Book of Commandments (1833)

The Book of Commandments represents the first effort to publish in book form the revelations received by Joseph Smith. On July 20, 1833, while the book was in press, the printing office in Independence, Missouri, was destroyed by vigilantes. Some of the unbound print sheets were rescued by several individuals, including sisters Mary and Caroline Rollins, who then hid in a nearby cornfield. Later, the rescued sheets were assembled and hand bound for private use. Approximately 30 copies are currently known to exist, and they are all incomplete.