LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 18
Revelation to Joseph Smith the Prophet, Oliver Cowdery,
and David Whitmer, given at Fayette, New York, June 1829. According to
the Prophet, this revelation made known “the calling of twelve apostles
in these last days, and also instructions relative to building up the
Church.”
1–5, Scriptures show how to build up the Church; 6–8, The world is
ripening in iniquity; 9–16, The worth of souls is great; 17–25, To gain
salvation, men must take upon themselves the name of Christ; 26–36, The
calling and mission of the Twelve are revealed; 37–39, Oliver Cowdery
and David Whitmer are to search out the Twelve; 40–47, To gain
salvation, men must repent, be baptized, and keep the commandments.
1 Now, behold, because of the thing which you, my servant Oliver
Cowdery, have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words:
Note: Oliver Cowdery came to realize that Joseph Smith was rotten.
Cowdery's relationship with Joseph Smith and the church's leadership
deteriorated in the mid-1830s, and in 1838 he was excommunicated with
several other prominent Missouri leaders amid a leadership struggle
with Smith.
2 Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances,
that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know
that they are true. 3 And if you know that they are true, behold, I
give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are
written; 4 For in them are all things written concerning the foundation
of my church, my gospel, and my rock.
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
5 Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, upon the foundation of my
gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
Note: The gates of hell prevailed against Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith, the founder and leader of the Latter Day Saint movement,
and his brother, Hyrum Smith, were killed by a mob in Carthage,
Illinois, United States, on June 27, 1844, while awaiting trial in the
town jail on charges of treason.
6 Behold, the world is ripening in iniquity; and it must needs be that
the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles
and also the house of Israel.
Note: Unbelievers will stir up trouble against the message of Jesus Christ.
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to
Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily
to find out whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them
believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as
men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God
was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the
crowds. Acts 17:10-13
7 Wherefore, as thou hast been baptized by the hands of my servant
Joseph Smith, Jun., according to that which I have commanded him, he
hath fulfilled the thing which I commanded him.
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
8 And now, marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose,
which purpose is known in me; wherefore, if he shall be diligent in
keeping my commandments he shall be blessed unto eternal life; and his
name is Joseph.
Note: Joseph Smith was bewitched away from the Christian Gospel.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you
as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the
Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians
3:1-2
9 And now, Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David
Whitmer, by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men
everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine
apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he
was called.
Note: David Whitmer came to realize that Joseph Smith was rotten.
Whitmer later distanced himself from Joseph Smith and was excommunicated from the church in 1838.
10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; 11 For,
behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore
he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come
unto him.
Note: The New Covenant is the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and
gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then
He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink
from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28
12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
Note: God commands everyone to repent before judgment day.
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all
men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He
will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.
He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Acts 17:30-31
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! 14 Wherefore,
you are called to cry repentance unto this people. 15 And if it so be
that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this
people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your
joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach
Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have
brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your
joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
Note: Joy is found in Jesus Christ.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we
have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which
was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen
and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us;
and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1
John 1:1-4
17 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.
Note: The rock of salvation for believers is Jesus Christ.
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our
fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were
baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same
spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank
of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1
Corinthians 10:1-4
18 Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall
receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all
things which are expedient unto the children of men.
Note: The Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus Christ.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of
Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from
the beginning.” John 15:26-27
19 And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
20 Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil.
Note: Believers will contend for the faith delivered about 2,000 years ago.
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our
common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to
contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the
saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were
marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of
our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus
Christ. Jude 1:3-4
Note: Joseph Smith was an ungodly man.
21 Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness.
Note: Jesus Christ is the truth.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
22 And as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
Note: Have you confessed Jesus Christ for salvation?
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your
heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart
one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will
not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and
Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For
“whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13
23 Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;
Note: Jesus is the name given to the Son while Christ is a title.
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for
He will save His people from their sins.” So, all this was done that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and
they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him and took him his wife, and did not know her till she had
brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS. Matthew
1:21-25
24 Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of
the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day; 25
Wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they
cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father.
Note: During the Millenium, Jesus Christ will have a new name.
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, that I will raise to
David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and
execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will
be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which
He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 23:5-6
26 And now, behold, there are others who are called to declare my
gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew; 27 Yea, even twelve; and the
Twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name;
and the Twelve are they who shall desire to take upon them my name with
full purpose of heart.
Note: The twelve apostles were the foundation of the true church.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having
been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being
fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also
are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
Note: The roof is going on the true church now.
28 And if they desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of
heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel
unto every creature. 29 And they are they who are ordained of me to
baptize in my name, according to that which is written; 30 And you have
that which is written before you; wherefore, you must perform it
according to the words which are written.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16
31 And now I speak unto you, the Twelve—Behold, my grace is sufficient for you; you must walk uprightly before me and sin not.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
32 And, behold, you are they who are ordained of me to ordain priests
and teachers; to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God
unto men; 33 And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken
it.
Note: Priests hated the message of Jesus Christ.
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the
temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that
they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the
dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the
next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard
the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five
thousand. Acts 4:1-4
34 These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you
shall testify they are of me and not of man; 35 For it is my voice
which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you,
and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by
my power you could not have them; 36 Wherefore, you can testify that
you have heard my voice, and know my words.
Note: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer did not hear Jesus Christ.
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; Revelation 1:9-15
37 And now, behold, I give unto you, Oliver Cowdery, and also unto
David Whitmer, that you shall search out the Twelve, who shall have the
desires of which I have spoken; 38 And by their desires and their works
you shall know them. 39 And when you have found them you shall show
these things unto them.
Note: LDS apostles never saw Jesus Christ.
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our
Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to
others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my
apostleship in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 9:1-2
40 And you shall fall down and worship the Father in my name. 41 And
you must preach unto the world, saying: You must repent and be
baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ; 42 For all men must repent and
be baptized, and not only men, but women, and children who have arrived
at the years of accountability.
Note: Apostle Paul preached the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.
And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to
me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So, I
said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to
you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the
things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to
you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the
Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who
are sanctified by faith in Me.’” Acts 26:14-18
43 And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my
commandments in all things; 44 And by your hands I will work a
marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many
of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may
come unto the kingdom of my Father. 45 Wherefore, the blessings which I
give unto you are above all things. 46 And after that you have received
this, if you keep not my commandments you cannot be saved in the
kingdom of my Father. 47 Behold, I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your
God, and your Redeemer, by the power of my Spirit have spoken it. Amen.
Note: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer did not keep Joseph Smith’s commandments.
By 1838, Cowdery and Smith had a number of disagreements, including
doctrinal differences about the role of faith and works, the Kirtland
Safety Society, and what Cowdery called Smith's "dirty, nasty, filthy
affair" with Fanny Alger. Smith's growing reliance on Sidney Rigdon as
his first counselor and differences over the management of finances and
land in Missouri and Kirtland.
By December 1837, a movement led by Warren Parrish plotted to overthrow
Smith and replace him with Whitmer. After the collapse of the Kirtland
Bank, confrontation grew between the dissenters and those loyal to
Smith. Whitmer, his brother John, Cowdery, and others were harassed by
the Danites, a group of Mormon vigilantes, and were warned to leave the
county. Whitmer was formally excommunicated on April 13, 1838, his main
charge being "possessing the same spirit as the dissenters” and never
rejoined the church.