Section 61
Overview
Section 61 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known as Section 41 in the modern LDS edition) was dictated by Joseph Smith in February 1831, shortly after his arrival in Kirtland, Ohio. This text serves as a crucial transitional document in early Mormon history, setting the stage for the reception of the 'Law of the Church' (which would follow shortly as modern D&C 42). The revelation opens with a stark dichotomy: God promises the 'greatest blessings' to those who hear Him, but threatens the 'heaviest of all cursings' upon those who profess His name but fail to listen. The elders are commanded to assemble and pray in faith to receive a new governing law for the church. Theologically, the text establishes a strict, works-based definition of discipleship: a true disciple is one who both receives the law and actively does it. Those who claim to receive it but fail to perform it are to be excommunicated ('cast out'). Furthermore, the text introduces significant administrative and prophetic developments. It mandates that a house be built for Joseph Smith so he can live and 'translate'—a reference to his ongoing project of revising the King James Bible (the Joseph Smith Translation), which implies the insufficiency or corruption of the biblical text. Finally, it calls Edward Partridge to be ordained as the first bishop of the church, requiring him to abandon his secular merchandise to manage the temporal affairs of the growing religious community. Partridge is commended for his pure heart, explicitly compared to the biblical figure Nathaniel.
Key Figures
- The Lord/God: The divine speaker of the text who claims authority to bless, curse, give law, and judge.
- Joseph Smith, Jr.: The prophet receiving the revelation, who is commanded to be provided a house so he can continue his 'translation' work.
- Edward Partridge: A convert called to leave his secular business to become the first ordained bishop of the church, praised for having no guile.
- Sidney Rigdon: A prominent early leader granted permission to live as he chooses, contingent upon his obedience to the commandments.
- Nathaniel: A New Testament figure referenced as an archetype of purity and guilelessness to describe Edward Partridge.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuous Revelation and New Law
Assertion
God continues to give new, binding laws to govern His church through modern prophets and the assembly of elders.
Evidence from Text
...assemble yourselves together to agree upon my word, and by the prayer of your faith ye shall receive my law, that ye may know how to govern my church...
Evangelical Comparison
This text explicitly promises the imminent delivery of a new 'law' to govern the church, which must be received by the elders assembling and praying. In Evangelical theology, the concept of Sola Scriptura dictates that the 66 books of the Bible contain the complete, sufficient, and final revelation of God for the governance of the Church and the life of the believer (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 1:3). The introduction of a new, binding 'law' through a modern prophet fundamentally contradicts the Evangelical understanding that the New Covenant established by Christ's blood is complete and that no further foundational laws are required for the Church.
Works-Based Discipleship and Retention
Assertion
Being a disciple of Christ requires not just receiving the law, but actively doing it; failure to do so results in being cast out.
Evidence from Text
He that receiveth my law and doeth it the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and doeth it not, the same is not my disciple, and shall be cast out from among you...
Evangelical Comparison
The text establishes a rigid metric for discipleship: receiving the law AND doing it. If a person fails to 'do' the law, their status as a disciple is revoked, and they are to be excommunicated ('cast out'). While Evangelicalism agrees that true faith produces good works (James 2:17), it vehemently rejects the idea that one's status as a disciple or one's justification is maintained by perfect adherence to the law. In Evangelical theology, believers are kept by the power of God and justified by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:1). The threat of being 'cast out' for failing to 'do' the law places the believer under a covenant of works rather than a covenant of grace.
Prophetic Translation of Scripture
Assertion
Joseph Smith is divinely appointed to 'translate' (revise/alter) scripture, requiring temporal support from the church to do so.
Evidence from Text
And again, it is meet that my servant Joseph Smith, jr. should have a house built, in which to live and translate.
Evangelical Comparison
The command to build a house for Joseph Smith so he can 'translate' refers historically to his work on the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible. Mormon theology posits that the Bible was corrupted over time and needed prophetic restoration. Evangelical Christianity holds to the providential preservation of Scripture, believing that the thousands of extant ancient manuscripts allow for highly accurate translations without the need for a modern prophet to receive 'restored' text via direct revelation. The Evangelical baseline views Smith's alterations to the biblical text as a violation of the warnings against adding to or taking away from God's word (Revelation 22:18-19).
The Office of Bishop
Assertion
The church requires the ordained office of a Bishop to manage temporal affairs and labor full-time for the church.
Evidence from Text
...Edward Partridge, and give a commandment, that he should be appointed by the voice of the church, and ordained a bishop unto the church, to leave his merchandise and to spend all his time in the labors of the church...
Evangelical Comparison
This text marks the introduction of the office of Bishop in Mormonism. In LDS theology, the Bishop eventually becomes the presiding high priest of a local ward, primarily responsible for temporal affairs, tithing, and judging worthiness. In Evangelical theology, based on the New Testament (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1), the terms bishop (episkopos), elder (presbuteros), and pastor (poimen) are generally understood to refer to the same office of spiritual leadership, teaching, and shepherding, rather than a distinct hierarchical office focused heavily on the temporal and financial administration of a 'law'.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text diverges fundamentally from Evangelicalism by establishing a works-based metric for discipleship and by asserting the need for new, extra-biblical laws to govern the church.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers on the doctrines of Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide. First, the text violates Sola Scriptura by promising a new 'law' that the church must receive to know how to govern itself. Evangelicals maintain that the New Testament provides all necessary instruction for church governance and Christian living. Furthermore, the text mandates support for Joseph Smith to 'translate'—a reference to his prophetic rewriting of the Bible, which undermines the Evangelical confidence in the preservation and sufficiency of the biblical text. Second, the text violates Sola Fide by explicitly defining a disciple as one who 'receiveth my law and doeth it,' warning that those who fail to 'do' the law will be cast out. This creates a conditional, works-based standing before God. In contrast, Evangelical theology teaches that believers are justified entirely by faith in Christ's finished work (Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9). While good works are the inevitable fruit of genuine faith, they are not the mechanism by which one maintains their status as a disciple or avoids being 'cast out' of God's grace.
For All Ages
Imagine you are adopted into a family. In a healthy family, you are a child because your parents chose you and love you. Even if you make a mistake or break a house rule, you are still their child. This is how Evangelical Christians view salvation: God adopts us by grace, and we are safe. But this text describes something more like a strict club. It says that if you say you accept the club's rules but don't follow them perfectly, you are no longer a true member and will be kicked out. It also says the leader of the club is getting brand new rules directly from God that aren't in the Bible, and that the leader needs to rewrite parts of the Bible.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text promises new, binding laws for the church and mandates the prophetic alteration ('translation') of the Bible.
Sola Fide
Discipleship and retention in the community are strictly conditioned upon 'doing' the law, with failure resulting in being cast out.
Universal Priesthood / Ecclesiology
Establishes a hierarchical office (Bishop) specifically to administer new temporal laws, diverging from the biblical model of pastoral oversight.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Translate"
In This Text
To prophetically revise, add to, or alter existing biblical texts through direct revelation, without the use of ancient manuscripts.
In Evangelicalism
To render the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts into another language using linguistic scholarship.
"Bishop"
In This Text
A specific priesthood office primarily concerned with managing the temporal, financial, and property affairs of the church (as Edward Partridge was called to do).
In Evangelicalism
An overseer, elder, or pastor responsible for the spiritual shepherding, teaching, and care of a local congregation (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: While not explicitly using the word 'salvation,' the text defines being a 'disciple' and avoiding being 'cursed' or 'cast out' as the primary spiritual goals.
How Attained: Maintained by receiving and strictly obeying ('doing') the newly revealed laws of the church.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is entirely conditional upon one's performance. If one stops 'doing' the law, they lose their standing.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. Romans 4:4-5 states, 'Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.' Section 61, however, demands that a disciple must 'do' the law to remain in standing.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Hearken and hear the Lord.
- Elders must assemble themselves together.
- Elders must agree upon God's word.
- Elders must pray in faith to receive the law.
- Keep the law once it is received.
- Cast out those who say they receive the law but do not do it.
- Do not give the things of the kingdom to the unworthy, dogs, or swine.
- Build a house for Joseph Smith Jr. to live and translate in.
- Sidney Rigdon must keep the commandments.
- Appoint Edward Partridge by the voice of the church.
- Ordain Edward Partridge as a bishop.
- Edward Partridge must leave his merchandise.
- Edward Partridge must spend all his time in the labors of the church.
- Beware how you hold these words.
Implicit Obligations
- Provide financial and temporal support for Joseph Smith and Edward Partridge.
- Submit to the authority of the newly ordained bishop.
- Prepare to obey the forthcoming 'law' of the church.
Ritual Requirements
- Ordination of a bishop by the voice of the church.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 2, it says that if someone receives the law but doesn't do it, they are not a disciple and will be cast out. How do you know when you have 'done' the law enough to be safe from being cast out?
- The text mentions Joseph Smith needing a house to 'translate.' Since the Bible was already translated into English, what do you think he was translating, and why was it necessary?
- When you read that God will curse those who profess His name but don't hear Him with the 'heaviest of all cursings,' how does that impact your feelings of peace and assurance before God?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
A Pure Heart (Like Nathaniel)
We all desire to have a pure heart before God, but scripture tells us our hearts are naturally deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). The Gospel promises that God will give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26), not based on our own perfection, but through the cleansing blood of Christ (1 John 1:7).
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is placed under immense pressure to perfectly 'do' the law. Because discipleship is explicitly tied to performance, the believer can never rest in the finished work of Christ, constantly wondering if their obedience is sufficient to avoid being 'cast out.'
The text opens with a terrifying threat: those who profess God's name but fail to hear/obey will be cursed with the 'heaviest of all cursings.' This cultivates a relationship with God based on fear of punishment rather than adoption and love.
By asserting that the Bible needed to be 'translated' (rewritten) by Joseph Smith, the believer is stripped of confidence in the objective, historical Word of God, forcing them to rely entirely on the shifting dictates of modern church leadership.