“Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” — Doctrine and Covenants 1:37

In the early years of the Church, members accessed the Lord’s revelations to Joseph Smith through handwritten copies. In late 1831, a conference was held to discuss publishing these revelations. The Lord approved of the potential publication and gave the preface for what was to be the Book of Commandments. William W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery, and John Whitmer formed the committee that selected the revelations that were to be printed in the Book of Commandments. The Literary Firm oversaw the publication, and printing began in 1832 at Phelps' print shop in Independence, Missouri. However, on July 20, 1833, a mob ransacked the print shop and destroyed the building, halting the printing process. Many pages from the shop were recovered and bound into books for private use. In 1835, the Church succeeded in publishing the revelations in Kirtland as The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, which included the unreleased Book of Commandments and more recent revelations.²

1. Doctrine and Covenants 1:37

2. "Book of Commandments," churchofjesuschrist.org; Historical Introduction, Book of Commandments, 1833, josephsmithpapers.org