LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 103
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, February 24, 1834. This revelation was received the
same day as the arrival in Kirtland, Ohio, of Parley P. Pratt and Lyman
Wight, who had come from Missouri to counsel with the Prophet as to the
relief and restoration of the Saints to their lands in Jackson County.
1–4, Why the Lord permitted the Saints in Jackson County to be
persecuted; 5–10, The Saints will prevail if they keep the
commandments; 11–20, The redemption of Zion will come by power, and the
Lord will go before His people; 21–28, The Saints are to gather in
Zion, and those who lay down their lives will find them again; 29–40,
Various brethren are called to organize Zion’s Camp and go to Zion;
they are promised victory if they are faithful.
1 Verily I say unto you, my friends, behold, I will give unto you a
revelation and commandment, that you may know how to act in the
discharge of your duties concerning the salvation and redemption of
your brethren, who have been scattered on the land of Zion; 2 Being
driven and smitten by the hands of mine enemies, on whom I will pour
out my wrath without measure in mine own time. 3 For I have suffered
them thus far, that they might fill up the measure of their iniquities,
that their cup might be full; 4 And that those who call themselves
after my name might be chastened for a little season with a sore and
grievous chastisement, because they did not hearken altogether unto the
precepts and commandments which I gave unto them. 5 But verily I say
unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize,
inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I,
the Lord their God, shall give unto them. 6 Behold they shall, for I
have decreed it, begin to prevail against mine enemies from this very
hour. 7 And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord
their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail
until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the
earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever.
Note: The LDS fanatics were subdued by the state of Missouri.
The 1838 Mormon War was a state-wide armed conflict in northern
Missouri from August to November 1838 between Latter-day Saints and
local non-Mormon militias. Triggered by land disputes and political
fears, it ended with Governor Lilburn Boggs's "Extermination Order,"
the Haun's Mill Massacre, Joseph Smith's imprisonment, and the forced
expulsion of roughly 8,000 Mormons to Illinois.
8 But inasmuch as they keep not my commandments, and hearken not to
observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against
them. 9 For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the
saviors of men; 10 And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men,
they are as salt that has lost its savor and is thenceforth good for
nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
Note: Sidney Rigdon continued with this theme with a future sermon.
The salt sermon was an oration delivered on 17 June 1838 by Sidney
Rigdon, then First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and frequent spokesman for Joseph
Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, against church
dissenters, including Book of Mormon witnesses Oliver Cowdery, David
Whitmer, and John Whitmer, and other leaders including W. W. Phelps.
11 But verily I say unto you, I have decreed that your brethren which
have been scattered shall return to the lands of their inheritances,
and shall build up the waste places of Zion. 12 For after much
tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh
the blessing. 13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised
after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your
redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration
to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
A temple has not been built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (LDS) on the original Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri.
14 Nevertheless, if they pollute their inheritances they shall be
thrown down; for I will not spare them if they pollute their
inheritances. 15 Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must
needs come by power; 16 Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a
man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. 17
For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye
must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out
arm. 18 And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the
redemption of Zion be.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Zion's Camp was an expedition of Latter Day Saints led by Joseph Smith,
from Kirtland, Ohio, to Clay County, Missouri, during May and June 1834
in an unsuccessful attempt to regain land from which the Saints had
been expelled by non-Mormon settlers.
19 Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I
said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my
presence. 20 But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you,
and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land. 21
Verily, verily I say unto you, that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., is
the man to whom I likened the servant to whom the Lord of the vineyard
spake in the parable which I have given unto you. 22 Therefore let my
servant Joseph Smith, Jun., say unto the strength of my house, my young
men and the middle aged—Gather yourselves together unto the land of
Zion, upon the land which I have bought with money that has been
consecrated unto me. 23 And let all the churches send up wise men with
their moneys, and purchase lands even as I have commanded them.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Joseph Smith surrendered to the Missouri state militia on November 1,
1838, at Far West, Missouri, to prevent further bloodshed during the
Mormon War.
24 And inasmuch as mine enemies come against you to drive you from my
goodly land, which I have consecrated to be the land of Zion, even from
your own lands after these testimonies, which ye have brought before me
against them, ye shall curse them; 25 And whomsoever ye curse, I will
curse, and ye shall avenge me of mine enemies. 26 And my presence shall
be with you even in avenging me of mine enemies, unto the third and
fourth generation of them that hate me. 27 Let no man be afraid to lay
down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake
shall find it again. 28 And whoso is not willing to lay down his life
for my sake is not my disciple. 29 It is my will that my servant Sidney
Rigdon shall lift up his voice in the congregations in the eastern
countries, in preparing the churches to keep the commandments which I
have given unto them concerning the restoration and redemption of Zion.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was the chief agitator of the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri.
Sidney Rigdon delivered his most famous inflammatory speeches—most
notably the Salt Sermon on June 17, 1838, and his 4th of July Oration
in 1838—in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. He warned that any
group attempting to trample on Latter Day Saint rights would face a
"war of extermination," stating they would pursue enemies until "the
last drop of their blood is spilled".
30 It is my will that my servant Parley P. Pratt and my servant Lyman
Wight should not return to the land of their brethren, until they have
obtained companies to go up unto the land of Zion, by tens, or by
twenties, or by fifties, or by an hundred, until they have obtained to
the number of five hundred of the strength of my house. 31 Behold this
is my will; ask and ye shall receive; but men do not always do my will.
32 Therefore, if you cannot obtain five hundred, seek diligently that
peradventure you may obtain three hundred. 33 And if ye cannot obtain
three hundred, seek diligently that peradventure ye may obtain one
hundred. 34 But verily I say unto you, a commandment I give unto you,
that ye shall not go up unto the land of Zion until you have obtained a
hundred of the strength of my house, to go up with you unto the land of
Zion.
Note: Parley Pratt and Lyman Wight failed to recruit enough fanatics.
The Final Camp Size: The total roster of Zion's Camp ultimately
numbered around 204 to 205 men (along with a small number of women and
children) who completed or joined the march.
35 Therefore, as I said unto you, ask and ye shall receive; pray
earnestly that peradventure my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., may go with
you, and preside in the midst of my people, and organize my kingdom
upon the consecrated land, and establish the children of Zion upon the
laws and commandments which have been and which shall be given unto
you. 36 All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your
diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith. 37 Let my servant Parley
P. Pratt journey with my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. 38 Let my servant
Lyman Wight journey with my servant Sidney Rigdon. 39 Let my servant
Hyrum Smith journey with my servant Frederick G. Williams. 40 Let my
servant Orson Hyde journey with my servant Orson Pratt, whithersoever
my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., shall counsel them, in obtaining the
fulfilment of these commandments which I have given unto you, and leave
the residue in my hands. Even so. Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Attempts to negotiate a return of the Latter-Day Saints to Jackson
County proved fruitless, but Smith decided to disband Zion's Camp
rather than attempt to "redeem Zion" by force. Many members of the camp
believed they should fight and criticized Smith. Subsequently many
contracted cholera. The 900 mile march failed in its objective, and
fourteen participants died.