenants. Reading the Doctrine and Covenants without a helpful commentary like this will only lead to a fairly shallow understanding of the real meaning of these revelations and the spiritual power contained in them.

[HatGirl8]

9/12/2025

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

More great insights into the Doctrine and Covenants. One thing that I learned in this volume was that part of the reason the Saints were not able to stay in Zion was because they failed to build a temple there as God commanded them. While the Saints were eventually driven out of both Kirtland and Nauvoo after building temples there, it seems clear that if they had been obedient and humble enough to built one in Missouri as commanded, they would not have had the same problems they did otherwise, and the whole history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would have been different. (It certainly makes the alternate history buff in me wonder: "what if?")

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 3 of 4 done. 75% of the way through. I enjoy the less sanitized version of church history a great deal more.

[goddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great third installment of the Doctrine and Covenants.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!