Section 20
Overview
Section 20 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known today as D&C 63) was dictated by Joseph Smith in August 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio. The text serves as a multifaceted administrative and theological decree, addressing both the spiritual state of the early Saints and the practical logistics of building a physical 'Zion' in Jackson County, Missouri. The revelation opens with a severe warning against those who seek signs to validate faith, asserting that signs follow belief rather than precede it. It then transitions into a strict condemnation of sexual immorality, warning that even lustful thoughts will cause a believer to lose the Holy Spirit, deny the faith, and forfeit their justification. The core of the text is a mandate for the Saints to pool their financial resources to purchase land in Missouri, explicitly tying their eternal inheritance and spiritual reward to this temporal, financial obedience. The text also includes specific, personalized directives to individuals like Titus Billings, Newel K. Whitney, and Sidney Rigdon, demonstrating Joseph Smith's absolute authority over the temporal and spiritual lives of his followers. Finally, the text outlines an eschatological vision of impending wars, the return of Christ, and a millennial period where mortals will live to an old age and be translated rather than experience traditional death.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ (The Lord / Alpha and Omega): The claimed divine author of the text who dictates commands, threatens judgment, and demands strict obedience.
- Joseph Smith, Jr.: The prophet receiving the revelation, explicitly granted the spiritual power to discern which members are permitted to relocate to Zion.
- Titus Billings: A member commanded to sell his land and move to Zion, representing the temporal sacrifices demanded of the early saints.
- Newel K. Whitney: Commanded to retain his store temporarily, impart his money to Zion, and be ordained as a financial agent for the church.
- Oliver Cowdery: Appointed to travel with Whitney to visit churches and collect funds.
- Sidney Rigdon: Rebuked by the Lord for pride; his previous writing is rejected, and he is commanded to write another or lose his office.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Inheritance via Financial Sacrifice
Assertion
The text claims that sending money and treasures to Zion is a prerequisite for receiving an inheritance in this world and a reward in the world to come.
Evidence from Text
He that sendeth up treasures unto the land of Zion, shall receive an inheritance in this world, and his works shall follow him; and also, a reward in the world to come
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the acquisition of an eternal reward and a spiritual inheritance is explicitly tied to a temporal, financial transaction: sending money to church leaders to purchase land in Missouri. The text creates a transactional soteriology where 'works shall follow him' is directly linked to the act of sending 'treasures unto the land of Zion.' Evangelical Christianity fundamentally rejects the idea that financial contributions or geographic relocation play any role in securing an eternal inheritance. According to 1 Peter 1:3-4, believers are born again to a living hope and an inheritance that is 'incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.' This inheritance is secured entirely by the finished work of Jesus Christ and is received by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Tying eternal rewards to the funding of a 19th-century real estate endeavor violates the biblical doctrine of Sola Fide and Sola Gratia.
Loss of Justification and Spirit through Internal Sin
Assertion
The text asserts that lustful thoughts cause an immediate loss of the Holy Spirit, lead to a denial of the faith, and negate justification.
Evidence from Text
he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear... ye are not justified because these things are among you
Evangelical Comparison
This text presents a highly precarious view of spiritual standing. It asserts that a single internal sin (lust) results in the immediate departure of the Holy Spirit, plunges the believer into fear and apostasy ('shall deny the faith'), and revokes their justification ('ye are not justified'). This creates a theology where justification is a fluid state dependent on the believer's flawless internal purity. Evangelical Christianity views justification as a one-time, forensic declaration by God where Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to the believer (2 Corinthians 5:21). Romans 8:1 declares, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.' While the New Testament certainly condemns lust (Matthew 5:28) and teaches that sin can grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), it also teaches that the Holy Spirit is a permanent seal guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). A believer's justification is anchored in Christ's performance, not their own ability to maintain perfect internal purity.
Exclusive Authority Required for Evangelism
Assertion
The text claims that individuals must be formally ordained to a specific power/authority simply to warn sinners to repent, and that using the Lord's name without this authority brings condemnation.
Evidence from Text
those who desire in their hearts, in meekness, to warn sinners to repentance, let them be ordained unto this power... many there be who are under this condemnation; who useth the name of the Lord, and useth it in vain, having not authority.
Evangelical Comparison
The text establishes a strict hierarchical control over evangelism, stating that even those who possess a meek desire to warn sinners must first be 'ordained unto this power.' Furthermore, it threatens condemnation upon anyone who uses the Lord's name without this specific, institutional authority, equating it to taking the Lord's name in vain. Evangelical Christianity operates on the biblical doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believers (1 Peter 2:9). The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) was given to the church as a whole, empowering every believer to share the gospel, warn sinners, and make disciples. In Acts 8:4, when the early church was scattered by persecution, 'they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word'—without requiring special ordination from the Apostles. Restricting the proclamation of the gospel to an ordained elite contradicts the New Testament model of universal Christian witness.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text introduces a works-based inheritance system tied to financial contributions and physical relocation to 'Zion.' It also establishes a new priesthood authority requirement for preaching and claims ongoing, binding revelation that supersedes the Bible.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity is profound, primarily centering on Soteriology, Authority, and Epistemology. In this text, salvation (described as overcoming and receiving an inheritance) is heavily conditioned upon temporal obedience to a modern prophet. Believers are explicitly told that their eternal reward is tied to their willingness to liquidate assets and send 'treasures' to build a physical city in Missouri. This fundamentally contradicts the Evangelical doctrine of Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone), which asserts that salvation is a free gift of grace, entirely unmerited by human works or financial contributions (Ephesians 2:8-9). Furthermore, the text redefines the nature of spiritual authority. By demanding that individuals be formally ordained simply to 'warn sinners to repentance,' the text denies the biblical doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believers. In the New Testament, the Great Commission empowers every Christian to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20), and the early church practiced this universally (Acts 8:4). Finally, the text's epistemology relies on continuous, binding revelation that dictates the minutiae of believers' lives (e.g., telling specific men to sell their farms or keep their stores). This violates Sola Scriptura, which holds that the 66-book Bible is the sufficient, final, and infallible rule of faith and practice. By adding new requirements for justification and inheritance, the text presents a 'different gospel' (Galatians 1:6-9).
For All Ages
Imagine you are invited to a wonderful, royal feast by a King. In the Bible, the King says, 'The feast is entirely free! My Son already paid for your ticket. Just believe in Him and come in.' But in this text, the King says, 'You can come to the feast, but first you have to move to a specific city, buy land there, give your extra money to my servants, and make sure you never have a single bad thought, or I will kick you out.' Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus did 100% of the work to save us. We don't have to buy our way into heaven or earn God's love by giving money to a church or moving to a certain place. This text teaches that you have to do a lot of specific chores—like giving money to build 'Zion'—to get your reward. It also says you need special permission just to tell other people about God. Christians believe Jesus already gave all of us permission to share His good news! Because of these extra rules, this text teaches a very different way to God than the Bible does.
Friction Points
Sola Fide / Sola Gratia
Ties eternal inheritance and rewards to financial contributions and geographic relocation.
Justification / Assurance
Teaches that justification is lost and the Spirit departs immediately upon experiencing a lustful thought.
Universal Priesthood
Requires formal ordination to possess the authority to warn sinners to repent.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Justified"
In This Text
A conditional state of approval that is lost if sin (like lust) is present among the believers.
In Evangelicalism
A permanent, forensic declaration by God where a sinner is declared righteous based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ.
"Authority"
In This Text
A specific, ordained power required even to warn sinners or use the Lord's name.
In Evangelicalism
The right and power granted to all believers by Christ to preach the gospel and make disciples.
"Inheritance"
In This Text
A spiritual and physical reward tied to purchasing land in Zion and sending up treasures.
In Evangelicalism
An eternal reward kept in heaven, obtained by grace through faith as adopted children of God.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Overcoming the world, receiving an inheritance on earth and in the world to come, and participating in the first resurrection.
How Attained: By enduring in faith, doing the Lord's will, keeping commandments, and making financial sacrifices to build Zion.
Basis of Assurance: Maintaining flawless internal purity (avoiding lust) and obeying the prophet's temporal commands to receive the subjective confirmation of the Spirit.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text explicitly conditions overcoming and inheritance on doing the Lord's will and sending up treasures, directly contradicting Ephesians 2:8-9 which states salvation is not of works.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Hearken and listen to the word of the Lord
- Let the wicked take heed and the rebellious fear and tremble
- Let the unbelieving hold their lips
- Adulterers must beware and repent speedily
- Assemble together unto the land of Zion, not in haste
- Purchase the lands of Zion
- Take righteousness in hands and faithfulness upon loins
- Lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth
- Disciples in Kirtland must arrange their temporal concerns
- Titus Billings must dispose of his land and journey to Zion
- Send all moneys which can be spared to the land of Zion
- Newel K. Whitney must retain his store for a little season
- Newel K. Whitney must impart all the money he can to Zion
- Ordain Newel K. Whitney as an agent unto the disciples
- Newel K. Whitney and Oliver Cowdery must speedily visit the churches to obtain moneys
- Sidney Rigdon must make another writing
- Ordain those who desire to warn sinners to repentance
- Beware how you take the Lord's name in your lips
- The church must repent of their sins or be cut off
- Speak sacred things with care and by constraint of the Spirit
- Receive the Spirit through prayer
- Joseph Smith Jr. and Sidney Rigdon must seek a home as taught through prayer
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to Joseph Smith's discernment regarding who is allowed to go to Zion
- Maintain absolute sexual purity in both thought and action to retain the Spirit
- Prioritize the building up of a physical Zion over personal financial security
- Accept that spiritual standing is tied to temporal obedience and financial contributions
Ritual Requirements
- Ordination to the power/office of an agent (for Newel K. Whitney)
- Ordination to the power to warn sinners to repentance
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- The text says that if someone looks with lust, they 'shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith.' Have you ever struggled with this, and how do you find peace if your justification can be lost so quickly?
- Verse 13 promises an inheritance in this world and the next for those who send treasures to Zion. How does this compare to Ephesians 2:8-9, which says salvation is a free gift, not of works?
- The text requires a specific ordination just to warn sinners to repent. In the New Testament, we see everyday believers sharing the gospel wherever they went. Why do you think this text restricts that?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for Zion (a place of peace, belonging, and divine presence).
The longing for a physical utopia reflects our God-given desire for Eden and the New Jerusalem. However, the true Zion is not a piece of real estate in Missouri, but the heavenly city where Christ reigns, and our citizenship is already secured there by grace.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places a heavy burden on believers to liquidate assets, uproot their lives, and send 'all the moneys which can be spared' to church leaders to build a physical Zion. The promise of an eternal inheritance is explicitly tied to this financial and temporal obedience. This creates a transactional relationship with God where a believer's eternal security feels dependent on their financial contributions and willingness to relocate, leading to anxiety over whether they have sacrificed 'enough.'
The text states that merely looking at someone with lust means the believer 'shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear.' This creates a hyper-vigilant, terrifying internal environment. Instead of resting in the grace of God when struggling with temptation, the believer is taught that a single internal misstep severs their connection to God, removes their justification, and plunges them into a state of fear and apostasy.