Section 62
Overview
Given in February 1831, shortly after Joseph Smith relocated to Kirtland, Ohio, this revelation (known as Section 44 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) serves as an administrative and spiritual directive for the early Mormon movement. The text commands the elders of the church to gather from all directions. It establishes a conditional promise: if the elders exercise faith and remain faithful, God will pour out His Spirit upon their assembly. Following this spiritual empowerment, they are mandated to preach repentance in the surrounding regions to secure conversions. A unique aspect of this text is its explicit directive to organize the church according to the 'laws of man' (legal incorporation or recognition) to prevent enemies from destroying the people and to enable them to keep God's laws. Finally, the text mandates the care of the poor and needy, acting as a bridge to the broader economic directives (the Law of Consecration) that were being established in the Mormon community at that time.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The claimed divine author of the revelation, speaking in the first person.
- Joseph Smith, jr.: The prophet receiving the revelation and the implicit authority figure calling the assembly.
- Sidney Rigdon: Co-recipient of the revelation, a prominent early leader and scribe.
- Elders of the church: The primary audience, commanded to gather, preach, and organize.
- The poor and needy: Vulnerable members of the community whom the elders are commanded to relieve.
- Enemies: Unnamed antagonists from whom the church seeks legal and spiritual protection.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Outpouring of the Spirit
Assertion
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the elders is strictly conditional upon their faithfulness, their exercise of faith, and their physical gathering.
Evidence from Text
inasmuch as they are faithful, and exercise faith in me, I will pour out my Spirit upon them in the day that they assemble themselves together.
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the presence and outpouring of the Spirit are treated as an event predicated on human action: being faithful, exercising faith, and assembling together. This reflects a theology where spiritual power is accessed through obedience and collective ritual action. In contrast, Evangelical Christianity, based on passages like Ephesians 1:13-14 and Romans 8:9, teaches that the Holy Spirit is given to all believers at the moment of justification. While Evangelicals believe believers can be 'filled' with the Spirit for specific empowerment (Ephesians 5:18), the fundamental presence and sealing of the Spirit are not contingent on ongoing performance or physical location, but on the finished work of Christ received by faith alone.
Institutional Organization for Spiritual Protection
Assertion
Organizing the church according to secular law is a necessary step to prevent enemies from destroying the people and to enable the keeping of God's laws.
Evidence from Text
organize yourselves, according to the laws of man; that your enemies may not have power over you... that you may be enabled to keep my laws
Evangelical Comparison
The text explicitly links the ability to keep God's laws and survive enemy opposition to the act of organizing 'according to the laws of man' (legal incorporation). This demonstrates an early Mormon emphasis on building a physical, legally recognized, and politically secure Kingdom of God on earth (Zion). Evangelical ecclesiology distinguishes between the invisible, universal Church (the body of Christ) and local institutional manifestations. While Evangelicals utilize legal organization for practical purposes, they do not view secular legal standing as a prerequisite for spiritual protection, the ability to obey God, or the breaking of the enemy's bands, relying instead on the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and the sovereignty of Christ (Matthew 16:18).
Ongoing Revelation of 'My Law'
Assertion
God is actively revealing new, binding laws to the church which must be kept.
Evidence from Text
until all things may be done according to my law which ye have received.
Evangelical Comparison
The phrase 'my law which ye have received' refers to the newly revealed dictates given through Joseph Smith (specifically the Law of Consecration, given in February 1831). This establishes a paradigm where obedience to God requires obedience to the ongoing, contemporary dictates of the Mormon prophet. Evangelical Christianity adheres to Sola Scriptura, maintaining that the 66 books of the Bible contain all knowledge necessary for salvation and godly living (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Evangelicals reject the premise that God is issuing new, binding institutional or economic laws that believers must follow to remain in His favor.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text replaces the sufficiency of Scripture with ongoing prophetic revelation, and conditions the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the believers' performance and physical gathering rather than the finished work of Christ.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap lies in the doctrines of Revelation (Pneumatology) and Authority. Evangelicals hold to Sola Scriptura, believing that God's special revelation concluded with the Apostolic era and the closing of the biblical canon. This text operates on the premise of an open canon, where God dictates new, binding administrative and economic laws ('my law which ye have received') through a modern prophet. This creates a paradigm where obedience to God is inextricably linked to obedience to the LDS institutional leadership. Furthermore, the text presents a conditional pneumatology. The promise 'inasmuch as they are faithful... I will pour out my Spirit upon them' makes the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit contingent upon human works and physical gathering. In contrast, Evangelical theology teaches that the Holy Spirit is the sovereign, unmerited gift of God, permanently indwelling every believer at the moment of justification (Ephesians 1:13-14). While believers can grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), the fundamental outpouring of the Spirit is a reality of the New Covenant secured by Christ's blood, not a conditional reward for institutional compliance.
For All Ages
Imagine your parents gave you a complete rulebook for the house, and they promised that because you are their child, their love and presence will always be with you. That is how Evangelical Christians view the Bible and the Holy Spirit. This text, however, is like someone saying, 'Wait, there are new rules being written right now, and if you want to feel the parents' presence, you have to travel to a specific room, follow the new rules, and prove you are faithful enough.' It changes the Holy Spirit from a guaranteed gift into a reward you have to earn by following new instructions.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be direct, new revelation from God ('thus saith the Lord') that adds binding laws outside of the biblical canon.
Sola Gratia / Sola Fide
The outpouring of the Spirit is made conditional upon the believers' faithfulness and works (gathering, exercising faith), rather than being a free gift of grace.
Universal Priesthood / Ecclesiology
Spiritual protection and the ability to keep God's laws are tied to secular, institutional organization under a specific hierarchy, rather than the spiritual reality of the universal Church.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Repentance"
In This Text
Turning from past behavior to embrace the new revelations, laws, and institutional organization of the restored church.
In Evangelicalism
A change of mind and heart regarding sin and God, resulting in turning away from sin and turning to Christ alone for salvation.
"My law"
In This Text
Specific, newly revealed dictates given through Joseph Smith, particularly referring to the economic and administrative rules of the early LDS church (like the Law of Consecration).
In Evangelicalism
The moral law of God as revealed in Scripture, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, and the 'Law of Christ' (love) under the New Covenant.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: In the immediate context of this text, 'salvation' is framed as temporal preservation from enemies and the ability to keep God's laws within the organized community.
How Attained: By gathering, exercising faith, organizing legally, and keeping the newly revealed laws.
Basis of Assurance: Experiencing the outpouring of the Spirit at gatherings and seeing the successful organization and protection of the church.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text does not address eternal salvation directly, but its framework is entirely conditional and works-oriented. Protection, the Spirit, and success are granted 'inasmuch as they are faithful' and keep the laws. This contrasts sharply with justification by faith alone, where peace with God is secured entirely by Christ's work (Romans 5:1).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Call the elders of the church together from the east, west, north, and south.
- Be faithful.
- Exercise faith in the Lord.
- Assemble together.
- Go forth into the regions round about.
- Preach repentance unto the people.
- Organize yourselves according to the laws of man.
- Keep my laws.
- Visit the poor and the needy.
- Administer to the relief of the poor and needy.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the authority of Joseph Smith, who is issuing the call to gather.
- Prepare for the full implementation of the newly revealed 'law' (the Law of Consecration).
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 2, the Lord says He will pour out His Spirit 'inasmuch as they are faithful.' How do you know when you have been faithful enough to receive the Spirit?
- The text mentions organizing according to the laws of man so that enemies won't have power over you. How does this compare to Jesus' teaching that His kingdom is not of this world?
- When the text talks about keeping 'my law which ye have received,' what specific laws is it referring to, and how do they relate to the grace offered in the New Testament?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Caring for the Poor and Needy
The command to care for the vulnerable reflects the true heart of God. We can bridge this to the Gospel by pointing out that spiritually, we are all 'poor and needy' before God. Just as the elders were commanded to provide relief to those who could not help themselves, Christ came to provide spiritual relief and salvation to us when we were entirely helpless to save ourselves.
Desire for Protection from Enemies
The text shows a deep human longing for security and preservation from hostile forces. While this text seeks that protection through legal organization, the Gospel offers ultimate, eternal protection through Christ. No earthly enemy or spiritual force can separate us from the love of God.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is placed under the burden of conditional grace. Because the outpouring of the Spirit is predicated on the phrase 'inasmuch as they are faithful,' the believer must constantly evaluate if their level of faith and obedience is sufficient to warrant God's presence. This breeds anxiety and prevents the deep assurance and rest found in the biblical Gospel.
By tying spiritual protection and the ability to keep God's laws to the physical and legal organization of the church, the believer's spiritual security becomes entirely dependent on their standing within the LDS institution. They cannot simply rely on Christ; they must be part of the legally organized body to be 'preserved in all things.'