Church members with a basic understanding of the Doctrine and Covenants know the compilation of latter-day revelations and writings is not in chronological order.

Tom Smart

Room in the John Johnson farm home in Hiram, Ohio. Joseph Smith received 16 revelations at this site near Kirtland, including Doctrine and Covenants Section 76.

In like manner, the sections do not follow any sort of geographical sequence — such as all the sections from one specific city or region being grouped together.

One reason is the nonchronological sequencing of the book's sections. But another is that the revelations and writings weren't confined to a certain area for a specific time period.

Shaun Stahle

Kirtland Ohio Temple, site of Sections 109 and 110.

While 65 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants — or nearly half of the 138 total sections — were received in and around Kirtland, Ohio, from 1831 to 1837, 10 other sections can be traced to the Prophet Joseph Smith's travels to Missouri during that time, including a half dozen that first year (1831) alone.

Scott G. Winterton

The Nauvoo Illinois Temple at sunset in 2002. Nauvoo and nearby Ramus were the sites of 10 sections of the Doctrine and Covenants — Sections 124-132 and 135.

The accompanying map shows locations where the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were written as revealed, with some cited as being "at or near place specified" (see the "Chronological Order of Contents" listing in the front of the Doctrine and Covenants).

Tom Smart

The Peter Whitmer farm in Fayette, New York. Many of the early revelations on Church organization, governance and ordinances were received in Fayette.

Each annotated city includes a year-by-year listing of the sections attributed to or near that area, providing not only a geographic reference for the Doctrine and Covenants sections but also a modified chronological reference as well.

taylor@desnews.com

John Clark

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF CONTENTS

(Note: The printed edition of Church News features a two-page map showing locations and references to sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. The illustration was prepared by Deseret News artist John Clark. A .pdf version is available for download. The link is found in the upper right corner of this Web page.)

2 — Manchester, New York

1823 - Section 2

1830 – 19, 22-23

3 — Harmony, Pennsylvania

1828 – Sections 3, 10

1829 – Sections 4-9, 11-13

1830 – Sections 24-27

2 — Fayette, New York

1829 – Sections 14-18

1830 – 20-21, 28-37

1831 – Sections 38-40

5 — Kirtland, Ohio

1831 – Sections 41-50, 52-56, 63-64, 70, 72

1832 – Sections 84-88

1833 – Sections 89-98, 101

1834 – Sections 102-104, 106

1835 – Section 107-108, 134

1836 – Sections 109-110, 137

1837 – Section 112

5 — Thompson, Ohio

1831 – Section 51

6 — Zion, Jackson County, Missouri

1831 – Sections 57-60

7 — By Missouri River, Missouri

1831 – Sections 61-62

5 — Hiram, Ohio

1831 – Sections 1, 65, 67-69, 71, 133

1832 – Sections 73-74, 76-81, 99

5 — Orange, Ohio

1831 – Section 66

5 — Amherst, Ohio

1832 – Section 75

8 — Jackson County, Missouri

1832 – Sections 82-83

8 — Independence, Missouri

1832 – Section 83

4 — Perrysburg, New York

1833 – Section 100

7 — Fishing River, Missouri

1834 – Section 105

1 — Salem, Massachusetts

1836 – Section 111

8 — Far West, Missouri

1838 – Sections 113-115, 117-120

8 — Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri

1838 – Section 116

8 — Liberty Jail, Clay County, Missouri

1839 – Sections 121-123

6 — Nauvoo, Illinois

1841 – Sections 124-126

1842 – Sections 127-128

1843 – Section 129, 132

1844 – Section 135

6 — Ramus, Illinois

1841 – Sections 130-131

9 — Winter Quarters (now Nebraska)

1847 – Section 136

10 — Salt Lake City, Utah

1890 – Official Declaration – 1

1918 – Section 138

1978 – Official Declaration – 2