LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 120
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, making known the disposition of the
properties tithed as named in the preceding revelation, section 119.
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall be
disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my
Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and
by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith would have the final say on properties tithed to the church.
Skeptics, historical critics, and former members view the first-person
dictation style as a common nineteenth-century prophetic or biblical
literary convention. Critics argue it allowed Smith to institutionalize
his personal judgments, community policies, and domestic or marital
directives (such as instructions in D&C 132) under the immediate,
unassailable authority of divine speech.