LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 56
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, June 15, 1831. This revelation chastises Ezra Thayre
for not obeying a former revelation (the “commandment” referred to in
verse 8), which Joseph Smith had received for him, instructing Thayre
concerning his duties on Frederick G. Williams’ farm, where he lived.
The following revelation also revokes Thayre’s call to travel to
Missouri with Thomas B. Marsh (see section 52:22).
1–2, The Saints must take up their cross and follow the Lord to gain
salvation; 3–13, The Lord commands and revokes, and the disobedient are
cast off; 14–17, Wo unto the rich who will not help the poor, and wo
unto the poor whose hearts are not broken; 18–20, Blessed are the poor
who are pure in heart, for they will inherit the earth.
1 Hearken, O ye people who profess my name, saith the Lord your God;
for behold, mine anger is kindled against the rebellious, and they
shall know mine arm and mine indignation, in the day of visitation and
of wrath upon the nations.
Note: Jesus Christ came to the world to save sinners.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17
2 And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.
Note: Sinners will be saved through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
“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
3 Behold, I, the Lord, command; and he that will not obey shall be cut
off in mine own due time, after I have commanded and the commandment is
broken.
Note: Jesus Christ restores sinners.
So, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon,
son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He
said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him,
“Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,
do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third
time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things;
You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most
assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and
walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out
your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not
wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.
And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” John 21:15-19
4 Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and
all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the
Lord. 5 Wherefore, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my
servants Thomas B. Marsh and Ezra Thayre, and give a new commandment
unto my servant Thomas, that he shall take up his journey speedily to
the land of Missouri, and my servant Selah J. Griffin shall also go
with him.
Note: Selah Griffin lost everything following a false prophet.
At a conference held on August 24, 1831, Bishop Edward Partridge
requested that Selah “tarry a while after arriving in this land if the
Spirit so direct him.”2 Apparently, Selah felt directed, for he and his
family were soon residents of Jackson County. They were numbered among
the Latter-day Saints driven from their homes in November 1833. Selah
wrote, In November they Strip[ed] us of guns and Drive us a crost [sic]
the river in to Clay County the loss of property sustained in Jackson
County [$150.00] dollars of book accounts Lost worth [$200.50] of Crops
and two guns worth 75 dollars and Black Smith Shop and tools to the
amount of hundred Dollars Lost in the whole amounted was Seven hundred
And Seventy five dollars is My loss By the mob.
6 For behold, I revoke the commandment which was given unto my servants
Selah J. Griffin and Newel Knight, in consequence of the
stiffneckedness of my people which are in Thompson, and their
rebellions.
Note: Joseph Smith was unsuccessful in obtaining a 759-acre farm by fraud.
In May 1831, a large group of Latter-day Saints from Colesville
migrated to Ohio under instructions from Joseph Smith to "gather".
Bishop Edward Partridge settled them on a 759-acre farm in Thompson,
Ohio, which had been volunteered and consecrated by Leman Copley, a
recent convert and former Shaker. Doubting his new faith and the
communal structure, Copley broke his agreement. He ordered the
Colesville Saints completely off his property. This brief, volatile
incident effectively ended the church's first communal living
experiment in Ohio and accelerated the migration of Latter-day Saints
to Missouri.
7 Wherefore, let my servant Newel Knight remain with them; and as many
as will go may go, that are contrite before me, and be led by him to
the land which I have appointed.
Note: Joseph Smith and Newel Knight converted the Knight family via fraud.
When Joseph Smith became one of Joseph Knight’s hired hands late in
1826, he told some of the Knights about his encounters with the divine.
The Knights provided him with material assistance during his Book of
Mormon translation work—paper, food, money, and more—and helped him
court Emma Hale. Joseph Smith organized the Church in April 1830. In
May 1830, Newel Knight was the first of the extended Knight family
network to be baptized. Before this, Joseph Smith cast out an evil
spirit from Knight. That moment has often been lauded as the first
miracle performed in Latter-day Saint history, thanks to Joseph Smith’s
resounding interest in the event, which he described in detail in his
history. Upon regaining himself, Knight experienced a vision of heaven
and other revelations, according to his own history.
8 And again, verily I say unto you, that my servant Ezra Thayre must
repent of his pride, and of his selfishness, and obey the former
commandment which I have given him concerning the place upon which he
lives.
Note: Ezra Thayre had a problem with LDS communism.
On June 6, 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing Thayre
to depart on a mission to Missouri with Thomas B. Marsh. In preparation
for this, Thayre was ordained an elder in the church by Lyman Wight.
However, due to a disagreement about property that arose among Thayre
and some of the Latter Day Saints living in Thompson, Ohio, Thayre was
not prepared to leave when Marsh was ready.
9 And if he will do this, as there shall be no divisions made upon the
land, he shall be appointed still to go to the land of Missouri; 10
Otherwise he shall receive the money which he has paid, and shall leave
the place, and shall be cut off out of my church, saith the Lord God of
hosts;
Note: Ezra Thayre was always restored by Joseph Smith.
On March 1, 1835, Thayre was ordained a seventy in the church. However,
on May 2, 1835, Thayre's priesthood was suspended after an unspecified
complaint of misbehavior filed by Oliver Granger. A disciplinary
council was held, and Thayre was eventually restored to full fellowship
in the church.
11 And though the heaven and the earth pass away, these words shall not
pass away, but shall be fulfilled. 12 And if my servant Joseph Smith,
Jun., must needs pay the money, behold, I, the Lord, will pay it unto
him again in the land of Missouri, that those of whom he shall receive
may be rewarded again according to that which they do; 13 For according
to that which they do they shall receive, even in lands for their
inheritance.
Note: Ezra Thayre did volunteer for a failed military expedition to Missouri.
In 1834, Thayre joined Zion's Camp, a group of Latter Day Saints that
traveled from Ohio to assist some members of the church in Missouri.
However, on June 21, 1834, Thayre contracted cholera, which quickly
spread to many of the other Saints in Zion's Camp. However, Thayre went
on to make a full recovery.
14 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people—you have many things to
do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and
are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways. 15 And
your hearts are not satisfied. And ye obey not the truth, but have
pleasure in unrighteousness.
Note: Ezra Thayre refused to follow Brigham Young into polygamy.
After the death of Joseph Smith in June 1844, Thayre was part of the
minority of Latter Day Saints who refused to follow the leadership of
Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve. When the majority of Saints
departed Nauvoo for the Salt Lake Valley, Thayer remained behind in
Nauvoo. In 1849, Thayre moved to Michigan. Affiliated briefly with
James J. Strang at Voree, Walworth Co., Wisconsin, but soon returned to
New York where he was rebaptized into the LDS Church in September 1854.
He became a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints in at Galien, Berrien Co., Michigan on August 24, 1860.
16 Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor,
for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your
lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of
indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is
not saved!
Note: Joseph Smith demanded that his fanatics practice communism.
The United Order: Early Saints deeded their property and money to the
Church bishop, who then returned a portion—called a "stewardship"—to
meet the family's specific needs. Any surplus property or goods went
into a bishop’s storehouse to help the poor, purchase lands, and build
houses of worship.
17 Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are
not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are
not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full
of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!
Note: Communism has never been successful in societies.
Absence of Profit Motive: Workers and managers often lack direct
economic incentives to boost output, cut waste, or innovate when
private property and individual rewards are removed.
18 But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are
broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom
of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the
fatness of the earth shall be theirs.
Note: The kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received
all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one
forbidding him. Acts 28:30-31
19 For behold, the Lord shall come, and his recompense shall be with
him, and he shall reward every man, and the poor shall rejoice; 20 And
their generations shall inherit the earth from generation to
generation, forever and ever. And now I make an end of speaking unto
you. Even so. Amen.
Note: Believers will inherit eternal life in heaven.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according
to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in
heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5