LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 57
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in
Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, July 20, 1831. In compliance with the
Lord’s command to travel to Missouri, where He would reveal “the land
of your inheritance” (section 52), the elders had journeyed from Ohio
to Missouri’s western border. Joseph Smith contemplated the state of
the Lamanites and wondered: “When will the wilderness blossom as the
rose? When will Zion be built up in her glory, and where will Thy
temple stand, unto which all nations shall come in the last days?”
Subsequently he received this revelation.
1–3, Independence, Missouri, is the place for the City of Zion and the
temple; 4–7, The Saints are to purchase lands and receive inheritances
in that area; 8–16, Sidney Gilbert is to establish a store, William W.
Phelps is to be a printer, and Oliver Cowdery is to edit material for
publication.
1 Hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, who have
assembled yourselves together, according to my commandments, in this
land, which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have
appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints. 2 Wherefore,
this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
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.
3 And thus saith the Lord your God, if you will receive wisdom here is
wisdom. Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the
center place; and a spot for the temple is lying westward, upon a lot
which is not far from the courthouse.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Most Latter Day Saint settlers were originally from New England and the
Ohio Valley and, unlike their southern neighbors, generally opposed
slavery. In July 1833, a local meeting was held by non-Mormon residents
in Independence after an article titled "Free People of Color" was
published in the Mormon newspaper, The Evening and Morning Star. The
article's mention of the potential arrival of free black converts was
particularly controversial.
4 Wherefore, it is wisdom that the land should be purchased by the
saints, and also every tract lying westward, even unto the line running
directly between Jew and Gentile;
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Attendees contended that the Mormons threatened civil society, and that
local laws were insufficient to address the perceived dangers. They
resolved to remove the Mormons, "peaceably if we can, forcibly if we
must." The group then agreed to destroy the newspaper's printing press
and demanded that Mormon leaders pledge to halt their activities and
leave the county.
5 And also every tract bordering by the prairies, inasmuch as my
disciples are enabled to buy lands. Behold, this is wisdom, that they
may obtain it for an everlasting inheritance.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
When the Mormons refused, they then targeted and ransacked the Mormon
storehouse in Independence. Mormon settlements in the outskirts of the
city were increasingly harassed and raided throughout the summer and
fall of 1833. By November 1833, vigilantes had forcefully expelled the
Mormons from Jackson County.
6 And let my servant Sidney Gilbert stand in the office to which I have
appointed him, to receive moneys, to be an agent unto the church, to
buy land in all the regions round about, inasmuch as can be done in
righteousness, and as wisdom shall direct.
Note: Sidney Gilbert realized that church leadership was perpetrating fraud.
Sidney opened a branch store of dry goods and groceries in Independence
that mirrored the N. K. Whitney and Company store in Kirtland. The
Independence store prospered, much like other enterprises owned by
Sidney Gilbert. Although it could be assumed that Church leaders were
pleased, a letter written by Sidney put leaders on edge. The angry
reaction to the letter by Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith is all that
remains: “Brother Gilbert’s letter of December 10th, has been received
and read attentively, and the low, dark, and blind insinuations, which
were in it, were not received by us as from the fountain of light,
though his claims and pretensions to holiness were great.”
7 And let my servant Edward Partridge stand in the office to which I
have appointed him, and divide unto the saints their inheritance, even
as I have commanded; and also those whom he has appointed to assist him.
Note: Edward Partridge should have realized that Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
He was tarred and feathered by an anti-Mormon mob on July 20, 1833, in
front of the courthouse in Independence, Missouri, where he had been
assigned to preside as bishop, then forced to move to Clay County,
Missouri, followed by Caldwell County in 1836. During 1835, he served a
mission in Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana, then entered into another
mission in New York and New England. Following the 1838 Mormon War,
Partridge was jailed in Richmond, Missouri for three or four weeks. In
1839, he was expelled from the state.
8 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Sidney Gilbert plant
himself in this place, and establish a store, that he may sell goods
without fraud, that he may obtain money to buy lands for the good of
the saints, and that he may obtain whatsoever things the disciples may
need to plant them in their inheritance. 9 And also let my servant
Sidney Gilbert obtain a license—behold here is wisdom, and whoso
readeth let him understand—that he may send goods also unto the people,
even by whom he will as clerks employed in his service; 10 And thus
provide for my saints, that my gospel may be preached unto those who
sit in darkness and in the region and shadow of death.
Note: Sidney Gilbert realized too late that Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
On November 4, 1833, Gilbert was arrested and imprisoned for seven days
at Independence and was among the Latter-day Saints driven from Jackson
into Clay County, Missouri, later that month. He died of cholera in
Clay County on June 29, 1834.
11 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William W. Phelps
be planted in this place, and be established as a printer unto the
church. 12 And lo, if the world receive his writings—behold here is
wisdom—let him obtain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for
the good of the saints.
Note: William Phelps should have realized that Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
He was subsequently chosen "to head printing and publishing for the
Church" a few days later, on June 20. he moved to Jackson County,
Missouri in 1832 and spearheaded the church's publishing arm, W. W.
Phelps & Co., in Independence, Missouri, where he edited the
Evening and Morning Star from June 1832 to 1833. He was also
superintendent of the local schools. On July 20, 1833, while working to
publish the church's Book of Commandments, a mob of vigilantes attacked
Phelps's home, seizing printing materials, destroying the press, and
throwing Phelps's family and furniture out-of-doors. Most of the copies
of the Book of Commandments were destroyed in the raid. He fled to Clay
County, Missouri, where he was called as Assistant President of the
Church in Missouri on July 3, 1834.
13 And let my servant Oliver Cowdery assist him, even as I have
commanded, in whatsoever place I shall appoint unto him, to copy, and
to correct, and select, that all things may be right before me, as it
shall be proved by the Spirit through him.
Note: Oliver Cowdery realized that Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
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."
14 And thus let those of whom I have spoken be planted in the land of
Zion, as speedily as can be, with their families, to do those things
even as I have spoken. 15 And now concerning the gathering—Let the
bishop and the agent make preparations for those families which have
been commanded to come to this land, as soon as possible, and plant
them in their inheritance. 16 And unto the residue of both elders and
members further directions shall be given hereafter. Even so. Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
LDS leaders repeatedly prophesied that Zion, the New Jerusalem, in
Jackson County, Missouri would be built within the lifetime of those
then living in the 1800s. The sheer number of these prophecies
demonstrates a failure of epic proportions. Joseph Smith started it all
off in 1832 with the revelation found in D&C 84. Prior to this,
Independence, Missouri had been revealed as the place for the city of
Zion, and the spot for the temple had already been designated. (D&C
57:1-5) In D&C 84 Joseph Smith quotes God as saying: "Verily this
is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by
the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of
the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. For verily
this generation shall not all pass away until an house shall be built
unto the Lord, and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be
even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house.” (D&C
84:4-5; see also verses 1-3, 31-32) Church members were commanded to
migrate to Jackson County and start purchasing the land upon which the
New Jerusalem would be built. The revelations made great promises
concerning the city’s future prosperity. (D&C 28:9; 42:8-9, 35-36;
45:64-71; 52:1-5, 42-43; 57; 58; 59:1-4; 62; 64:41-43; 69:8; Moses
7:61-64) However, only a year after this prophecy in D&C 84 was
made, the Church had been driven out of Jackson County, never to
return. Joseph Smith’s revelations blamed the fact that mobs were
allowed to drive church members out of Jackson County on them not being
faithful. Despite this, however, those same revelations doubled down on
prophecies that the city of Zion in Jackson County would be built soon.
The October 12, 1833 revelation stated, “Zion shall be redeemed,
although she is chastened for a little season.” (D&C 100:13) The
December 16, 1833 revelation affirmed, “Zion shall not be moved out of
her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered. They that
remain, and are pure in heart shall return, and come to their
inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy,
to build up the waste places of Zion.” (D&C 101:17-18) The
revelation continued, “There is none other place appointed than that
which I have appointed; neither shall there be any other place
appointed than that which I have appointed, for the work of the
gathering of my saints, until the day cometh when there is found no
more room for them.” (D&C 101:20-21) Church members, which were
then in Clay County, were still commanded to gather and purchase lands
in Jackson County, as before. (D&C 101:70-71) Zion would not be
moved out of her place, and no other place would be appointed for the
gathering of the Saints. That prophecy seemed very clear.