Section 51
Overview
Section 51 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known as Section 28 in the modern LDS edition) was dictated by Joseph Smith in September 1830 during a critical leadership crisis in the early church. Hiram Page, an early convert, had begun receiving purported revelations through a seer stone concerning the building of Zion and church order. This text serves as a definitive theological and administrative boundary-marker, establishing a strict hierarchical epistemology. It declares that Joseph Smith alone holds the 'keys of the mysteries' and is the sole individual authorized to receive commandments and revelations for the entire church, explicitly comparing his role to Moses and Oliver Cowdery's subordinate role to Aaron. The text commands Cowdery to privately confront Page, declaring Page's revelations to be satanic deceptions. Furthermore, it outlines a missiological mandate for Cowdery to preach to the 'Lamanites' (Native Americans) and establishes the principle of 'common consent' for church governance, ensuring that all things are done in order under the presiding authority of Joseph Smith.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith, Jr.: Designated as the exclusive receiver of commandments and revelations for the church, holding the keys of the mysteries, likened to Moses.
- Oliver Cowdery: Commanded to teach, preach to the Lamanites, and confront Hiram Page, but strictly forbidden from writing commandments for the church; likened to Aaron.
- Moses: Used as a typological archetype for Joseph Smith's supreme prophetic and law-giving authority.
- Aaron: Used as a typological archetype for Oliver Cowdery's subordinate, supportive, and declarative role.
- Hiram Page: An early church member condemned for receiving false revelations through a seer stone, representing the threat of unauthorized spiritual authority.
- Satan: Identified as the source of Hiram Page's deceptive revelations.
- Lamanites: Identified as the target demographic for Oliver Cowdery's mission; understood in early Mormonism to be the Native Americans of Israelite descent.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Exclusive Prophetic Authority (The Living Prophet)
Assertion
Only one individual (Joseph Smith) is authorized to receive commandments and revelations for the entire church.
Evidence from Text
no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church, excepting my servant Joseph Smith, jr. for he receiveth them even as Moses
Evangelical Comparison
This text establishes a rigid, top-down epistemological hierarchy where a single human leader acts as the sole conduit for divine commandments to the church. By explicitly comparing Joseph Smith to Moses, the text elevates him to the status of a supreme lawgiver and mediator of God's will. In stark contrast, Evangelical Christianity teaches that the era of foundational, normative revelation ceased with the Apostles. Furthermore, the New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus Christ as the 'prophet like Moses' (Acts 3:22) and the final, superior revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1-2). By inserting a human prophet into this mediatorial role, the text fundamentally alters the believer's direct access to God's authoritative will, routing it instead through a human institution.
Keys of the Mysteries
Assertion
Joseph Smith possesses exclusive spiritual 'keys' to unlock sealed mysteries and revelations.
Evidence from Text
for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.
Evangelical Comparison
The text asserts that Joseph Smith holds exclusive 'keys' to mysteries and sealed revelations, creating a theological bottleneck where spiritual truth cannot be fully accessed without his mediation. In Evangelical theology, the 'keys' mentioned in Matthew 16:19 are generally understood as the authority to declare the Gospel, which opens the kingdom of heaven to those who believe. The mysteries of God, once hidden, have now been fully revealed in Christ and are illuminated to all believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12). There are no 'sealed' revelations requiring a modern prophet to unlock them, as Scripture is sufficient and complete.
Satanic Counterfeit Revelation
Assertion
Spiritual experiences and revelations received outside the authorized priesthood channel are deceptions from Satan.
Evidence from Text
tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that satan deceiveth him: for behold these things have not been appointed unto him
Evangelical Comparison
The text addresses Hiram Page's use of a seer stone to receive revelations. Interestingly, Joseph Smith also used a seer stone, but the text condemns Page's revelations not primarily because of the method, but because Page lacked the hierarchical 'appointment' to receive them. The text attributes unauthorized revelation directly to Satanic deception. Evangelicals also believe in Satanic deception (2 Corinthians 11:14), but the metric for discerning truth from error is the objective, unchanging standard of the 66-book Bible (Isaiah 8:20, 1 John 4:1). In this text, the metric for truth is institutional appointment and alignment with Joseph Smith.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text establishes a human mediator (Joseph Smith) as the exclusive channel for God's commandments, replacing the sufficiency of Scripture and the sole mediation of Christ with an ongoing, hierarchical prophetic office.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap centers on the doctrines of Revelation and Mediation. Evangelical Christianity, rooted in Sola Scriptura, maintains that the canon of Scripture is closed and sufficient for all faith and practice (Jude 3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Furthermore, it holds to the Universal Priesthood of all believers and the sole mediation of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Section 51 systematically dismantles these concepts by establishing an exclusive, ongoing prophetic office. By declaring that 'no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations... excepting my servant Joseph Smith,' the text creates a mandatory human bottleneck for divine truth. This paradigm shifts the believer's ultimate trust from the objective, historical revelation of the Bible to the subjective, ongoing dictates of a living man. It creates a system where the Prophet functions as a functional mediator of God's will, akin to Moses under the Old Covenant, directly contradicting the New Testament teaching that Christ is the final and superior Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6). Consequently, the Evangelical assurance based on the finished work of Christ and the unchanging Word of God is replaced by a requirement for continuous obedience to an evolving institutional hierarchy.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a direct phone line to your best friend, and you can talk to them anytime. That's how Christians view their relationship with God through Jesus and the Bible. But this text says that God only gives the really important instructions to one specific person (Joseph Smith), and everyone else has to listen to him to know what God wants the whole group to do. It's like saying you can only get letters from your friend if they are delivered and read to you by one specific mailman. Christians believe the Bible is the only letter we need, and Jesus is the only one we need to connect us to God.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text explicitly commands the reception of new, binding commandments and revelations outside of the Bible.
Universal Priesthood / Sole Mediation of Christ
Elevates one man (Joseph Smith) to a Moses-like mediatorial role, denying that all believers have equal access to God's authoritative will.
Sufficiency of Christ
Implies that Christ's revelation in the New Testament is insufficient and requires ongoing 'keys' to unlock sealed mysteries.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"The Comforter"
In This Text
The Holy Ghost, whose primary function here is to help a subordinate teach existing revelations and confirm the authority of the Prophet.
In Evangelicalism
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who indwells all believers, convicts of sin, and guides them into all truth based on the Word of God (John 14:26, 16:8-13).
"Keys of the mysteries"
In This Text
Exclusive priesthood authority held by one man to unlock sealed revelations and govern the church.
In Evangelicalism
The authority of the Gospel message itself, given to the Apostles and by extension the church, to declare forgiveness of sins through Christ (Matthew 16:19).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: While not explicitly defining eternal salvation, the text defines spiritual safety and right standing with God as being aligned with the true church and its authorized prophet.
How Attained: Maintained through obedience to the Prophet, adherence to church covenants, and avoiding unauthorized spiritual deception.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is found in institutional alignment—doing things 'in order and by common consent in the church.'
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text does not address justification by faith. Instead, it focuses heavily on ecclesiology and authority, implicitly teaching that right standing with God requires submission to a specific human leader and church structure, which conflicts with the Evangelical belief that faith in Christ alone is sufficient for salvation and right standing before God.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Oliver Cowdery must teach by the Comforter concerning existing revelations.
- Oliver Cowdery must be obedient to Joseph Smith.
- Oliver Cowdery must not write by way of commandment.
- Oliver Cowdery must not command Joseph Smith.
- Oliver Cowdery must go to the Lamanites and preach the gospel.
- Oliver Cowdery must cause the church to be established among the Lamanites.
- Oliver Cowdery must not leave until after the conference.
- Oliver Cowdery must privately confront Hiram Page and tell him his revelations are from Satan.
- Oliver Cowdery must assist in settling church matters according to covenants before his journey.
- Oliver Cowdery must open his mouth at all times declaring the gospel with rejoicing.
Implicit Obligations
- All church members must submit to Joseph Smith as the sole revelator.
- Members must reject any spiritual experiences that contradict or bypass the Prophet.
- Members must accept the geographical and historical claims regarding the Lamanites.
Ritual Requirements
- Conducting church business 'by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith.'
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 2, Joseph Smith is compared to Moses. Since the New Testament says Jesus is the final prophet and the one who fulfills Moses' role (Hebrews 1:1-2, Acts 3:22), how do we understand the need for a new Moses today?
- The text says Hiram Page was deceived by Satan through his seer stone. How can a believer independently verify if a revelation is from God or Satan, without just relying on another man's word?
- If the 'Comforter' (Holy Spirit) was guiding Oliver Cowdery, why was he strictly forbidden from receiving commandments for the church? Doesn't the Holy Spirit lead all believers into truth?
- If archaeological and DNA evidence shows that Native Americans are not primarily of Middle Eastern descent, how does that impact the command in verse 3 to preach to the 'Lamanites'?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Protection from Deception
The desire to be protected from spiritual deception is valid and good. However, instead of relying on a single fallible human leader for that protection, God has given us the unchanging, objective truth of the Bible as our ultimate guardrail against error.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is taught that they cannot trust their own spiritual experiences, their own reading of Scripture, or the leading of the Holy Spirit if it contradicts the living Prophet. This creates a deep fear of being deceived by Satan (like Hiram Page) if they ever question the leadership, resulting in absolute intellectual and spiritual dependence on a human hierarchy.
Because God's will is mediated exclusively through the Prophet and the church structure, the believer's standing is tied to their obedience to the institution ('church covenants', 'common consent'). This replaces the rest found in Christ with a constant need to align with shifting institutional directives.