LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
Downloaded from churchofjesuschrist.org in September 2026
The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 110
Visions manifested to Joseph Smith the Prophet and
Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. The
occasion was that of a Sabbath day meeting on Easter Sunday. Joseph
Smith’s history states: “In the afternoon, I assisted the other
Presidents in distributing the Lord’s Supper to the Church, receiving
it from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate at the sacred
desk this day. After having performed this service to my brethren, I
retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed myself, with
Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. After rising from prayer,
the following vision was opened to both of us.”
1–10, The Lord Jehovah appears in glory and accepts the Kirtland Temple
as His house; 11–12, Moses and Elias each appear and commit their keys
and dispensations; 13–16, Elijah returns and commits the keys of his
dispensation as promised by Malachi.
1 The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding
were opened. 2 We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the
pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in
color like amber. 3 His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his
head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the
brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of
great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: 4 I am the first and
the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate
with the Father.
Note: Joseph Smith did not see 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. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet
as dead. Revelation 1:10-17
5 Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me;
therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. 6 Let the hearts of your
brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who
have, with their might, built this house to my name. 7 For behold, I
have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will
manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.
Note: Jesus Christ dwells within believers not tangible temples.
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My
word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our
home with him.” John 14:23
8 Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine
own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute
this holy house. 9 Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands
shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be
poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed
in this house.
Note: God does not dwell in tangible temples.
But Solomon built Him a house. “However, the Most High does not dwell
in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne,
and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the
LORD, or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these
things?’ Acts 7:47-50
10 And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this
is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the
heads of my people. Even so. Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
Smith's time in Kirtland after the temple came into use was limited. In
1837, he became involved with the foundation of a bank known as the
Kirtland Safety Society. The failure of this bank was a factor that
caused a schism among Latter Day Saints in Kirtland. The dissenters
were led by Warren Parrish, Smith's former secretary, and included
Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses of The Book of Mormon.
Parrish's group took control of the temple and other church property.
By the beginning of 1838, Smith was forced to flee the state,
relocating to Far West, Missouri with hundreds of loyalists.
11 After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and
Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the
gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading
of the ten tribes from the land of the north.
Note: The gathering of Israel began with the Balfour Declaration.
The Balfour Declaration was a single-page letter issued on November 2,
1917, by British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Lord
Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, declaring British
support for a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
12 After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the
gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after
us should be blessed.
Note: Paul proclaimed this promise 1800 years before Joseph Smith.
Therefore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among
you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” Therefore, know that only those who are of faith are
sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand,
saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So, then those who
are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:5-9
13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision
burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without
tasting death, stood before us, and said: 14 Behold, the time has fully
come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he
[Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord
come—15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a
curse—16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into
your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of
the Lord is near, even at the doors.
Note: Moses and Elijah did not appear in Jerusalem during the 19th century.
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood,
saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who
worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and
do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will
tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give
power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two
hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive
trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And
if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and
devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be
killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain
falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to
turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often
as they desire. Revelation 11:1-6
Note: The end of the world did not occur in the 19th century.