LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 35
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney
Rigdon, at or near Fayette, New York, December 7, 1830. At this time,
the Prophet was engaged almost daily in making a translation of the
Bible. The translation was begun as early as June 1830, and both Oliver
Cowdery and John Whitmer had served as scribes. Since they had now been
called to other duties, Sidney Rigdon was called by divine appointment
to serve as the Prophet’s scribe in this work (see verse 20). As a
preface to the record of this revelation, Joseph Smith’s history
states: “In December Sidney Rigdon came [from Ohio] to inquire of the
Lord, and with him came Edward Partridge. … Shortly after the arrival
of these two brethren, thus spake the Lord.”
1–2, How men may become the sons of God; 3–7, Sidney Rigdon is called
to baptize and to confer the Holy Ghost; 8–12, Signs and miracles are
wrought by faith; 13–16, The Lord’s servants will thresh the nations by
the power of the Spirit; 17–19, Joseph Smith holds the keys of the
mysteries; 20–21, The elect will abide the day of the Lord’s coming;
22–27, Israel will be saved.
1 Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same
today as yesterday, and forever.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, Revelation 1:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of
the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may
become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as
the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12
“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” John 17:21
3 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked
upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers and prepared thee for
a greater work.
Note: Sidney Rigdon’s sudden conversion was suspect.
In early September 1830, Rigdon's associate, Pratt, was baptized into
the Church of Christ founded by Smith. In October, Pratt and Ziba
Peterson began a mission to preach to the American Indians. They
visited Rigdon and his wife, Phoebe, in Ohio. Rigdon read the Book of
Mormon in fourteen days, proclaimed its truthfulness, and was baptized
into the church on November 14, 1830, in Mentor, Ohio.
4 Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast
sent forth, even as John, to prepare the way before me, and before
Elijah which should come, and thou knewest it not.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was considered as John the Baptist or Elijah.
Rigdon was a fiery orator, and he was immediately called by Smith to be
the spokesman for the church. He also served as a scribe and helped
with Smith's re-translation of the Bible.
5 Thou didst baptize by water unto repentance, but they received not
the Holy Ghost; 6 But now I give unto thee a commandment, that thou
shalt baptize by water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of the hands, even as the apostles of old.
Note: Believers receive the Holy Spirit through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the
children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of
all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and
began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did
both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by
hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him
openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God,
even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And
He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He
who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him
all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in
Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking
these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured
out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and
magnify God. Acts 10:34-46
7 And it shall come to pass that there shall be a great work in the
land, even among the Gentiles, for their folly and their abominations
shall be made manifest in the eyes of all people.
Note: The work of God is sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29
8 For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show
miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs” Acts 2:22
9 And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out
devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive
their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame
to walk.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will
cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up
serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt
them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark
16:17-18
10 And the time speedily cometh that great things are to be shown forth
unto the children of men; 11 But without faith shall not anything be
shown forth except desolations upon Babylon, the same which has made
all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that
great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication.” Revelation 14:8
12 And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to
receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this
generation.
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
13 Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are
unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;
Note: Believers will testify of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of
speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your
faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1
Corinthians 2:1-5
14 And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their
buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully
for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let
fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation
will I preserve them.
Note: Believers will preach the gospel of peace by the Holy Spirit.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of
faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that
utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make
known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in
chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians
6:14-20
15 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them,
and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is
nigh at hand— 16 And they shall learn the parable of the fig tree, for
even now already summer is nigh.
Note: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were infected by millennial madness.
Millennial preaching was a driving force behind the faith's rapid
growth, missionary urgency, and social organization. Emerging during
the Second Great Awakening—a time of intense religious fervor in the
United States—early LDS eschatology uniquely blended literal biblical
prophecy with modern revelations.
17 And I have sent forth the fulness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him;
Note: Joseph Smith never preached the Christian Gospel.
“And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that
not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present
such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our
nation; pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep the wicked
of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare
the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north
country.” History of The Church 1:315.
18 And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things
which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of
the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the
time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant
in his stead. 19 Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and
it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all
things.
Note: Joseph Smith never preached the Christian Gospel.
“God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He
will make me be god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for
me; and if you don’t like it, you must lump it.” Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, 363.
20 And a commandment I give unto thee—that thou shalt write for him;
and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom,
to the salvation of mine own elect;
Note: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were frauds.
Criticism of the JST: Textual scholars note that because Smith did not
work from original ancient languages, his "corrections" frequently
conflict with modern biblical scholarship. Discoveries like the Dead
Sea Scrolls and older Greek codices have validated many standard
biblical readings while finding no historical manuscript evidence for
the lengthy theological expansions Joseph Smith added to the text (such
as a prophecy about himself added to Genesis 50).
21 For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be
asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be
purified, even as I am pure. 22 And now I say unto you, tarry with him,
and he shall journey with you; forsake him not, and surely these things
shall be fulfilled.
Note: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were frauds.
In 1838 Rigdon and Smith moved to Far West, Missouri, and established a
new church headquarters there. According to one report, while the
Mormons were encamped at Adam-ondi-Ahman, Rigdon criticized Smith and
others who were engaged in recreational wrestling on Sunday. Rigdon
reportedly "rushed into the ring, sword in hand, and said that he would
not suffer a lot of men to break the Sabbath day in that manner." Smith
"dragged him from the ring, bareheaded, and tore Rigdon's fine pulpit
coat from the collar to the waist." Reportedly, "after that Rigdon
never countermanded the orders of the Prophet, to my knowledge—he knew
who was boss."
23 And inasmuch as ye do not write, behold, it shall be given unto him
to prophesy; and thou shalt preach my gospel and call on the holy
prophets to prove his words, as they shall be given him.
Note: The New Covenant eliminated the office of prophet.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the
fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His
Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He
made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express
image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power,
when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of
the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as
He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews
1:1-4
24 Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound; and I
will cause the heavens to shake for your good, and Satan shall tremble
and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish;
Note: Sidney Rigdon was demon possessed.
Joseph Smith rebuked Rigdon and publicly prophesied that "[n]o power
can pluck those keys from me, except the power that gave them to me;
But for what Sidney has done, the devil shall handle him as one man
handles another." Reportedly, "About three weeks after this, Sidney was
lying on his bed alone. An unseen power lifted him from his bed, threw
him across the room, and tossed him from one side of the room to the
other. The noise being heard in the adjoining room, his family went in
to see what the matter was and found him going from one side of the
room to the other, from the effects of which Sidney was laid up for
five or six weeks. Thus was Joseph's prediction in regard to him
verified."
25 And Israel shall be saved in mine own due time; and by the keys
which I have given shall they be led, and no more be confounded at all.
Note: Believers will be saved regardless whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for
destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on
the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even
us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Romans 9:22-24
26 Lift up your hearts and be glad, your redemption draweth nigh.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28
27 Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
“Surely I am coming quickly.” Revelation 22:20