Section 67
Overview
Section 67 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known as Section 54 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) was dictated by Joseph Smith in June 1831 to address an immediate crisis among the 'Colesville Saints.' Historically, this group had relocated to Ohio to live communally on the land of Leman Copley under the newly revealed 'Law of Consecration.' When Copley broke his agreement and evicted the Saints, this revelation was given to direct their next steps. The text speaks in the first-person voice of Jesus Christ, asserting divine authority and declaring the broken covenant void. It issues a severe, Gospel-echoing warning to the unnamed offender who broke the covenant. The revelation commands the displaced Saints to repent, remain humble, and flee westward to Missouri (the 'borders of the Lamanites'). It provides practical logistical instructions, such as appointing a leader to handle finances and seeking secular employment until a permanent settlement is prepared. Theologically, the text is significant for its explicit conditionality regarding grace: it states that those who have kept the covenant and observed the commandments will obtain mercy, establishing a works-oriented framework for divine favor that contrasts with evangelical doctrines of unmerited grace.
Key Figures
- The Lord: Identified as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and the one crucified for the sins of the world; the source of the revelation and commands.
- Newel Knight: The appointed leader of the Colesville Saints, commanded to stand fast in his office and lead the people westward.
- The Brethren: The displaced Saints who are commanded to repent, become humble, flee the land, and journey to Missouri.
- The Offender (Unnamed): The individual who broke the covenant (historically Leman Copley), upon whom a severe woe is pronounced.
- Enemies: Unspecified individuals or groups in Ohio from whom the Saints are commanded to flee.
- Lamanites: Native Americans, mentioned geographically to designate the destination of the Saints' journey (Missouri).
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Mercy through Covenant Keeping
Assertion
Mercy is obtained as a direct result of keeping covenants and observing commandments.
Evidence from Text
...but blessed are they who have kept the covenant, and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy.
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the obtaining of mercy is explicitly linked to human performance: 'blessed are they who have kept the covenant, and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy.' This establishes a transactional framework where divine mercy is the reward for human obedience and fidelity to specific institutional covenants (in this historical context, the Law of Consecration). Evangelical Christianity, rooted in Sola Fide and Sola Gratia, fundamentally rejects this premise. According to Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5, salvation and mercy are not the result of works or righteous deeds done by the believer, but are entirely dependent on God's unmerited favor. In the biblical framework, keeping commandments is the *fruit* of having already received mercy and a new heart, not the *prerequisite* for obtaining mercy. The text's assertion places the burden of earning mercy on the believer's ability to perfectly maintain covenants.
Voidability of Divine Covenants by Human Action
Assertion
A covenant made unto the Lord can become void and of no effect if broken by human participants.
Evidence from Text
...and as the covenant which they made unto me, has been broken, even so it has become void and of none effect...
Evangelical Comparison
The text asserts that because a specific covenant was broken by a member, the entire covenant 'has become void and of none effect.' This reflects a highly contractual view of covenants where human failure nullifies the agreement entirely. In Evangelical theology, a distinction is made between conditional covenants (like the Mosaic covenant, which Israel broke) and unconditional covenants (like the Abrahamic and New Covenants). The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's blood, is guaranteed by Christ Himself as the mediator and surety (Hebrews 7:22). It cannot be rendered 'void and of none effect' by the failures of believers, because it rests on the finished work of Christ, not on human performance. The text's view of covenants introduces a fragility to the believer's standing before God that is absent in the biblical New Covenant.
Prophetic Direction in Secular Logistics
Assertion
God provides direct, binding revelation regarding geographic relocation, financial management, and secular employment.
Evidence from Text
Wherefore, go to now and flee the land... take your journey into the regions westward... appoint whom you will to be your leader, and to pay moneys for you... seek ye a living like unto men...
Evangelical Comparison
The text demonstrates a hallmark of early Mormonism: the micromanagement of the community's logistical, financial, and geographic affairs through first-person divine revelation. God is depicted as commanding specific migrations ('regions westward, unto the land of Missouri'), financial structuring ('appoint whom you will... to pay moneys'), and employment ('seek ye a living like unto men'). Evangelical Christianity, adhering to Sola Scriptura, views the closed canon of Scripture as sufficient for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While Evangelicals believe God guides believers through the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and providence, they reject the concept of an authoritative prophet dictating binding, infallible commands regarding where to live or how to manage community funds. Such directives infringe upon Christian liberty and elevate human leadership to an unbiblical level of authority.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text conditions the reception of divine mercy upon the believer's successful keeping of covenants and commandments, directly contradicting the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity lies in the mechanism of obtaining divine mercy. Verse 1 explicitly states: 'blessed are they who have kept the covenant, and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy.' This establishes a synergistic soteriology where human effort (keeping covenants and commandments) is the prerequisite for receiving God's mercy. It creates a transactional relationship with God where grace is effectively earned through obedience. Evangelical theology, grounded in the Reformation pillars of Sola Fide (faith alone) and Sola Gratia (grace alone), vehemently opposes this construct. According to Romans 11:6, if salvation is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. Titus 3:5 declares that God saves us 'not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.' In the biblical framework, obedience and commandment-keeping are the grateful response to having already received mercy, not the currency used to purchase it. By making mercy contingent on human performance, this text undermines the sufficiency of Christ's finished work and places an impossible burden on the believer.
For All Ages
Imagine you are drowning, and a lifeguard pulls you out of the water. In the Bible, God's mercy is like that lifeguard—He saves you completely because He loves you, even though you couldn't save yourself. All you do is trust Him. But in this text, it says you only get mercy *if* you follow all the rules and keep your promises perfectly. It turns God's free gift of mercy into a prize you have to earn by being good enough. Evangelicals believe that because Jesus was perfect for us, we get mercy as a free gift, not as a reward for our own rule-keeping.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone)
The text conditions the obtaining of mercy on keeping covenants and observing commandments, making grace dependent on works.
Christology (Sufficiency of Christ's Work)
By allowing a divine covenant to become 'void and of none effect' due to human sin, it undermines the security and finality of the New Covenant established by Christ.
Sola Scriptura
The text presents new, binding revelation dictating secular logistics (where to move, how to handle money) as the authoritative voice of God.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Covenant"
In This Text
A specific, conditional agreement made between church members and God (in this context, the Law of Consecration regarding property), which can be voided by human failure.
In Evangelicalism
While conditional covenants existed in the Old Testament, the New Covenant is an unconditional promise sealed by Christ's blood, guaranteeing salvation and the indwelling Spirit to all who believe.
"Mercy"
In This Text
A reward obtained by those who successfully keep covenants and observe commandments.
In Evangelicalism
God's unmerited compassion in withholding the punishment that sinners deserve, granted freely through faith in Christ.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Finding 'rest to their souls' and obtaining 'mercy' at the coming of the Lord.
How Attained: Through a combination of faith (seeking the Lord early), repentance, humility, and strictly keeping covenants and commandments.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on one's ability to look at their own performance and verify they have 'kept the covenant, and observed the commandment.'
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. It explicitly states that mercy is obtained *because* one has kept the covenant and commandments. Romans 4:4-5 contrasts this by stating that to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation, but to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Stand fast in the appointed office
- Repent of all sins
- Become truly humble and contrite
- Go to now and flee the land
- Take your journey into the regions westward (Missouri)
- Appoint a leader
- Appoint someone to pay moneys for you
- Seek a living like unto men until a place is prepared
- Be patient in tribulation
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith's revelation as the literal voice of Jesus Christ
- Maintain group cohesion and follow the newly appointed financial/logistical leader
- Abandon current homes and properties in Ohio without resistance
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 1, it says that those who keep the covenant and observe the commandment will obtain mercy. How do you find comfort in this if you know you haven't kept the commandments perfectly?
- If a covenant with God can become 'void and of none effect' because of someone else's actions (like the offender in this text), how can we ever have true security in our relationship with God?
- When Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 to come to Him to find rest for your souls, He doesn't mention keeping a specific communal covenant first. How do you reconcile the free offer of rest in the Bible with the conditional offer of mercy in this section?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Finding rest for souls
The desire for spiritual rest amidst tribulation and broken human promises is a universal human longing. This text points to that desire, which Jesus perfectly fulfills in the Gospel.
Fleeing to a prepared place
The Saints were looking for a physical place of safety prepared by God. This mirrors the ultimate Christian hope of the eternal dwelling place prepared by Christ, which is secured not by our migration, but by His ascension.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By conditioning mercy on keeping the covenant and observing commandments, the text places a heavy burden of performance on the believer. They can never be truly certain they have done enough to 'obtain mercy,' leading to a cycle of striving and potential burnout.
Because mercy is conditional, the believer lacks the objective assurance of salvation provided by the biblical Gospel. Their standing before God is only as secure as their last act of obedience.
The text demonstrates that a covenant can be rendered 'void and of none effect' by the sins of others (the unnamed offender). This creates spiritual instability, as a believer's communal standing and covenantal security can be shattered by forces outside their control.
The requirement to uproot one's life, abandon property, and move across the country based on the dictate of a single leader claiming the voice of God creates a high-control environment where personal agency is surrendered to institutional authority.