LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
Downloaded from churchofjesuschrist.org in September 2026
The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 66
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Hiram, Ohio, October 29, 1831. William E. McLellin had petitioned the
Lord in secret to make known through the Prophet the answer to five
questions, which were unknown to Joseph Smith. At McLellin’s request,
the Prophet inquired of the Lord and received this revelation.
1–4, The everlasting covenant is the fulness of the gospel; 5–8, Elders
are to preach, testify, and reason with the people; 9–13, Faithful
ministerial service ensures an inheritance of eternal life.
1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my servant William E.
McLellin—Blessed are you, inasmuch as you have turned away from your
iniquities, and have received my truths, saith the Lord your Redeemer,
the Savior of the world, even of as many as believe on my name.
Note: William McLellin realized that Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
McLellin frequently clashed with church leadership over revelations,
finances, and the authority of Joseph Smith. He was excommunicated
multiple times, with his final excommunication occurring on May 11,
1838, during the internal conflicts in Missouri.
2 Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting
covenant, even the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children
of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories
which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the
prophets and apostles in days of old.
Note: The New Covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ shed for sins of the world.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and
gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then
He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink
from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28
3 Verily I say unto you, my servant William, that you are clean, but
not all; repent, therefore, of those things which are not pleasing in
my sight, saith the Lord, for the Lord will show them unto you. 4 And
now, verily, I, the Lord, will show unto you what I will concerning
you, or what is my will concerning you.
Note: The will of God is for everyone to sincerely believe in Jesus Christ.
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son
and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up
at the last day.” John 6:40
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should
proclaim my gospel from land to land, and from city to city, yea, in
those regions round about where it has not been proclaimed.
Note: The 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
6 Tarry not many days in this place; go not up unto the land of Zion as
yet; but inasmuch as you can send, send; otherwise, think not of thy
property.
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
7 Go unto the eastern lands, bear testimony in every place, unto every
people and in their synagogues, reasoning with the people.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
On October 25, 1831, McLellin was called through a revelation Smith
said he received to serve a mission in the eastern United States with
Samuel H. Smith, Joseph's brother. McLellin complained against the call
and was instead tasked with traveling south with Luke Johnson in
January 1832.
8 Let my servant Samuel H. Smith go with you, and forsake him not, and
give him thine instructions; and he that is faithful shall be made
strong in every place; and I, the Lord, will go with you.
Note: William McLellon realized that Joseph Smith was a fraud.
McLellin's association with the Latter Day Saint church came to an
abrupt halt in 1838, when he declared that he had no confidence in the
presidency of the church. This may have been due to the mismanagement
of the church's financial institution, the Kirtland Safety Society.
McLellin was excommunicated on May 11, 1838, and subsequently actively
worked against the Latter Day Saints, becoming involved with Missouri
mobs.
9 Lay your hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. Return not till
I, the Lord, shall send you. Be patient in affliction. Ask, and ye
shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Note: Joseph Smith wanted to test a self-proclaimed physician.
An experienced schoolteacher and a self-proclaimed physician, McLellin
taught penmanship in the Kirtland School for Temporal Education in 1834.
10 Seek not to be cumbered. Forsake all unrighteousness. Commit not adultery—a temptation with which thou hast been troubled.
Note: Joseph Smith became an expert at adultery.
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.
11 Keep these sayings, for they are true and faithful; and thou shalt
magnify thine office, and push many people to Zion with songs of
everlasting joy upon their heads.
Note: Zion is Jerusalem not Independence Missouri.
1 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
12 Continue in these things even unto the end, and you shall have a
crown of eternal life at the right hand of my Father, who is full of
grace and truth. 13 Verily, thus saith the Lord your God, your
Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith was a fighting man who never turned the other cheek.
According to members of the church, McLellin ransacked and robbed
Smith's home and stable while Smith was being held in jail, pending
charges on the Safety Society's financial problems. No charges were
ever filed against Smith or against McLellin. A history published in
the Latter Day Saint periodical Millennial Star in 1864 related the
incident: While Joseph was in prison at Richmond, Mo., Mr. McLellin,
who was a large and active man, went to the sheriff and asked for the
privilege of flogging the Prophet; permission was granted, on condition
that Joseph would fight. The sheriff made McLellin's earnest request
known to Joseph, who consented to fight, if his irons were taken off.
McLellin then refused to fight, unless he could have a club, to which
Joseph was perfectly willing; but the sheriff would not allow them to
fight on such unequal terms.