Doctrine and Covenants


The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. Originally published in 1835 as Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God, editions of the book continue to be printed mainly by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ.
The book originally contained two parts: a sequence of lectures setting forth basic church doctrine, followed by a compilation of revelations, or "covenants" of the church: thus the name "Doctrine and Covenants". The "doctrine" portion of the book, however, has been removed by both the LDS Church and Community of Christ. The remaining portion of the book contains revelations on numerous topics, most of which were dictated by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, supplemented by materials periodically added by each denomination.
Controversy has existed between the two largest denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement over some sections added to the 1876 LDS edition, attributed to founder Smith. Whereas the LDS Church believes these sections to have been revelations to Smith, the RLDS Church traditionally disputed their authenticity.

History

The Doctrine and Covenants was first published in 1835 as a later version of the Book of Commandments, which had been partially printed in 1833. This earlier book contained 65 early revelations to church leaders, including Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Before many copies of the book could be printed, the printing press and most of the printed copies were destroyed by a mob in Missouri.
On September 24, 1834, a committee was appointed by the general assembly of the church to organize a new volume containing the most significant revelations. This committee of Presiding Elders, consisting of Smith, Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, began to review and revise numerous revelations for inclusion in the new work. The committee eventually organized the book into two parts: a "Doctrine" part and a "Covenants" part.
The "Doctrine" part of the book consisted of a theological course now called the "Lectures on Faith". The lectures were a series of doctrinal courses used in the School of the Prophets which had recently been completed in Kirtland, Ohio. According to the committee, these lectures were included in the compilation "in consequence of their embracing the important doctrine of salvation."
The "Covenants" part of the book, labeled "Covenants and Commandments of the Lord, to his servants of the church of the Latter Day Saints", contained a total of 103 revelations. These 103 revelations were said to "contain items or principles for the regulation of the church, as taken from the revelations which have been given since its organization, as well as from former ones." Each of the 103 revelations was assigned a "section number"; however, section 66 was mistakenly used twice. Thus, the sections of the original work were numbered only to 102.
On February 17, 1835, after the committee had selected the book's contents, the committee wrote that the resulting work represents "our belief, and when we say this, humbly trust, the faith and principles of this society as a body."
The book was first introduced to the church body in a general conference on August 17, 1835. Smith and Williams, two of the Presiding Elders on the committee, were absent, but Cowdery and Rigdon were present. The church membership at the time had not yet seen the Doctrine and Covenants manuscript as it had been compiled and revised solely by the committee; however, various church members who were familiar with the work "bore record" of the book's truth. At the end of the conference, the church "by a unanimous vote" agreed to accept the compilation as "the doctrine and covenants of their faith" and to make arrangements for its printing.
In 1835, the book was printed and published under the title Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God.
A copy of the Doctrine and Covenants from NASA photographer M. Edward Thomas traveled to the moon and back in 1972 with astronaut John Young aboard Apollo 16.

LDS Church editions

In the LDS Church, The Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands alongside the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and The Pearl of Great Price as scripture. Together the LDS Church's scriptures are referred to as the "standard works". The LDS Church's version of the Doctrine and Covenants is described by the church as "containing revelations given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, with some additions by his successors in the Presidency of the Church."

Sections added to LDS edition

The 138 sections and two official declarations in LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants break down as follows:
The following sections are not revelations, but letters, reports, statements, and other similar documents: 102, 123, 127–131, 134, 135, and Official Declarations 1 and 2.
In 1844, the church added eight sections not included in the 1835 edition. In the current edition, these added sections are numbered 103, 105, 112, 119, 124, 127, 128, and 135.
In 1876, a new LDS Church edition renumbered most of the sections in a roughly chronological order instead of the earlier topical order, and included 26 sections not included in previous editions, now numbered as sections 2, 13, 77, 85, 87, 108–111, 113–118, 120–123, 125, 126, 129–132, and 136. Previous editions had been divided into verses with the early versifications generally following the paragraph structure of the original text. It was with the 1876 edition that the currently used versification was first employed.
During the 1880s, five foreign editions contained two revelations to John Taylor that were received in 1882 and 1883; these revelations "set in order" the priesthood, gave more clarification about the roles of priesthood offices—especially the seventy—and required "men who... preside over my priesthood" to live plural marriage in order to qualify to hold their church positions. Due to the LDS Church's change in attitude to polygamy in 1890, these sections were not included in future English editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.
In 1930, a small volume edited by apostle James E. Talmage titled Latter-day Revelations was published, which was a highly edited selective version of the Doctrine and Covenants. Talmage wrote that the book's purpose was "to make the strictly doctrinal parts of the Doctrine and Covenants of easy access and reduce its bulk" by including only "the sections comprising scriptures of general and enduring value". Ninety-five of the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were completely omitted—most notably section 132 on plural and celestial marriage—along with parts of 21 others. Twenty complete sections were retained along with parts of 21 others. Fundamentalist Mormons were offended, particularly at the exclusion of section 132, and accused the church of "changing the scriptures." As a result, church president Heber J. Grant ordered the withdrawal of the book from sale with the remaining copies shredded in order to "avoid further conflict with the fundamentalists".
Sections 137 and 138 were added to the LDS Church's 1981 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which is the edition currently in use by the church. These were accounts of two visions, one from Joseph Smith in 1837 and the other from his nephew, Joseph F. Smith, in 1918. The revelations were earlier accepted as scripture when added to the Pearl of Great Price in April 1976. No new revelatory sections have been added since 1981.
The LDS Church's 1981 edition contains two "Official Declarations" at the book's conclusion. The 1890 Official Declaration 1 ended the church-authorized practice of plural marriage, and the 1978 Official Declaration 2 announces the opening of priesthood ordination to all worthy male members without regard to race or color. The two Official Declarations are not revelations, but they serve as the formal announcements that a revelation was received. In neither case is the revelation included in the Doctrine and Covenants. The text of Official Declaration 1 has been included in every LDS Church printing of the Doctrine and Covenants since 1908.

Portions removed from the LDS edition

In 1876, section 101 from the 1835 edition was removed. Section 101 was a "Statement on Marriage" as adopted by an 1835 conference of the church, and contained the following text:
This section was removed because it had been superseded by section 132 of the modern LDS edition, recorded in 1843, which contains a revelation received by Joseph Smith on eternal marriage and plural marriage, the principles of which can be dated to as early as 1831.
In 1921, the LDS Church removed the "Lectures on Faith" portion of the book, with an explanation that the lectures "were never presented to nor accepted by the Church as being otherwise than theological lectures or lessons". The lectures contain theology concerning the Godhead and emphasize the importance of faith and works.
Until 1981, editions of the book used code names for certain people and places in those sections that dealt with the United Order. The 1981 LDS edition replaced these with the real names, relegating the code names to footnotes. The Community of Christ edition still uses the code names.

Community of Christ editions

Officials of the Community of Christ first published an edition of the Doctrine and Covenants in 1864, based on the previous 1844 edition. A general conference of the church in 1878 approved a resolution that declared that the revelations of the Prophet-President Joseph Smith III had equal standing to those previously included in the work. Since that time, the church has continued to add sections to its edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, containing the revelations of succeeding Prophet–Presidents. The most recent addition was formally authorized on April 14, 2010, after being presented to the church for informal consideration on January 17, 2010. The numbers of the sections and versification differ from the edition published by the LDS Church and both modern editions differ from the original 1835 edition numeration.
Regarding the contents of the Doctrine and Covenants, the church has stated: "As with other books of scripture, the various passages vary in their enduring quality."

Sections added to the Community of Christ edition

The 167 sections of the Community of Christ's Doctrine and Covenants break down as follows:
The following sections are not revelations, but letters, reports, statements, and other similar documents: 99, 108A, 109–113, and 123.
Based on the above, the number of revelations presented by each Community of Christ president, are as follows:
The Community of Christ removed the "Lectures on Faith" in 1897. The 1970 World Conference concluded that several sections that had been added between the 1835 and 1844 editions—mainly dealing with the subjects of temple worship and baptism for the dead—had been published without proper approval of a church conference. As a result, the World Conference removed sections 107, 109, 110, 113, and 123 to a historical appendix, which also includes documents that were never published as sections. Of these, only section 107 was a revelation. The World Conference of 1990 subsequently removed the entire appendix from the Doctrine and Covenants. Section 108A contained the minutes of a business meeting, which, because of its historical nature, was moved to the Introduction in the 1970s. After 1990, the Introduction was updated, and what was section 108A was removed entirely.

Doctrinal developments in the Community of Christ edition

The ongoing additions to the Community of Christ edition provide a record of the leadership changes and doctrinal developments within the denomination. When W. Grant McMurray became Prophet-President, he declared that instruction specific to leadership changes would no longer be included, so that the focus of the work could be more doctrinal in nature, and less administrative. The record of these leadership changes are still maintained in the form of published "letters of counsel." Prophet–President Stephen M. Veazey has conformed to this pattern. Although these letters are not formally published in the Doctrine and Covenants, they are still deemed to be inspired, and are dealt with in the same manner that revelations are.
A modern revelation that resulted in some "disaffection" and "led to intense conflict in scattered areas of the RLDS Church" is contained in the Community of Christ version's section 156, presented by Prophet–President Wallace B. Smith and added in 1984, which called for the ordination of women to the priesthood and set out the primary purpose of temples to be "the pursuit of peace". A resulting schism over the legitimacy of these change led to the formation of the Restoration Branches movement, the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
While some of the prose in the new revelations seems designed to guide the denomination on matters of church governance and doctrine, others are seen as inspirational. One such example can be cited from section 161, presented as counsel to the church by W. Grant McMurray in 1996: "Become a people of the Temple—those who see violence but proclaim peace, who feel conflict yet extend the hand of reconciliation, who encounter broken spirits and find pathways for healing."

Editions used by other denominations

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints uses the 1846 edition that was published in Nauvoo, Illinois; this version is virtually identical to the 1844 edition. Most recently a facsimile reprint was produced for the church at Voree, Wisconsin by Richard Drew in 1993.
The Church of Christ contends that the thousands of changes made to the original revelations as published in the Book of Commandments are not doctrinal and result from Joseph Smith's fall from his original calling. As a result, the Church of Christ prefers to use reprints of the Book of Commandments text.
The Church of Jesus Christ accepts the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, including the Lectures on Faith, which it insists are as much inspired as the revelations themselves.
The Restoration Branches generally use the older RLDS Church Doctrine and Covenants, typically sections 1–144.
The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints uses the older RLDS Church version of the Doctrine and Covenants up to section 144, and also 19 new revelations from their previous president, Frederick Niels Larsen.
"Remnant" movement, a spiritual movement in schism with the LDS Church, published an online "Restoration" edition of the Doctrine and Covenants in 2017. It includes any sections authored by Joseph Smith. It also: includes a new version of D&C 54, as revised by Denver Snuffer; excludes the Kirtland Temple visitation by Elijah and others angelic being in D&C 110; excludes portions based on fragmentary teachings by Smith in D&C 129; includes Smith's Lectures on Faith; and includes a new appendix titled, "A Prophet’s Prerogative," by Jeff Savage.

Chart comparison of editions

The following chart compares the current editions of the Doctrine and Covenants used by the LDS Church and Community of Christ with the 1833 Book of Commandments, the 1835 edition published in Kirtland, and the 1844 edition published in Nauvoo. Unless otherwise specified, the document is styled a "revelation" of the person delivering it.
LDS ed.CofC ed.BofC
Kirtland ed.
Nauvoo ed.
DateDelivered byDescription
Joseph SmithLord's "Preface"
Joseph Smith Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith
Joseph Smithlost 116 pages
Joseph SmithTo Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph SmithTo Martin Harris; golden plates
Joseph Smith and Oliver CowderyTo Oliver Cowdery
Joseph Smith and Oliver CowderyTo Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery; John the Apostle
Joseph SmithTo Oliver Cowdery; Book of Mormon translation
Joseph SmithTo Oliver Cowdery; Book of Mormon translation
Joseph Smithlost 116 pages
Joseph SmithTo Hyrum Smith
Joseph SmithTo Joseph Knight, Sr.
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery Conferral of Aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist
Joseph SmithTo David Whitmer
Joseph SmithTo John Whitmer
Joseph SmithTo Peter Whitmer, Jr.
Joseph SmithTo Three Witnesses
Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmerselection of Twelve Apostles
Joseph SmithTo Martin Harris
Joseph SmithChurch organization and government
Joseph SmithJoseph Smith's calling
Joseph Smithbaptism
Joseph SmithTo Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph Smith, Sr., Joseph Knight, Sr.
Joseph Smith and Oliver CowderyCallings of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
Joseph SmithTo Emma Smith; compilation of a church hymnal
Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and John WhitmerCommon consent
Joseph SmithSacrament and priesthood ordinations
Joseph SmithTo Oliver Cowdery; Joseph Smith to receive revelations until another appointed
Joseph SmithTo six elders; Second Coming; origin of Satan; redemption of children
Joseph SmithTo David Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer
Joseph SmithTo Thomas B. Marsh
Joseph SmithTo Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson
Joseph SmithTo Ezra Thayre and Northrop Sweet
Joseph SmithTo Orson Pratt
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonCallings Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon; signs and miracles; the elect
Joseph SmithTo Edward Partridge
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonSaints to gather in Ohio
Joseph Smithequality; wars
Joseph SmithTo James Covel
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonConcerning James Covel
Joseph SmithTo the church; Edward Partridge called as bishop
Joseph Smith"the law" of the church
Joseph SmithRole of President of the Church; missionary work; forces of nature
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonChurch conference called
Joseph SmithMatthew chapter 24 explained; missionary work; Christ as advocate
Joseph SmithSacrament meeting, gifts of the Spirit
Joseph SmithJohn Whitmer to keep history of church
Joseph SmithPurchase of lands
Joseph SmithTo Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, and Leman Copley; Shaker beliefs
Joseph SmithRecognizing the Spirit
Joseph SmithProperty division
Joseph SmithSending elders to Missouri
Joseph SmithTo Algernon Sidney Gilbert
Joseph SmithTo Newel Knight
Joseph SmithTo W. W. Phelps
Joseph SmithThe rebellious; the rich and the poor
Joseph SmithLocation of Zion at Jackson County, Missouri
Joseph SmithTribulations; gather to Zion
Joseph SmithThe sabbath; reward for the righteous
Joseph SmithElders to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio; missionary work
Joseph Smith"Destruction upon the waters"
Joseph SmithMissionary work
Joseph SmithSigns; mysteries; impending war and woe; gather to Zion; authority to use Lord's name
Joseph SmithForgiveness; financial debt; tithing; Zion to flourish
Joseph Smith Prayer of Joseph Smith; keys of the kingdom
Joseph SmithTo William E. McLellin
Joseph SmithTestimony of the Book of Commandments
Joseph SmithTo Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, and William E. McLellin; bishops; parents
Joseph SmithAssignments for John Whitmer
Joseph SmithStewardship; equality
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonJoseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon called to preach
Joseph SmithBishops
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonJoseph Smith Translation of the Bible
Joseph SmithExplanation of 1 Corinthians 7:14; salvation of children
Joseph SmithMissionary work; families of missionaries
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon Jesus Christ; resurrection; degrees of glory; origin of Satan
Joseph SmithExplanation of certain verses in Revelation
Joseph SmithUnited Order; equality
Joseph SmithTo Jared Carter
Joseph SmithTo Stephen Burnett and Eden Smith
Joseph SmithTo Jesse Gause; on 18 Mar 1833 its application was transferred to Frederick G. Williams
Joseph SmithObedience; United Order; equality
Joseph SmithHusbands and fathers; widows and orphans
Joseph SmithPriesthood
Joseph Smith Letter from Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps; United Order; One Mighty and Strong; equality
Joseph SmithParable of the Tares explained
Joseph SmithProphecy of war and calamity
Joseph SmithThe "olive leaf"; "Lord's message of peace"
Joseph SmithA "Word of Wisdom"
Joseph SmithKeys of the kingdom; First Presidency
Joseph SmithThe Apocrypha
Joseph SmithTo Frederick G. Williams
Joseph SmithJohn's record of Christ; intelligence; innocence of children
Joseph SmithTo Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter; construction of various buildings commanded
Joseph SmithKirtland Temple to be built; purpose of temples
Joseph SmithDivision of property
Joseph SmithSaints in Jackson County, Missouri; temple to be built in Jackson County
Joseph SmithPromises and warnings; martyrs; when war is justified; forgiving enemies
Joseph SmithTo John Murdock
Joseph Smith and Sidney RigdonJoseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to preach gospel; Rigdon to be Smith's spokesman; welfare of Orson Hyde and John Gould
Joseph SmithRedemption of Zion; parables; United States and the U.S. Constitution; Saints to seek redress
Oliver Cowdery and Orson Hyde Minutes for first high council meeting
100101Joseph SmithRedemption of Zion; organization of Zion's Camp
101Joseph SmithUnited Order
102102Joseph SmithRedemption of Zion; purpose of Kirtland Temple; peace
103100Joseph SmithTo Warren A. Cowdery; Second Coming
104 ; some portions received 11 Nov 1831Joseph SmithPriesthood; quorums
Joseph SmithTo Lyman Sherman
Joseph Smith Dedicatory prayer for Kirtland Temple
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery Visitation of Jesus Christ to accept Kirtland Temple; conferral of priesthood keys; coming of Moses, Elias, and Elijah
Joseph Smithtemporal needs of the church
105104Joseph SmithTo Thomas B. Marsh; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; First Presidency
Joseph Smith Answers to questions on the Book of Isaiah
Joseph SmithConcerning David W. Patten
Joseph SmithName of the church; stakes; temple to be built at Far West, Missouri
Joseph SmithAdam-ondi-Ahman
Joseph SmithConcerning William Marks, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Granger; property; sacrifice
Joseph SmithVacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles filled
106107Joseph SmithTithing
Joseph SmithCouncil on the Disposition of the Tithes
Joseph Smith Prayer and prophecies of Joseph Smith; why many are called but few chosen
Joseph SmithDestiny of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Letter to church; duty in relation to their persecutors
107103Joseph SmithNauvoo Temple and Nauvoo House to be built; baptism for the dead
Joseph SmithSaints in Iowa
Joseph SmithTo Brigham Young
109105Joseph Smith Letter to church; baptism for the dead
110106Joseph Smith Letter to church; baptism for the dead
Joseph Smith Distinguishing the nature of angels and disembodied spirits
Joseph Smith Various items of instruction; corporeal nature of God and Jesus Christ; intelligence; seer stones
Joseph Smith Various items of instruction; celestial marriage; eternal life
Joseph SmithPlural marriage; celestial marriage; sealing power; exaltation
108100108Joseph SmithOriginal "Appendix"; Second Coming; missionary work
112102110Church secular governments and laws in general
113111John Taylor Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith
Brigham YoungOrganization of Mormon pioneer westward journey
Joseph Smith Salvation for the dead; salvation of little children
Joseph F. Smith Jesus Christ preached to spirits in prison; salvation for the dead
Wilford Woodruff Cessation of plural marriage
Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney 1978 Revelation on Priesthood: cessation of priesthood restrictions based on race
Joseph SmithGod's words to Moses
Joseph SmithProphecy of Enoch
103Thomas Burdick, Warren Parrish, and Sylvester Smith General meeting of the quorums of the church to consider the labors of the committee charged with organizing publication of the revelations into a book
101109Church Declaration on marriage; one spouse only
Joseph Smith III Tithing
Joseph Smith IIICalling of William Marks
Joseph Smith IIIPriesthood ordination of other races
Joseph Smith IIIChanges in leadership positions
Joseph Smith IIIForeign missions
Joseph Smith IIIInstructions to the elders
Joseph Smith IIIBranch and district presidents
Joseph Smith IIIChanges in leadership positions
Joseph Smith IIIDuties of quorums
Joint council of the First Presidency, Council of Twelve Apostles, and Presiding Bishopric Lamoni College; church publications; relations with the LDS Church; doctrinal tracts; interpretation of various scriptures; gospel boat; branch in Detroit
Joseph Smith IIIChanges in leadership positions
Joseph Smith IIIPatriarchs; foreign missions
Joseph Smith III Quorums
Joseph Smith IIISanitarium
Joseph Smith IIIOrganization and colonization
Joseph Smith IIIChanges in leadership positions
Joseph Smith IIIChanges in leadership positions
Joseph Smith IIIPresiding Bishopric
Frederick M. SmithPresiding Bishop
Frederick M. SmithMissionary work
Frederick M. SmithChanges in leadership positions
Frederick M. SmithChanges in leadership positions
Frederick M. SmithChanges in leadership positions; unity
Frederick M. SmithChanges in leadership positions
Frederick M. SmithChanges in leadership positions; work toward Zion
Israel A. SmithChanges in leadership positions
Israel A. SmithChanges in leadership positions; Zion
Israel A. SmithChanges in leadership positions; counsel
Israel A. SmithCommendation; urge to work
Israel A. SmithChanges in leadership positions; counsel
Israel A. Smith New President of the Church named
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions; unity commended
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions; stewardship
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions; counsel
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions; relationship between ministerial programs; prepare to build temple at Independence
W. Wallace SmithClarification of 149
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions; counsel on culture; Independence Temple preparation; ecology
W. Wallace SmithChanges in leadership positions; reconciliation
W. Wallace SmithNew precedent on presidential succession; presidential successor named; changes in leadership positions; reconciliation
Wallace B. SmithNew President of the Church; changes in leadership positions; counsel on outreach
Wallace B. SmithChanges in leadership positions; counsel on outreach
Wallace B. SmithChanges in leadership positions; counsel on witness
Wallace B. SmithPurpose of Independence Temple; priesthood opened to women; changes in leadership positions
Wallace B. SmithChanges in leadership positions; unity; humility
Wallace B. SmithChanges in leadership positions; the spiritual life
Wallace B. SmithChanges in leadership positions; trusting the Spirit; Independence Temple accepted
Wallace B. SmithNew President of the Church named
W. Grant McMurrayProclaim peace; reach out; patience; embrace differences; respect tradition
W. Grant McMurrayBe a prophetic people; diversity; tithing
Stephen M. VeazeyStrive for peace; missionary work; use and misuse of scripture; equality; generosity
Stephen M. VeazeyEffects of baptism, confirmation, and sacrament of the Lord's Supper; cultural awareness and sensitivity; flexibility in number of quorums of seventy; accelerate evangelism
Stephen M. VeazeyExpand community, promote peace, and end poverty; tithing; unity in diversity; act in accordance to beliefs