This CD-ROM contains The
1833 version of The Book of Commandments,
totaling 160 pages.
The Book of Commandments is the
earliest published volume said to contain the revelations of
Joseph Smith Jr. Text published in the Book of Commandments is
now considered scripture by Latter-day Saints as part of the
larger Doctrine and Covenants.
The Book of Commandments was planned as a compilation of Joseph
Smith Jr.'s early prophecies. Smith, leader of the Latter Day
Saint movement, gathered several of his revelations for a High
Priest's council in November 1831. The ten-man council voted to
print 10,000 copies, but the actual number of prints was reduced
to between three and five thousand.
W. W. Phelps publisher of the book, ran a press in Independence,
Missouri. A faithful Mormon, Phelps also edited an historically
important Mormon periodical, The Evening and Morning Star from
September 1831 to July 1833. Most revelations in the Book of
Commandments were previously published by Phelps in the Star.
The title page of the book reads "Book of Commandments, for the
government of the Church of Christ, organized according to the
law on the 6th of April, 1830. / ZION: published by W. W. Phelps
& co. / 1833."
On July 20, 1833 an anti-Mormon and pro-slavery mob destroyed
the press. The mob, purportedly frightened of Mormon political
power, was incensed by an editorial in Phelps' Evening and
Morning Star perceived to be abolitionist. Breaking down the
door, they razed Phelps' home and business in less than an hour.
At that point, 65 revelations of the Book of Commandments, about
two thirds the total, were already printed. Totaling 160 pages,
most of the uncut and unbound sheets were destroyed in the
ensuing fire. However, some neighbors including teenage sisters
Caroline and Mary Elizabeth Rollins saved remnants of nearly 100
copies.
Fewer than 30 are known to exist today, including several
incomplete versions. Further enhancing the book's scarcity,
several copies of the Book of Commandments are held in permanent
collections. For example, The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the Community of Christ have
multiple copies, and the rare books divisions of the University
of Utah Marriott Library, Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee
Library, and the New York Public Library each own a copy. When
sold on the open market, the book regularly fetches over
$100,000. An incomplete copy changed hands for $200,000 in 2001,
and a complete volume sold at auction for $391,000. Rare books
dealer Ken Sanders claims a copy was sold privately in Utah for
$500,000.
This CD-ROM contains this book in PDF format,
and EPUB format for your reading device.
This CD cannot be played on the DVD player hooked up to your TV
or stereo.
With
our CD, you can read, study, and print out the pages as many
times as you want.
