Preface
Overview
The Preface to the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants serves as an apologetic and structural introduction to the first major compilation of Latter Day Saint revelations and theology. Authored by the 'Presiding Elders' (Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams), the text outlines the two-part structure of the volume: Part one contains the 'Lectures on Faith' (delivered to a theological class in Kirtland, Ohio), which outline the 'important doctrine of salvation.' Part two contains the revelations given for the regulation of the church. The authors acknowledge a general public aversion to new 'articles of religious faith' but argue that if a system is genuinely inspired by God, it should be presented as intelligibly as possible. A primary motivation for this publication, commissioned by the High Council, is apologetic: the church was being 'evil spoken of,' accused of rejecting the Bible, subverting good order, and threatening civil peace. By publishing their revelations, the leaders aimed to codify their beliefs and dispel rumors. The preface concludes with a solemn eschatological declaration, wherein the authors state they expect to answer to God at the final judgment for every principle advanced in the book, demonstrating their sincere conviction in the divine origin of the text.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith Junior: Listed as a compiler, Presiding Elder, and proprietor; the primary prophet through whom the revelations in the volume were purportedly given.
- Oliver Cowdery: Listed as a compiler, Presiding Elder, and proprietor; Second Elder of the church and key scribe.
- Sidney Rigdon: Listed as a compiler, Presiding Elder, and proprietor; a primary theologian in early Mormonism and likely heavily involved in the 'Lectures on Faith' mentioned in the text.
- Frederick G. Williams: Listed as a compiler, Presiding Elder, proprietor, and the printer of the volume.
- The High Council: The ecclesiastical governing body that appointed the compilers to select and publish the revelations, demonstrating the developing hierarchical authority structure of the early church.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuing Revelation and Open Canon
Assertion
The text asserts that God has given new, binding revelations for the regulation of the church, which can be compiled into a new volume of scripture alongside the Bible.
Evidence from Text
CAREFULLY SELECTED FROM THE REVELATIONS OF GOD... if men believe a system, and profess that it was given by inspiration, certainly, the more intelligibly they can present it, the better.
Evangelical Comparison
The foundational premise of the Doctrine and Covenants is that the biblical canon is not closed and that God continues to give authoritative, binding, and normative revelation to modern prophets. The preface explicitly labels the contents as 'the revelations of God' and 'given by inspiration.' In Evangelical theology, Sola Scriptura dictates that the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the sole infallible rule of faith and practice. Evangelicals point to passages like Jude 1:3 (the faith 'once for all delivered to the saints') and Hebrews 1:1-2 (God has spoken finally in His Son) to argue that normative, canonical revelation ceased with the Apostolic era. The Mormon assertion of an open canon fundamentally alters the epistemological foundation of the faith, requiring believers to look to modern church leadership rather than Scripture alone for ultimate truth.
Eschatological Accountability for Doctrine
Assertion
The compilers believe they will be held personally accountable by God at the final judgment for the theological principles they are publishing.
Evidence from Text
We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that we are to be called to answer to every principle advanced, in that day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and the reward of every man’s labor be given him.
Evangelical Comparison
The authors express a profound sense of accountability, expecting to 'answer to every principle advanced' at the final judgment. This aligns partially with the biblical concept that teachers will incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1) and that believers' works will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). However, in the broader context of Mormon soteriology (which the referenced 'Lectures on Faith' begin to develop), this accountability is often tied to one's ultimate exaltation. In Evangelical theology, while a believer's works and teachings are evaluated for rewards (the Bema Seat judgment), the believer's eternal destiny and justification are entirely secure based on the imputed righteousness of Christ (Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21). The 'reward of every man's labor' does not determine salvation, which is a free gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text introduces a new volume of scripture, claiming it contains direct revelations from God necessary for salvation and church regulation, which violates the Evangelical doctrine of the sufficiency and closure of the biblical canon.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap presented in this preface is the issue of canonical authority and continuing revelation. By publishing the Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith and his associates formally established an open canon. They assert that the 'revelations of God' did not cease with the Apostles but are actively being given to the 'Presiding Elders' of the Latter Day Saint church. This directly violates the Evangelical pillar of Sola Scriptura, which maintains that the 66 books of the Bible are the supreme, infallible, and sufficient authority for the Church. Furthermore, the preface mentions that the first part of the book (the Lectures on Faith) embraces the 'important doctrine of salvation.' By placing extra-biblical theological lectures and modern regulatory revelations on par with divine scripture, the text shifts the locus of authority from the historic, apostolic witness of the Bible to the ongoing, dynamic pronouncements of a modern prophetic hierarchy. This creates a paradigm where the Bible is no longer sufficient for faith and practice, requiring the believer to submit to the new revelations to fully understand salvation and church order.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a complete instruction manual for building a Lego castle, and the creator of the Legos said, 'This manual has everything you need; don't add any pages to it.' That is how Evangelical Christians view the Bible. But in this text, the leaders of the Mormon church are saying, 'God gave us brand new pages of instructions, and we put them into a new book.' Even though they say they still believe the first manual, adding a whole new book of rules changes how the castle is built. Christians believe the Bible is all we need, but this text says we need these new revelations too.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text explicitly introduces a new compilation of 'revelations of God' to be received as authoritative scripture alongside or above the Bible.
Sola Fide
While subtle in the preface, the reliance on a new 'system' of 'items or principles for the regulation of the church' to achieve the 'doctrine of salvation' points toward a works-based righteousness.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Revelations of God"
In This Text
New, modern pronouncements given to Joseph Smith and other leaders, codified into a new book of scripture.
In Evangelicalism
The closed canon of Scripture, culminating in the revelation of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2) and the apostolic writings.
"Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ"
In This Text
The comprehensive system of beliefs, ordinances, and church regulations restored through Joseph Smith.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection, which justifies the sinner by faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
"Doctrine of salvation"
In This Text
The theological framework taught in the 'Lectures on Faith,' which includes human effort, obedience to new revelations, and a developing view of the Godhead.
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the penalty of sin by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Referred to as the 'important doctrine of salvation' contained in the Lectures on Faith, which involves understanding the character of God and exercising faith unto life and salvation.
How Attained: Implied to be attained by believing the 'system' given by inspiration and adhering to the 'principles for the regulation of the church.'
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is tied to one's ability to 'answer to every principle advanced' and receive the 'reward of every man's labor' at the final judgment.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The preface's focus on a 'system' of regulations and the 'reward of every man's labor' contrasts with Sola Fide. Evangelicalism teaches that salvation is not a reward for labor or adherence to church regulations, but a free gift received by faith alone (Romans 4:4-5).
Mandates & Requirements
Implicit Obligations
- Accept the compiled volume as the inspired revelations of God.
- Understand and articulate the church's beliefs intelligibly to counter public misrepresentation.
- Submit to the regulatory principles outlined in the revelations for the governance of the church.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- The preface mentions that the 'Lectures on Faith' contain the 'important doctrine of salvation.' Since those lectures were removed from the Doctrine and Covenants in 1921, how does that impact our understanding of what is necessary for salvation?
- If the Bible contains the complete gospel of Jesus Christ, why was a new system of revelations necessary for the regulation of the church?
- The authors express a heavy burden to answer for every principle at the final judgment. How do you find peace and assurance about the final judgment in your own life?
- How do we determine if a new revelation is truly from God, especially if it adds to or changes what was previously revealed in the Bible?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to be understood and justified against false accusations.
Just as the early LDS leaders wanted to be justified before the public and clear their name, every human heart longs to be justified before God. The Gospel teaches that we cannot justify ourselves by our own explanations or works, but we are justified freely by Christ's blood (Romans 5:9).
Accountability at the Final Judgment.
The fear of standing before God and answering for our labor is a heavy burden. The Gospel offers a substitute: Jesus Christ stood in our place and answered for our sins, so that at the judgment, we are clothed in His righteousness, not our own labor.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By accepting an open canon where new revelations can be added (and, historically, where sections like the Lectures on Faith can be removed), the believer is placed on shifting theological sand. Truth is no longer anchored in the unchanging, historic biblical text, but is subject to the ongoing, sometimes contradictory, pronouncements of church leadership.
The focus on receiving the 'reward of every man's labor' and adhering to a 'system' for the regulation of the church places a heavy burden of performance on the believer. Assurance of salvation becomes tied to obedience to institutional rules rather than resting in the finished work of Christ.