LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 71
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney
Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. The Prophet had continued to
translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this
revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so
as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren
were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings
that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of
letters written by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.
1–4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5–11, Enemies of the Saints will be confounded.
1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun.,
and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary
and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my
gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out
of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which
shall be given unto you, even as I will.
Note: The Christian 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
2 Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round
about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it
shall be made known unto you. 3 Verily this is a mission for a season,
which I give unto you.
Note: Believers will be witnesses for Jesus Christ as their mission.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
4 Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the
earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and
revelations which are to come.
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 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and
receive also; 6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more
abundantly, even power.
Note: Jesus Christ is the power of God.
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know
God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to
save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after
wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block
and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews
and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1
Corinthians 1:21-24
7 Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in
public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame
shall be made manifest.
Note: Ezra Booth realized that Joseph Smith was a fraud.
Less than three days after being "silenced from preaching as an Elder"
and after being a member for only five months, Booth renounced
Mormonism in the first of nine letters to be published in the Ohio
Star, beginning in November 1831. The letters were addressed to the
Reverend Ira Eddy of the Methodist Church, whom Booth knew from his
days as a Methodist minister and "circuit rider"
8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.
Note: Ezra Booth realized that Joseph Smith was a fraud.
The Vermont Telegraph reported that Booth's published documents
composed "an expose of their [the Mormons'] diabolical pretensions and
impositions." Booth's letters focused on three main types of criticism:
"inconsistencies he saw in the revelations of Joseph Smith, what he
called the 'despotic' tendencies of the Church, and the 'manifest
weakness' in the personality of Joseph Smith and other leaders."
9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is
formed against you shall prosper; 10 And if any man lift his voice
against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.
Note: Ezra Booth realized that Sidney Rigdon was a fraud.
He also criticized Sidney Rigdon in particular and pointed out the
failure of Mormonism to establish itself among the Native Americans in
the United States, despite Smith's revelations that those efforts would
succeed. The reasons Booth provided for writing the letters included
preventing others from falling victim to the church and responding to
requests to expose Mormonism that he'd received.
11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.
Note: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon practiced slandering.
Booth's letters thus prompted Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to travel
to northeast Ohio to assess the damage done and dissuade the people
from believing Booth's words. In 1832, Booth petitioned the Ohio Star
to publish "a vindication of his character from the attacks made upon
it by Mr. Ridgon, during his late visit to this place." The newspaper,
however, refused Booth's request. His letters were later reprinted by
E. D. Howe in his 1834 book Mormonism Unvailed.