Oral History and D&C 135

How should we deal with oral history that does not have any accompanying documents?  Most people have powerful and important stories in their family history and we respond to one listener's question about the validity of family history stories that do not have reliable sources to verify the events.  Richard shares a personal experience of family oral tradition that drifted into some inaccuracies.

This discussion leads to a wider examination of the unique section of the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 135.  This tribute to Joseph and Hyrum Smith was written very shortly after the terrible events of Carthage and added to the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants that was in production at the time of their murders.  In the 1981 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, this memorial to Joseph and Hyrum Smith was attributed to John Taylor.  In the 2013 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, that attribution was removed.  We discuss the authorship of this powerful section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

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