LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 85
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at
Kirtland, Ohio, November 27, 1832. This section is an extract from a
letter of the Prophet to William W. Phelps, who was living in
Independence, Missouri. It answers questions about those Saints who had
moved to Zion but who had not followed the commandment to consecrate
their properties and had thus not received their inheritances according
to the established order in the Church.
1–5, Inheritances in Zion are to be received through consecration;
6–12, One mighty and strong will give the Saints their inheritance in
Zion.
1 It is the duty of the Lord’s clerk, whom he has appointed, to keep a
history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in
Zion, and of all those who consecrate properties, and receive
inheritances legally from the bishop;
Note: The LDS church was practicing communism.
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the United Order (also called the
United Order of Enoch) was one of several 19th-century church
collectivist programs. Early versions of the Order beginning in 1831
attempted to fully implement the law of consecration, a form of
Christian communism or communalism.
2 And also their manner of life, their faith, and works; and also of
the apostates who apostatize after receiving their inheritances.
Note: The LDS church is a cult.
High-control groups and cults use strict record-keeping systems to
monitor members, enforce compliance, and manage finances. These
administrative methods allow leadership to maintain surveillance and
exploit members efficiently.
3 It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who
receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law,
which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them
against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names
enrolled with the people of God.
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
4 Neither is their genealogy to be kept, or to be had where it may be
found on any of the records or history of the church. 5 Their names
shall not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of
the children written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of
Hosts.
Note: Genealogies are useless.
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings
about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9
6 Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and
pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while
it maketh manifest, saying: 7 And it shall come to pass that I, the
Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power
in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter
words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to
set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances
of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers,
and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God; 8 While
that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his
hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like
as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.
Note: Joseph Smith must have been drunk when dictating this nonsense.
Before and After the Word of Wisdom: Smith consumed alcohol before and
after he introduced the Word of Wisdom health code in 1833.
9 And all they who are not found written in the book of remembrance
shall find none inheritance in that day, but they shall be cut asunder,
and their portion shall be appointed them among unbelievers, where are
wailing and gnashing of teeth. 10 These things I say not of myself;
therefore, as the Lord speaketh, he will also fulfil.
Note: Joseph Smith formed the Danites for murderous purposes.
The Danites were a covert, paramilitary vigilante group formed in June
1838 in Far West, Missouri, whose primary initial objective was to
intimidate, punish, and expel apostates (dissenters) from Latter-day
Saint communities.
11 And they who are of the High Priesthood, whose names are not found
written in the book of the law, or that are found to have apostatized,
or to have been cut off from the church, as well as the lesser
priesthood, or the members, in that day shall not find an inheritance
among the saints of the Most High; 12 Therefore, it shall be done unto
them as unto the children of the priest, as will be found recorded in
the second chapter and sixty-first and second verses of Ezra.
Note: Yahweh eliminated the priesthood with Jesus Christ.
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a
High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true
tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest
is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is
necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on
earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the
gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the
heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to
make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has
obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of
a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if
that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been
sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold,
the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to
the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them
by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not
continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write
them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them
to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember
no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to
vanish away. Hebrews 8