LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 59
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in
Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, August 7, 1831. Preceding this
revelation, the land was consecrated, as the Lord had directed, and the
site for the future temple was dedicated. On the day this revelation
was received, Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight Sr., died, the
first Church member to die in Zion. Early members characterized this
revelation as “instructing the Saints how to keep the sabbath and how
to fast and pray.”
1–4, The faithful Saints in Zion will be blessed; 5–8, They are to love
and serve the Lord and keep His commandments; 9–19, By keeping the
Lord’s day holy, the Saints are blessed temporally and spiritually;
20–24, The righteous are promised peace in this world and eternal life
in the world to come.
1 Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this
land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments.
Note: Zion is Jerusalem not Independence Missouri.
Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the
tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in
Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD
from the City of David, which is Zion. 1 Kings 8:1
2 For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall
rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they
shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have
prepared for them.
Note: Believers will have an inheritance reserved in heaven.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according
to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in
heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who
have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good
things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength.
Note: Zion is Jerusalem not Independence Missouri.
Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the
tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, in Jerusalem, that
they might bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD up from the City
of David, which is Zion. 2 Chronicles 5:2
4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and
with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they
that are faithful and diligent before me.
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
5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and
strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
6 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal;
neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.
Note: The Holy Bible was plagiarized.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39
“Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal,” Mark 10:19
7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. 8 Thou shalt offer a
sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken
heart and a contrite spirit.
Note: The righteousness of God is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God,
through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there
is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that
He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the
world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments
upon my holy day; 10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to
rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
Note: The New Covenant has eliminated law legalism.
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or
a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the
substance is of Christ. Colossians 2:16-17
11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
Note: Joseph Smith was an evil one.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not
swear falsely but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to
you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is
the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because
you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’
and your ‘No, No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil
one.” Matthew 5:33-37
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine
oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins
unto thy brethren, and before the Lord. 13 And on this day thou shalt
do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of
heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy
may be full. 14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words,
rejoicing and prayer.
Note: Joseph Smith broke his commandment.
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."
15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful
hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but
with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance— 16 Verily I say, that
inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts
of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the
trees and walketh upon the earth; 17 Yea, and the herb, and the good
things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for
houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for
vineyards; 18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season
thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please
the eye and to gladden the heart;
Note: The earth will suffer from drought and famines until Jesus Christ returns.
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 1 John 5:19
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to
strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. 20 And it pleaseth God
that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were
they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by
extortion. 21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is
his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things,
and obey not his commandments.
Note: The earth will suffer from drought and famines until Jesus Christ returns.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the
revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to
futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we
know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs
together until now. Romans 8:19-22
22 Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter.
Note: The New Covenant eliminated the office of prophet.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Matthew 11:13
23 But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive
his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to
come.
Note: Believers will receive eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
24 I, the Lord, have spoken it, and the Spirit beareth record. Amen.
Note: The Holy Spirit testifies 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