An Integrated Approach

The power behind Virtual Historian is its integrated approach to the study of the Doctrine & Covenants. Let me give you an example.

Section 76 consists of a vision received by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in which the doctrine concerning the three degrees of glory was revealed. Now if we wanted to learn all about what brought about this revelation what would need? Think of an imaginary table upon which we will put the study resources that we will use:

• Scriptures
• Maps of Hiram, Ohio, and the United States
• Books on the historical background of section 76
• Biographical information on those mentioned in section 76
• Timeline of pertinent events
• Photos and descriptions of the John Johnson Farm where the revelation was received

Virtual Historian: Doctrine & Covenants provides all of this but goes a step further. It interconnects all of the information so that it is literally at your fingertips. As I read the text of section 76:

• I can read historical commentary taken from "Revelations of the Restoration" by Joseph McConkie and Craig J. Ostler right alongside the actual scripture.
• I can click on Sidney Rigdon's name in verse 11 and read his biography taken from "Who's Who in the Doctrine & Covenants" by Susan Easton Black.
• I can click on the "John Johnson Farm" in the introduction and see a VR photo of the Translation room in the Johnson Farm. I can then read commentary on the Farm in general and the room in particular (historical commentary on the locations in the program has been provided by Craig Ostler, Associate Professor of Church History and Doctrine at BYU). I can also see a list of all the sections that were received at the Johnson Farm. Once I am done in the Translation room I can browse through every room in the house.
• I can click one button and have a map load of Hiram, Ohio, where the Johnson Farm is located.
• That same button will jump the Timeline to the date when section 76 was received. I can see events both before and after so as to put the revelation in context. For example it is interesting to note that just one month prior Joseph and Sidney were commanded in section 73 to begin translating the Bible again. Section 76 was received right after the Prophet had translated John 5:29.

In short I can access a wealth of information almost instantaneously. I don't have to perform searches; everything has been linked up for me. I am able to quickly learn about the history of each section because all of the information is so easily accessible.