Doctrine and Covenants 45–“The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled”

April 26, 2021 to May 2, 2021

As Joseph Smith was involved in his revision of the Bible, probably at the Morley farm in Kirtland, he received Doctrine and Covenants 45, which cements a connection between the Old Testament, New Testament, and restoration of the gospel. Here the Savior, the God of Enoch, applies the Olivet discourse to the Latter-day Saints.

“Historical Context and Background of D&C 45,” Steven C. Harper and Casey Paul Griffiths, Doctrine and Covenants Central

Section 45 is the finest text in the world for understanding Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, the Olivet discourse, because it was revealed by Jesus himself.

“Joseph Smith’s Cooperstown Bible: The Historical Context of the Bible Used in the Joseph Smith Translation,”Kent P. Jackson, BYU Studies 40, no. 1

In 1828, the H. and E. Phinney Company in Cooperstown, New York, published a quarto-size edition of the King James Bible. This is the version that Joseph Smith used in his work when he created a new translation of the Bible. Here the author examines Joseph Smith’s marked-up copy of the Phinney Bible as an artifact important to Mormonism. The author notes that the Phinney Bible’s updated language is more modern than the version of the Bible Latter-day Saints officially use (the King James), and the modernization may or may not have influenced Joseph Smith’s word choice in creating his translation. The author also gives biographical information on the Phinneys, describes how their Bible may have made its way into Joseph Smith’s hands, briefly traces the history of the English Bible in America, and describes the printing process employed by the Phinneys.

“The Nature of the Pen and Pencil Markings in the New Testament of Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the Bible,” Paul W. Lambert and Thomas A. Wayment, BYU Studies 47, no. 2

On March 7, 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation to begin work on his translation of the New Testament (D&C 45). Smith did so immediately, with Sidney Rigdon as scribe. This article explains how the work proceeded, with notations in the printed Bible.

“Joseph Smith Translation,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Study Helps

Joseph Smith began a revision or translation of the King James Version of the Bible in June 1830. He was divinely commissioned to make the translation and regarded it as “a branch of his calling” as a prophet. Although the major portion of the work was completed by July 1833, he continued to make modifications while preparing a manuscript for the press until his death in 1844.