Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual

Institute Manuals

by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A study guide for the LDS scripture The Doctrine and Covenants.

Genres: Religion, Lds, Church, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Reference, Mormonism

515 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1978

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice and well-organized student manual prepared by the Church Educational System and published by the LDS Church. The book starts out with maps from the time of Joseph Smith to include the New England area, New York and Pennsylvania, western Ohio, Missouri and Illinois, Illinois and Iowa, and Nauvoo.

Each chapter is a section of the Doctrine and Covenants. The books goes verse by verse and gives a commentary explanation of the verse. All 138 sections are broken down and analyzed.

The text sites various LDS works to include the Book of Mormon, Lectures of Faith, various Conference Reports, History of the Church, etc. They also reference LDS figures like Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Ezra Taft Benson, and Bruce R. McConkie to name a few.

I would recommend this book (as well as the rest of the student manuals) to aid anyone wanting to gain more understanding of the Doctrine and Covenants. Thanks!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was about my 3rd time through the study guide. I really found myself wishing there was an updated version with quotes and teachings from current prophets and apostles. This version was copyrighted in 1981, so everything is about 30 years old. It is an excellent resource, I would just love to see some teachings from modern prophets added. Maybe there is an updated version, and I am just not aware......I'll have to research that!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this alongside the full Doctrine and Covenants. I highly recommend using the Institute manuals in scripture study! They really help to explain and put everything in perspective!

[Apzmarshl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The student manuals in the gospel library app have links to applicable talks, maps, quotes. It makes it easy to jump back and forth from the scriptures, the manual, and the talks. I read nearly all of the links, so it took quite awhile to work through this.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was helpful as I read the Doctrine and Covenants this year. It gives historical backgrounds, discusses the doctrine, and helps put each section into context. As a resource manual it is not a "fun" read, or "exciting". But it is educational and therefore fulfills its purpose, so gets 4 stars.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would be lost without the study guides to help me better understand the inspired writings of the books they companion. I’m glad to have finally finished this book after several starts and stops.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this together with the Doctrine and Covenants made our study so much more meaningful. Great text.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much information that adds understanding to your study of the Doctrine and Covenants. Gives you historical context and others sources.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ. A solid foundation, though updated material would provide even more clarity to those who seek.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information and commentary

[Keith]

This is available in Gospel Library.

[Kim Woodbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource to enhance your understanding of the Doctrine and Covenants.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manual is full of helpful information and helped me understand this book of scripture better.

[Ranee · Rating 5 out of 5]

BYU class - lots to know :)

[HatGirl8]

12/7/2025

[G'Lenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful Institute Class.

[Quinton Baran · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent doctrine companion. Treats each section individually, with elaboration, historical background, and supporting statements of prophets and apostles. Also has 15 appendixes that go into depth on various subjects of the Gospel.

[Zoffix Znet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imagine you walk into a room and you see a group of people shouting at each other:
"It will work!"
"No, it will not work!"
"It's good!"
"No, it's bad!"
You could stand and watch the spectacle, but you won't get any wiser. Same with this book. It's a collection of shouting matches taken out of temporal and social contexts, each pushing its author's own agenda. The title of the book suggests it presents opposing viewpoints, and it does so, but in a useless manner. What are the arguments for why those various authors hold their viewpoints? None are presented.

If you always wondered what Einstein, Hitler, Yeselson, or Joe Youneverheardof might tell you about internationalism over a pint of beer in a bar, this book is perfect. But if you want to weigh both sides of the argument, pro and against internationalism, you better seek an alternate resource.

This book has one good use, however. Kindling paper.

[Jessica (Books: A true story) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this manual. I learned that I can live the law of consecration now by being more generous with my surplus of things I have. Brigham young showed me how pointless it is to keep things because you might need them someday when there are so many people that need things now. I have more extra things to give than I realize. I also learned that The Lord has a blessing AND a consequence for all his laws. I tried this with the rules I am teaching my kids and I was amazed at their willing and happy obedience. This book as well as the doctrine and covenants that I read along with it really blessed my life.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer 2012 - I'm going to put this book on hold right now, as I feel like taking my personal scripture study in a different direction for awhile.

6/26/13
I finally got back to this around February this year, and took several months to work through all the readings. Doctrines of the Gospel is a two-semester religion class at BYU, so I guess I basically did the course independent study. This is a great way to learn the doctrines of our church - through both scriptural readings and quotations from modern prophets and apostles - on pretty much every mainstream subject. I really enjoyed my study, though I was ready to be done and move on to something different.

[Jeff Stockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly amazing. It is an awesome companion to the study of the Doctrine and Covenants. It contains commentary on every section. It gives historical background as to what was happening in the lives of the Prophet Joseph as well as the other saints when each section was given. Each section also has commentary on related subjects by various church leaders and scholars where such commentary is relevant.

This book certainly shouldn't replace the Doctrine and Covenants but when read alongside, it supplements and expands the Doctrine and Covenants giving it doctrinal and historical context.

I would recommend it to any student of the restored gospel.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely *floored* with the breadth and the depth of the doctrine crammed into this manual.

Some will hate me for saying this, but anyone who gives this book less than 5 stars has not *understood* what they've just read. (And by "understood," I'm using the word in the sense that President Packer, Elder Bedenar, and Jacob 7:11 use the word.)

Or, more likely, they've read but not digested and internalized the material.

It's no wonder that the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone of the LDS faith!

[Marj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this along with reading the D&C this time. It was so helpful and full of insights and quotations from many church leaders on so many subjects covered in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is also a great reference book. I have taught from this book but this is the first time reading and studying it cover to cover. I really recommend this book as a companion reading to the Doctrine and Covenants.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since we're studying the Doctrine and Covenants in Sunday School this year I thought it would be a good idea to utilize to the Church's Institute manual as a supplement to my weekly reading. I've used it before and it offers a lot of insight into what I'm reading and studying. It's a great resource.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to fulfil the goal read a book used as a seminary textbook. this book is put out from our church to help explain and accompany the study of the doctrine and covenants for institute students. (ages 18-30) it was the book, we studied in sunday school last year. it was interesting reading some of the background of the sections in the doctrine and covenants.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great companion to the study of "The Doctrine and Covenants," one of the books of sacred scripture for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every 4 years we study this book in Sunday School. So, while I read the student manual for years ago, it was great re-reading it. Really refreshed my memory.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manual took a very long time to read, but had an amazing amount of information. I can see how wonderful this would be for a teacher, especially for Sunday School, seminary, or obviously a religion class. I will definitely use it in the future for talks.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading various commentaries along with my scripture study. This has been my companion this last year. I love the additional insight from prophets, past and present, and other church leaders. Very valuable.

[Tim McFarland Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, if one is to take up a serious study of the Doctrine and Covenants, this manual is a critical part of that study. It gives detailed accounts behind the initiation of the revelations as well as key historical insights that bring clarity to the passages.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Made it so much easier to understand the D&C. I love the institue manuals.