Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Impact

Doctrine and Covenants contains the most concise declaration of the LDS’s unique theology and practice. Although the Book of Mormon is certainly Smith’s best-known and most representative work, its intriguing narrative did not wholly set the movement apart from other burgeoning nineteenth-century religious movements. Stories of America’s unique position in world history, tales of the lost tribes of Israel, and millennial expectations were prevalent among the populace. However, the concept of new revelations and especially the content of those revelations set the Mormon movement in stark contrast with its Christian counterparts.

Although plural marriage was officially disallowed in an 1890 revelation, it is still the chief aspect Americans associate with Mormonism. Nearly every other position in the Doctrine and Covenants continues to guide the LDS in the present, and the church continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. Only 10 to 15 percent of Mormons actually live in Utah, and the majority of Mormons live outside the United States. The LDS reports over thirteen million members worldwide, with around five million living in the United States. However, numerous scholars have asserted that these numbers are highly inflated owing to the manner in which Mormons currently count members. Nevertheless, the LDS is growing rapidly throughout the world, and it seems unlikely this trend will reverse in the near future. The areas of especially high growth rates are in Central and South America, though LDS missions in Southeast Asia have also become very successful in the past few decades.