LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 47
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. John Whitmer, who had already served as
a clerk to the Prophet, initially hesitated when he was asked to serve
as the Church historian and recorder, replacing Oliver Cowdery. He
wrote, “I would rather not do it but observed that the will of the Lord
be done, and if he desires it, I desire that he would manifest it
through Joseph the Seer.” After Joseph Smith received this revelation,
John Whitmer accepted and served in his appointed office.
1–4, John Whitmer is designated to keep the history of the Church and to write for the Prophet.
1 Behold, it is expedient in me that my servant John should write and
keep a regular history, and assist you, my servant Joseph, in
transcribing all things which shall be given you, until he is called to
further duties.
Note: John Whitmer came to realize that Joseph Smith was a fraud.
Problems at church headquarters in Kirtland relating to the Kirtland
Safety Society bank caused Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to relocate
to Far West in early 1838. A brief leadership struggle ensued, which
led to the excommunication of the entire Whitmer family, as well as
Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, and others on March 10, 1838.
2 Again, verily I say unto you that he can also lift up his voice in meetings, whenever it shall be expedient.
Note: Believers will testify of Jesus Christ.
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and
went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the
reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent
to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation
for the people, say on.” Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his
hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: The God of
this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they
dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He
brought them out of it. Now for a time of about forty years He put up
with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven
nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by
allotment. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and
fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they asked for a
king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of
Benjamin, for forty years. And when He had removed him, He raised up
for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, I have
found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all
My will.’ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up
for Israel a Savior—Jesus— after John had first preached, before His
coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as
John was finishing his course, he said, Who do you think I am? I am not
He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I
am not worthy to loose.’ Men and brethren, sons of the family of
Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this
salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their
rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the
Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in
condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they
asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had
fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from
the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He
was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you
glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has
fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.
Acts 13:14-33
3 And again, I say unto you that it shall be appointed unto him to keep
the church record and history continually; for Oliver Cowdery I have
appointed to another office.
Note: Oliver Cowdery came to realize that Joseph Smith was a fraud.
By early 1838, the relationship between Smith and Cowdery had
deteriorated significantly. Cowdery felt that Smith's integration of
economic and political plans into his theology and ecclesiastical
structure was encroaching on the separation of church and state.
Cowdery also expressed his concerns of Smith's relationship with Fanny
Alger, a teenage maid living with the Smiths in Kirtland. In a January
1838 letter to his brother Warren: "[We] had some conversation in which
in every instance I did not fail to affirm that which I had said was
strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's
was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deserted
from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by
himself."
4 Wherefore, it shall be given him, inasmuch as he is faithful, by the Comforter, to write these things. Even so. Amen.
Note: True martyrs of Jesus Christ are blessed.
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ Yes,” says the Spirit, “that
they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
Revelation 14:13