Section 45
Overview
Section 45 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (which corresponds to Section 23 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) is a composite text consisting of five distinct, brief revelations delivered by Joseph Smith in April 1830. This timing is historically significant, as it coincides with the formal organization of the Church of Christ (later renamed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) on April 6, 1830. The text features the first-person voice of God addressing Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph Smith Sen., and Joseph Knight Sen. individually. For the first four men, the revelation declares them to be 'under no condemnation' and assigns them specific roles—either preaching to the world (Oliver) or exhorting and strengthening the local church (Hyrum, Samuel, Joseph Sen.). The final segment addresses Joseph Knight Sen., who had not yet been baptized. It commands him to 'take up [his] cross' by praying vocally, to unite with the 'true church,' and to exhort others so he might receive the 'reward of the laborer.' The text serves as a foundational document for early Mormon ecclesiology, establishing Joseph Smith's role as the sole prophetic mediator who dispenses divine approval, assigns spiritual vocations, and defines the boundaries of the 'true church.'
Key Figures
- Oliver Cowdery: Second Elder of the church; told he is under no condemnation, warned against pride, and called to preach to the world.
- Hyrum Smith: Joseph Smith's older brother; told he is under no condemnation and called to exhort and strengthen the church continually.
- Samuel H. Smith: Joseph Smith's younger brother; told he is under no condemnation, called to exhort the church, but restricted from preaching to the world yet.
- Joseph Smith Sen.: Joseph Smith's father; told he is under no condemnation and called to exhort and strengthen the church.
- Joseph Knight Sen.: Early financial supporter of Joseph Smith; commanded to pray vocally, unite with the 'true church,' and exhort others.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Prophetic Mediation of Justification
Assertion
A living prophet has the authority to declare an individual's standing before God (whether they are under condemnation or not).
Evidence from Text
Behold I speak unto you, Oliver, a few words. Behold thou art blessed, and art under no condemnation.
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the status of being 'under no condemnation' is dispensed individually through the prophetic oracle of Joseph Smith. The believers look to the prophet to ascertain their spiritual standing before God. In contrast, Evangelical Christianity, rooted in Sola Scriptura and Solus Christus, teaches that 'there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus' (Romans 8:1). This is a positional, objective truth applied to all who believe, mediated entirely by Jesus Christ's finished work. Evangelicals do not rely on a modern prophet to declare their individual justification; rather, assurance comes from the promises of God in the Bible and the internal witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16).
The True Church Exclusivity
Assertion
There is a specific, identifiable earthly organization that constitutes the 'true church,' and uniting with it is a duty required for divine reward.
Evidence from Text
And behold it is your duty to unite with the true church, and give your language to exhortation continually, that you may receive the reward of the laborer.
Evangelical Comparison
Verse 5 commands Joseph Knight Sen. to 'unite with the true church.' Given the historical context of April 1830, this refers exclusively to the newly organized Church of Christ (LDS). This establishes a strict institutional ecclesiology where salvation, duty, and the 'reward of the laborer' are inextricably linked to membership in this specific organization. Evangelical Christianity maintains that the 'true church' (the universal or invisible church) consists of all individuals who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and justified by faith in Christ, regardless of their specific local church or denominational affiliation (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Requiring membership in a specific new denomination to receive God's reward violates the Evangelical understanding of Sola Fide and the universal body of Christ.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text replaces the sufficiency of Scripture with ongoing prophetic revelation and replaces the universal body of Christ with a specific, exclusive earthly institution required for divine reward.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap lies in ecclesiology and authority. Evangelicalism operates on Sola Scriptura, believing the biblical canon is closed and sufficient. Consequently, the 'true church' is understood spiritually—it is the invisible, universal body of all who are justified by faith in Christ. No single earthly denomination can claim exclusive rights to the title 'true church' or mandate membership for divine reward. This text, however, establishes a paradigm of continuing revelation where God speaks new, binding commands through Joseph Smith. It explicitly identifies the newly organized LDS church as the 'true church' (v. 5) and makes uniting with it a prerequisite for receiving the 'reward of the laborer.' Furthermore, it places the prophet in a mediatorial role, dispensing declarations of justification ('under no condemnation') and assigning spiritual vocations. This creates a system where the believer's assurance and duty are tethered to an earthly institution and a modern human leader, directly contradicting the Evangelical tenets of Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and the Universal Priesthood of all believers.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a rulebook from the coach that tells everyone how to play the game and promises that if you trust the team captain (Jesus), you are on the team. Evangelical Christians believe the Bible is that complete rulebook. But in this text, a man named Joseph Smith says, 'God is talking directly through me now. I am giving you new rules, telling you exactly what your job is, and you have to join my specific new club to get the reward.' Christians believe we don't need a new prophet to tell us we are okay with God, because Jesus already did that, and the Bible is enough.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text presents itself as direct, first-person revelation from God, adding to the closed canon of Scripture.
Sola Fide
Requires uniting with a specific earthly institution (the 'true church') and performing continuous exhortation to receive the 'reward of the laborer.'
Universal Priesthood
Places Joseph Smith as the necessary mediator to declare individuals 'under no condemnation' and to assign their spiritual callings.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Take up your cross"
In This Text
Performing specific religious duties, specifically praying vocally in all places and uniting with the LDS church.
In Evangelicalism
A metaphor for total self-denial, willingness to suffer persecution, and absolute surrender to Christ's lordship, even unto death (Matthew 16:24).
"True church"
In This Text
The specific earthly organization founded by Joseph Smith in April 1830.
In Evangelicalism
The universal, spiritual body of all genuine believers in Jesus Christ across all time and locations (Ephesians 1:22-23).
"Under no condemnation"
In This Text
A temporary, individualized status of divine approval declared by a prophet, which can be lost if one yields to pride.
In Evangelicalism
The permanent, objective, positional reality of every person who is justified by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Referred to here as receiving the 'reward of the laborer' and being 'under no condemnation.'
How Attained: By avoiding pride, fulfilling assigned church duties, praying vocally, and uniting with the 'true church.'
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on the direct, verbal confirmation of the living prophet and one's ongoing obedience to assigned duties.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text sharply contrasts with Sola Fide. While Evangelicalism teaches that the 'reward' of eternal life is a free gift received by faith alone (Romans 6:23), this text frames the reward as something given to the 'laborer' who fulfills specific institutional and behavioral mandates.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Beware of pride, lest thou shouldst enter into temptation (v. 1)
- Make known thy calling unto the church, and also before the world (v. 1)
- Exhort and strengthen the church continually (v. 2, 3, 4)
- Take up your cross (v. 5)
- Pray vocally before the world, in secret, in your family, and among your friends, and in all places (v. 5)
- Unite with the true church (v. 5)
- Give your language to exhortation continually (v. 5)
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to Joseph Smith's authority as the mouthpiece of God
- Accept the specific ecclesiastical roles assigned by the prophet without murmuring
- Recognize the newly formed April 1830 organization as the exclusive 'true church'
Ritual Requirements
- Uniting with the true church (which historically and doctrinally implies submitting to LDS baptism by proper authority, as Joseph Knight Sen. had not yet done)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In these verses, Joseph Smith tells several men they are 'under no condemnation.' How do you personally know if you are under no condemnation today?
- When verse 5 talks about uniting with the 'true church' to receive a reward, how does that compare with Ephesians 2:8-9, which says salvation is a gift and not from works?
- If the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:1 that there is 'now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,' why did these men need a modern prophet to tell them that?
- How do you define 'taking up your cross'? Does it mean joining a specific church, or does Jesus mean something different in the Gospels?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to be 'under no condemnation'
This highlights a deep human longing for assurance and peace with God. Evangelicals can bridge this by showing that this exact peace is offered permanently and perfectly in the biblical Gospel, not based on our performance or a prophet's word, but on Christ's blood.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is taught to rely on a human leader (the prophet) to know their standing with God and their purpose in life. This creates a spiritual bottleneck where access to God's approval is mediated by the LDS church hierarchy, fostering a fear of stepping outside the institution.
The promise of the 'reward of the laborer' is contingent upon continuous exhortation, vocal prayer, and avoiding pride. Because 'no condemnation' is presented as a state that can be lost ('lest thou shouldst enter into temptation'), the believer must constantly perform to maintain God's favor.