LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 73
Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney
Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, January 10, 1832. Since the early part of the
preceding December, the Prophet and Sidney had been engaged in
preaching, and by this means much was accomplished in diminishing the
unfavorable feelings that had arisen against the Church (see the
heading to section 71).
1–2, Elders are to continue to preach; 3–6, Joseph Smith and Sidney
Rigdon are to continue to translate the Bible until it is finished.
1 For verily, thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me that they
should continue preaching the gospel, and in exhortation to the
churches in the regions round about, until conference; 2 And then,
behold, it shall be made known unto them, by the voice of the
conference, their several missions.
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
3 Now, verily I say unto you my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and
Sidney Rigdon, saith the Lord, it is expedient to translate again; 4
And, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round
about until conference; and after that it is expedient to continue the
work of translation until it be finished.
Note: Joseph Smith would use false revelations for incorporating his heresies.
Many of Smith's revisions to the Bible led to significant developments
in the doctrines of Mormonism. During the process of translation, when
he came across troubling biblical issues, Smith often dictated
revelations relevant to himself, his associates, or the church. About
half of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are in some way
connected to this translation process, including background on the
Apocrypha (LDS D&C section 91 CofC D&C 88), the three degrees
of glory (LDS section 76 CofC Section 85), the eternal nature of
marriage and plural marriage (LDS section 132), teachings on baptism
for the dead (LDS section 124 CofC Section 107), and various
revelations on priesthood (LDS sections 84, 88, 107 CofC Sections 83,
104).
5 And let this be a pattern unto the elders until further knowledge,
even as it is written. 6 Now I give no more unto you at this time. Gird
up your loins and be sober. Even so. Amen.
Note: Sidney Rigdon was the driver behind this bogus translation.
In March 2017, Brigham Young University (BYU) professor Thomas A.
Wayment and his undergraduate research assistant Haley Wilson-Lemmón
published a notice in BYU's Journal of Undergraduate Research
suggesting that Smith borrowed heavily from Methodist theologian Adam
Clarke's famous Bible commentary. They contend that "direct parallels
between Smith's translation and Adam Clarke's biblical commentary are
simply too numerous and explicit to posit happenstance or coincidental
overlap." They further posit that this evidence is sufficient to
"demonstrate Smith's open reliance upon Clarke" before suggesting
Sidney Rigdon was likely responsible for urging the use of Clarke's
source material. In a May 2018 interview, Wilson-Lemmón indicated that
she had provided copies of the research manuscript to the dean of BYU
Religious Education. Wayment and Wilson-Lemmón subsequently provided
copies to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the
LDS Church. This prompted a meeting between Wayment and unidentified
church authorities, after which they "got the green light" to publish.
Wayment and Wilson-Lemmón's findings were then published in full on
June 26, 2020 in Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith's
Translation Projects in the Development of Mormon Christianity
published through University of Utah Press. Wayment then published
another article on the topic in the July 2020 issue of the Journal of
Mormon History.