Section 64
Overview
Given in March 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio, this text addresses the immediate logistical and economic challenges faced by the early Latter-day Saint movement. As converts from New York (the 'eastern brethren') migrated to Ohio, the local members needed to accommodate them. Joseph Smith dictates this revelation to mandate the sharing of property ('impart to the eastern brethren') and the accumulation of wealth ('save all the money that ye can... in righteousness') for a future, eschatological purpose: the building of a holy city, Zion. The text establishes a hierarchical, centralized control over property, wealth, and settlement, dictating that the gathering of families will be managed by 'the presidency and the bishop of the church' according to ongoing, continuous revelation. This section highlights the early Mormon shift towards a physical, geographic kingdom-building endeavor managed by a strict ecclesiastical hierarchy, framing pragmatic administrative directives as divine mandates.
Key Figures
- Eastern brethren: The migrating Latter-day Saints from New York who required land, resources, and accommodation upon arriving in Ohio.
- Certain men appointed: Future designees who would receive the revelation of Zion's exact location and be tasked with purchasing the land to lay the city's foundation.
- The presidency: The highest governing body of the church, asserted here as having divine authority over where and how families gather and settle.
- The bishop of the church: Historically Edward Partridge, tasked with managing the temporal affairs, property distribution, and inheritances of the Saints.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuous and Administrative Revelation
Assertion
God provides ongoing, binding revelation that dictates the temporal, financial, and logistical affairs of the church.
Evidence from Text
...according to the laws and commandments, which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive; even so. Amen.
Evangelical Comparison
This text demonstrates the Mormon doctrine of continuous revelation, wherein the prophetic voice is not limited to spiritual or moral truths but extends to administrative, financial, and real estate directives. The believers are expected to obey commandments they 'shall hereafter receive.' In contrast, Evangelical Christianity holds to Sola Scriptura, believing that the 66 books of the Bible are the final, complete, and sufficient revelation from God for the church (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 1:3). While Evangelicals believe God can guide believers personally, they reject the concept of a modern prophet issuing binding, extra-biblical commandments that carry the weight of divine scripture, especially regarding temporal logistics.
Geographic Zion and Physical Inheritance
Assertion
Believers are commanded to purchase physical land to establish a literal city of Zion as their inheritance.
Evidence from Text
...that in time ye may be enabled to purchase lands for an inheritance, even the city. The place is not yet to be revealed...
Evangelical Comparison
The text commands the Saints to save money to purchase lands for an 'inheritance,' specifically a physical city whose location is yet to be revealed (later identified as Jackson County, Missouri). This reflects the Mormon theological focus on building a literal, geographic Kingdom of God on earth through human effort and financial transaction. Evangelical Christianity, drawing from the New Testament, understands the believer's inheritance as an imperishable, undefiled spiritual reality kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). The 'city' Evangelicals seek is not built by human hands or purchased with saved money, but is the heavenly Jerusalem whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10, 16).
Ecclesiastical Control of Temporal Affairs
Assertion
The church hierarchy has divine authority to dictate where families live and how property is distributed.
Evidence from Text
...every man according to his family, according to his circumstances, and as is appointed to him by the presidency and the bishop of the church...
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine establishes a high-control dynamic where 'the presidency and the bishop' have the authority to appoint where and how a man and his family will gather and settle. The believer's temporal life is subjugated to the administrative decisions of the church hierarchy. In Evangelical theology, the Universal Priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9) ensures that individuals have direct access to God and personal liberty in matters of conscience, vocation, and residence. While the New Testament church practiced voluntary generosity (Acts 4:32-35), the Apostles explicitly affirmed private property rights (Acts 5:4) and did not mandate geographic gathering or real estate purchases as a condition of spiritual obedience.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text conflates spiritual obedience with submission to a specific ecclesiastical hierarchy's real estate and financial directives, replacing the spiritual Kingdom of God with a physical, socio-economic kingdom.
Theological Gap (Explained)
This text demonstrates the early Mormon integration of temporal and spiritual authority, a significant departure from Evangelical theology. In Evangelicalism, while generosity, hospitality, and stewardship are biblical mandates, the church does not possess divine authority to dictate the specific geographic gathering, property distribution, or financial savings of its members for the purpose of building a literal, earthly city. The text establishes a mediatorial hierarchy ('the presidency and the bishop') that governs the believer's inheritance and standing within the community. This violates the Universal Priesthood of believers, which asserts that Christians are free in matters of conscience and vocation, guided by the Holy Spirit and Scripture, rather than micromanaged by clergy. Furthermore, it replaces the biblical understanding of the Kingdom of God—which Jesus declared is 'not of this world' (John 18:36) and is a spiritual reality within believers (Luke 17:20-21)—with a physical, socio-economic kingdom managed by a prophetic elite.
For All Ages
Imagine if your pastor told you that God commanded you to give your house to people moving from another state, and that you had to save all your money to buy land for a secret city the pastor would tell you about later. In the Bible, God wants us to be generous and help others, but He doesn't give church leaders total control over where we live and how we spend our money. Our salvation and standing with God are based on what Jesus did for us on the cross, not on buying land for a church or moving where a bishop tells us to.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text asserts that God is giving new, binding revelations regarding real estate and finances, and promises future unwritten commandments that must be obeyed.
Theology Proper / Kingdom of God
Reduces the Kingdom of God to a physical real estate venture requiring monetary purchase, contradicting Christ's teaching that His kingdom is not of this world.
Universal Priesthood
Places the believer's temporal life, family settlement, and inheritance under the direct, authoritative control of 'the presidency and the bishop'.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Inheritance"
In This Text
Physical land in a specific geographic location (Zion) purchased with saved money.
In Evangelicalism
The eternal, spiritual promises and salvation secured by Christ for believers.
"Commandments"
In This Text
Ongoing logistical, financial, and administrative directives issued by Joseph Smith.
In Evangelicalism
The moral law of God revealed in Scripture, fulfilled in Christ.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: While not explicitly defining eternal salvation, the text frames spiritual success and 'inheritance' as participation in the physical gathering to Zion.
How Attained: Attained through obedience to the laws, commandments, and the appointed leaders (presidency and bishop), specifically regarding financial and geographic directives.
Basis of Assurance: Confidence is derived from compliance with the temporal directives of the church and successful integration into the physical community of Zion.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text contrasts with Sola Fide by making the believer's 'inheritance' contingent upon financial savings, property distribution, and submission to church hierarchy. Justification by faith alone (Romans 3:28) offers an inheritance based entirely on Christ's merit, requiring no monetary purchase or geographic relocation.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Remain in current places of abode for the present time as suitable.
- Impart lands to the eastern brethren if you possess lands.
- Buy lands in the surrounding regions for the present time if you do not possess lands.
- Save all the money that you can.
- Obtain all the money you can in righteousness.
- Gather with families to the city when the foundation is laid.
- Submit to the appointments made by the presidency and the bishop of the church.
Implicit Obligations
- Trust that the future revelation regarding the city's location will be genuine and divine.
- Accept the authority of the 'certain men appointed' to purchase the lands.
- Subordinate personal financial goals to the collective goal of building the church's city.
- Maintain a state of readiness to relocate when commanded by the hierarchy.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- How do you discern when a church leader's directive about finances or living arrangements is truly from God versus just practical administration?
- When this text talks about saving money to purchase an 'inheritance,' how does that compare to the inheritance the Apostle Peter talks about in 1 Peter 1:4?
- If the Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality, why was there such a heavy emphasis on buying physical land to build a city in early church history?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for a 'city' and an 'inheritance.'
Believers do inherently seek a city and an inheritance, but the Gospel reveals that this city is a heavenly one whose architect and builder is God. It cannot be purchased with saved money, but was purchased by the blood of Christ.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The command to 'save all the money that ye can' and the requirement to impart lands places a heavy temporal burden on the believer. It links their spiritual obedience and future inheritance directly to their financial capacity and their willingness to surrender property to church control.
By stating 'The place is not yet to be revealed' and promising future commandments, the text keeps the believer in a state of perpetual dependence on the hierarchy. They cannot plan their own lives but must wait for the 'presidency and the bishop' to dictate their future.
The mandate that families will be gathered 'as is appointed to him by the presidency and the bishop' strips the head of the household of their autonomy to make decisions for their own family's welfare and location, subjugating family leadership to church leadership.