REL C 225 EXAM 1 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
What is "Doctrine"? - ANS "something that is taught" or "teaching, instruction"
What are four types of doctrine - ANS Core, eternal: Unchanging truths on salvation
Supporting: Elaborative, descriptive, expounding on Core
Policy: Timely statements related to applications of supporttive and eternal teachings
Esoteric: Unknown or partially revealed
What are four measures of evaluating an official LDS teaching? - ANS 1. The Harmonized
Scriptural Canon
2. The United Voice of the Current 1st Presidency & the 12 Apostles
3. Repeated teaching of General Authorities
4. Current Church Publications: Books, Magazines, Website
What are five measures of evaluating an LDS historical source? - ANS 1. Primary Source
2. Contemporary Account (Recorded at time of event or much later)
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,3. Intent and tone (bias/agenda)
4. What's the relationship with other sources (consistent w/ other accounts)
5. Is the statement factual inference or subjective opinion?
Why are there different First Vision accounts? - ANS Audience (context)
Purpose (context)
Memory (interpretation)
What are the respective years, context, and audiences of the 4 primary First Vision accounts
(pre-reading)? - ANS 1832: Joseph's first attempt to record his history. D&C 85 had just been
given about recording history. Only record written partly with Joseph's hand. No real audience,
just his scribe wrote with him. Uses biblical language
1835: Account to Joshua, the Jewish Minister. Joshua, also Robert Matthews, was claiming to
be God the Father reincarnated in the body of Matthias, and ancient prophet.
1838: Currently in standard works in the Joseph Smith History. Emphasizes persecution likely
because it was written soon after Missouri and Liberty jail.
1842: Joseph in Nauvoo responding to Chicago Democrat editor John Wentworth's request for
the rise of the church. The letter Joseph wrote back, the Wentworth letter, also had the articles
of faith and "standard of truth has been erected".
Who (the names) wrote the five secondary accounts (pre-reading)? - ANS 1. Orson Pratt
2. Orson Hyde
3. Levi Richards
4. David Nye White
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, 5. Alexander Neibar
What are some of the unique contributions of each primary account? - ANS 1832: Record
says Joseph was 16 (added later, not by Joseph), focused on him searching since 12 for the
"walfare of his immortal soul", asking for forgiveness of sins and feeling peace for days
afterwards. Only says he saw "the Lord" possibly one being.
1835: Joseph mentions sermon on the mount scripture in addition to James 1:5. Provides more
detail about the advesary's attack (tongue swollen, sound behind him, jumped up). Didn't see a
dual appearance, but saw one and then the other as well as many angels.
1838: Emphasizes religious zeal, confusion, and excitement. Also emphasizes persecution
(written soon after Missouri and Liberty jail). Most descriptive: early spring, previously designed
spot, never considered all the sects were wrong, and what happened after the vision: woke up
on his back, talked with his mother at home, was persecuted by preacher.
1842: Also had the articles of faith and "standard of truth has been erected". Joseph describes a
Paul like transfiguration moment, says the Father and Son look exactly like each other, and
promises future truth.
What are some of the unique contributions of the secondary accounts? - ANS 1. Orson Pratt:
Joseph was wrapped by fire
2. Orson Hyde: Adversary gave Joseph doubts
3. Levi Richards: The everlasting covenant was broken
4. David Nye White: Stuck axe in stump, asked Lord what church to join
5. Alexander Neibar: Describes personages a little more
What are two primary doctrinal messages from the first vision? - ANS 1. Doctrinal Apostasy
through creeds
2. Apostasy from authorized covenants / ordinances
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
What is "Doctrine"? - ANS "something that is taught" or "teaching, instruction"
What are four types of doctrine - ANS Core, eternal: Unchanging truths on salvation
Supporting: Elaborative, descriptive, expounding on Core
Policy: Timely statements related to applications of supporttive and eternal teachings
Esoteric: Unknown or partially revealed
What are four measures of evaluating an official LDS teaching? - ANS 1. The Harmonized
Scriptural Canon
2. The United Voice of the Current 1st Presidency & the 12 Apostles
3. Repeated teaching of General Authorities
4. Current Church Publications: Books, Magazines, Website
What are five measures of evaluating an LDS historical source? - ANS 1. Primary Source
2. Contemporary Account (Recorded at time of event or much later)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,3. Intent and tone (bias/agenda)
4. What's the relationship with other sources (consistent w/ other accounts)
5. Is the statement factual inference or subjective opinion?
Why are there different First Vision accounts? - ANS Audience (context)
Purpose (context)
Memory (interpretation)
What are the respective years, context, and audiences of the 4 primary First Vision accounts
(pre-reading)? - ANS 1832: Joseph's first attempt to record his history. D&C 85 had just been
given about recording history. Only record written partly with Joseph's hand. No real audience,
just his scribe wrote with him. Uses biblical language
1835: Account to Joshua, the Jewish Minister. Joshua, also Robert Matthews, was claiming to
be God the Father reincarnated in the body of Matthias, and ancient prophet.
1838: Currently in standard works in the Joseph Smith History. Emphasizes persecution likely
because it was written soon after Missouri and Liberty jail.
1842: Joseph in Nauvoo responding to Chicago Democrat editor John Wentworth's request for
the rise of the church. The letter Joseph wrote back, the Wentworth letter, also had the articles
of faith and "standard of truth has been erected".
Who (the names) wrote the five secondary accounts (pre-reading)? - ANS 1. Orson Pratt
2. Orson Hyde
3. Levi Richards
4. David Nye White
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, 5. Alexander Neibar
What are some of the unique contributions of each primary account? - ANS 1832: Record
says Joseph was 16 (added later, not by Joseph), focused on him searching since 12 for the
"walfare of his immortal soul", asking for forgiveness of sins and feeling peace for days
afterwards. Only says he saw "the Lord" possibly one being.
1835: Joseph mentions sermon on the mount scripture in addition to James 1:5. Provides more
detail about the advesary's attack (tongue swollen, sound behind him, jumped up). Didn't see a
dual appearance, but saw one and then the other as well as many angels.
1838: Emphasizes religious zeal, confusion, and excitement. Also emphasizes persecution
(written soon after Missouri and Liberty jail). Most descriptive: early spring, previously designed
spot, never considered all the sects were wrong, and what happened after the vision: woke up
on his back, talked with his mother at home, was persecuted by preacher.
1842: Also had the articles of faith and "standard of truth has been erected". Joseph describes a
Paul like transfiguration moment, says the Father and Son look exactly like each other, and
promises future truth.
What are some of the unique contributions of the secondary accounts? - ANS 1. Orson Pratt:
Joseph was wrapped by fire
2. Orson Hyde: Adversary gave Joseph doubts
3. Levi Richards: The everlasting covenant was broken
4. David Nye White: Stuck axe in stump, asked Lord what church to join
5. Alexander Neibar: Describes personages a little more
What are two primary doctrinal messages from the first vision? - ANS 1. Doctrinal Apostasy
through creeds
2. Apostasy from authorized covenants / ordinances
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
