Section 78
Overview
Given in August 1832, this text (known in modern LDS editions as Doctrine and Covenants Section 99) is a personalized revelation directed to John Murdock. Historically, Murdock had recently lost his wife, Julia, who died after giving birth to twins. Joseph and Emma Smith adopted the twins, but Murdock still had other children to care for. The revelation balances urgent eschatological missionary work with practical family responsibilities. Murdock is commanded to preach the 'everlasting gospel' itinerantly from house to house in the eastern countries. The text elevates the authority of the Mormon missionary to an apostolic level, explicitly stating that receiving Murdock is equivalent to receiving Christ and the Kingdom, while rejecting him guarantees rejection by God the Father. Furthermore, it institutes a ritualistic condemnation—cleansing the feet in secret places—as a testimony against those who reject the message. The revelation concludes by instructing Murdock to ensure his children are provided for and sent to the bishop in Zion (Missouri) before he departs, promising him a future inheritance in that 'goodly land' if he desires, but otherwise commanding him to preach until the end of his life.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The divine speaker of the text who issues the calling, promises the Holy Spirit, and claims imminent return for judgment.
- John Murdock: The recipient of the revelation, called to be an itinerant missionary to the eastern countries and tasked with providing for his children.
- The Father: God the Father, who is depicted as the ultimate judge who will reject those who reject John Murdock's message.
- The Bishop in Zion: Edward Partridge (historically), the ecclesiastical leader in Missouri responsible for receiving Murdock's children and administering land inheritances.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Exclusive Apostolic Authority of LDS Missionaries
Assertion
The text asserts that receiving a Mormon missionary is synonymous with receiving Christ and His kingdom, and rejecting the missionary results in rejection by God the Father.
Evidence from Text
...whoso receiveth you receiveth me... and whoso rejecteth you shall be rejected of my Father, and his house...
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, based on Sola Fide and Solus Christus, an individual's standing before God is determined entirely by their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10). While Jesus told His original first-century Apostles that 'he who receives you receives me' (Matthew 10:40), this was a validation of their unique foundational role and the Gospel message they carried. This D&C text transfers that exclusive, salvific authority to a 19th-century Mormon missionary. It creates a paradigm where the LDS church's representatives are the sole mediators of God's kingdom on earth. In contrast, Evangelicals believe the Gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), and the messenger is merely a vessel; rejecting a specific evangelist does not equate to rejecting God if the hearer already belongs to Christ or later hears the Gospel from another source.
Ritual Condemnation (Washing of Feet)
Assertion
Missionaries are commanded to perform a secret ritual of cleansing their feet as a binding testimony of judgment against those who reject their message.
Evidence from Text
...and you shall cleanse your feet in the secret places by the way for a testimony against them.
Evangelical Comparison
The biblical precedent for this is Jesus instructing His disciples to 'shake off the dust from your feet' when a town rejected them (Matthew 10:14). In the biblical context, this was a cultural idiom indicating a break in fellowship and a declaration that the disciples were innocent of the town's impending judgment; it was a public, symbolic act. In early Mormonism, this was adapted into a literal, often secret ordinance ('cleanse your feet in the secret places') that acted as a formal curse or binding testimony that would be brought up against the rejecters at the Final Judgment. Evangelicals reject the idea that human missionaries possess the authority to perform secret rituals that bind individuals to divine condemnation, emphasizing instead that God alone judges the heart (Hebrews 4:13) and that rituals hold no inherent magical or binding power over others.
Physical Gathering and Inheritance in Zion
Assertion
Faithful adherents are expected to gather to a physical location (Zion) where a Bishop administers temporal provisions and land inheritances.
Evidence from Text
...until your children are provided for, and kindly sent up unto the bishop in Zion, and after a few years, if thou desirest of me thou mayest go up also unto the goodly land, to possess thine inheritance...
Evangelical Comparison
This text reflects the early LDS doctrine of gathering to a literal, geographic Zion (Jackson County, Missouri) to build a utopian society before the Second Coming. The 'bishop in Zion' was responsible for receiving consecrated properties and distributing land inheritances to the Saints. Evangelical Christianity, drawing from the New Testament, understands Zion primarily in a spiritual sense—the heavenly Jerusalem and the universal church (Hebrews 12:22-23). The believer's inheritance is 'imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you' (1 Peter 1:4). The requirement to physically relocate and submit to a bishop for a land inheritance represents a return to Old Covenant territorial paradigms, which Evangelicals believe were fulfilled and superseded by the universal, spiritual kingdom inaugurated by Christ.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text diverges by elevating a human missionary to the status of a divine proxy, instituting a ritual curse against unbelievers, and tying spiritual inheritance to a physical geographic location.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers on authority, mediation, and the nature of the Kingdom of God. By stating 'whoso receiveth you receiveth me... and whoso rejecteth you shall be rejected of my Father,' the text places the LDS missionary in a mediatorial role. While Evangelicals affirm that believers are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), they strictly maintain Solus Christus—Christ alone is the mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Rejecting an Evangelical evangelist is not inherently a rejection of God, provided the individual trusts in Christ; however, in LDS theology, rejecting the authorized priesthood holder is tantamount to rejecting the restored gospel and, consequently, God Himself. Furthermore, the text's instruction to 'cleanse your feet in the secret places... for a testimony against them' introduces a punitive, ritualistic element to evangelism that conflicts with the New Covenant ethic of grace. While Jesus spoke of shaking off dust, it was a public severing of responsibility, not a secret ordinance of condemnation. Finally, the text's focus on sending children to the 'bishop in Zion' to secure a physical 'inheritance' in a 'goodly land' reflects a localized, territorial view of God's kingdom. Evangelicalism views the Kingdom of God as a spiritual reality inaugurated by Christ, with the ultimate inheritance being eternal life in the presence of God, not a 19th-century land grant in Missouri.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a friend who says, 'If you don't listen to me and join my specific club, God will reject you forever.' That's kind of what this text is saying about the Mormon missionary. It teaches that saying 'no' to this specific man is exactly the same as saying 'no' to God. It also tells the missionary to secretly wash his feet as a way to put a curse or a bad mark on the people who didn't listen. In the Bible, Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus is the only way to God. We are saved by believing in what Jesus did on the cross, not by listening to one specific church's messenger. Also, Christians believe that God wants us to love and pray for people who don't listen to the message, not do secret rituals against them. Finally, the text talks about moving to a specific place (Missouri) to get land as a reward, but the Bible says our real reward is spiritual and kept safe in heaven for us.
Friction Points
Universal Priesthood / Solus Christus
Elevates the missionary to a mediatorial proxy where rejecting him equals rejecting the Father.
Sola Scriptura
Presents new, binding revelation directly from the mouth of God, adding to the closed canon.
Sola Gratia / New Covenant Ethic
Institutes a secret ritual of condemnation (washing feet against people) rather than leaving judgment entirely to God.
Nature of the Kingdom
Ties spiritual inheritance and safety to a physical geographic location (Missouri) and submission to a specific human administrator (the bishop).
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Everlasting Gospel"
In This Text
The specific doctrines, ordinances, and priesthood authority restored through Joseph Smith.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection for the justification of sinners by grace through faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
"Zion"
In This Text
A specific geographic location (Jackson County, Missouri) where the Saints were to gather and build a physical city.
In Evangelicalism
Historically Jerusalem; prophetically and spiritually, the heavenly city and the dwelling place of God with His people (Hebrews 12:22).
"Cleanse your feet"
In This Text
A specific, literal ordinance performed in secret by LDS elders as a binding testimony of judgment against those who reject them.
In Evangelicalism
A cultural idiom used by Jesus (shaking dust) to publicly demonstrate that the messengers had fulfilled their duty and were innocent of the town's fate.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Obtaining mercy, receiving the kingdom, and eventually possessing an inheritance in the 'goodly land'.
How Attained: For the hearer, it is attained by receiving the LDS missionary and his message. For the missionary, it is attained by faithful, lifelong service ('until thou be taken').
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on obedience to the missionary call and submission to the church's geographic and administrative directives.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text implicitly denies Sola Fide by making 'mercy' and 'the kingdom' contingent upon receiving a specific human messenger and his denominational authority, rather than resting solely on faith in Christ's finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Go into the eastern countries
- Go from house to house, village to village, city to city
- Proclaim the everlasting gospel unto the inhabitants
- Cleanse your feet in the secret places by the way for a testimony against them
- Provide for your children
- Send your children up unto the bishop in Zion
- Continue proclaiming the gospel until you are taken (die)
Implicit Obligations
- Endure persecution and wickedness while preaching
- Submit to the authority and administration of the bishop in Zion regarding family and property
- Rely on the Holy Spirit for the power to declare the word
Ritual Requirements
- Cleanse feet in secret places as a testimony against those who reject the message
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When the text says that rejecting the missionary means being rejected by the Father, how does that shape your view of people who sincerely love Jesus but don't accept the LDS message?
- How do you understand the command to 'cleanse your feet in secret places' as a testimony against people? How does that compare to Jesus' command to love and pray for our enemies?
- The text promises an inheritance in the 'goodly land' of Zion. How do you view the difference between a physical inheritance on earth and the spiritual inheritance Peter talks about in 1 Peter 1:4?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
A Father's Provision
Just as the text recognizes the deep need for a father to ensure his children are cared for before he departs, the Gospel reveals God as the ultimate Father who perfectly provided for His children's greatest need—salvation—through the sacrifice of His Son.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The missionary is commanded to continue proclaiming the gospel 'until thou be taken' (until death). This creates a lifelong burden of performance, where resting or ceasing from labor might be viewed as failing one's divine mandate.
For the hearer, the text creates immense fear that questioning or rejecting the human missionary will result in immediate and eternal rejection by God the Father.
The practice of secretly cleansing feet against rejecters fosters a deep psychological divide between the missionary and the outside world, viewing non-receptive people as enemies marked for divine judgment rather than lost souls needing grace.
The command to send one's children away to be raised by the community (the bishop in Zion) while the parent goes on a lifelong itinerant mission places a massive emotional and relational burden on the family unit.