The Christmas and New Year’s holidays forced a 2-week vacation from Institute.  I taught my first Institute lesson of the year last night.  I’m now really excited about the new course of study.  Last year we studied the Book of Mormon.  This year we study Doctrine and Covenants and Church History.  The Book of Mormon has always been my favorite book, but Marjorie’s is the Doctrine and Covenants.  Joseph Smith said that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”  I believe that.  I’ve experienced that.

But yesterday I found another superlative statement which I also believe.  Joseph Fielding Smith said, “In my judgment there is no book on earth yet come to man as important as the book known as the Doctrine and Covenants, with all due respect to the Book of Mormon, and the Bible, and the Pearl of Great Price, which we say are our standards in doctrine.  The book of Doctrine and Covenants to us stands in a peculiar position above them all.

“I am going to tell you why.  When I say that, do not for a moment think I do not value the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Pearl of Great Price, just as much as any man that lives; I think I do.  I do not know of anybody who has read them more, and I appreciate them; they are wonderful; they contain doctrine and revelation and commandments that we should heed; but the Bible is a history containing the doctrine and commandments given to the people anciently.  That applies also to the Book of Mormon.  It is the doctrine and the history and the commandments of the people who dwelt upon this continent anciently.

“But this Doctrine and Covenants contains the word of God to those who dwell here now.  It is our book.  It belongs to the Latter-day Saints.  More precious than gold, the Prophet says we should treasure it more than the riches of the whole earth.  I wonder if we do?  If we value it, understand, it, and know what it contains, we will value it more than wealth; it is worth more to us than the riches of the earth.”

So one book gets you closer to God than any other book, and the other is the most important book in the world.  What am I to do?

The one book I’ve read 4 times per year for the past 4 years.  The other I’ve read once per year.  I started the Book of Mormon again on January 1st according to schedule.  By reading 3 chapters a day, I finish it every quarter.  The Doctrine and Covenants I’ve read once per year for the past few years, and I’m halfway through it again.  My plan is to read one section per day in D&C, and three chapters of the Book of Mormon every night.  I’m excited about these books.

I’ve found three other statements about the Doctrine and Covenants that give me pause.  One comes from the Explanatory Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants:  “...the testimony that is given of Jesus Christ...makes this book of great value to the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth.”

The second comes from Marjorie:  “The Doctrine and Covenants is my favorite book of scripture.  You don’t have to dig out the principles and doctrines; it’s all laid out plainly.”

The third statement comes from Wilford Woodruff who called the Doctrine and Covenants “Our Testament.”

So we have the Old Testament; the New Testament; the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ; and Our Testament, the Doctrine and Covenants.”  All that’s lacking now is “My Testament.”

I must think about that.  Maybe that will be the subtitle for one of the books that I write.