Section 20
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants 20, historically known as the 'Articles and Covenants,' serves as the foundational charter for the organization of the Church of Christ (later the LDS Church) on April 6, 1830. It synthesizes early Mormon theology, ecclesiology, and liturgy into a single governing document. The text begins by establishing the divine authority of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, validating the Book of Mormon as a divine record, and asserting that God continues to inspire men and give new revelation. It then outlines a systematic theology covering the nature of God, creation, the fall, and the atonement of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that salvation requires belief, baptism, and enduring in faith. The section meticulously details the specific duties of priesthood offices (apostles, elders, priests, teachers, deacons) and establishes the procedural requirements for church governance, including conferences and membership records. Crucially, it provides the exact, mandated wording for the baptismal and sacramental (communion) prayers, standardizing the liturgical practices of the new movement. For Latter-day Saints, this text is the bedrock of church administration and priesthood authority, demonstrating that their church is a restoration of the ancient order, governed by continuing revelation rather than historical biblical tradition alone.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: The Lord and Savior, whose atonement, grace, and direct commandments are cited as the basis for the church's organization and the salvation of mankind.
- Joseph Smith, Jun.: The 'first elder' and apostle, called of God, who received angelic ministration and power to translate the Book of Mormon.
- Oliver Cowdery: The 'second elder' and apostle, called of God and ordained under Joseph Smith's hand.
- Holy Ghost: A member of the Godhead who inspires prophets, bears record of the Father and Son, and is bestowed upon members via the laying on of hands.
- John the Revelator: Mentioned to affirm that the new revelations align with his biblical prophecies, while simultaneously justifying the addition of new scripture.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuing Revelation and Open Canon
Assertion
God continues to give new, authoritative scripture and revelation through modern prophets and angelic visitations, equal to or superseding the Bible.
Evidence from Text
Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation... or the revelations of God which shall come hereafter by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, the voice of God, or the ministering of angels. (v. 11, 35)
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelical Christianity maintains that the 66 books of the Bible are the complete, sufficient, and final revelation of God to humanity (Jude 1:3, Hebrews 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The canon is closed, and no new public revelation is required or expected. D&C 20 directly challenges this foundational pillar by asserting that God continues to give new, binding scriptural revelations through modern prophets, the Holy Ghost, and angelic visitations. This fundamentally alters the epistemological foundation of the faith, shifting ultimate authority from the completed biblical text to the ongoing pronouncements of the LDS hierarchy.
Conditional Soteriology (Faith + Ordinances + Works)
Assertion
Salvation requires belief in Christ, the physical ordinance of baptism, and continuous endurance in faith and good works to the end of one's life.
Evidence from Text
That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved... And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. (v. 25, 29)
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, salvation is a free gift of grace received through faith alone in the finished work of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:5, Titus 3:5). Baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality and an act of obedience, not a prerequisite for justification. D&C 20, however, constructs a synergistic soteriology where salvation is contingent upon belief, the physical ordinance of baptism, and continuous endurance in faith (works). This creates a system where justification is never fully realized or secure in the present, but is always contingent on future performance and obedience.
Exclusive Priesthood Authority
Assertion
Specific, hierarchically ordained priesthood offices are required to validly administer saving ordinances like baptism and the sacrament.
Evidence from Text
The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water... But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands (v. 73, 58)
Evangelical Comparison
The biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6) teaches that every Christian has direct access to God through Christ, the sole mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). There is no separate class of priests required to mediate grace or validate church ordinances. D&C 20 establishes a rigid, hierarchical priesthood structure (apostles, elders, priests, teachers, deacons) that is absolutely necessary for the valid administration of sacraments. This effectively places the LDS Church and its priesthood as mediators between the believer and God, a concept Evangelicalism rejects as a regression to the Old Covenant system.
Apostasy and Falling from Grace
Assertion
It is entirely possible for a justified and sanctified believer to fall from grace and depart from God.
Evidence from Text
But there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from the living God; Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also. (v. 32-34)
Evangelical Comparison
The doctrine of eternal security (often associated with Reformed/Calvinistic theology) asserts that those who are truly born again cannot lose their salvation, as they are kept by the power of God (John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39). D&C 20 explicitly states that man can fall from grace. While this aligns with Arminian Evangelical traditions, in the context of Mormonism's broader theology, it reinforces a performance-based religious system. Because salvation requires 'enduring to the end,' the constant threat of falling from grace places a heavy psychological burden on the believer to maintain their worthiness through continuous obedience.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
D&C 20 establishes a works-and-ordinance-based soteriology mediated by an exclusive, restored priesthood hierarchy, fundamentally denying the evangelical doctrines of justification by faith alone and the universal priesthood of all believers.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological chasm between D&C 20 and Evangelical Christianity centers on authority and soteriology. Evangelicals hold to Sola Scriptura—the Bible is the final, sufficient, and complete authority for faith and practice. D&C 20 shatters this by institutionalizing ongoing revelation, angelic visitations, and an open canon, making the Bible insufficient on its own. Soteriologically, Evangelicals believe in Sola Fide—justification by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. D&C 20 constructs a synergistic model where salvation requires faith, repentance, specific physical ordinances (baptism by immersion), performed by a specific, newly restored priesthood hierarchy, and continuous endurance in good works. This effectively replaces the sufficiency of Christ's mediation with the mediation of the LDS Church structure. The believer is never fully secure but must constantly perform to maintain grace.
For All Ages
Imagine you are given a free, permanent ticket to the best amusement park ever, just because the owner loves you. That's what Evangelical Christians believe about heaven—it's a free gift from Jesus that you just have to accept. But this text says you have to believe, AND get baptized by a specific person in their church, AND keep following a bunch of rules for your whole life to keep your ticket. It also says God is still writing new rules today, while Christians believe the Bible is the finished rulebook.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Asserts that God continues to give new scripture and revelation, explicitly leaving the canon open and validating the Book of Mormon.
Sola Fide
Mandates baptism and enduring in faith (works) as co-requirements with belief for salvation.
Universal Priesthood
Requires a specific, restored priesthood hierarchy to validly administer baptism and the sacrament, acting as mediators.
Assurance of Salvation
Teaches that believers can fall from grace and must constantly maintain worthiness, destroying biblical assurance.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Grace"
In This Text
An enabling power that assists individuals in achieving justification and sanctification, but which requires the individual to 'endure in faith' and perform works to be efficacious.
In Evangelicalism
Unmerited favor; God's free gift of salvation completely independent of human works or merit (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:6).
"Apostle / Elder"
In This Text
Specific hierarchical offices in a restored priesthood that are absolutely necessary to administer saving ordinances and govern the church.
In Evangelicalism
Apostle refers to the original, unique eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ; Elder (presbyter) refers to local church pastors/overseers, not a mediating priesthood class required for sacraments.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Being saved in the kingdom of God and receiving a crown of eternal life.
How Attained: By believing in Christ, repenting, being baptized by proper LDS authority, and enduring in faith to the end.
Basis of Assurance: Maintaining a 'godly walk,' partaking of the sacrament worthily, obeying church leaders, and not falling from grace.
Comparison to Sola Fide: D&C 20 explicitly denies Sola Fide by mandating baptism and enduring works as absolute co-requirements with belief for salvation (v. 25, 29). This directly contradicts the biblical teaching that justification is a past-tense reality based solely on faith (Romans 4:5, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ (v. 29)
- Worship the Father in his name (v. 29)
- Endure in faith to the end (v. 29)
- Take heed and pray always lest they fall into temptation (v. 33)
- Be baptized with a broken heart and contrite spirit (v. 37)
- Elders must conduct meetings as led by the Holy Ghost (v. 45)
- Priests must visit the house of each member and exhort them to pray (v. 47)
- Teachers must watch over the church always and see there is no iniquity (v. 53-54)
- Elders must meet in conference once in three months (v. 61)
- Members having children must bring them to the elders for a blessing (v. 70)
- The church must meet together often to partake of bread and wine (v. 75)
- Churches must send teachers or priests to conferences with lists of new members (v. 81-82)
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith as a true prophet and the Book of Mormon as divine scripture.
- Submit entirely to the authority and oversight of the ordained priesthood hierarchy.
- Maintain a 'godly walk and conversation' to be deemed worthy by leaders to partake of the sacrament.
- Ensure one's name remains on the official church records to maintain standing.
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism by immersion, performed only by one holding specific priesthood authority, using exact prescribed wording (v. 72-74)
- Confirmation and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by elders (v. 41, 43)
- Partaking of the sacrament (bread and wine/water) administered by an elder or priest using exact prescribed prayers (v. 75-79)
- Ordination to priesthood offices by the power of the Holy Ghost and the laying on of hands (v. 60)
- The blessing of children by elders laying on hands in the name of Jesus Christ (v. 70)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- Verse 11 says the Book of Mormon proves the holy scriptures are true. How do you understand the relationship between the Bible and modern revelation?
- In verse 25, it mentions enduring in faith to the end to be saved. How do you know if you are enduring well enough to have assurance of eternal life today?
- Verse 73 requires baptism by someone with specific authority. Where do we see this specific priesthood requirement for baptism in the New Testament?
- Verse 32 says a man may fall from grace. Does this ever make you worry about your standing with God?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The Sacrament Prayers (v. 77, 79)
The LDS sacrament prayers focus heavily on remembering Christ's shed blood and broken body. This can be a bridge to discuss the *sufficiency* of that sacrifice. If His blood was shed for us, was it enough to completely pay for our sins once and for all, without our added works?
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The constant requirement to 'endure in faith to the end' and manifest worthiness through a 'godly walk' to partake of the sacrament creates a heavy burden of performance. Believers can never be truly certain they have done enough, leading to a lack of assurance and a persistent fear of falling from grace (v. 32).
Because salvation and ordinances are strictly tied to the authorized priesthood and church membership records (v. 82-84), the believer's relationship with God is heavily mediated by the institution. This creates a fear of excommunication or displeasing church leaders, as one's eternal state is tied to institutional standing.