The Church and the Gospel, Preface and Chapter 1   Pages 5 to 11   PREFACE:  There are volumes and volumes on LDS Church history, but not much has been written on the actual history of its doctrines. Little doubt exists among the Mormon people as to the origin and beginning events of the Church, but there are many diverse opinions on its doctrines. Mormonism has more than its share of confusion, contradiction, and controversy among its members. For example, about 20 years after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Reorganized LDS Church was born because of disagreements over correct doctrine and authority. Approximately 200 break-offs from the Mormon Church have been created mostly over differences in those two areas. From dispensation to dispensation, history records that the course of many civilizations and churches is “one eternal round”: (1) pure at its inception from God; (2) gradually changed (“polluted”) by mankind in their efforts to “improve” it; and (3) eventually restored back to its righteous state.  The Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days is no exception, as this book will show by tracing the history and evolution of some of its ordinances and doctrines during the 160+ years since its organization in 1830. This publication can, of course, contain only a very small representation of quotations and references that could be included on the ten doctrines selected to be discussed: Gifts of the spiritWithout purse or scripThe SeventiesThe gathering of IsraelRe-baptismUnited OrderThe only true GodPlural marriageBlacks and the PriesthoodThe Kingdom of God