LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 69
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Hiram, Ohio, November 11, 1831. The compilation of revelations intended
for early publication had been passed upon at the special conference of
November 1–2. On November 3, the revelation herein appearing as section
133, later called the Appendix, was added. Oliver Cowdery had
previously been appointed to carry the manuscript of the compiled
revelations and commandments to Independence, Missouri, for printing.
He was also to take with him money that had been contributed for the
building up of the Church in Missouri. This revelation instructs John
Whitmer to accompany Oliver Cowdery and also directs Whitmer to travel
and collect historical material in his calling as Church historian and
recorder.
1–2, John Whitmer is to accompany Oliver Cowdery to Missouri; 3–8, He
is also to preach and to collect, record, and write historical data.
1 Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, for my servant Oliver
Cowdery’s sake. It is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with
the commandments and the moneys which he shall carry unto the land of
Zion, except one go with him who will be true and faithful.
Note: Oliver Cowdery realized Joseph Smith was a fraud.
By early 1838, the relationship between Smith and Cowdery had
deteriorated significantly. Cowdery felt that Smith's integration of
economic and political plans into his theology and ecclesiastical
structure was encroaching on the separation of church and state.
Cowdery also expressed his concerns of Smith's relationship with Fanny
Alger, a teenage maid living with the Smiths in Kirtland. In a January
1838 letter to his brother Warren: "[We] had some conversation in which
in every instance I did not fail to affirm that which I had said was
strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's
was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deserted
from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by
himself."
2 Wherefore, I, the Lord, will that my servant, John Whitmer, should go with my servant Oliver Cowdery;
Note: John Whitmer realized Joseph Smith was a fraud.
Problems at church headquarters in Kirtland relating to the Kirtland
Safety Society bank caused Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to relocate
to Far West in early 1838. A brief leadership struggle ensued, which
led to the excommunication of the entire Whitmer family, as well as
Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, and others on March 10, 1838.
3 And also that he shall continue in writing and making a history of
all the important things which he shall observe and know concerning my
church;
Note: John Whitmer was threatened with death after his excommunication.
Upon his excommunication, John Whitmer refused to give the church the
documents and records he had worked on as Church Historian. Whitmer
continued to live in Far West for a time and became known as one of the
"dissenters". Sidney Rigdon, in his "Salt Sermon", warned the
dissenters to leave the county, and his words were soon followed up by
perceived threats from the newly formed Mormon confraternity known as
the Danites.
4 And also that he receive counsel and assistance from my servant Oliver Cowdery and others.
Note: Oliver Cowdery was threatened with death after his excommunication.
The Danite Manifesto, a letter addressed to Cowdery and the other
dissenters, was signed by some eighty-four Latter-Day Saints (but not
Smith or Rigdon[24]). It warned: you shall have three days after you
receive this communication to you, including twenty-four hours in each
day, for you to depart with your families peaceably; which you may do
undisturbed by any person; but in that time, if you do not depart, we
will use the means in our power to cause you to depart. Cowdery and the
dissenters fled the county. Reports about their treatment circulated in
nearby non-Mormon communities and increased the tension that led to the
1838 Mormon War, which ultimately resulted in the Latter-Day Saints'
expulsion from Missouri.
5 And also, my servants who are abroad in the earth should send forth
the accounts of their stewardships to the land of Zion; 6 For the land
of Zion shall be a seat and a place to receive and do all these things.
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
7 Nevertheless, let my servant John Whitmer travel many times from
place to place, and from church to church, so that he may the more
easily obtain knowledge—8 Preaching and expounding, writing, copying,
selecting, and obtaining all things which shall be for the good of the
church, and for the rising generations that shall grow up on the land
of Zion, to possess it from generation to generation, forever and ever.
Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
General Clark cited Executive Order 44 soon after the Mormon settlers
surrendered in November 1838, saying that violence would have been used
had they chosen not to surrender.
...The order of the governor was to me, that you should be
exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the state; and had not your
leaders been given up, and the terms of this treaty complied with, your
families before this time would have been destroyed, and your houses in
ashes. There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which
concerning your circumstances I will exercise for a season...
General Clark explicitly stated that the Mormons should expect no mercy
and that their leaders would not be returned to them. Clark furthermore
stated: I do not say you shall go now, but you must not think of
staying here another season, or of putting in crops, for the moment you
do this, the citizens will be upon you; and if I am called here again,
in a case of a non-compliance of a treaty made, do not think I will do
as I have now. You need not expect any mercy, but extermination, for I
am determined the governor's orders be executed. As for your leaders,
do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not let it enter into
your mind, that they will be delivered and restored to you again, for
their fate is fixed, their die is cast, their doom is sealed.
Consequently, approximately 15,000 Mormons promptly fled to Illinois, enduring the harsh winter conditions.