Section 21
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 21 is a pivotal, foundational text in the Latter-day Saint tradition, delivered on April 6, 1830, the exact day the church was officially organized in Fayette, New York. The text serves as the divine charter for the institution and, more importantly, for the absolute authority of Joseph Smith. It explicitly designates Smith with a comprehensive list of spiritual titles: seer, translator, prophet, apostle, and elder. The core argument of the text is the establishment of a new, exclusive conduit for divine revelation. In verses 4 and 5, the text makes its most audacious theological claim: the church is commanded to give heed to all of Smith's words and commandments, receiving them 'as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.' This text fundamentally shifts the locus of spiritual authority from the closed canon of biblical scripture to the ongoing, dynamic utterances of a living human leader. It explicitly ties spiritual protection and success—promising that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you'—directly to the adherents' obedience to Smith's words. Furthermore, the text outlines the necessity of physical, hierarchical priesthood ordination, detailing that Oliver Cowdery must ordain Joseph Smith, and vice versa, to validate their ecclesiastical offices. While verse 9 contains a brief mention of Jesus Christ being crucified for the remission of sins, this soteriological statement is immediately framed within the context of believing the words of Joseph Smith. For the believer, this text establishes the paradigm that to reject the Prophet is to reject God, cementing a mediatorial role for Smith that defines Mormon epistemology and ecclesiology to this day.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith: Designated as the seer, translator, prophet, apostle, and elder whose words must be received as if from God Himself.
- God the Father: Cited as the source of the will by which the church is organized and Smith is called.
- Jesus Christ: Acknowledged as the Lord whose grace establishes the church and who was crucified for the sins of the world.
- The Holy Ghost / The Comforter: Identified as the source of inspiration for Smith and the entity that manifests the truth of Christ's crucifixion.
- Oliver Cowdery: Designated as an apostle, elder, and the 'first preacher' of the church, commanded to ordain Joseph Smith.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Prophetic Infallibility and Absolute Authority
Assertion
The words and commandments of the designated prophet (Joseph Smith) must be received and obeyed exactly as if they were spoken directly by God.
Evidence from Text
Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them... For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. (D&C 21:4-5)
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical Christianity, the doctrine of Sola Scriptura maintains that the 66 books of the Bible are the sole, infallible rule of faith and practice. God's special revelation is complete, having culminated in the person and work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). While pastors and teachers hold authority to expound the Scriptures, their words are always subordinate to and judged by the biblical text (Acts 17:11). No post-apostolic human leader possesses the authority to issue new commandments that bind the conscience of the believer as if they were the very voice of God. Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-5 creates a severe departure from this baseline. By commanding the church to receive Joseph Smith's words 'as if from mine own mouth,' the text establishes an open canon dependent on a single human mediator. This doctrine demands that adherents place unquestioning faith ('in all patience and faith') in Smith's utterances. From an Evangelical perspective, this is a dangerous usurpation of divine authority, as it removes the objective standard of the closed biblical canon and replaces it with the subjective, evolving dictates of a human institution, effectively placing the prophet in a mediatorial role between the believer and God.
Conditional Spiritual Protection
Assertion
Spiritual protection from hell and the powers of darkness is contingent upon obeying the words of the prophet.
Evidence from Text
For by doing these things [receiving his word as from God's mouth] the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you... (D&C 21:6)
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelical theology teaches that the believer's security and victory over the powers of darkness are rooted exclusively in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Colossians 2:15) and the sealing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Jesus' promise in Matthew 16:18 that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail' is applied to His universal Church, built upon the confession of Christ as the Son of God. Protection from spiritual darkness is a grace given to those who are in Christ, maintained by faith in Him and reliance on His Word (Ephesians 6:10-17). In stark contrast, D&C 21:6 conditions this ultimate spiritual protection on 'doing these things'—specifically, giving heed to all of Joseph Smith's words and commandments. This shifts the foundation of spiritual security from the objective, historical victory of Christ to the subjective, ongoing performance of the believer in submitting to a human prophet. It creates a theological paradigm where rejecting or questioning the prophet is equated with forfeiting divine protection and succumbing to the powers of hell.
Necessity of Hierarchical Priesthood Ordination
Assertion
Legitimate authority in the church requires specific, physical ordination by designated individuals through the laying on of hands.
Evidence from Text
Wherefore it behooveth me that he should be ordained by you, Oliver Cowdery mine apostle; This being an ordinance unto you, that you are an elder under his hand... (D&C 21:10-11)
Evangelical Comparison
The Evangelical doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believers (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6) asserts that every born-again Christian has direct access to God through the sole mediation of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). There is no need for a specialized, hierarchical priesthood to validate ministry, perform saving ordinances, or mediate God's grace. While churches ordain pastors for order and leadership, this ordination is a recognition of God's calling and gifting, not a transfer of exclusive, mystical authority required for the church to be valid. D&C 21:10-11, along with the introductory notes detailing the laying on of hands, establishes a rigid requirement for physical, chain-of-custody priesthood authority. The text mandates that Oliver Cowdery must ordain Joseph Smith, and Joseph must ordain Oliver, to legitimize their roles as elders and apostles. This reflects a theology where divine authority is institutionalized and restricted to those who have received specific rituals from authorized human predecessors, fundamentally denying the sufficiency of Christ's direct mediation for the believer.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text fundamentally alters the source of divine authority by elevating a human leader's words to the level of God's infallible Word, thereby denying Sola Scriptura and inserting a human mediator between Christ and the believer.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 21 and Evangelical Christianity is profound and centers primarily on the doctrines of Revelation (Sola Scriptura) and Christology (Solus Christus). Evangelicalism maintains that the canon of Scripture is closed and sufficient. God's ultimate and final revelation was given through His Son, Jesus Christ, and recorded by the apostles and prophets in the 66 books of the Bible. No human being today possesses the authority to speak infallibly on behalf of God, and no new revelations are required for salvation or church governance. D&C 21 systematically dismantles this framework. By commanding the church to receive Joseph Smith's words 'as if from mine own mouth' (v. 5), the text establishes a living, open canon where the ultimate authority is not the written Word of God, but the current prophet. This creates a system of ongoing, mandatory extra-biblical revelation. Furthermore, by tying spiritual protection ('the gates of hell shall not prevail') to obedience to Smith's words, the text elevates Smith to a mediatorial role. In Evangelical theology, Christ alone is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and our spiritual protection is secured by His blood, not by our adherence to the dictates of a 19th-century church founder. This text effectively replaces the sufficiency of Christ and Scripture with the necessity of the LDS Prophet and institution.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a letter from the King that tells you exactly how to live and promises that the King's Son has already paid all your debts. This letter is the Bible, and Christians believe it is the only official rulebook we need. Now imagine a man comes along and says, 'I am the King's new messenger. You must listen to everything I say, and treat my words exactly as if the King himself were speaking. If you don't, you won't be protected from the King's enemies.' This is what Doctrine and Covenants 21 does. It tells people that Joseph Smith is the new messenger and that they have to obey all his rules to be safe from hell. For Evangelical Christians, this is a big problem because the Bible says God has already given us everything we need in Jesus and the Bible. We don't need a new human leader to be our connection to God, because Jesus is our only connection.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Commands adherents to receive a modern man's words as if they were God's own mouth, establishing an open canon and extra-biblical authority.
Solus Christus
Ties spiritual protection from hell to obedience to Joseph Smith, inserting him as a necessary mediator alongside Christ.
Sola Fide
While mentioning Christ's crucifixion for sins, it conditions ultimate spiritual success on 'doing these things' (obeying the prophet's commandments).
Universal Priesthood
Mandates specific, hierarchical physical ordinations (laying on of hands) to legitimize spiritual authority and church validity.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Apostle"
In This Text
A specific, ongoing priesthood office within the LDS hierarchical structure, held by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
In Evangelicalism
A foundational, unrepeatable office in the early church, restricted to eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ who were directly commissioned by Him (Acts 1:21-22, Ephesians 2:20).
"Elder"
In This Text
An office within the Melchizedek Priesthood requiring specific physical ordination by another priesthood holder.
In Evangelicalism
A pastor, overseer, or shepherd of a local congregation, recognized for spiritual maturity and character (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1), not a mystical priesthood rank.
"Church"
In This Text
The specific, institutional organization legally formed on April 6, 1830, which claims exclusive divine authority.
In Evangelicalism
The universal body of all true believers in Jesus Christ across all times and denominations, united by the Holy Spirit.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Remission of sins (v. 8-9) and protection from the gates of hell and powers of darkness (v. 6).
How Attained: Through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the contrite heart (v. 9), but practically accessed and maintained by giving heed to all the words and commandments of the Prophet (v. 4-6) and receiving necessary ordinances (introductory notes).
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on 'doing these things' (v. 6)—specifically, exercising patience and faith in receiving the Prophet's words as God's words.
Comparison to Sola Fide: Evangelicalism teaches justification by faith alone in Christ alone (Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9). D&C 21 introduces a synergistic model where faith in Christ's atonement (v. 9) is inextricably linked to, and validated by, absolute submission to the institutional prophet and his commandments (v. 4-6). True assurance in this system requires flawless obedience to the prophet.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Keep a record among you (v. 1)
- Call Joseph Smith a seer, translator, prophet, apostle, and elder (v. 1)
- Give heed unto all his [Joseph Smith's] words and commandments (v. 4)
- Receive his word as if from God's own mouth (v. 5)
- Receive his word in all patience and faith (v. 5)
- Oliver Cowdery must ordain Joseph Smith (v. 10)
- Joseph Smith must ordain Oliver Cowdery (v. 11)
Implicit Obligations
- Accept the organization established on April 6, 1830, as the exclusive, true church of Christ
- Submit entirely to the ecclesiastical and spiritual authority of Joseph Smith
- Believe that rejecting Joseph Smith's words equates to rejecting God's words
- Labor in the vineyard under the direction of this newly formed hierarchy
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism (mentioned in introductory notes)
- Laying on of hands for ordination to priesthood offices (introductory notes and v. 10-11)
- Administration of the sacrament (introductory notes)
- Laying on of hands for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost (introductory notes)
- Confirmation of membership (introductory notes)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 5, it says to receive Joseph Smith's words 'as if from mine own mouth.' How do you personally discern if a teaching from a church leader is truly from God, especially if it seems to conflict with the Bible?
- Verse 6 promises that the gates of hell won't prevail if we give heed to all the prophet's words. How does this compare to Jesus' promise in Matthew 16:18, where He says He will build His church and the gates of hell won't prevail against it?
- Verse 9 beautifully mentions that Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world. In your understanding, is Jesus' sacrifice sufficient on its own to save us, or is obedience to a modern prophet also required for our ultimate salvation?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for a sure foundation and clear guidance from God.
Latter-day Saints deeply desire a solid foundation and clear direction, which they believe is provided by a living prophet. Evangelicals can affirm this desire but point to Jesus Christ as the ultimate, unchanging foundation and the Word made flesh who provides perfect guidance.
The remission of sins through Christ's crucifixion.
This is a point of profound agreement. Evangelicals can use this verse to pivot the conversation away from Joseph Smith and entirely onto the sufficiency of what Christ accomplished on the cross for the contrite heart.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By commanding adherents to give heed to 'all his words and commandments' to ensure the gates of hell do not prevail, the text places an impossible burden of performance on the believer. Spiritual safety is constantly contingent on perfect obedience to an ever-expanding volume of prophetic counsel, leading to anxiety about whether one is doing enough to be protected.
The text forces the believer to place absolute, unquestioning trust ('in all patience and faith') in a fallible human being. When the human leader inevitably makes mistakes or acts contrary to God's character, the believer experiences severe cognitive dissonance, as they have been taught that the leader's voice is indistinguishable from God's voice.
Because authority is tied to specific, physical ordinations within this exact organization (v. 10-11), the believer is taught that they cannot access God's full grace or authority outside of this specific institutional structure, creating a fear of leaving the organization.