LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 49
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to
Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, and Leman Copley, at Kirtland, Ohio,
May 7, 1831. Leman Copley had embraced the gospel but still held to
some of the teachings of the Shakers (United Society of Believers in
Christ’s Second Appearing), to which he had formerly belonged. Some of
the beliefs of the Shakers were that Christ’s Second Coming had already
occurred and that He had appeared in the form of a woman, Ann Lee. They
did not consider baptism by water essential. They rejected marriage and
believed in a life of total celibacy. Some Shakers also forbade the
eating of meat. In prefacing this revelation, Joseph Smith’s history
states, “In order to have [a] more perfect understanding on the
subject, I inquired of the Lord, and received the following.” The
revelation refutes some of the basic concepts of the Shaker group. The
aforementioned brethren took a copy of the revelation to the Shaker
community (near Cleveland, Ohio) and read it to them in its entirety,
but it was rejected.
1–7, The day and hour of Christ’s coming will remain unknown until He
comes; 8–14, Men must repent, believe the gospel, and obey the
ordinances to gain salvation; 15–16, Marriage is ordained of God;
17–21, The eating of meat is approved; 22–28, Zion will flourish and
the Lamanites blossom as the rose before the Second Coming.
1 Hearken unto my word, my servants Sidney, and Parley, and Leman; for
behold, verily I say unto you, that I give unto you a commandment that
you shall go and preach my gospel which ye have received, even as ye
have received it, unto the Shakers.
Note: The Shakers were mostly similar to Mormons except for sex.
The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more
commonly known as the Shakers, are a millenarian restorationist
Christian sect founded c. 1747 in England and then organized in the
United States in the 1780s. They were initially known as "Shaking
Quakers" because of their ecstatic behavior during worship services.
2 Behold, I say unto you, that they desire to know the truth in part,
but not all, for they are not right before me and must needs repent. 3
Wherefore, I send you, my servants Sidney and Parley, to preach the
gospel unto them.
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
4 And my servant Leman shall be ordained unto this work, that he may
reason with them, not according to that which he has received of them,
but according to that which shall be taught him by you my servants; and
by so doing I will bless him, otherwise he shall not prosper.
Note: Leman Copley came to realize that Joseph Smith wanted his large farm.
When the members of the branch of the Church of Christ from Colesville,
New York came to settle in Ohio, Copley was persuaded to allow them to
settle on his large farm of nearly 1000 acres. Then, when he and the
church had a falling out, he forced them all to leave.
5 Thus saith the Lord; for I am God, and have sent mine Only Begotten
Son into the world for the redemption of the world, and have decreed
that he that receiveth him shall be saved, and he that receiveth him
not shall be damned—
Note: Joseph Smith changed his mind about damnation with Doctrine and Covenants 76.
On February 16, 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon announced they had
received a revelation from God outlining the "important points touching
the salvation of man." According to the revelation, all humanity will
be saved in one of three degrees of glory, except for a small number
who commit the unpardonable sin who will be banished to outer darkness.
This revelation became known as "the Vision".
6 And they have done unto the Son of Man even as they listed; and he
has taken his power on the right hand of his glory, and now reigneth in
the heavens, and will reign till he descends on the earth to put all
enemies under his feet, which time is nigh at hand—
Note: Jesus Christ did not return to the earth in the 19th century.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall
from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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.” Matthew 24:29-30
7 I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the day no man
knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he
comes.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36
8 Wherefore, I will that all men shall repent, for all are under sin,
except those which I have reserved unto myself, holy men that ye know
not of.
Note: Everyone has sinned against God.
But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith
in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:22
9 Wherefore, I say unto you that I have sent unto you mine everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning.
Note: The everlasting covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working
in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
10 And that which I have promised I have so fulfilled, and the nations
of the earth shall bow to it; and, if not of themselves, they shall
come down, for that which is now exalted of itself shall be laid low of
power.
Note: Eternal salvation is directed to individuals.
“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
11 Wherefore, I give unto you a commandment that ye go among this
people, and say unto them, like unto mine apostle of old, whose name
was Peter: 12 Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, who was on the
earth, and is to come, the beginning and the end;
Note: There is salvation only in Jesus Christ.
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 4:8-12
13 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins;
Note: Baptism is not the Christian Gospel.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no
effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17
14 And whoso doeth this shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of the hands of the elders of the church.
Note: The Holy Spirit is received through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the
children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of
all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and
began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did
both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by
hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him
openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God,
even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And
He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He
who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him
all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in
Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking
these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured
out on the Gentiles also. Acts 10:34-45
15 And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is
not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man.
Note: Marriage is for this lifetime to control sin nature.
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own
wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render
to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her
husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2-3
16 Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain
shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of
its creation; 17 And that it might be filled with the measure of man,
according to his creation before the world was made.
Note: Joseph Smith quickly reversed himself as he wanted many wives.
Beginnings: Founder Joseph Smith introduced polygamy, with origins
traced to a revelation around 1831, though it was taught more privately
before being publicly announced in Doctrine and Covenants 132 on July
12, 1843.
18 And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat
the same, is not ordained of God; 19 For, behold, the beasts of the
field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is
ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might
have in abundance.
Note: It is ok to eat meat.
“However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates,
whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the LORD your
God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of
the gazelle and the deer alike.” Deuteronomy 12:15
20 But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
Note: Joseph Smith advocated communism and it failed.
Early Roots (1831–1834): Joseph Smith first attempted a version of this
system in Ohio and Missouri through the United Firm to manage church
stores and printing houses, though it dissolved around 1834 due to
local debts and conflicts.
21 And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.
Note: All sin is bad.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not
fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of
God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to
parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,
unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who
practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but
also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32
22 And again, verily I say unto you, that the Son of Man cometh not in
the form of a woman, neither of a man traveling on the earth.
Note: Jesus Christ is glorified.
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos
for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the
Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a
trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the
Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven
churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to
Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Then I turned
to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven
golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like
the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded
about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like
wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet
were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the
sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His
mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the
sun shining in its strength. Revelation 1:9-16
23 Wherefore, be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking
forth for the heavens to be shaken, and the earth to tremble and to
reel to and fro as a drunken man, and for the valleys to be exalted,
and for the mountains to be made low, and for the rough places to
become smooth—and all this when the angel shall sound his trumpet.
Note: The end of the world did not happen in the 19th century.
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth;
The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:4-5
24 But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall
flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the
rose. 25 Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the
mountains and shall be assembled together unto the place which I have
appointed.
Note: In little over two years, the LDS fanatics were driven from Zion.
In August 1831, Smith announced that Independence, Missouri and the
surrounding area would become the "centerplace" of his planned "City of
Zion", a gathering place within Mormon millennial theology. Mormon
leadership in Missouri was instructed to make extensive land purchases
in the area to be distributed to incoming members. Under the auspice of
Mormon leaders in Kirtland, settlers trickled to the county during the
following months. By 1833, Mormons numbered over a thousand,
representing about a third and as much as half of the county's
population. The Mormon settlers' religious, cultural, and political
differences, economic cohesion, their perceived affinity for
neighboring Native American tribes, and their divine claims to the land
of "Zion" contributed to growing animosity.
26 Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of
all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened
unto you.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
27 Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.
Note: Jesus Christ is with believers always.
“and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20
28 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20