Section 79
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 79 (known as Section 81 in modern LDS editions) is a revelation dictating the calling and duties of a counselor in the presidency of the High Priesthood. The text establishes Joseph Smith as the supreme earthly authority, possessing the 'keys of the kingdom' which belong to the presidency. The recipient is commanded to be faithful in council, prayer, and preaching, and is given a pastoral mandate to 'succor the weak' and 'strengthen the feeble knees.' The revelation concludes with a conditional promise: if the recipient remains faithful to the end, he will receive a crown of immortality and eternal life. Historically and textually, this section is highly significant because it was originally given in March 1832 to Jesse Gause, who was Joseph Smith's original counselor. When Gause apostatized and left the church shortly thereafter, his name was retroactively erased from the manuscript and replaced with Frederick G. Williams for the 1835 publication. Theologically, the text reinforces the Mormon concepts of hierarchical priesthood authority, the necessity of enduring in works to achieve eternal life, and the ongoing nature of divine revelation.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ (Claimed author of the revelation, identified as Alpha and Omega)
- Joseph Smith, Jr. (Identified as the Lord's servant who holds the keys of the kingdom and the presidency of the high priesthood)
- Frederick G. Williams (The named recipient of the revelation, called to be a high priest and counselor to Joseph Smith)
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Restored High Priesthood and Keys
Assertion
The text claims that Joseph Smith holds the 'keys of the kingdom' which belong to the 'presidency of the high priesthood,' and that other men can be called to the office of 'high priest.'
Evidence from Text
...even to be a high priest in my church, and a counsellor unto my servant Joseph Smith, jr. unto whom I have given the keys of the kingdom, which belongeth always unto the presidency of the high priesthood...
Evangelical Comparison
In Mormon theology, the Melchizedek Priesthood is a literal authority delegated to men, with 'High Priest' being a specific office within it, and the 'keys' representing the right to preside and govern the church. This text establishes Joseph Smith as the ultimate earthly holder of these keys. In stark contrast, Evangelical Christianity, relying on the Book of Hebrews (specifically Hebrews 7:23-28), teaches that the Levitical priesthood was abolished because it was imperfect and required many men who died. Jesus Christ now holds the Melchizedek priesthood permanently and exclusively ('because he continues forever, he holds his priesthood permanently'). Therefore, there is no biblical warrant for an earthly 'presidency of the high priesthood.' Furthermore, Evangelicals hold to the 'Priesthood of all Believers' (1 Peter 2:9), meaning every Christian has direct access to God through Christ without the need for mediating earthly high priests or a prophet holding exclusive 'keys.'
Conditional Eternal Life (Enduring to the End)
Assertion
The text asserts that eternal life and a crown of immortality are contingent upon the individual's ongoing faithfulness, performance in their church office, and enduring to the end.
Evidence from Text
...and if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared...
Evangelical Comparison
The text explicitly conditions the reception of 'eternal life' on a series of works: being faithful in council, praying vocally and privately, proclaiming the gospel, succoring the weak, and remaining 'faithful unto the end.' This represents a works-righteousness or synergistic soteriology where human effort is required to maintain and ultimately achieve salvation. Evangelical Christianity stands on Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone). According to Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation is a gift of God, not of works. Furthermore, Evangelicals believe that eternal life is a present possession for the believer (John 5:24: 'whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life'). While Evangelicals believe true faith will produce good works (James 2), the works are the fruit of salvation, not the root or the sustaining requirement to earn a 'crown of immortality.'
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text diverges fundamentally from Evangelicalism by establishing a human high priesthood with exclusive 'keys' of authority, and by conditioning eternal life on lifelong performance in church callings rather than on the finished work of Christ.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers on the doctrines of Authority (Priesthood) and Soteriology (Salvation). First, the text asserts that Joseph Smith holds the 'keys of the kingdom' and presides over a 'high priesthood.' In Evangelical theology, based heavily on the Epistle to the Hebrews, the office of High Priest is fulfilled entirely and exclusively by Jesus Christ. There is no biblical category for a restored earthly high priesthood, because Christ's priesthood is untransferable (Hebrews 7:24). The 'keys of the kingdom' (Matthew 16:19) are understood by Evangelicals as the authority of the Gospel message itself to open heaven to believers, not a hierarchical administrative power held by a single prophet. Second, the text presents a conditional soteriology. It promises 'a crown of immortality and eternal life' explicitly predicated on the condition: 'if thou art faithful unto the end' in specific duties (counseling, praying, preaching). This violates the Evangelical pillar of Sola Fide. In biblical Christianity, eternal life is a free gift received at the moment of faith (John 5:24, Romans 6:23), not a wage earned at the end of a life of faithful church service. The Mormon paradigm places the burden of ultimate salvation on the believer's ability to endure, whereas the Evangelical paradigm places the assurance of salvation entirely on Christ's perfect endurance and finished atonement on the cross.
For All Ages
Imagine you are drowning, and a lifeguard pulls you out of the water, puts you on the beach, and says, 'You are saved!' That is what Evangelical Christians believe Jesus did for us—He saved us completely because we couldn't save ourselves. But this text teaches something different. It teaches that Jesus throws you a life jacket, but then tells you that you have to swim the rest of the way to shore, follow the instructions of a specific human leader (Joseph Smith), and never stop swimming. If you swim hard enough and long enough ('endure to the end'), then you will earn the right to stay on the beach ('eternal life'). Christians believe we do good things because we are already saved and safe on the beach, not to earn our spot there.
Friction Points
Universal Priesthood / Christology
Establishes an earthly 'presidency of the high priesthood' and calls a man to be a 'high priest,' contradicting Christ's exclusive role as the final High Priest.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Conditions eternal life on enduring faithfulness in church callings and works, denying that eternal life is a free, present gift of grace.
Sola Scriptura
Claims to be direct, new revelation from Jesus Christ, adding to the canon and establishing extra-biblical authority structures.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"High Priest"
In This Text
An office within the Melchizedek priesthood held by worthy male members of the LDS church, giving them authority to preside and administer ordinances.
In Evangelicalism
The supreme mediator between God and man, an office held exclusively and permanently by Jesus Christ after the order of Melchizedek, having fulfilled and abolished the earthly Levitical high priesthood.
"Keys of the kingdom"
In This Text
The specific, exclusive authority to govern the church, direct the priesthood, and perform saving ordinances, held by the President of the Church.
In Evangelicalism
The authority of the Gospel message to bind and loose, given to Peter and the apostles, exercised by preaching the truth that opens the kingdom of heaven to all who believe.
"Eternal life"
In This Text
Exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom, which must be earned by enduring to the end in faithfulness and obedience to ordinances.
In Evangelicalism
Knowing the true God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3), a state of salvation granted immediately upon faith as a free gift.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Attaining a 'crown of immortality and eternal life in the mansions' of the Father.
How Attained: By being faithful in one's appointed office, praying, preaching, doing good works, and enduring 'faithful unto the end.'
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is inherently unstable, as it is based on the believer's ability to maintain faithfulness and endure to the end of their life without failing.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. It explicitly uses an 'if/then' conditional statement for eternal life based on human performance ('if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have... eternal life'). Romans 4:4-5 states, 'Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.' This text treats eternal life as a wage for enduring faithfulness.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Listen to the voice of him who speaketh
- Hearken to the calling wherewith you are called
- Be a high priest in the church
- Be a counsellor unto Joseph Smith, jr.
- Be faithful in council
- Pray always vocally
- Pray always in thy heart, in public and in private
- Proclaim the gospel in the land of the living and among thy brethren
- Stand in the office which I have appointed unto you
- Succor the weak
- Lift up the hands which hang down
- Strengthen the feeble knees
- Be faithful unto the end
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the authority of Joseph Smith as the holder of the keys of the kingdom
- Accept the hierarchical structure of the presidency of the high priesthood
- Maintain personal worthiness to retain the office of high priest
Ritual Requirements
- Function in the office of a 'high priest' (which in LDS theology entails administering ordinances and presiding over congregations)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed this revelation promises eternal life 'if thou art faithful unto the end.' How do you know if you are being faithful enough right now to have assurance of that crown?
- If this revelation was originally given to Jesse Gause in 1832, and his name was later erased and replaced with Frederick G. Williams after Gause left the church, how does that impact how we view these words as the direct, unchanging quote from Jesus?
- The text mentions Joseph Smith holding the keys of the high priesthood. When you read Hebrews 7, which says Jesus holds His priesthood permanently because He lives forever, how do you reconcile the need for modern high priests?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Succoring the weak and strengthening feeble knees
While the text commands the believer to do this for others, the Gospel reveals that Jesus Christ is the ultimate one who succors us in our absolute spiritual weakness. We are the ones with feeble knees, unable to walk the path of righteousness. Christ doesn't just strengthen us to save ourselves; He carries us.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places the heavy burden of earning eternal life squarely on the shoulders of the believer. By stating 'if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown,' it creates a paradigm where salvation is always pending and contingent on human effort, church service, and obedience to leadership.
Because eternal life is conditioned on enduring to the end, a believer can never truly know in this life if they have done enough or been faithful enough. This robs the believer of the peace and joy that comes from the biblical assurance of salvation.