The Lectures on Faith were originally published in the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants in 1835. They were the Doctrine. The revelations we now have in the Doctrine and Covenants were the Covenants.

They were considered canonized scripture at the time. They were the doctrine of the church in its most pure form. So much so, that Joseph Smith presented the Lectures to leaders of the Church in a group known as “The School of the Prophets.” There were seven lectures and they occupied the first 75 pages of the original Doctrine and Covenants published during the Prophet’s life.

Authorship of the Lectures on Faith is not completely known, though it is clear that the Prophet Joseph Smith had much to do in the creation and publication of the Lectures.

He admitted himself in “The History of the Church: Volume 2.”

“During the month of January, I was engaged in the school of the Elders, and in preparing the lectures on theology for publication in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, which the committee appointed last September were now compiling.” [1]

On the title page of the Doctrine and Covenants’ first edition, the Prophet wrote:

“We deem it to be unnecessary to entertain you with a lengthy preface to the following volume, but merely to say that it contains in short the leading items of the religion which we have professed to believe.

The first part of the book will be found to contain a series of lectures as delivered before a theological class in this place, and in consequence of their embracing the important doctrine of salvation, we have arranged them in the following work…

…We have, therefore, endeavored to present, though in few words, our belief…We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that we are to be called to answer to every principle advanced, in that day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and the reward of every man’s labor be given him.” [2]

There is little mistaking the words of the Prophet: The book contained the Doctrine, and the Doctrine was true. True enough, that the prophet felt comfortable answering for it at judgement day. The twelve apostles of the Church also recorded their testimony of the book:

“We therefore feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to every creature upon the face of all the earth, that the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed earth upon us, that these Commandments were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men, and are verily true.” [3]

After this testimony was read to the entire body of general authorities, the book was given a unanimous vote of approval as true doctrine and scripture.

The truthfulness of the “Doctrine” was not in question. I cannot state this with enough emphasis. There was not a single mention of a single possibility wherein the “Doctrine” would be later dismissed as false.

So, where are the Lectures on Faith now? What happened to the “Doctrine?”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints removed the Lectures from the Doctrine and Covenants in 1921. They claimed that they “were never presented to nor accepted by the Church as being otherwise than theological lectures or lessons.” [4] A bold claim. The Prophets, the Apostles, the Seventy, and all other leaders unanimously agreed that it was doctrine in 1835. In fact, the Lectures were commonly referred to as “The Doctrine” at the time.

To say that the doctrine presented in “the Doctrine” never was doctrine, is a lie.

They were removed for a single reason: The church of 1921 was not the same church of 1835. They had changed the doctrine.

They no longer believed in God as a spirit, but as a being of flesh and blood.

They no longer believed in a Godhead of two beings, the Father and The Son, but a Godhead of Three.

They no longer believed that the Holy Spirit was simply the “mind of God”, but that He was a distinct being with a body of spirit.

These beliefs were the beliefs of the original Church, at least in 1835. They are not the beliefs of today’s Church.

Joseph Fielding Smith even acknowledged this fact. In an interview with John William Fitzgerald, a graduate student working on his thesis in 1940, he acknowledged that the omission of the Lectures was due, in part, to the incorrect teachings regarding the Godhead (which, as I have asserted, were once considered correct doctrine from God.)

“The reasons for the omission of these Lectures from the Doctrine and Covenants beginning with the 1921 edition and from all subsequent editions as given to [John Fitzgerald] by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith were as follows:

…They are not complete as to their teachings regarding the Godhead. More complete instructions on this point of doctrine are given in Section 130 of the 1876 and all subsequent editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.

…It was thought by Elder James E. Talmage, chairman, and other members of the committee who were responsible for their omission that to avoid confusion and contention on this vital point of belief, it would be better not to have them bound in the same volume as the commandments or revelations which make up the Doctrine and Covenants.” [5]

Thus, the Church removed the doctrine. They hid it. Covered it up. They saved face; saved themselves the embarrassment of acknowledging their changing doctrine. The Lectures, once part of canonized scripture, are no longer accessible on any Church published sources. According to the Church, they are lost. They never were. According to the Church, the doctrine today is as it always was. No question.

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[1] Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 2, p 180

[2] Preface to Doctrine and Covenants, 17 February 1835, Page iii

[3] Testimony, circa 2 Nov. 1831, p. 121

[4] Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, 1921

[5] Fitzgerald, John William, “A Study of the Doctrine and Covenants,” 1940, pp. 344-5