The Seventy's Course in Theology, First Year: Outline History of the Seventy and A Survey of the Books of Holy Scripture

In Short

This volume is a structured course of study created to prepare members of the Seventy for their calling as foreign ministers of the gospel. It begins with the divine history, authority, and organization of the priesthood, establishing the roots of the Seventy in ancient Israel and modern revelation. The text then transitions into a practical survey of the four standard works: the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. By treating these texts holistically, it provides an enduring framework for intelligent, contextual scripture study.

The Story

The intellectual and spiritual arc begins with a call to order and preparation. The text opens by addressing the nature of the Seventy, framing their office not as a passive title, but as an active commitment requiring rigorous mental application, spiritual power, and an understanding of the Holy Priesthood. Authority is presented as a delegated power from God to act in His stead, divided functionally between the temporal focus of the Aaronic Priesthood and the spiritual emphasis of the Melchisedek Priesthood, within which the Seventy serve as a vital foreign ministry.

Establishing this structural foundation, the work shifts to the historical roots of the Seventy. It traces the lineage of this calling back to the seventy elders chosen to assist Moses in governing Israel, engaging with ancient and modern commentary to show that the Higher Priesthood and its quorums existed anciently. From there, the text embarks on its primary mission: equipping ministers with a comprehensive knowledge of their essential tools—the sacred scriptures.

The survey of scripture begins with the Old Testament, outlining the antiquity of the Hebrew records as preserved by high priests, the structural organization of the Pentateuch, and the historical books. The narrative moves through the heroic struggles of figures like Joshua and the Maccabees, demonstrating how faith endured through adversity and foreign oppression. It then transitions to the New Testament, analyzing the gospels, the distinct aims of Matthew, and the urgent, impetuous letters of Paul that articulate salvation through Christ.

Moving to modern scripture, the work details the origin and translation of the Book of Mormon, emphasizing that Joseph Smith’s effort required intense mental and spiritual concentration alongside sacred instruments. It explores Nephite and Lamanite history, illustrating how religious divisions shaped their civilization. The text then turns to direct modern revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, outlining the history of its publication and showing how revelations are best understood within their historical contexts. Finally, it explores the Pearl of Great Price, restoring ancient knowledge regarding the fall of Adam, the joy of redemption, and the ministry of Enoch. The entire progression culminates in an urgent charge to fill the ranks of the Seventies with energetic ministers ready to preach to the world.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of authority The work opens by establishing the office and responsibilities of the Seventy within the Holy Priesthood. It distinguishes between temporal and spiritual administrative divisions while asserting that all authority is delegated by God to perform His work on earth.

Ancient origins in Israel The text investigates the Old Testament precedent for the Seventy, linking Moses' appointment of seventy elders to the modern quorum. It uses modern revelation as a key to resolve historical confusion regarding the presence of the Higher Priesthood in antiquity.

Surveying the Hebrew and Christian scriptures The guide walks through the Old and New Testaments, analyzing textual origins, authorship, and historical contexts. It covers key eras from the Pentateuch and Maccabean revolts to the gospels and Paul’s doctrinal epistles to the early churches.

Examining modern volumes of revelation The focus shifts to the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The text details the history, spiritual demands, and translation process of these modern records while outlining their core historical narrative and restored doctrines.

The final charge to serve The course concludes with instructions emphasizing the pressing need for prepared, energetic ministers. It calls for strong, capable members to step into the Seventy and take the message of the gospel to the world.

The People

Moses The ancient prophet who leads Israel out of bondage and faces the heavy burden of governing the people. To aid him in these onerous cares, seventy elders are appointed, prefiguring the organization and spiritual power of the quorum of the Seventy.

Joshua The successor to Moses who leads Israel with wisdom, eloquence, and great magnanimity. He remains steadfast in his devotion to God, proving himself a sagacious leader in procuring peace and defending the people through courageous action.

Paul The impetuous and eager apostle to the Gentiles whose epistles form a central pillar of New Testament doctrine. Impatient of dialectic restraint and deeply intent on his mission, he zealously preaches salvation through Christ while guiding early Christian congregations.

Joseph Smith The modern prophet through whom the Holy Priesthood and direct revelations are restored. He exerts intense mental and spiritual effort to translate the Book of Mormon using the sacred interpreters and seer stone, establishing the written foundations of modern Church doctrine.

In Its Own Voice

"To become a Seventy means mental activity, intellectual development, and the attainment of spiritual power."

This opening declaration sets the high expectations for anyone entering the quorum, establishing that spiritual authority must be paired with diligent mental effort.

"The dominating idea of the whole course being, A Workman Should Know His Tools."

Here the text captures its practical motivation, urging students to gain a thorough, contextual familiarity with the standard works rather than relying on isolated proof-texts.

"God sets no premium upon mental and spiritual laziness; for whatever means God may have provided to assist man to arrive at the truth, he has always made it necessary for him to couple with those means his utmost endeavor of mind and heart."

In discussing the translation of modern scripture, this passage emphasizes that divine assistance always requires full human engagement and intellectual labor.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an argument against intellectual and spiritual complacency in religious service. It confronts the habit of selecting isolated, disconnected proof-texts to support doctrines, warning that such approaches lead to wrong deductions and misconceptions. Instead, the author argues that true ministry requires understanding the overarching narrative, historical context, and unifying spirit of sacred literature.

Underneath the instructional outlines lies a fundamental question: what kind of preparation is required to represent God faithfully? The text asserts that divine authority is not a substitute for rigorous study. Rather, spiritual power and intellectual development must work in tandem, requiring ministers to bring their utmost mental capability to the texts and institutions they serve.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers interested in early twentieth-century Latter-day Saint education, historical theology, and structured approaches to scriptural pedagogy. It offers a fascinating glimpse into how church leaders sought to elevate the educational standard of their ministry during a period of institutional consolidation. Reading it feels like attending a focused, no-nonsense lecture series where historical commentary, textual analysis, and institutional organization are brought together into a single, cohesive curriculum.

What remains with the reader is the text's uncompromising respect for rigorous preparation and context. The book refuses to offer easy shortcuts, constantly reminding the student that divine inspiration operates through human effort rather than in place of it. Modern readers should be prepared for the formal outline structure of a vintage study manual, complete with block quotations, commentary excerpts, and references to early twentieth-century scholarship. For those willing to engage its disciplined format, the work delivers a masterclass in treating sacred history with serious, systematic attention.