Review
Title: The Doctrine and Covenants Family Reader
Authors: Tyler and Stephanie McKellar
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Doctrinal
Year Published: 2020
Number of Pages: 191
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 13:9781629728001
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association of Mormon Letters
Forty-six years ago, this month, I was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had been studying the doctrines and practices of various religions for several years. I began my study of the church by accessing books and magazines of the church in my local small-town library. After learning about the four-standard works, I ordered the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price through the local bookstore. I found a copy of the Book of Mormon on the store’s shelves and bought that. To this day I don’t know why, but I chose to read the Doctrine and Covenants first. To say I was fascinated by the book is an understatement. I am excited that book of scripture will be the Gospel Doctrine study course next year.
The Doctrine and Covenants Family Reader follows the pattern of the previous Book of Mormon Family Reader. It is a straightforward and easy to use and understand format. It uses the actual scriptural text and divides the Doctrine and Covenants and the Joseph Smith history into brief chronological order.
Each chapter includes a title, a short introduction that explains the church history background specific to that section, and who is speaking or writing. Following the actual scriptures, the authors have included a few follow-up questions to encourage thought and discussion among family members.
There are beautiful original illustrations by artist Dan Burr that bring the people, events, and doctrinal topics to life, and will make the stories from the Doctrine and Covenants more memorable and vivid to children.
At the conclusion of the chapters covering the Doctrine and Covenants, three additional chapters have been included that cover three modern declarations from the church: The Family: A Proclamation to the World, The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, and The Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The authors have primarily compiled this book for daily use by families with children, but it would also be an excellent resource for Primary and other youth classes and individuals. Although not all chapters of the Doctrine and Covenants are included, and it is simplistic in nature, The Doctrine and Covenants Family Reader will be an excellent addition to the home library of parents, teachers, and church leaders, as we begin the study of the Doctrine and Covenants in the new year.