LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 61
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, on
the bank of the Missouri River, McIlwaine’s Bend, August 12, 1831. On
their return trip to Kirtland, the Prophet and ten elders had traveled
down the Missouri River in canoes. On the third day of the journey,
many dangers were experienced. Elder William W. Phelps, in a daylight
vision, saw the destroyer riding in power upon the face of the waters.
1–12, The Lord has decreed many destructions upon the waters; 13–22,
The waters were cursed by John, and the destroyer rides upon their
face; 23–29, Some have power to command the waters; 30–35, Elders are
to journey two by two and preach the gospel; 36–39, They are to prepare
for the coming of the Son of Man.
1 Behold and hearken unto the voice of him who has all power, who is
from everlasting to everlasting, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end. 2 Behold, verily thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye elders
of my church, who are assembled upon this spot, whose sins are now
forgiven you, for I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those
who confess their sins with humble hearts;
Note: A near accident sparked a wild revelation by Joseph Smith.
River Perils and Near-Accident: The group traveled by canoe down the
Missouri River, which was filled with hazardous debris and submerged
tree snags known as "sawyers". A sawyer nearly capsized the canoe
carrying Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.
3 But verily I say unto you, that it is not needful for this whole
company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the
inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief. 4 Nevertheless, I
suffered it that ye might bear record; behold, there are many dangers
upon the waters, and more especially hereafter; 5 For I, the Lord, have
decreed in mine anger many destructions upon the waters; yea, and
especially upon these waters. 6 Nevertheless, all flesh is in mine
hand, and he that is faithful among you shall not perish by the waters.
Note: The Lewis and Clark Expedition had no problems.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition used the Missouri River as their primary
highway into the American interior, traveling nearly 2,500 miles
upstream from its mouth near St. Louis to its headwaters in Montana.
7 Wherefore, it is expedient that my servant Sidney Gilbert and my
servant William W. Phelps be in haste upon their errand and mission. 8
Nevertheless, I would not suffer that ye should part until you were
chastened for all your sins, that you might be one, that you might not
perish in wickedness;
Note: William Phelps was a religious fanatic.
The Vision at McIlwaine’s Bend: During the trip, Phelps experienced a
vision of the "destroyer riding upon the face of the waters," prompting
him to warn his companions to stop traveling by the river and move by
land instead.
9 But now, verily I say, it behooveth me that ye should part. Wherefore
let my servants Sidney Gilbert and William W. Phelps take their former
company, and let them take their journey in haste that they may fill
their mission, and through faith they shall overcome; 10 And inasmuch
as they are faithful they shall be preserved, and I, the Lord, will be
with them. 11 And let the residue take that which is needful for
clothing. 12 Let my servant Sidney Gilbert take that which is not
needful with him, as you shall agree.
Note: Sidney Gilbert should never have followed a false prophet.
Gilbert condemned church leaders in a letter in 1832; the church
leaders promised Gilbert that God would bless him with prosperity if he
was faithful. A mob came to Independence, Missouri, in July 1833 and
destroyed many things. Gilbert sold what he could before leaving
Missouri. On November 4, 1833, Gilbert was arrested and imprisoned for
seven days at Independence and was among the Latter-day Saints driven
from Jackson into Clay County, Missouri, later that month. He died of
cholera in Clay County on June 29, 1834.
13 And now, behold, for your good I gave unto you a commandment
concerning these things; and I, the Lord, will reason with you as with
men in days of old. 14 Behold, I, the Lord, in the beginning blessed
the waters; but in the last days, by the mouth of my servant John, I
cursed the waters. 15 Wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall
be safe upon the waters. 16 And it shall be said in days to come that
none is able to go up to the land of Zion upon the waters, but he that
is upright in heart.
Note: The end of the world did not happen in the 19th century.
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven,
burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the
springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the
waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it
was made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11
17 And, as I, the Lord, in the beginning cursed the land, even so in
the last days have I blessed it, in its time, for the use of my saints,
that they may partake the fatness thereof.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
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
18 And now I give unto you a commandment that what I say unto one I say
unto all, that you shall forewarn your brethren concerning these
waters, that they come not in journeying upon them, lest their faith
fail and they are caught in snares; 19 I, the Lord, have decreed, and
the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof, and I revoke not the decree.
Note: The Missouri River was a major 19th century highway.
After the Lewis and Clark Expedition more and more trappers and traders
entered the territory, using the Missouri as their highway to the many
Native peoples of the Great Plains. Originally, large canoes or
similar-sized vessels were the most common used. Soon, however, there
were only two craft capable of carrying much of the cargo to the Native
communities – Mackinaw boats and keeled boats.
20 I, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is
turned away. 21 Wherefore, let those concerning whom I have spoken,
that should take their journey in haste—again I say unto you, let them
take their journey in haste. 22 And it mattereth not unto me, after a
little, if it so be that they fill their mission, whether they go by
water or by land; let this be as it is made known unto them according
to their judgments hereafter.
Note: God let Paul know specifically what would happen.
But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of
them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have sailed
from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to
take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of
the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom
I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be
brought before Caesar; and indeed, God has granted you all those who
sail with you.’ Therefore, take heart, men, for I believe God that it
will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a
certain island.” Acts 27:21-26
23 And now, concerning my servants, Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, Jun.,
and Oliver Cowdery, let them come not again upon the waters, save it be
upon the canal, while journeying unto their homes; or in other words
they shall not come upon the waters to journey, save upon the canal. 24
Behold, I, the Lord, have appointed a way for the journeying of my
saints; and behold, this is the way—that after they leave the canal
they shall journey by land, inasmuch as they are commanded to journey
and go up unto the land of Zion; 25 And they shall do like unto the
children of Israel, pitching their tents by the way.
Note: The Missouri River was a major 19th century highway.
The fur companies began to replace the labor-intensive boats as
steamboats began proving their worth -- the first being the “Yellow
Stone” in 1832 which successfully made it to Fort Union (near the mouth
of the Yellowstone River, close to the present day North Dakota/Montana
border). Mackinaw and keeled boats remained necessary to reach beyond
the Yellowstone River, at least until “mountain boats,” modified
steamers capable of navigating the Missouri’s shallow waters, were
created. These shallow-draft vessels could progress all the way to Fort
Benton, Montana, (another 400 river miles up the Missouri) where the
goods and supplies would be unloaded onto wagons for transport to the
final destinations throughout the west.
26 And, behold, this commandment you shall give unto all your brethren.
27 Nevertheless, unto whom is given power to command the waters, unto
him it is given by the Spirit to know all his ways; 28 Wherefore, let
him do as the Spirit of the living God commandeth him, whether upon the
land or upon the waters, as it remaineth with me to do hereafter. 29
And unto you is given the course for the saints, or the way for the
saints of the camp of the Lord, to journey.
Note: The Holy Spirit will be evident in believers.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against
such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one
another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26
30 And again, verily I say unto you, my servants, Sidney Rigdon, Joseph
Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, shall not open their mouths in the
congregations of the wicked until they arrive at Cincinnati; 31 And in
that place they shall lift up their voices unto God against that
people, yea, unto him whose anger is kindled against their wickedness,
a people who are well-nigh ripened for destruction.
Note: The Christian Gospel is not destruction.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach
the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they
have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has
believed our report?” So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God. Romans 10:14-17
32 And from thence let them journey for the congregations of their
brethren, for their labors even now are wanted more abundantly among
them than among the congregations of the wicked. 33 And now, concerning
the residue, let them journey and declare the word among the
congregations of the wicked, inasmuch as it is given; 34 And inasmuch
as they do this they shall rid their garments, and they shall be
spotless before me.
Note: Believers will preach Jesus Christ.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as
his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with
them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ
had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus
whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded;
and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the
leading women, joined Paul and Silas. Acts 17:1-4
35 And let them journey together, or two by two, as seemeth them good,
only let my servant Reynolds Cahoon, and my servant Samuel H. Smith,
with whom I am well pleased, be not separated until they return to
their homes, and this for a wise purpose in me.
Note: Reynolds Cahoon followed Joseph Smith into polygamy.
Cahoon encouraged Smith to return to Nauvoo, despite the danger from
mobs. Cahoon and others "advised the Prophet Joseph to surrender to the
law at Carthage." After the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Cahoon
served as a guard for their bodies. He was then arrested for treason,
but the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. He later practiced
plural marriage, marrying Lucina Roberts in 1843 and Mary Hildrath in
1846 while living in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Note: Samuel Smith may have been murdered on orders from Brigham Young.
Smith's brother, William, later stated that he had good reason to
believe that 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.
36 And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto
all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I
have not forsaken you; 37 And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves
before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours.
Note: The kingdom of God concerns Jesus Christ.
Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received
all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the
things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one
forbidding him. Acts 28:30-31
38 Gird up your loins and be watchful and be sober, looking forth for
the coming of the Son of Man, for he cometh in an hour you think not.
39 Pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide
the day of his coming, whether in life or in death. Even so. Amen.
Note: Jesus Christ did not return in the 19th century.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,
but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they
were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the
day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came
and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other
left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the
other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is
coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what
hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his
house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of
Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:36-44