LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 23
A series of five revelations given through Joseph Smith
the Prophet, at Manchester, New York, April 1830, to Oliver Cowdery,
Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph Smith Sr., and Joseph Knight Sr.
As the result of earnest desire on the part of the five persons named
to know of their respective duties, the Prophet inquired of the Lord
and received a revelation for each person.
1–7, These early disciples are called to preach, exhort, and strengthen the Church.
1 Behold, I speak unto you, Oliver, a few words. Behold, thou art
blessed, and art under no condemnation. But beware of pride, lest thou
shouldst enter into temptation. 2 Make known thy calling unto the
church, and also before the world, and thy heart shall be opened to
preach the truth from henceforth and forever. Amen.
Note: Oliver Cowdery came to realize that Joseph Smith was rotten.
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."
3 Behold, I speak unto you, Hyrum, a few words; for thou also art under
no condemnation, and thy heart is opened, and thy tongue loosed; and
thy calling is to exhortation, and to strengthen the church
continually. Wherefore thy duty is unto the church forever, and this
because of thy family. Amen.
Note: Hyrum Smith should have refused Joseph Smith years earlier.
When warned of possible danger, Joseph urged Hyrum Smith and his family
to flee to Cincinnati, Ohio. Hyrum refused and, in 1844, traveled with
Joseph to Carthage, Illinois, where both were charged with riot and
treason. Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Willard Richards were held
awaiting trial in a jail in Carthage. On June 27, 1844, the building
was attacked by a mob of between sixty and two hundred men. While
attempting to barricade the door to prevent the mob from entering,
Hyrum was shot in the face on the left side of the nose. After
staggering back, another ball fired through the window struck him in
the back, passed through his body, and struck his watch in his vest
pocket. As Hyrum Smith fell to the floor, he exclaimed, "I am a dead
man," as he died.
4 Behold, I speak a few words unto you, Samuel; for thou also art under
no condemnation, and thy calling is to exhortation, and to strengthen
the church; and thou art not as yet called to preach before the world.
Amen.
Note: Samuel Smith discovered the ruthlessness of Brigham Young.
Smith's brother, William, later stated that he had good reason to
believe that Samuel Smith was poisoned by Hosea Stout on orders from
Brigham Young and Willard Richards. In a meeting on July 10, 1844,
Smith had been in a meeting with Richards in which Smith reminded the
group that he was Joseph's designee as president if both Joseph and
Hyrum had died. Richards, however, had wanted to delay the decision on
succession until Brigham Young and other prominent missionaries had
returned to Nauvoo.
5 Behold, I speak a few words unto you, Joseph; for thou also art under
no condemnation, and thy calling also is to exhortation, and to
strengthen the church; and this is thy duty from henceforth and
forever. Amen.
Note: The father of Joseph Smith was a fraudster and bum.
Smith subsequently failed to make payments on the farm. Lemuel Durfee
purchased it as a favor to the family and allowed the Smiths to
continue there as renters until 1830. In Palmyra–Manchester Smith and
his sons, including Joseph Smith Jr., employed their folk magic
practices in a number of treasure digging excavations during the 1820s.
6 Behold, I manifest unto you, Joseph Knight, by these words, that you
must take up your cross, in the which you must pray vocally before the
world as well as in secret, and in your family, and among your friends,
and in all places. 7 And, behold, it is your duty to unite with the
true church, and give your language to exhortation continually, that
you may receive the reward of the laborer. Amen.
Note: Joseph Knight lost everything and was never rewarded as a laborer.
Knight first met Joseph Smith while Smith was working for Josiah
Stowell. Knight later hired the 20-year-old Smith to work for him.
Knight owned four farms, a gristmill, and two carding machines.