LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
Downloaded from churchofjesuschrist.org in September 2026
The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 70
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Hiram, Ohio, November 12, 1831. The Prophet’s history states that four
special conferences were held from the 1st to the 12th of November,
inclusive. In the last of these assemblies, the great importance of the
revelations that would later be published as the Book of Commandments
and then the Doctrine and Covenants was considered. This revelation was
given after the conference voted that the revelations were “worth to
the Church the riches of the whole Earth.” Joseph Smith’s history
refers to the revelations as “the foundation of the Church in these
last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the
mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.”
1–5, Stewards are appointed to publish the revelations; 6–13, Those who
labor in spiritual things are worthy of their hire; 14–18, The Saints
should be equal in temporal things.
1 Behold, and hearken, O ye inhabitants of Zion, and all ye people of
my church who are afar off, and hear the word of the Lord which I give
unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and also unto my servant Martin
Harris, and also unto my servant Oliver Cowdery, and also unto my
servant John Whitmer, and also unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also
unto my servant William W. Phelps, by the way of commandment unto them.
Note: Joseph Smith gained control of Zion through excommunications.
Many of the oldest and most prominent leaders of the church, including
Oliver Cowdery (one of the Three Witnesses and the church's original
"second elder"), David Whitmer (another of the Three Witnesses and
Stake President of the Missouri Church), John Whitmer, and William W.
Phelps, were excommunicated on allegations of misusing church property
and finance amid tense relations between them and Smith.
2 For I give unto them a commandment; wherefore hearken and hear, for
thus saith the Lord unto them— 3 I, the Lord, have appointed them, and
ordained them to be stewards over the revelations and commandments
which I have given unto them, and which I shall hereafter give unto
them; 4 And an account of this stewardship will I require of them in
the day of judgment. 5 Wherefore, I have appointed unto them, and this
is their business in the church of God, to manage them and the concerns
thereof, yea, the benefits thereof.
Note: They were threatened with death.
The presidency responded by urging the dissenters to leave the county
using strong words the dissenters interpreted as threats. In his famous
Salt Sermon, Sidney Rigdon announced that the dissenters were as salt
that had lost its savor and that it was the duty of the faithful to
cast the dissenters out to be trodden beneath the feet of men.
6 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not give
these things unto the church, neither unto the world; 7 Nevertheless,
inasmuch as they receive more than is needful for their necessities and
their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse; 8 And the benefits
shall be consecrated unto the inhabitants of Zion, and unto their
generations, inasmuch as they become heirs according to the laws of the
kingdom.
Note: Joseph Smith was a false prophet.
General Clark viewed Executive Order 44 as having been fulfilled by the
agreement of the Mormons to evacuate the state the following spring.
The militia was disbanded in late November. Missouri blamed the Mormons
for the conflict and forced the Mormons to sign over all their lands in
order to pay for the state militia muster. Mormon leaders appealed to
the state legislature to overturn the requirement that they leave the
state, but the legislature tabled the issue until a date well after
that when the Mormons would have left the state.
9 Behold, this is what the Lord requires of every man in his
stewardship, even as I, the Lord, have appointed or shall hereafter
appoint unto any man. 10 And behold, none are exempt from this law who
belong to the church of the living God; 11 Yea, neither the bishop,
neither the agent who keepeth the Lord’s storehouse, neither he who is
appointed in a stewardship over temporal things.
Note: Joseph Smith placed the LDS fanatics under a curse.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it
is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things
which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one
is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just
shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:10-11
12 He who is appointed to administer spiritual things, the same is
worthy of his hire, even as those who are appointed to a stewardship to
administer in temporal things; 13 Yea, even more abundantly, which
abundance is multiplied unto them through the manifestations of the
Spirit.
Note: The Holy Spirit will testify 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
14 Nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this
not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the
Spirit shall be withheld.
Note: Evidence of the Holy Spirit is character not things.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians
5:22-23
15 Now, this commandment I give unto my servants for their benefit
while they remain, for a manifestation of my blessings upon their
heads, and for a reward of their diligence and for their security; 16
For food and for raiment; for an inheritance; for houses and for lands,
in whatsoever circumstances I, the Lord, shall place them, and
whithersoever I, the Lord, shall send them.
Note: Believers will not be concerned about things.
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will
put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither
storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you
than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his
stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious
for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor
spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which
today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much
more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?? Luke 12:22-28
17 For they have been faithful over many things, and have done well
inasmuch as they have not sinned. 18 Behold, I, the Lord, am merciful
and will bless them, and they shall enter into the joy of these things.
Even so. Amen.
Note: LDS fanatics never sought the kingdom of God.
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have
an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek
after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the
kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” Luke
12:29-31