Section 69
Overview
Section 69 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known as Section 56 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) was dictated by Joseph Smith in June 1831. The text addresses logistical and spiritual crises among early Mormon converts, specifically regarding land disputes and missionary assignments in Thompson, Ohio. Theologically, the text establishes several critical precedents for Mormonism. First, it explicitly denies salvation to those who do not keep the commandments, establishing a strict works-righteousness paradigm. Second, it introduces the doctrine of 'divine revocation'—the idea that God can and will revoke His own commandments and promises if the people are rebellious ('I the Lord command and revoke, as it seemeth me good'). This provided a theological mechanism for Joseph Smith to alter previous revelations or explain failed prophetic directives. Finally, the text addresses economic justice, issuing severe woes against rich men who withhold their substance from the poor, while equally condemning poor men who are greedy, lazy, or covetous. The revelation intertwines eternal salvation with immediate, temporal obedience to the Prophet's logistical directives regarding land, money, and travel.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The divine voice of the text, portrayed as angry, demanding strict obedience, and willing to revoke commands based on human behavior.
- Thomas B. Marsh: A church member whose previous commandment is revoked and who is newly commanded to travel to Missouri.
- Ezra Thayer: A church member commanded to repent of pride and selfishness, threatened with excommunication if he does not obey directives regarding his land and money.
- Selah J. Griffin: Reassigned to travel with Thomas B. Marsh instead of Newel Knight.
- Newel Knight: Commanded to remain with the 'stiffnecked' people in Thompson, Ohio, and lead the contrite among them to Missouri.
- Joseph Smith, jr.: The prophet receiving the revelation, mentioned in the third person regarding financial reimbursements he may need to make, which God promises to repay in Missouri.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Salvation (Works-Righteousness)
Assertion
Salvation is strictly conditional upon taking up one's cross, following God, and keeping the commandments.
Evidence from Text
And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, salvation is a free gift of God's grace received through faith alone, apart from works of the law (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28, Titus 3:5). Good works and obedience are the fruit and evidence of salvation, not the prerequisite or sustaining cause of it. This text, however, explicitly makes keeping the commandments a necessary condition for salvation ('the same shall not be saved'). This places the burden of eternal life squarely on human performance and obedience to specific directives, fundamentally altering the biblical Gospel of grace.
Divine Revocation (Mutable Revelation)
Assertion
God can and does revoke His own commandments and directives based on human rebellion or as He sees fit.
Evidence from Text
wherefore I the Lord command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelical theology holds to the immutability of God (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17)—His character, will, and covenant promises do not change. While God does respond to human repentance or rebellion (e.g., Jonah and Nineveh), His moral law and redemptive promises are steadfast. In this text, 'command and revoke' is used to explain why previous prophetic directives given by Joseph Smith (regarding land settlement in Ohio) failed to materialize. This creates a theological framework where any failed prophecy or altered doctrine can be justified post-hoc as a 'divine revocation' due to the people's unworthiness, undermining the objective reliability of the prophetic word (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).
Conditional Pardon
Assertion
Sins are retained and not pardoned if individuals seek their own counsel rather than obeying the specific directives of the prophet.
Evidence from Text
for behold your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways. And your hearts are not satisfied. And ye obey not the truth
Evangelical Comparison
Biblically, pardon for sin is secured entirely by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and is applied to the believer the moment they exercise saving faith (1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1). In this text, the 'sins' that prevent pardon are specifically related to the saints seeking 'to counsel in your own ways'—which, in context, means resisting Joseph Smith's logistical and financial directives regarding land and relocation. Tying the eternal pardon of sins to compliance with a human leader's administrative decisions conflates spiritual justification with organizational conformity.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text explicitly denies salvation to those who do not keep the commandments, establishing a works-based soteriology. Furthermore, it presents a mutable God who revokes His own commands to accommodate human failure.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity is profound, centering on Soteriology and Theology Proper. Soteriologically, the text violates Sola Fide by explicitly stating, 'he that will not... keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.' This nullifies the grace of God, placing the burden of justification on human obedience. In Evangelicalism, justification is a forensic declaration by God based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ, received by faith. Obedience is the necessary fruit of a regenerate heart, not the root of salvation. Furthermore, the text's assertion that God 'commands and revokes, as it seemeth me good' introduces a highly volatile Theology Proper. While God is sovereign, His decrees and promises in Scripture are anchored in His immutable character. In this text, divine revocation is used as an apologetic device to explain away failed prophetic directives (the settlement in Thompson). This creates an epistemology where the believer can never be certain of God's will, as it may be revoked at any moment due to the sins of others. This contrasts sharply with the biblical assurance that 'the gifts and calling of God are without repentance' (Romans 11:29).
For All Ages
Imagine you are given a free ticket to the best amusement park ever, just because the park owner loves you. That's how the Bible describes salvation—it's a free gift from God because Jesus paid for our ticket. But this text says that if you don't follow a very strict list of rules, carry your own bags perfectly, and go exactly where the guide tells you, your ticket will be taken away and you won't be saved. It also says the guide can change the rules at any time, and if you get confused, it's your fault. This makes people very anxious, whereas Jesus wants us to feel safe and loved because He already did the hard work for us.
Friction Points
Sola Fide
The text explicitly states that salvation is dependent on keeping commandments and that sins are not pardoned if one seeks their own counsel.
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be the direct, binding voice of God, adding to the canon and demanding absolute obedience to a modern prophet's logistical commands.
Theology Proper (Immutability)
The text portrays God as revoking His own commands and altering His plans based on human rebellion, undermining the reliability of His promises.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Saved"
In This Text
Attaining eternal life and inheritance, strictly conditional upon keeping commandments and obeying specific prophetic directives.
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the penalty of sin, granted as a free gift by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"Commandments"
In This Text
Includes not only moral laws but specific, temporal, logistical orders given by Joseph Smith (e.g., moving to Missouri, giving up land).
In Evangelicalism
God's moral law, summarized in loving God and neighbor, which reveals our need for a Savior.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Escaping the wrath of God, receiving a pardon for sins, and inheriting the earth (specifically lands of inheritance like Missouri) in the kingdom of God.
How Attained: By taking up one's cross, following the Lord, keeping the commandments, and submitting to the prophet's counsel.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is entirely dependent on one's current state of obedience and submission. Because God can 'revoke' commands, and because sins are 'not pardoned' if one seeks their own counsel, assurance is highly fragile.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text is diametrically opposed 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.' This text, conversely, states: 'according to that which they do, they shall receive' and 'he that will not... keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.'
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Take up your cross and follow the Lord.
- Keep the commandments to be saved.
- Thomas B. Marsh must travel speedily to Missouri.
- Selah J. Griffin must go with Thomas B. Marsh.
- Newel Knight must remain with the people in Thompson and lead the contrite to Missouri.
- Ezra Thayer must repent of pride and selfishness.
- Ezra Thayer must obey the former commandment regarding his land.
- Rich men must give their substance to the poor.
- Poor men must have broken hearts, contrite spirits, and labor with their own hands.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit entirely to Joseph Smith's authority regarding where to live, who to travel with, and how to manage personal finances.
- Accept that God's commands can change abruptly and that the fault lies with the members, not the prophet.
- Avoid seeking personal counsel or making independent decisions ('counsel in your own ways').
Ritual Requirements
- Excommunication ('cut off out of my church') is mandated for Ezra Thayer if he fails to obey the specific financial/land directive.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When you read verse 1, 'he that will not... keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved,' how does that make you feel about your own standing before God?
- In verse 2, God says He 'commands and revokes' as He sees fit. If God can revoke His commands or promises based on the rebellion of others, how can we have peace and assurance in His promises to us?
- Verse 4 says sins are not pardoned because the people sought to 'counsel in your own ways.' Do you think God withholds forgiveness of our sins if we make a logistical or financial decision differently than church leadership advises?
- How do you balance the heavy demands of this section with Jesus's promise in Matthew 11:28-30 that His yoke is easy and His burden is light?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The Pure in Heart and Contrite Spirit
The text rightly identifies that God desires a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). We can agree that pride and greed are destructive. The Gospel bridge is that because we cannot make our own hearts pure by our works, God promises to give us a new heart and put His Spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26), purifying our hearts by faith (Acts 15:9).
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is told explicitly that failing to keep the commandments means they will not be saved. This places an immense, crushing burden of perfectionism on the individual, leading to either self-righteousness (if they believe they are succeeding) or despair (when they inevitably fail).
Because God is portrayed as one who 'commands and revokes' based on the behavior of the community, the believer can never rest securely in a promise. If a blessing fails to materialize, the believer must assume it was revoked due to their own or their community's hidden sins.
The text conflates eternal salvation with temporal, administrative obedience (e.g., moving to Missouri, giving up a land deed). This creates a highly legalistic environment where questioning a leader's administrative decision is equated with rebellion against God.