Section 36
Overview
Section 36 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known today as D&C 10) addresses one of the most critical and controversial moments in early Mormon history: the loss of the 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon. In 1828, Joseph Smith allowed his scribe, Martin Harris, to take the initial translated pages to show his wife. The pages were lost and never recovered. This revelation, dated May 1829, provides God's explanation and instructions to Joseph regarding the incident. The text asserts that 'wicked men' (prompted by Satan) have altered the stolen manuscript. If Joseph were to retranslate the same material, these men would produce the altered pages to claim he contradicted himself, thereby 'proving' he lacked a divine gift. To thwart this satanic plot, God commands Joseph not to retranslate the lost portion (the Book of Lehi) but instead to translate a different set of ancient records—the 'Plates of Nephi'—which cover the same historical period but offer greater spiritual views. Theologically, this text is highly significant as it establishes the narrative framework for the Book of Mormon's structure and defends Joseph's prophetic calling against empirical testing. It also introduces key doctrinal claims, most notably reinterpreting Jesus's words in John 10:16 ('other sheep have I') to refer to ancient inhabitants of the Americas (the Nephites and Lamanites). The revelation redefines the church as those who repent, come to Christ, and endure to the end, promising that they will be established upon His Rock. For believers, the text demonstrates God's omniscience and His ability to outmaneuver Satan's cunning plans. For critics and comparative scholars, it represents a classic example of an unfalsifiable apologetic defense, shielding the prophet from the logical expectation that a true translator could simply reproduce the original text.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith, Jr.: The recipient of the revelation and the sole authorized translator of the ancient records.
- A wicked man (Martin Harris): Though unnamed in the text, he is the individual who lost the manuscript, leading to the crisis this revelation addresses.
- Satan / The Devil: The orchestrator of the plot to alter the manuscript and destroy the work of God.
- Jesus Christ: The divine speaker of the revelation who claims authorship of the text and directs the translation process.
- Nephi: An ancient prophet whose plates are designated as the replacement text for the lost manuscript.
- King Benjamin: An ancient American king mentioned as a chronological marker for the translation.
- The Lamanites: Descendants of the ancient American peoples and a primary target audience for the restored gospel.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Divine Translation and the Urim and Thummim
Assertion
Joseph Smith possessed a divine gift to translate ancient records using the Urim and Thummim, which could be lost through disobedience and restored by God.
Evidence from Text
because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them; and you also lost your gift at the same time... nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, translation is presented not as a scholarly discipline requiring knowledge of ancient languages, but as a supernatural gift mediated through physical artifacts (the Urim and Thummim). This gift is conditional and can be revoked by God if the prophet disobeys. In Evangelical Christianity, the translation of Scripture is a rigorous academic process of rendering Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into receptor languages. While Evangelicals believe the original authors were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21), the act of translation itself is not viewed as a mystical or infallible process, nor does it require physical relics.
The 'Other Sheep' as Ancient Americans
Assertion
Jesus Christ's statement in John 10:16 about having 'other sheep' refers specifically to a branch of the House of Jacob (Israelites) living in the ancient Americas.
Evidence from Text
I am he who said other sheep have I which are not of this fold... And I will show unto this people, that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine represents a major exegetical departure from historic Christianity. The text explicitly claims that Jesus's reference to 'other sheep' in John 10:16 was about the Nephites and Lamanites in the Americas. In Evangelical theology, based on the broader context of the New Testament, the 'other sheep' refers to the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul explains this mystery in Ephesians 2:11-18, detailing how Christ broke down the dividing wall of hostility to create one new man out of the two (Jews and Gentiles). Reassigning this prophecy to a hidden American civilization alters the biblical narrative of Gentile inclusion.
Conditional Establishment on the Rock
Assertion
A person is established on Christ's Rock only if they repent, come to Him, and endure to the end.
Evidence from Text
whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my Rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
Evangelical Comparison
The text conditions ultimate spiritual security (being established on the Rock) upon a believer's ability to 'endure to the end.' This introduces a works-righteousness paradigm where salvation is maintained through continuous faithfulness. In Evangelical theology, justification is a one-time legal declaration by God where the sinner is declared righteous by faith alone (Sola Fide). A believer is placed on the Rock (Christ) immediately upon believing (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 3:11). While Evangelicals believe true faith will produce endurance (perseverance of the saints), endurance is the evidence of salvation, not the prerequisite for being established on the Rock.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text violates Sola Scriptura by introducing new scripture and reinterprets biblical passages (John 10:16) to support a new historical paradigm. It also conditions ultimate salvation on lifelong endurance rather than justification by faith alone.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between Section 36 and Evangelical Christianity is profound, centering primarily on issues of bibliology, ecclesiology, and soteriology. The most immediate divergence is the violation of Sola Scriptura. The text presents itself as direct, verbatim revelation from Jesus Christ, commanding the translation and publication of a new volume of scripture (the Book of Mormon) which is said to contain 'greater views upon my gospel.' This directly challenges the evangelical conviction that the 66-book biblical canon is closed, sufficient, and the sole infallible rule of faith and practice. Furthermore, the text authoritatively reinterprets biblical passages to fit a new historical paradigm. Specifically, it claims that Christ's reference to 'other sheep' in John 10:16 refers to a 'branch of the house of Jacob' located in the Americas. In evangelical exegesis, the 'other sheep' refers to the Gentiles who would be brought into one flock with Jewish believers, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:11-18). Soteriologically, the text subtly but significantly departs from Sola Fide (justification by faith alone). While it invites people to repent and come to Christ, it conditions ultimate security on human performance: 'whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my Rock.' In evangelical theology, a believer is established on the Rock (Christ) at the moment of justification by faith, and endurance is the fruit of that secure salvation, not the prerequisite for it (Romans 8:1, 29-30; Ephesians 2:8-9). Finally, the text's epistemology relies entirely on the unquestioned authority of the prophet. The narrative regarding the altered 116 pages serves as an apologetic shield against empirical verification. Rather than demonstrating the translation gift by reproducing the text, the adherent is required to accept a conspiracy theory (wicked men altering the text) based solely on Joseph Smith's prophetic claim. This contrasts sharply with the biblical standard of testing prophets and relying on objective, historical verification of God's acts.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a favorite rulebook for a game, and the rulebook says, 'These are all the rules. Don't add any more.' That's how Evangelical Christians view the Bible. But in this text, Joseph Smith is saying that God gave him a brand new rulebook (the Book of Mormon) and that Jesus actually visited people in ancient America. This is a big difference because Christians believe the Bible is the only book we need to know God. Another big difference is about how we are saved. Christians believe that when you trust in Jesus, you are saved right then and there, like receiving a free gift that you can't lose. But this text says you have to 'endure to the end' to be put on God's solid rock. That means you have to keep working hard and being good your whole life to make sure you are truly safe. Finally, the text talks about Jesus having 'other sheep.' Christians believe Jesus was talking about people who weren't Jewish (Gentiles) joining His family. But this text says Jesus was talking about Native Americans. This changes the whole story of what Jesus was doing and who He was talking to in the Bible.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be new revelation from Jesus Christ, commanding the publication of a new book of scripture (the Book of Mormon) that adds to the biblical canon.
Sola Fide
The text requires believers to 'endure to the end' in order to be established on the Rock, making ultimate salvation conditional on lifelong performance rather than faith alone.
Christology / Ecclesiology
The text reinterprets Christ's 'other sheep' (John 10:16) as ancient Americans rather than Gentiles, altering the biblical narrative of the New Covenant's expansion.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"My gospel"
In This Text
Includes the historical record of the Nephites, their specific doctrines, and the new revelations given to Joseph Smith.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Jesus Christ's life, substitutionary death, and resurrection for the justification of sinners by faith alone.
"My church"
In This Text
Those who repent, come to Christ, and endure to the end within the framework of this new revelation.
In Evangelicalism
The universal body of all true believers who have been justified by faith and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Inheriting the kingdom of heaven and receiving eternal life.
How Attained: By repenting, coming to Christ, and enduring in the church to the end.
Basis of Assurance: Conditional upon continuous endurance and faithfulness ('endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish').
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text contrasts with justification by faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that salvation is a gift received by faith, not a status achieved by enduring works. In evangelicalism, endurance is the result of being on the Rock, not the requirement to get there.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- see that you are faithful
- continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation
- do not run faster, or labor more than you have strength and means provided
- be diligent unto the end
- pray always
- you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands
- show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation
- hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known
- translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi
- publish it as the record of Nephi
- remember the words of him who is the life and the light of the world
Implicit Obligations
- Trust God's strategic wisdom over human logic regarding the lost manuscript.
- Recognize and guard against the cunning plans of the devil.
- Believe that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel.
- Accept Joseph Smith as the sole authorized translator and prophet.
- Believe that wicked men altered the original manuscript to deceive.
Ritual Requirements
- Repentance (as a requirement to be part of the church)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- If God gave Joseph the exact translation the first time, why would altered pages matter if Joseph could just produce the exact same text again to prove the others were altered?
- How does Jesus's definition of 'other sheep' in John 10 fit with the context of bringing Gentiles into the fold, compared to this text's claim about ancient Americans?
- When the text says we must 'endure to the end' to be established on the Rock, how does that compare to Jesus's promise in John 5:24 that whoever believes already has eternal life?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
God's wisdom overcoming Satan's cunning.
The cross seemed like Satan's ultimate victory, but it was actually God's profound wisdom to defeat sin and death forever.
Gathering under wings.
Jesus desires to comfort, protect, and save His people, offering true rest to those who come to Him.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The requirement to 'endure to the end' to be established on the Rock creates a constant anxiety about whether one has done enough or remained faithful enough to secure salvation. It shifts the focus from Christ's finished work to the believer's ongoing performance.
Believers are taught that the world and 'wicked men' are constantly trying to deceive them and destroy the work. This fosters an 'us vs. them' mentality and a deep distrust of outside information, empirical testing, or critical historical analysis.