Section 9
Overview
Given in July 1830, shortly after the formal organization of the church, this text serves as a pivotal transitional document that elevates Joseph Smith from a translator to an authoritative, full-time religious leader. The revelation commands Smith to cease temporal labor (farming) because 'this is not thy calling,' and mandates that the newly formed church branches in Colesville, Fayette, and Manchester provide for his temporal needs (food, clothing, money). To enforce this, the text introduces severe spiritual ultimatums: if the church members do not support him, or if anyone rejects his words, God will send 'a cursing instead of a blessing.' The text explicitly claims that Smith's spontaneous words and writings are given infallibly by the Comforter 'in the very moment.' Furthermore, it appropriates the apostolic commissioning of the New Testament (Matthew 10, Mark 16), granting Smith and Oliver Cowdery the power to perform sign gifts (healing, casting out devils, surviving poison) and the imprecatory authority to curse their enemies by dusting off their feet or commanding divine smiting upon those who use violence or the legal system against them. This establishes a high-control, hierarchical dynamic centered entirely on Smith's prophetic office.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith, Jr.: Addressed as the chosen prophet, commanded to write revelations, expound scripture, and lead the church, with his words carrying the weight of divine blessing or cursing.
- Oliver Cowdery: Addressed as Smith's brother and second witness, commanded to declare the gospel continually with unprecedented strength.
- The Comforter (Holy Ghost): Identified as the source of immediate, infallible revelation dictating what Smith should speak and write.
- Satan: Mentioned as the entity from whose power and darkness Joseph Smith has been delivered.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuous and Infallible Prophetic Revelation
Assertion
The text claims that Joseph Smith receives immediate, infallible revelation from the Comforter, dictating exactly what he should speak and write, which carries the authority of scripture.
Evidence from Text
...writing the things which shall be given thee by the Comforter, and expounding all scriptures unto the church, and it shall be given thee in the very moment, what thou shalt speak and write; and they shall hear it, or I will send unto them a cursing...
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical Christianity, the doctrine of Sola Scriptura maintains that the 66 books of the Bible are the sole, infallible, and sufficient rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 1:3). The canon is closed, and no modern leader possesses the authority to generate new, binding scripture. This text, however, asserts that Joseph Smith's ongoing writings and spontaneous speech are directly dictated by the Holy Ghost ('given thee in the very moment'). Furthermore, it attaches a severe spiritual ultimatum to his words: the church must hear them, or God will curse them. This elevates Smith to a mediatorial position where his ongoing utterances are functionally equal to, or supersede, the closed biblical canon.
Imprecatory Apostolic Authority
Assertion
The text grants Joseph Smith and his ordained followers the divine authority to actively curse those who reject them, refuse to support them financially, or oppose them legally or physically.
Evidence from Text
...if they receive thee not, I will send upon them a cursing instead of a blessing... ye shall leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the dust of your feet... whosoever shall lay their hands upon you by violence, ye shall command to be smitten in my name... whosoever shall go to law with thee shall be cursed by the law.
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelical Christianity emphasizes Christ's command to 'love your enemies, bless them that curse you' (Matthew 5:44) and Paul's instruction to 'Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not' (Romans 12:14). Vengeance is reserved strictly for God (Romans 12:19). While Jesus did instruct the apostles to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony of judgment (Matthew 10:14), He did not instruct them to actively 'command [people] to be smitten' or to weaponize divine curses to secure financial support. This text grants Smith a punitive, imprecatory power that aligns more with a high-control authoritarian framework than with the grace-oriented ministry of the New Covenant.
Restoration of Apostolic Sign Gifts
Assertion
The text claims that the specific miraculous signs promised in Mark 16 (casting out devils, healing, immunity to poison) are actively restored to Joseph Smith and his followers, to be used when commanded or required.
Evidence from Text
Require not miracles, except I shall command you; except casting out devils; healing the sick; and against poisonous serpents; and against deadly poisons...
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelicalism is divided between cessationism (the belief that the miraculous sign gifts ceased with the death of the original apostles and the completion of the canon) and continuationism (the belief that the Holy Spirit still grants these gifts today). However, even continuationist evangelicals generally reject the idea that a single modern leader possesses the institutional authority to command these specific Mark 16 signs as proof of a 'restored' church. In this text, the sign gifts are explicitly tied to Smith's unique prophetic office and the fulfillment of scripture, serving as a validation of his exclusive authority rather than purely as acts of divine compassion.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text replaces the sufficiency of Scripture and the sole mediation of Christ with the absolute authority of a modern prophet, weaponizing divine curses to enforce financial support and doctrinal submission.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity is profound, centering primarily on authority, mediation, and Christian ethics. First, the text violates Sola Scriptura by asserting that Joseph Smith receives immediate, infallible revelation that the church is obligated to obey. This establishes an open canon and places a human leader's spontaneous words on par with biblical authority. Second, it violates the doctrine of the Universal Priesthood and the sole mediation of Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Smith is positioned as the indispensable conduit for divine blessing; rejecting him is equated with rejecting God, and the church is commanded to support him financially under threat of divine retribution. Finally, the text presents a severe ethical divergence. While the New Testament commands believers to love their enemies and leave vengeance to God (Romans 12:14, 19), this text grants Smith the imprecatory power to actively curse his opponents, command them to be smitten, and weaponize rituals (like dusting off feet) as punitive measures. This creates a high-control, authoritarian religious framework that is fundamentally incompatible with the grace and liberty of the biblical Gospel.
For All Ages
Imagine playing a game where the rules are already written in a rulebook, which is the Bible. Evangelical Christians believe the rulebook is finished and God doesn't add new rules. But in this text, a man named Joseph Smith says God is giving him brand new rules right now. He tells the people that if they don't listen to him and give him money for food and clothes, God will curse them. Also, Jesus told us in the Bible to love our enemies and be kind to people who are mean to us. But this text tells Joseph that he has the power to curse people who don't listen to him or who try to take him to court. It makes Joseph the boss of everything, instead of letting Jesus be the only boss.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Claims ongoing, infallible revelation that supersedes or adds to the closed biblical canon.
Universal Priesthood / Sole Mediation of Christ
Elevates a human leader to a mediatorial role where his words dictate divine blessing or cursing.
Christian Ethics / Grace
Commands the use of imprecatory curses and divine smiting against enemies, contradicting Christ's command to love and bless enemies.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"The Gospel"
In This Text
The restored message of Mormonism, which includes the Book of Mormon, new revelations, and the authority of Joseph Smith.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Jesus Christ's sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection, providing justification by faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
"Confirming the churches"
In This Text
The specific ordinance of laying on hands to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, a necessary ritual for salvation in Mormonism.
In Evangelicalism
Strengthening, encouraging, and establishing believers in the faith through teaching and fellowship (Acts 14:22).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: While not explicitly detailing eternal life, the text defines spiritual success and 'glory' as fulfilling one's calling within the newly restored church structure.
How Attained: Attained through obedience to the Prophet, enduring afflictions, and performing required rituals (laying on of hands).
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on God's promise to be with them ('lo, I am with you') contingent upon their obedience to the specific mandates given in the revelation.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text shifts the focus entirely away from Christ's finished work on the cross. Instead of justification by faith alone (Romans 5:1), spiritual standing is determined by one's alignment with and financial support of Joseph Smith's prophetic office.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- go thy way and sin no more
- Magnify thine office
- go speedily unto the church which is in Colesville, Fayette and Manchester
- continue in calling upon God in my name
- writing the things which shall be given thee by the Comforter
- expounding all scriptures unto the church
- devote all thy service in Zion
- Be patient in afflictions
- endure them
- Attend to thy calling
- continue in laying on of the hands
- confirming the churches
- continue in bearing my name before the world; and also to the church (Oliver)
- open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night (Oliver)
- Require not miracles, except I shall command you
- leave a cursing instead of a blessing, by casting off the dust of your feet against them as a testimony
- cleansing your feet by the wayside
- command to be smitten in my name
- take no purse, nor scrip, neither staves, neither two coats
- prune my vineyard with a mighty pruning
Implicit Obligations
- The church members must provide total financial and material support (food, raiment, shoes, money) to Joseph Smith.
- Adherents must accept Joseph Smith's spontaneous words as infallible divine revelation.
- Adherents must not use the legal system against Joseph Smith, under threat of being cursed.
Ritual Requirements
- Laying on of the hands
- Confirming the churches
- Casting off the dust of the feet as a testimony
- Cleansing feet by the wayside as a ritual curse
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount to 'bless those who curse you.' How do you reconcile that with the command in this section to leave a cursing on those who don't receive the message?
- If the Comforter gave Joseph Smith the exact words to speak and write 'in the very moment,' why were many of these early revelations later edited and changed before being published in the Doctrine and Covenants?
- How does it make you feel to read that God would curse a church congregation if they didn't provide financial support to a leader?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Deliverance from the powers of Satan and darkness.
This is a true biblical concept. Believers can rejoice that God truly does deliver us from the domain of darkness, not based on our calling to a specific office, but solely through the blood of Christ.
Patience in afflictions.
The reality of suffering is shared. We can bridge this to the biblical truth that suffering produces endurance, and our ultimate hope is in Christ's finished work, not our own ability to endure perfectly.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places a heavy burden of fear on the believer. By stating that God will send 'a cursing instead of a blessing' if they do not financially support the Prophet or accept his words, it uses divine threat to enforce compliance. This strips away the joy of cheerful giving (2 Cor 9:7) and replaces it with extortionary fear.
The believer is required to accept the spontaneous utterances of a human leader as infallible scripture. This creates a high-control environment where questioning the leader is equated with questioning God, leading to intellectual and spiritual suppression.