Section 117
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 117, delivered by Joseph Smith in July 1838, addresses the immediate administrative and geographical duties of William Marks, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Granger during a period of intense crisis for the early Latter-day Saint movement. Following the collapse of the Kirtland Safety Society (a church-sponsored unchartered bank), many leaders were left with severe debts and facing apostasy or legal action. In this text, Smith speaks in the first-person voice of God, commanding these men to abandon their properties in Kirtland, Ohio, to settle their debts, and to migrate to the new church headquarters in Far West, Missouri. The text rebukes covetousness and 'littleness of soul,' contrasting the temporary value of earthly property with God's absolute sovereignty over creation. Theologically, the section is highly significant because it explicitly names 'Adam-ondi-Ahman' and 'the plains of Olaha Shinehah' as 'the land where Adam dwelt,' firmly placing the biblical figure of Adam in North America (specifically Missouri). It also establishes a paradigm where absolute obedience to the Prophet's administrative, financial, and geographic directives is equated with obedience to God Himself, promising spiritual blessings for compliance and warning that it 'shall not be well with them' if they tarry.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The speaker of the text, asserting absolute sovereignty over creation, property, and the destinies of nations.
- William Marks: A church leader commanded to leave Kirtland, repent of covetousness, and preside over the church in Far West, Missouri.
- Newel K. Whitney: A prominent bishop commanded to leave Kirtland, repent of secret abominations and 'littleness of soul,' and serve as a bishop in Adam-ondi-Ahman.
- Oliver Granger: A church agent commended for his sacrifices, tasked with contending for the financial 'redemption' of the First Presidency, and promised sacred remembrance.
- Adam: The first biblical man, whom this text claims dwelt in the plains of Olaha Shinehah/Adam-ondi-Ahman (Missouri).
- First Presidency: The highest governing body of the LDS Church, for whose 'redemption' (likely financial and social rescue) Oliver Granger is commanded to contend.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Prophetic Direction in Temporal Affairs
Assertion
God dictates specific financial, real estate, and geographic actions through the Prophet, equating obedience in these temporal matters with spiritual faithfulness.
Evidence from Text
Let them settle up their business speedily and journey from the land of Kirtland... Let the properties of Kirtland be turned out for debts, saith the Lord.
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the voice of God is used to manage the specific financial fallout of the Kirtland era, directing individuals to abandon property, settle debts, and move across the country. The Prophet Joseph Smith acts as the direct mediator for these administrative commands. In Evangelical Christianity, the closing of the canon (Sola Scriptura) means that God's special revelation is complete in the 66 books of the Bible. While the Holy Spirit guides believers individually in temporal matters (James 1:5), Evangelicals reject the idea that a church leader receives infallible, binding revelation commanding the specific financial and geographic movements of congregants. This Mormon doctrine blurs the line between divine mandate and human administrative necessity.
North American Adamic Geography
Assertion
The biblical figure Adam lived in North America, specifically in a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman and the plains of Olaha Shinehah.
Evidence from Text
Is there not room enough on the mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and on the plains of Olaha Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt...
Evangelical Comparison
Doctrine and Covenants 117 explicitly claims that Adam dwelt in 'Adam-ondi-Ahman' and the 'plains of Olaha Shinehah,' locations that Joseph Smith identified as being in Daviess County, Missouri. This is a foundational geographical claim unique to Mormonism, shifting the origin of humanity from the Middle East to North America. Evangelical Christianity adheres to the historical-grammatical interpretation of Genesis 2:10-14, which explicitly names rivers such as the Tigris (Hiddekel) and Euphrates, anchoring the Adamic narrative firmly in the ancient Near East (modern-day Iraq/Turkey region). The Mormon claim requires a complete remapping of biblical geography and contradicts all known archaeological, genetic, and historical evidence regarding human origins and the ancient Near Eastern context of the Genesis narrative.
Sacrifice Valued Over Increase
Assertion
God views the earnest, sacrificial efforts of His servants as sacred, even if those efforts result in failure or lack of material increase.
Evidence from Text
...and when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord.
Evangelical Comparison
The text states regarding Oliver Granger that 'his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase.' This is a profound theological statement that resonates strongly with Evangelical theology. In the biblical worldview, God does not need human wealth or success (as echoed in v. 6, 'have I not the fowls of heaven...'). Instead, God desires a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) and faithful obedience. Evangelicals agree that God measures success by faithfulness to His Word rather than by visible, material 'increase' or worldly metrics of success. This provides a strong point of shared value regarding the nature of God's economy versus human economies.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text conflates obedience to God with submission to Joseph Smith's specific financial and geographic directives, while introducing extra-biblical, historically contradictory claims about the location of the Garden of Eden/Adam's dwelling.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 117 and Evangelical Christianity centers on the doctrines of Revelation, Authority, and Biblical Inerrancy. Evangelicals hold to Sola Scriptura, meaning the 66 books of the Bible are the sole infallible rule of faith and practice. In contrast, this text demonstrates the Mormon paradigm of continuous, open canon where a modern prophet speaks in the first-person voice of God to dictate administrative, financial, and geographic mandates. This creates a system where spiritual standing is inextricably linked to absolute obedience to the Prophet's temporal directives (e.g., abandoning property in Kirtland to move to Missouri). Furthermore, the text introduces a radical departure from biblical geography by asserting that Adam dwelt in North America ('Adam-ondi-Ahman'). This directly contradicts the historical-grammatical reading of Genesis 2, which locates Eden in the ancient Near East. For the Evangelical, accepting D&C 117 requires rejecting the sufficiency of Scripture, the biblical account of human origins, and the freedom of the Christian conscience in temporal matters.
For All Ages
Imagine if your pastor told you that God said you must sell your house, give the money to the church to pay its debts, and move to another state, and if you didn't, God would be angry with you. That's what is happening in this text. As Christians, we believe God speaks to us through the Bible, not through a leader telling us exactly where to live or how to spend our money. Also, this text says that Adam (the first man) lived in Missouri, in the United States. But the Bible tells us in Genesis that the Garden of Eden was in the Middle East, near rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates. So, this text adds new rules and changes the history found in the Bible.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text presents new, binding revelation spoken in the first-person voice of God, adding to the closed canon of Scripture.
Biblical Inerrancy / Historical Reliability
The text claims Adam lived in Missouri, contradicting the geographic markers provided in Genesis 2.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Zion"
In This Text
A specific geographic location in North America (in this context, Far West, Missouri) where the Saints are commanded to gather.
In Evangelicalism
Historically refers to Jerusalem/Mount Zion; theologically refers to the people of God, the Church, or the future heavenly city (Hebrews 12:22).
"Redemption"
In This Text
In verse 13, contending for the 'redemption of the First Presidency' refers to rescuing the church leaders from financial ruin, debt, and social disgrace following the Kirtland bank collapse.
In Evangelicalism
The act of Christ paying the penalty for sin through His blood to buy back sinners from the curse of the law (Ephesians 1:7).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: While not explicitly defining eternal salvation, the text defines spiritual safety and blessing ('it shall be well with them') as being in right standing with God and His Prophet.
How Attained: Right standing is maintained through repentance, obedience to prophetic commands, geographic relocation, and financial sacrifice.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on the Prophet's declaration of their standing (e.g., Oliver Granger being promised his name will be held in sacred remembrance).
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text does not address justification by faith. Instead, it operates on a works-based paradigm where God's favor and blessings are contingent upon specific, measurable actions (moving, paying debts, serving as bishop). This contrasts with Romans 4:4-5, where justification is a gift to the one who does not work but believes.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Let William Marks and Newel K. Whitney settle up their business speedily
- Journey from the land of Kirtland before the snows
- Awake
- Arise
- Come forth
- Do not tarry
- Repent of all sins
- Repent of all covetous desires
- Let the properties of Kirtland be turned out for debts
- Let them go (the properties)
- Let whatsoever remaineth remain in your hands
- Come up hither unto the land of my people, even Zion
- Let William Marks be faithful over a few things
- Let William Marks preside in the midst of my people in the city of Far West
- Let Newel K. Whitney be ashamed of the Nicolaitane band
- Let Newel K. Whitney be ashamed of all their secret abominations
- Let Newel K. Whitney be ashamed of all his littleness of soul
- Come up to the land of Adam-ondi-Ahman
- Be a bishop unto my people, not in name but in deed
- Let Oliver Granger contend earnestly for the redemption of the First Presidency
- Let Oliver Granger come up hither speedily, unto the land of Zion
- Let no man despise my servant Oliver Granger
- Let the blessings of my people be on him forever and ever
- Let all my servants in the land of Kirtland remember the Lord their God
- Remember mine house also (the Kirtland Temple)
- Keep and preserve it holy
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith's administrative and geographic directives as the literal, unquestionable voice of God.
- Prioritize church loyalty and relocation over personal financial security and property ownership.
- View the First Presidency as an institution requiring defense and 'redemption' by the members.
Ritual Requirements
- Keep and preserve the Lord's house (the temple) holy.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When you read D&C 117, how do you understand the claim that Adam lived in Missouri (Adam-ondi-Ahman) in light of the Bible's description of the Garden of Eden being near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the Middle East?
- In verses 1-5, God commands these men to leave their properties to pay off debts. How do you discern when a church leader's financial or administrative directive is truly the voice of God versus human management?
- Verse 13 says Oliver Granger's sacrifice is more sacred than his increase. How does this beautiful principle point us toward the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Sacrifice over Increase
This verse beautifully captures that God does not need our successful 'works' or 'increase.' He values a surrendered heart. We can bridge this to the Gospel by showing that because our 'increase' (our righteous works) is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), we must rely entirely on the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God values Christ's sacrifice on our behalf infinitely more than any 'increase' we could try to earn for our salvation.
God's Sovereignty over Creation
The text rightly acknowledges that God owns everything and needs nothing from us materially. This can be used to explain grace: because God is entirely self-sufficient and sovereign, salvation must be a free gift. We cannot buy or barter our way into His favor with property or works.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places a heavy burden on believers to equate the administrative, financial, and geographic demands of church leadership with the absolute will of God. Failure to comply with a leader's directive (even one that causes financial ruin, like abandoning property) is framed as a sin against God Himself.
The command to 'let the properties of Kirtland be turned out for debts' required immense personal financial sacrifice to cover the institutional failures of the church leadership. This creates a precedent where members may feel obligated to sacrifice their family's financial security for the institution.
Believers must carry the intellectual burden of defending the claim that Adam lived in Missouri, which requires rejecting overwhelming scientific, archaeological, and biblical evidence to the contrary.