Section 89
Overview
Section 89 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (which corresponds to Section 72 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) was dictated by Joseph Smith in December 1831. The text serves as an administrative and theological directive establishing a localized bishopric in Ohio to parallel the one already established in Zion (Missouri). The revelation appoints Newel K. Whitney as the bishop and outlines a highly bureaucratic system of spiritual and financial accountability. Adherents are commanded to render an account of their 'stewardship' to the bishop, which includes surrendering property and funds to the Lord's storehouse to care for the poor and fund the publication of revelations. Crucially, the text introduces a system of ecclesiastical mediation: in order for a believer to be accepted in Zion and receive an 'inheritance,' they must present a physical certificate of worthiness signed by a judge, bishop, or three elders. This text represents a significant development in early Mormonism's institutionalization, intertwining eternal reward ('mansions prepared of my Father') with strict obedience to human ecclesiastical leaders and financial consecration. For the believer, it establishes a paradigm where standing before God is inextricably linked to standing before the local bishop.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The claimed divine author of the text, speaking in the first person, directing the affairs of the church.
- Newel K. Whitney: The individual explicitly named and appointed by divine fiat to be ordained as the bishop in this part of the vineyard (Ohio).
- The Bishop in Zion: The presiding financial and administrative authority in Missouri (historically Edward Partridge), to whom all accounts and certificates must ultimately be rendered.
- High Priests and Elders: The ecclesiastical officers tasked with managing the church, preaching, and providing certificates of worthiness to members.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Ecclesiastical Mediation of Inheritance
Assertion
A believer's acceptance and inheritance in Zion is contingent upon receiving a written certificate of approval from human church leaders (bishops or elders).
Evidence from Text
...a certificate from the judge or bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the bishop in Zion, rendereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things, for an inheritance... otherwise he shall not be accepted of the bishop in Zion.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine establishes a strict system of human mediation. In this text, a believer cannot simply rely on their faith in God or the grace of Christ to be 'acceptable' and receive their 'inheritance' in Zion; they must possess a literal, physical certificate from a bishop or three elders. This stands in stark contrast to the Evangelical doctrine of the Universal Priesthood of all believers and Justification by Faith Alone (Sola Fide). In biblical Christianity, Christ is the sole mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and the believer's inheritance is guaranteed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), not by a letter of recommendation from a local clergyman. The requirement of a human-issued certificate for divine acceptance effectively places the bishop in the role of a gatekeeper to God's promises.
Law of Consecration and Stewardship
Assertion
Believers must surrender their property and financial accounts to the bishop, and their eternal reward is tied to their faithfulness in this financial stewardship.
Evidence from Text
...it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity. For he who is faithful and wise in time, is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions...
Evangelical Comparison
The text intertwines temporal financial management with eternal salvation. By stating that rendering an account of stewardship 'in time' makes one 'worthy to inherit the mansions' in eternity, the text creates a works-righteousness paradigm. Furthermore, it mandates that 'every man that cometh up to Zion, must lay all things before the bishop'. While the New Testament church practiced voluntary communal sharing (Acts 2, 4), it was never codified as a mandatory law for eternal inheritance, nor was it mediated through a single authoritative bishop who determined one's worthiness based on their financial compliance. Evangelicalism maintains that eternal life is a free gift of grace (Romans 6:23), entirely divorced from financial transactions or administrative accounting.
Prophetic Appointment of Local Leaders
Assertion
Local church leaders (bishops) are appointed by direct, divine revelation through the prophet rather than through congregational calling or biblical qualification assessment.
Evidence from Text
And now, verily I say unto you, my servant Newel K. Whitney is the man who shall be appointed, and ordained unto this power: this is the will of the Lord your God...
Evangelical Comparison
The text demonstrates the absolute authority of the prophetic voice in Mormonism. Joseph Smith dictates the exact individual (Newel K. Whitney) who is to be the bishop, framing it as the direct 'will of the Lord your God'. In Evangelical ecclesiology, the canon of Scripture is closed, and the appointment of elders and deacons is governed by the objective, written qualifications found in the Pastoral Epistles. The congregation or existing eldership evaluates candidates against these biblical standards. The reliance on ongoing, direct revelation for administrative appointments bypasses the sufficiency of Scripture (Sola Scriptura) and centralizes absolute power in the prophetic office.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text replaces the direct mediatorial work of Jesus Christ with a bureaucratic system of human bishops who hold the power to grant or deny a believer's spiritual and physical inheritance based on works and financial consecration.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity lies in the doctrines of Mediation and Justification. In the biblical framework, Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Justification—being declared acceptable before God—is an act of God's free grace, received by faith alone, apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9). Consequently, a believer's inheritance is secured by Christ and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). In stark contrast, this text constructs a rigid ecclesiastical bureaucracy that inserts human leaders between the believer and their divine inheritance. The requirement that a believer must 'lay all things before the bishop' and obtain a 'certificate' to be 'acceptable' and receive an 'inheritance' effectively nullifies Sola Fide. It places the power of justification and acceptance into the hands of a local bishop. Furthermore, by tying eternal reward ('mansions prepared') to the successful rendering of a financial and administrative 'stewardship' account, the text promotes a works-righteousness system that fundamentally contradicts the Evangelical understanding of grace.
For All Ages
Imagine you are invited to a massive, wonderful party at a mansion, and the owner of the mansion (Jesus) already paid for your ticket and said you can come in just by trusting Him. That is what Evangelical Christians believe. But this text says that to get into the mansion, you first have to go to a manager (the bishop), give him all your money, let him check your behavior, and if he likes what he sees, he will write you a permission slip. If you don't have that manager's permission slip, you can't get into the party. This changes the rules from 'Jesus paid it all' to 'you have to earn a certificate from a human leader.'
Friction Points
Universal Priesthood / Christ as Sole Mediator
Requires a human bishop to mediate a believer's acceptability and inheritance via a written certificate.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Conditions eternal reward ('mansions') and acceptance on financial consecration and works-based stewardship accounting.
Sola Scriptura
Claims to be direct, new revelation from God, adding to the canon and establishing new laws for the church.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Stewardship"
In This Text
A formal, reportable accounting of one's property, finances, and church duties to a human bishop, required for eternal reward.
In Evangelicalism
The general responsibility of a believer to manage God's resources (time, talents, treasure) faithfully, motivated by grace, not as a means to earn salvation.
"Inheritance"
In This Text
Both a physical allotment of land in Zion (Missouri) and eternal standing, contingent upon a bishop's approval.
In Evangelicalism
The eternal life and promises of God, kept in heaven, guaranteed to all who are in Christ by faith (1 Peter 1:4).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Inheriting the 'mansions prepared for them of my Father' and receiving an 'inheritance' in Zion.
How Attained: Through faithful stewardship, which explicitly includes financial consecration, rendering accounts to church leaders, and obtaining written certificates of worthiness.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on the approval of the local bishop or elders, manifested by receiving a physical certificate of recommendation.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text is entirely incompatible with Sola Fide. 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 demands works (accounting, paying, consecrating) and human certification to be deemed 'acceptable.'
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Appoint a bishop in this part of the Lord's vineyard.
- Every steward must render an account of his stewardship.
- Elders must render an account of their stewardship to the appointed bishop.
- Appoint and ordain Newel K. Whitney to the power of bishop.
- The bishop must keep the Lord's storehouse.
- The bishop must receive the funds of the church.
- The bishop must administer to the wants of the elders.
- Those who receive from the bishop must pay for it if they have the means.
- Every man that comes to Zion must lay all things before the bishop in Zion.
- Every elder must get a certificate from the judge or bishop to be acceptable in Zion.
- Elders must be recommended by the church or churches in which they labor.
- Members going to Zion must carry a certificate from three elders or the bishop.
Implicit Obligations
- Total submission to the financial and spiritual authority of the bishop.
- Acceptance of Joseph Smith's revelations as the literal voice of God.
- Willingness to relocate to Zion (Missouri) when commanded or privileged.
- Financial support for the publication of church revelations.
Ritual Requirements
- Ordination to the power/office of a bishop (v. 2).
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When you read about needing a certificate from a bishop to be 'acceptable' for an inheritance, how does that impact your feeling of security in your relationship with God?
- If Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins, why do you think this revelation requires members to 'pay for that which they receive' and lay all their property before a human leader to be considered a wise steward?
- How do you balance the biblical teaching that there is only one mediator between God and man (Jesus) with the requirement here to have a bishop mediate your worthiness?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for an Inheritance and Mansions
The longing for a secure, eternal home and an inheritance is a God-given desire. The Gospel fulfills this perfectly, not through our own stressful accounting, but through Christ's perfect work.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is placed under constant pressure to perform adequately in their 'stewardship' to ensure they are deemed 'worthy' by a human leader. The fear of having their account rejected by the bishop creates a perpetual state of spiritual insecurity.
The mandate to 'lay all things before the bishop' and pay for what is received places a heavy economic strain on the believer, intertwining their financial survival with their spiritual standing.
The believer's autonomy and direct relationship with God are subjugated to the authority of the bishop. The necessity of a 'certificate' means the church holds ultimate leverage over the individual's life, movement (going to Zion), and eternal hopes.