Editing Book of Commandments (section)

== Content of the Book of Commandments ==
{{see also|Criticism of Mormon sacred texts#Doctrine and Covenants}}
Many of the revelations in the Book of Commandments were also printed in the official church newspaper ''[[Evening and Morning Star]]'', with relatively superficial and typographical edits.

A much more ambitious revision was made in 1835, when all the revelations contained in the Book of Commandments were edited for inclusion in a larger text of Mormon scriptures called the [[Doctrine and Covenants]]. In addition to many superficial changes, this latter work contains significant redactions, deletions, and additions of new material to the older revelations, and the nature of these changes has been controversial, in part because these changes are not widely known by Mormon adherents, and in part because the changes have been used by secular Mormon scholars to support a hypothesis that Mormon theology developed gradually, and underwent theological reversals and significant changes. Apologetic scholars tend to minimize the significance of these changes, or to read the two editions of scripture in a way that makes them roughly consistent.

For example, mention of [[Bible|biblical]] [[Twelve apostles|apostles]] [[Saint Peter|Peter]], [[Saint James the Great|James]], and [[John the Apostle|John]] imparting [[Joseph Smith Jr.]] with the [[Melchizedek priesthood|Priesthood]] is in section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants, but is omitted from the equivalent chapter in the Book of Commandments.

Secular Mormon scholars{{which|date=August 2022}} argue that these changes reflect the changing doctrines of Joseph Smith, but Mormon apologetic scholars are more likely to hold{{weasel words inline|date=August 2022}} that the changes are elaborations or clarifications of previously revealed doctrine. For example, a scripture often cited by Mormon critics says,

:"...and he has a gift to translate the book and I have commanded him that he shall pretend to no other gift, for I will grant him no other gift." &mdash; Book of Commandments 4:2

This passage refers to Joseph Smith in [[Grammatical person|third person]]. However, the re-numbered Doctrine and Covenants reads:

:"...and this is the first gift that I bestowed upon you; and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished." &mdash; Doctrine and Covenants 5:4