LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 25
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Harmony, Pennsylvania, July 1830 (see the heading to section 24). This
revelation manifests the will of the Lord to Emma Smith, the Prophet’s
wife.
1–6, Emma Smith, an elect lady, is called to aid and comfort her
husband; 7–11, She is also called to write, to expound scriptures, and
to select hymns; 12–14, The song of the righteous is a prayer unto the
Lord; 15–16, Principles of obedience in this revelation are applicable
to all.
1 Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you,
Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who
receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.
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
2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art
faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy
life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.
Note: Joseph Smith married into a wealthy family.
The Hale family was relatively wealthy. Isaac hunted and Elizabeth
hosted lodgers and boarders in their home. The Hale family was known
for being honest, hard-working, and generous to their neighbors.
3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.
Note: Joseph Smith was a fraudster.
Emma first met her future husband, Joseph Smith Jr., in 1825. Joseph
lived near Palmyra, New York, but boarded with the Hales in Harmony
while he was employed in a company of men hired by Josiah Stowell and
one of Emma's relatives to dig for money on the Hale family property.
Rumors about Joseph having a unique ability to find hidden treasure
caused Stowell to offer him a high wage. Although the company was
unsuccessful in finding the suspected mine and Emma's father eventually
turned against the project, Joseph and Emma secretly met without her
family's approval several times at a friend's house during the dig and
after while Joseph was working as farmhand nearby
4 Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they
are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a
time to come.
Note: Emma Smith’s family came to recognize Joseph Smith as a fraudster.
When Emma and Joseph spoke to the Hales to receive a blessing on their
marriage, Isaac and Elizabeth Hale refused; possibly because Isaac
wanted Emma to marry a neighbor and he considered Joseph to be a
"stranger" and possibly because of Joseph's failed money-digging
operation on the Hales' land.
5 And the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my servant,
Joseph Smith, Jun., thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling
words, in the spirit of meekness.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery on his wife.
Rumors concerning polygamy and other practices surfaced by 1842. Emma
publicly condemned polygamy and denied any involvement by her husband.
Emma authorized and was the main signatory of a petition in summer 1842
with a thousand female signatures, denying Joseph Smith was connected
with polygamy.
6 And thou shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be unto him
for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him, that I may
send my servant, Oliver Cowdery, whithersoever I will. 7 And thou shalt
be ordained under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the
church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.
Note: While Joseph Smith was committing adultery, Emma was virtuous.
She saw upholding morality as the primary purpose of the Relief
Society. As "protecting the morals of the community" became her
mission, Smith supported the public confession of sins; on this
subject, Smith called the women of Nauvoo to repentance with "all the
frankness of a Methodist exhorter."
8 For he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy
Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much. 9
And thou needest not fear, for thy husband shall support thee in the
church; for unto them is his calling, that all things might be revealed
unto them, whatsoever I will, according to their faith.
Note: While Joseph Smith was committing adultery, Emma was virtuous.
She served as president of the Relief Society until 1844. According to
the minutes of the founding meeting, the organization was formed to
"provoke the brethren to good works in looking to the wants of the
poor, [search] after objects of charity [and] to assist by correcting
the virtues of the female community".
10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of
this world, and seek for the things of a better. 11 And it shall be
given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be
given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.
Note: While Joseph Smith was committing adultery, Emma was virtuous.
As president of the Ladies' Relief Society, she authorized the
publishing of a certificate in October 1842 denouncing polygamy and
denying her husband as its creator or participant.
12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of
the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a
blessing upon their heads. 13 Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice,
and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made. 14 Continue in the
spirit of meekness, and beware of pride. Let thy soul delight in thy
husband, and the glory which shall come upon him.
Note: While Joseph Smith was committing adultery, Emma was virtuous.
Polygamy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, called
plural marriage, is generally believed to have originated with the
founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith. According to several of his
associates, Smith taught that polygamy was a divine commandment and
practiced it personally, by some accounts marrying between 30 and 40
wives, some of whom had existing marriages to other men. Evidence for
Smith's polygamy is provided by the church's "sealing" records,
affidavits, letters, journals, and diaries.
15 Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou
shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come. 16
And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my voice unto all.
Amen.
Note: While Joseph Smith was committing adultery, Emma was virtuous.
Some scholars believe that Smith transcribed a revelation recommending
polygamy on July 17, 1831. This revelation is described in a letter to
Brigham Young written in 1861 by an early Mormon convert, William W.
Phelps, thirty years after the revelation was said to be given. This
was during a period when LDS Church leaders were justifying the
practice and origins of plural marriage, particularly to Mormon
splinter groups who did not agree with the practice.