LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 46
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to
the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. In this early time of the
Church, a unified pattern for the conducting of Church services had not
yet developed. However, a custom of admitting only members and earnest
investigators to the sacrament meetings and other assemblies of the
Church had become somewhat general. This revelation expresses the will
of the Lord relative to governing and conducting meetings and His
direction on seeking and discerning the gifts of the Spirit.
1–2, Elders are to conduct meetings as guided by the Holy Spirit; 3–6,
Truth seekers should not be excluded from sacramental services; 7–12,
Ask of God and seek the gifts of the Spirit; 13–26, An enumeration of
some of these gifts is given; 27–33, Church leaders are given power to
discern the gifts of the Spirit.
1 Hearken, O ye people of my church; for verily I say unto you that
these things were spoken unto you for your profit and learning.
Note: Believers will grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest
you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the
error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.
Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18
2 But notwithstanding those things which are written, it always has
been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever
shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by
the Holy Spirit.
Note: The Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus Christ.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of
Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from
the beginning.” John 15:26-27
3 Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast anyone out from your public meetings, which are held before the world.
Note: Believers are not to fellowship with practicing sinners.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and
such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a
man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather
mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among
you. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2
4 Ye are also commanded not to cast anyone who belongeth to the church
out of your sacrament meetings; nevertheless, if any have trespassed,
let him not partake until he makes reconciliation.
Note: Believers are not to fellowship with practicing sinners.
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens
the whole lump? Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a
new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our
Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not
with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
5 And again I say unto you, ye shall not cast any out of your sacrament
meetings who are earnestly seeking the kingdom—I speak this concerning
those who are not of the church.
Note: Believers are not to fellowship with practicing sinners.
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a
brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a
person. 1 Corinthians 5:11
6 And again I say unto you, concerning your confirmation meetings, that
if there be any that are not of the church, that are earnestly seeking
after the kingdom, ye shall not cast them out.
Note: Believers are not to fellowship with practicing sinners.
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you
not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges.
Therefore, “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Corinthians
5:12-13
7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth
liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would
that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before
me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer
and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or
doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men,
and others of devils.
Note: The Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus Christ.
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the
Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:54-56
8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be
deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what
they are given;
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31
9 For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those
who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to
do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and
not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts.
Note: Believers will benefit others with their gifts.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are
differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities
of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
10 And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always
remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that
are given unto the church.
Note: Joseph Smith was confused.
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33
11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many
gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. 12 To
some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be
profited thereby.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot
say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the
feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the
body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the
body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater
honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our
presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given
greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no
schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for
one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;
or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1
Corinthians 12:20-26
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
Note: All believers will have the Holy Spirit.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His
glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
Note: All believers will have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
15 And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the
differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same
Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the
conditions of the children of men. 16 And again, it is given by the
Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they
be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every
man to profit withal.
Note: Believers are united by the Holy Spirit into Jesus Christ.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of
that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
For in fact the body is not one member but many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
17 And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of
God, the word of wisdom. 18 To another is given the word of knowledge,
that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another
the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:8
19 And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed; 20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:9
21 And again, to some is given the working of miracles;
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
to another the working of miracles, 1 Corinthians 12:10
22 And to others it is given to prophesy;
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
to another prophecy, 1 Corinthians 12:10
23 And to others the discerning of spirits.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
to another discerning of spirits, 1 Corinthians 12:10
24 And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues;
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
to another different kinds of tongues, 1 Corinthians 12:10
25 And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:10
26 And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God.
Note: Believers will benefit others with their gifts.
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not
have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: Romans
12:4-6
27 And unto the bishop of the church, and unto such as God shall
appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the
church, are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest
there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. 1 John 4:1
28 And it shall come to pass that he that asketh in Spirit shall
receive in Spirit; 29 That unto some it may be given to have all those
gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be
profited thereby.
Note: Followers of Jesus Christ will serve one another.
Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be
considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority
over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the
contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and
he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the
table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am
among you as the One who serves. Luke 22:24-27
30 He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.
Note: The will of God is believing in Jesus Christ for everlasting life.
“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
31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;
Note: Believers are blessed for suffering in the name of Jesus Christ.
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the
Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is
blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 1 Peter 4:14
32 And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.
Note: Believers give thanks to God by the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ.
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved
by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation
through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which
He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
33 And ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually. Even so. Amen.
Note: Believers will be slaves of God thereby receiving the gift of eternal life.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to
righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you
are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having
been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your
fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:20-23