LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 133
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Hiram, Ohio, November 3, 1831. Prefacing this revelation, Joseph
Smith’s history states, “At this time there were many things which the
Elders desired to know relative to preaching the Gospel to the
inhabitants of the earth, and concerning the gathering; and in order to
walk by the true light, and be instructed from on high, on the 3rd of
November, 1831, I inquired of the Lord and received the following
important revelation.” This section was first added to the book of
Doctrine and Covenants as an appendix and was subsequently assigned a
section number.
1–6, The Saints are commanded to prepare for the Second Coming; 7–16,
All men are commanded to flee from Babylon, come to Zion, and prepare
for the great day of the Lord; 17–35, He will stand on Mount Zion, the
continents will become one land, and the lost tribes of Israel will
return; 36–40, The gospel was restored through Joseph Smith to be
preached in all the world; 41–51, The Lord will come down in vengeance
upon the wicked; 52–56, It will be the year of His redeemed; 57–74, The
gospel is to be sent forth to save the Saints and for the destruction
of the wicked.
1 Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the Lord your God, and hear
the word of the Lord concerning you—2 The Lord who shall suddenly come
to his temple; the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse
to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all
the ungodly among you.
Note: The New Covenant eliminated the tangible temple.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s
building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a
wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on
it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other
foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear;
for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and
the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s
work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If
anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be
saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple
of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the
temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy,
which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:9-17
3 For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God. 4
Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves;
gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion,
all you that have not been commanded to tarry. 5 Go ye out from
Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
Note: Zion is Jerusalem not Independence Missouri.
Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the
tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in
Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD
from the City of David, which is Zion. 1 Kings 8:1
6 Call your solemn assemblies, and speak often one to another. And let
every man call upon the name of the Lord. 7 Yea, verily I say unto you
again, the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you: Go ye
out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations, from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Note: The end of the world did not occur in the 19th century.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming
on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send
His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather
together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other. Matthew 24:30-31
8 Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar
off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call
upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews. 9
And behold, and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord
unto all people: Go ye forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of
my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and
that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about.
Note: Believers will be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
10 Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go
forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go
ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.
Note: Believers will be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by
God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in
your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the
determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless
hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having
loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should
be held by it. For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the LORD
always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be
shaken. Therefore, my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover,
my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in
Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have
made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your
presence.’” Acts 2:22-28
11 Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour. 12 Let
them, therefore, who are among the Gentiles flee unto Zion. 13 And let
them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the
Lord’s house. 14 Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon,
from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. 15 But
verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let
all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look
back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him.
Note: Jesus Christ wants believers to go out to all the nations.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given
to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
16 Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye elders
of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth
upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent. 17 For
behold, the Lord God hath sent forth the angel crying through the midst
of heaven, saying: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths
straight, for the hour of his coming is nigh—18 When the Lamb shall
stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand,
having his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 19 Wherefore,
prepare ye for the coming of the Bridegroom; go ye, go ye out to meet
him. 20 For behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet, and upon
the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea,
and upon the land of Zion. 21 And he shall utter his voice out of Zion,
and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among
all people; 22 And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and
as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains,
and the valleys shall not be found.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him
one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written
on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of
many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. Revelation 14:1-2
23 He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into
the north countries, and the islands shall become one land; 24 And the
land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their
own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it
was divided. 25 And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst
of his people, and shall reign over all flesh.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I
will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD. “Many nations shall be joined
to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will
dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent
Me to you. And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His
inheritance in the Holy Land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be
silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy
habitation!” Zechariah 2:10-13
26 And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance
before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no
longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice
shall flow down at their presence. 27 And an highway shall be cast up
in the midst of the great deep. 28 Their enemies shall become a prey
unto them, 29 And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of
living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden
of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the
voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3
30 And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of
Ephraim, my servants. 31 And the boundaries of the everlasting hills
shall tremble at their presence. 32 And there shall they fall down and
be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of
the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. 33 And they shall be filled
with songs of everlasting joy. 34 Behold, this is the blessing of the
everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon
the head of Ephraim and his fellows. 35 And they also of the tribe of
Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the
Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, forever and ever.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
“For there shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim,
arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 31:6
36 And now, verily saith the Lord, that these things might be known
among you, O inhabitants of the earth, I have sent forth mine angel
flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who
hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man, who shall
appear unto many that dwell on the earth. 37 And this gospel shall be
preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
Note: The end of the world did not occur in the 19th century.
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every
nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God
and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and
worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
Revelation 14:6-7
38 And the servants of God shall go forth, saying with a loud voice:
Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come;
39 And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters—40 Calling upon the name of the Lord day and night,
saying: O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, that thou wouldst come
down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
So, when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why
do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our
own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus,
whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and
asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of
life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And His
name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see
and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this
perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now, brethren, I know
that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things
which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ
would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who
was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of
restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His
holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the
fathers, The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from
your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to
you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet
shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Yes, and all the
prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken,
have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the
covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, and in
your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you
first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you,
in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Acts 3:12-26
41 And it shall be answered upon their heads; for the presence of the
Lord shall be as the melting fire that burneth, and as the fire which
causeth the waters to boil. 42 O Lord, thou shalt come down to make thy
name known to thine adversaries, and all nations shall tremble at thy
presence— 43 When thou doest terrible things, things they look not for;
44 Yea, when thou comest down, and the mountains flow down at thy
presence, thou shalt meet him who rejoiceth and worketh righteousness,
who remembereth thee in thy ways.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and
scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and
Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were
gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the
midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the
people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed
done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be
known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone
which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief
cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:5-12
45 For since the beginning of the world have not men heard nor
perceived by the ear, neither hath any eye seen, O God, besides thee,
how great things thou hast prepared for him that waiteth for thee. 46
And it shall be said: Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven
with dyed garments; yea, from the regions which are not known, clothed
in his glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? 47
And he shall say: I am he who spake in righteousness, mighty to save.
48 And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him
that treadeth in the wine-vat.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this
One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His
strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your
apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? “I
have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with
Me. For I have trodden them in My anger and trampled them in My fury;
Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My
robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My
redeemed has come. Isaiah 63:1-4
49 And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall
hide his face in shame, and the moon shall withhold its light, and the
stars shall be hurled from their places. 50 And his voice shall be
heard: I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment
upon all people; and none were with me; 51 And I have trampled them in
my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have
I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was
the day of vengeance which was in my heart. 52 And now the year of my
redeemed is come; and they shall mention the loving kindness of their
Lord, and all that he has bestowed upon them according to his goodness,
and according to his loving kindness, forever and ever.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was
no one to uphold; Therefore, My own arm brought salvation for Me; And
My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My
anger, made them drunk in My fury, and brought down their strength to
the earth.” Isaiah 63:5-6
53 In all their afflictions he was afflicted. And the angel of his
presence saved them; and in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed
them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old; 54 Yea, and
Enoch also, and they who were with him; the prophets who were before
him; and Noah also, and they who were before him; and Moses also, and
they who were before him; 55 And from Moses to Elijah, and from Elijah
to John, who were with Christ in his resurrection, and the holy
apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of
the Lamb.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that
Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those
who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 2
Thessalonians 1:9-10
56 And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come
forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon
Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall
sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever. 57 And for
this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were
to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his
everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity—
Note: The Christian Gospel is Jesus Christ.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you
are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless
you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I
also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
58 To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth,
and for the Lord’s errand in the day when the weak shall confound the
wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put
their tens of thousands to flight. 59 And by the weak things of the
earth the Lord shall thresh the nations by the power of his Spirit.
Note: Jesus Christ is declared the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in
the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was
born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be
the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:1-4
60 And for this cause these commandments were given; they were
commanded to be kept from the world in the day that they were given,
but now are to go forth unto all flesh— 61 And this according to the
mind and will of the Lord, who ruleth over all flesh.
Note: The will of God is that everyone will sincerely believe in Jesus Christ.
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the
Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him
up at the last day.” John 6:40
62 And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life.
Note: Believers are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.
“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and
commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I
saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and
those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground,
I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick
against the goads.’ So, I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I
have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a
witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which
I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as
well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes,
in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an
inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’” Acts
26:12-18
63 And upon them that hearken not to the voice of the Lord shall be
fulfilled that which was written by the prophet Moses, that they should
be cut off from among the people. 64 And also that which was written by
the prophet Malachi: For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an
oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of
hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Note: The end of the world did not occur in the 19th century.
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the
proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is
coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave
them neither root nor branch.” Malachi 4:1
65 Wherefore, this shall be the answer of the Lord unto them: 66 In
that day when I came unto mine own, no man among you received me, and
you were driven out.
Note: Have you received Jesus Christ into your life?
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world
did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God. John 1:10-13
67 When I called again there was none of you to answer; yet my arm was
not shortened at all that I could not redeem, neither my power to
deliver. 68 Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a
wilderness; their fish stink, and die for thirst. 69 I clothe the
heavens with blackness, and make sackcloth their covering. 70 And this
shall ye have of my hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And
the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you
not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” But Peter
and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather
than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by
hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince
and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And
we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit
whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:27-32
71 Behold, and lo, there are none to deliver you; for ye obeyed not my
voice when I called to you out of the heavens; ye believed not my
servants, and when they were sent unto you ye received them not.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and
beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of
Jesus and let them go. So, they departed from the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for
His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not
cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:40-42
72 Wherefore, they sealed up the testimony and bound up the law, and ye were delivered over unto darkness.
Note: Believers will have a testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the
word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that
he saw. Revelation 1:1-2
73 These shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to
them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by
Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean
spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed;
and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great
joy in that city. Acts 8:4-8
74 Behold the Lord your God hath spoken it. Amen.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward
the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This
is desert. So, he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a
eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians,
who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to
worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading
Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and
overtake this chariot.” So, Philip ran to him, and heard him reading
the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip
to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read
was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before
its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation
His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For
His life is taken from the earth.” So, the eunuch answered Philip and
said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of
some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this
Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Acts 8:26-35