Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will study the Doctrine and Covenants individually and collectively during 2025.
As the year begins, the Church News staff selected stories, sections and verses from the Doctrine and Covenants that have blessed their lives.
Kaitlyn Bancroft
Doctrine and Covenants 50:41 is a sweet, sacred reminder of whom I belong to: “Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me.”
It is overwhelmingly easy to feel unwanted and unchosen in this difficult world. But Elder Erich W. Kopischke, a General Authority Seventy, once taught: “As we follow the simple pattern the Lord has laid out, we will come to know that we are accepted of Him, regardless of our position, status or mortal limitations. His loving acceptance will motivate us, increase our faith and help us deal with everything we face in life. Despite our challenges, we will be successful, prosper and feel at peace” (April 2013 general conference, “Being Accepted of the Lord”).
Additionally, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said about Doctrine and Covenants 50:41: “To live with this assurance is a blessing perhaps greater than we can appreciate. All of us — sooner or later, in a moment of looming disaster or wearying confusion, having chosen God as our guide — will be able to sing with conviction, ‘Sweet is the peace the gospel brings’” (March 2013 Liahona, “You Are Free”).
It is no small thing to belong to the Savior of the world, and to know He belongs to me in turn. This Doctrine and Covenants scripture reminds me what a sacred privilege it is to choose Him and be chosen by Him.
Aimee Cobabe
Whenever I study the Doctrine and Covenants, I am struck by how many verses are filled with hope, despite the difficulties the early Saints endured.
Doctrine and Covenants 101:36 reads: “Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.”
When I read this, I’m reminded that even though there are trials and times in life where it is difficult to feel joy, the Lord has promised joy in the next life. And this joy is made possible through His Atonement.
Continuing on to the 123rd section of the Doctrine and Covenants, I love the 17th verse, where Joseph Smith gives a bit of comfort to his friends — after he was also comforted by the Lord while in Liberty Jail in the section before: “Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”
The Prophet Joseph Smith speaks with hope, putting all his trust in God. His example reminds me that trials can make us either bitter or better. When we rely on Jesus Christ through difficulties, He will make us better.
All the hopeful verses in the Doctrine and Covenants reflect back to the reason for our hope: our Savior Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is to have these words to remind us that even though we will be tried, “all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7).
Vanessa Fitzgibbon
When I became a member of the Church, I learned to appreciate the seminary and, later, the institute classes that, combined with my love for reading and learning, kept quenching my thirst for more and more knowledge.
One scripture that became a motivation in my life is found in Doctrine and Covenants 93:36-37, which says, “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth” (emphasis added).
In a world that is evolving in many different directions, human intelligence can be defined as “the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason” (Cambridge Dictionary); “the ability to solve complex problems or make decisions with outcomes benefiting the actor (Johns Hopkins Medicine); or also as a “mental quality that consists of the abilities to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, understand and handle abstract concepts, and use knowledge to manipulate one’s environment” (Britannica).
However, none of these definitions, or many others, refer to an eternal progression where our intelligence continues evolving.
In an interview in 2007, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “One of the primary purposes of mortality is to learn — to gain knowledge and intelligence. … You might think intelligence means being gifted in academic work, but intelligence also means applying the knowledge we obtain for righteous purposes.”
Later in Doctrine and Covenants 130:18, the Lord continues, saying, “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.”
Throughout the years, I realized that the greatest lessons I’ve learned weren’t from the hours I spent in the classrooms and libraries pursuing a degree or from conferences listening to prestigious intellectuals. The greatest lessons I’ve learned came from simple and humble children of God who genuinely exemplify Christ’s pure love through the example of their own lives.
And I’m grateful for the opportunities the Lord has given me to learn from the best books, from the example of faithful family members and friends, and for a Prophet who continues to receive revelations in our days, helping us in our journey toward eternal life.
Nadia Gavarret
Oftentimes, we forget the answers we’ve already received and overlook the quiet ways the Lord has spoken to us. One of my favorite passages is Doctrine and Covenants 6:22-23, where the Lord offers a powerful lesson.
In these verses, the Lord reminds Oliver Cowdery of a sacred experience when he had previously received a witness of the truth: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.”
The Lord taught Oliver Cowdery to recognize His answers by guiding him to reflect on past experiences. He didn’t just give Oliver another witness — He helped him remember and recognize a witness he had already received. The Lord asked, “Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?”
This divine question resonates deeply with those who have experienced the quiet assurance of the Spirit. It reminds us that often, the most powerful witnesses come not through dramatic manifestations but through the peaceful confirmation to our minds and hearts.
When we seek answers, the Lord often invites us to remember those sacred moments when we have felt His peace. This peace that comes to our minds and hearts is a powerful witness of truth.
Just like Oliver Cowdery, we can trust in those moments when we have felt the Lord’s peace. These experiences become spiritual anchors that we can return to again and again. The Lord’s pattern of revelation remains unchanged — He speaks peace to our minds and hearts, providing us with witnesses that cannot be denied.
When doubts arise, reassurance comes by remembering sacred moments of peace.
Rachel Sterzer Gibson
There are so many doctrinal gems taught in the Doctrine and Covenants that it was difficult to pick a favorite, but a passage that has provided much comfort through the years is found in section 98.
At this time, the Saints in Missouri were undergoing intense persecution that seemed to be only escalating. And yet, they are told, “Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks” (verse 1).
They are reassured that the Lord is aware of them and their circumstances — “for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament — the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted” (verse 2).
Then the Lord promises “with an immutable covenant” that “all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord” (verse 3).
I can think of a time where I pleaded for the Lord to take away a trial and was told “no.” I was devastated, but in the years since, I can see how those struggles provided me with greater empathy, compassion and wisdom. I was also better prepared to face other challenges further down my path. Looking back, I can catch a glimpse of how things “worked together for my good.”
These verses remind me that my trials have purpose. I can trust the Lord. He knows me, He is aware of my struggles and weaknesses, and if I keep my covenants, “all things … shall work together” for my good. Therefore, despite whatever hard things I may be grappling with, I can “let my heart be comforted” and “in everything give thanks.”
It was true for the Saints then and can be true for individuals today.
Leah Haynes
While serving in the Uruguay Montevideo West Mission, I, like many other missionaries, had moments of doubt. “Am I really doing enough? Am I making an impact on the lives of these people? Why can’t things be easier?”
Days when the sun was extra bright, the roads were especially dusty and the teaching pool seemed unremarkably empty, I questioned my role in God’s divine plan.
A close friend sent to me what is now my favorite talk, “However Long and Hard the Road.” In it, President Jeffrey R. Holland taught me an important lesson: “Blood, toil, tears and sweat. The best things are always worth finishing.”
I came to learn in this way, and in many other ways, that God never abandons His children; He permits us to enter hardship so that we might come to know ourselves.
Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34 says: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”
This scripture is a constant reminder to me that amid hardship and toil, I am laying the foundation for the character God intends for me to be, however small the stones I set each day appear to be. I trust that He is who is guiding my hands to lay the stones.
Jon Ryan Jensen
Doctrine and Covenants is full of examples of counseling. The Lord gives counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith seeks counsel from the Lord. Joseph and his wife Emma counsel. Newly called Church leaders, missionaries and many others seek counsel, receive counsel and counsel together.
In Doctrine and Covenants 103, Joseph is in Kirtland, Ohio, in February 1834. The header of this section says that the revelation received came after the arrival of Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight from Missouri “to counsel with the Prophet.” Before I understood the geography of these two locations, I felt like perhaps Jackson County was close to Kirtland. However, the two locations are more than 700 miles apart. When I head to my local meetinghouse to counsel with a ward or stake leader, I travel a few blocks. I can’t imagine what it would be like to travel hundreds of miles on horseback, by wagon, in boats or on foot to counsel with a Church leader.
The Saints faced some terrible persecution in Jackson County at that time. Pratt and Wight sought the Lord’s guidance on how to move forward. Among the 40 verses are a few wonderful gems of scripture and understanding about agency, building Zion, angelic support and obedience to God’s commandments. At the end of the section, the Lord teaches that coming out of challenges victorious requires three important ingredients.
“All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith,” He said to them in Doctrine and Covenants 103:36.
This verse reminds me that overcoming challenges and growing to become what God expects of me is not solely up to me, and it is not solely up to Heavenly Father. It requires my effort. It requires I act in faith. And it requires prayers of faith to Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. All these things work together for our good — for our victory.
Emerson Manning
A few years ago, my family and I moved to Utah. Although eager for a new chapter in life, I soon became overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty with the idea of starting over.
Shortly after learning of our plans to move, I found a verse in Doctrine and Covenants that eased my concerns.
Doctrine and Covenants 68:6 reads, “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.”
This filled me with the hope that I would not be facing this new challenge alone, for my Savior would be by my side.
Fast-forward a few years later, I had just received my mission call to Santa Fe, Argentina. Feelings of excitement were quickly suppressed with feelings of inadequacy and doubt. But again, the Spirit whispered to me to be of good cheer, for the Lord would be with me.
I was able to gain deeper meaning to this verse as I was able to bear record of Christ, that He is the Son of the living God, to those I was fortunate to meet on my mission.
This verse has been a trusted reminder throughout my life that I need not fear, for whatever my circumstance, however dark my day may seem, there is hope and light, for the Lord God is always with me, through every step and every aspect of my life.
Joel Randall
I’m encouraged by the Doctrine and Covenants theme that regular people, inexperienced and imperfect as they were, could be instrumental in building up the kingdom of God. What a blessing we get a book of scripture to document how these ordinary people saw visions, sacrificed all they had and restored precious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 4:3 explains the common characteristic that made all the difference for this battalion of early Saints: “Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.” It starts with desire, but it doesn’t end there. The late President Thomas S. Monson, then first counselor in the First Presidency, taught in 1996 that “whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”
Do you notice the connections here? Those with desires to serve are called to the work, and those called to the work are given divine power to fulfill their responsibilities.
We might get caught up in not being perfect enough to serve — we don’t know the scriptures well enough, we aren’t eloquent enough with our speaking, we lack experience or skills — but perfection in this life isn’t what God needs from us. If perfection were a requirement to be a disciple of Christ, His only follower would’ve been His shadow.
Our desire means the world to Heavenly Father, and I know if we show Him we truly want to “be the means of doing much good in this generation” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:8), He’ll give us both the chance and the strength to do so.
If we are to build up the kingdom of God, imperfect as we are, we start with the desire to serve. Let God take care of the rest.
Christine Rappleye
The majority of the Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations — divine answers to questions. Many are through the Prophet Joseph Smith on behalf of someone else or in direct response to an issue that arose.
While the whole book is a testimony that all of us can receive answers, there are also some instructions included. These are in sections when Oliver Cowdery was a scribe to Joseph Smith during the translation of the Book of Mormon.
Oliver was a school teacher in the Palmyra, New York, area. At this point, the 116 pages had been lost. Oliver stayed with the Smiths, and after some reluctance, they shared about Joseph, the gold plates and his experience. Oliver had also prayed to know if what he had heard was true. (See “Saints,” Vol. 1, Ch. 6.)
Oliver and Samuel Smith, Joseph’s younger brother, walked from Palmyra to what was then called Harmony, Pennsylvania, a town on the Susquehanna River. (It’s now Oakland Township, Pennsylvania.) On today’s roads, that’s more than 130 miles, which would take about 50 hours.
In Doctrine and Covenants 6:5, a revelation to both Joseph and Oliver, the Lord says: “Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.”
Then in Doctrine and Covenants 8-9, there are more instructions, including to have faith (8:10); study it out and ask, and how to tell if it’s right or not (8:2; 9:8), and to fear not (9:11).
While I may not receive heavenly visitors or answers in paragraph form, I have learned that recognizing answers to prayers and impressions from the Holy Ghost is a spiritual skill that needs to be consistently used and developed.
It is available to all who seek it.
Mary Richards
Before my son was set apart as a full-time missionary, he reported to the stake high council on a Sunday morning. My husband and I were there to hear his testimony and what the high councilors and stake presidency said to him. One of the high councilors read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88.
In this verse, the Lord said, “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
Immediately I teared up. I was already feeling emotional about my first child leaving home. But I knew in that moment he would be fine. The Lord would be with him — before his face, on his right hand and on his left — with angels around him to bear him up.
Since that moment almost a year and a half ago, this verse has become one of my favorites. The more I look for it, the more I hear it and the more I know that it is true. President Russell M. Nelson quoted it in his most recent general conference address as he promised, “The Lord will comfort you too. He will strengthen you. He will bless you with peace, even amidst chaos. ... There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you.”
David Schneider
For anyone I know, some days are more challenging than others. The challenging days generally are from a trying time over one or more things, including health, finances, struggles with children or other family members, death of a loved one, trying to fulfill Church callings and assignments, employment and overall discouragement.
In prayer, most of us supplicate for peace and comfort. God, in His wisdom, sometimes sends that peace presently, and sometimes it is delayed.
As do all people, I have had my share of both — particularly with the extended illness and then almost four years ago the death of my wife, becoming a single parent of a child with special needs, not being able to maintain all the elements of the household that I’d like to, and the inspiration a year ago to date again (two months ago I remarried to a wonderful woman).
When the feeling of peace is delayed, I remember the counsel in Doctrine and Covenants 6:23: “Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?”
I could not have predicted the blessings I have received. And I am thankful for the peace that I already have received and the knowledge that God knows my situation.
Scott Taylor
As a former bishop, YSA bishop, MTC branch president, stake president and mission president, I had plenty of opportunities to counsel and help Latter-day Saints — particularly young adults — work through the repentance process. It’s a process I also rely on, with my own sins and failings.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded that the Savior is often referred to as the Great Physician (“We Believe in Being Chaste,” April 2013 general conference), with the title having both symbolic and literal significance.
“From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt,” he taught.
Elder Bednar also likened bishops and branch presidents to spiritual physician assistants, authorized to help members repent and heal with check-ups, prescriptions and preventive efforts.
In counseling members, I often used Doctrine and Covenants 58:42: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”
Members often responded: “But I remember my sins, so certainly an all-knowing Lord will. And if I remember them, does that mean I’m not forgiven?”
No, we remember our mistakes and errors — even after repentance — not as a punishment but as a protection.
We remember the sins and how we first felt — guilt, shame and promptings directing us to repent. After sincere repentance, guilt and shame are gone — the spiritual, emotional and seemingly physical burdens have been lifted. Yes, we still remember, but we recognize feeling different, better and cleansed. We don’t want to repeat those sins and first feelings.
And the Lord will “remember them no more” — looking at us not for who we’ve been and what we’ve done but for who we’re becoming and how we’re progressing.
Trent Toone
One of the most difficult experiences of Joseph Smith’s young life came when Martin Harris lost the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. Joseph was devastated, inconsolable and thought “all is lost,” according to “Saints” Volume 1.
I had similar feelings as a missionary many years ago when I made a regrettable mistake that I felt betrayed all the good I had accomplished and all the trust I had developed to that point with my mission president and the Lord.
Gratefully, I was able to resolve the matter in a short period. No major damage was done. My mission president assured me I was forgiven. But the guilt was overwhelming, and it was hard to move on. Perhaps like Joseph, many times in the weeks and months that followed I asked myself questions like, “Where do I stand, Lord? Are You still mad at me? Do You still want me on Your team?”
The Lord’s loving answer came when I read and learned to appreciate Doctrine and Covenants 3:10:
“But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work” (emphasis added).
We all fall short and make mistakes. This scripture helps me remember that Heavenly Father loves all His children and doesn’t give up on them. He is kind, wise, patient, forgiving and willing to provide second chances through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through repentance, we can come to know the Savior. His work isn’t about efficiency, it’s about building souls. How grateful I am for these truths.
Valerie Walton
This year I had the opportunity to be a part of my stake’s trek committee, which was way more fun than I thought it would be. The first task we were given was to prayerfully think of people who could serve as Ma and Pa couples to submit to the stake presidency for consideration.
I’ve always struggled with recognizing spiritual impressions, so this assignment made me nervous. Would I be able to even think of the right people? What if I picked the wrong people?
I considered a few couples from the ward whom I knew pretty well and wrote them down. What surprised me was that a certain couple distinctly did not come to mind. They’re friends of mine and my husband, and I knew them better than others in the ward. But I just kept forgetting about them.
Soon after turning in the names, I discovered why this couple kept slipping my mind. They announced on Facebook that she was pregnant and due very close to the trek dates. I realized that I’d been experiencing a “stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong” described in Doctrine and Covenants 9:9.
Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9 are currently my favorites because they teach about various ways the Spirit can speak to us. I’ve never felt the “burning in the bosom” described in verse 8, but being able to recognize the stupor of thought in the following verse was a significant win for me.
If I had turned in the names of this couple, they would have turned down the calling anyway. But the experience is still sacred for me because the Lord showed me that I am capable of recognizing the Spirit and He does speak to me.
