Section 32
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 32 is a revelation dictated by Joseph Smith in October 1830, shortly after the organization of the LDS Church. It serves as a specific missionary call for Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson to join Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer Jr. on an expedition to the western frontier to preach to the Native Americans. The text is historically and theologically significant because it explicitly identifies Native Americans as 'Lamanites'—a core Book of Mormon demographic of Israelite descent. Theologically, the text features Joseph Smith speaking in the first-person voice of Jesus Christ, promising divine presence and advocacy with the Father for the missionaries. It also establishes early boundaries on revelation within the movement, commanding the missionaries to rely on 'that which is written' and to 'pretend to no other revelation,' effectively centralizing prophetic authority in Joseph Smith while dispatching his subordinates to proselytize.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: The claimed speaker of the text, asserting His role as advocate with the Father and promising His presence with the missionaries.
- Parley P. Pratt: An early convert called in this text to declare the gospel, learn of Christ, and travel to the wilderness.
- Ziba Peterson: Another early convert called to accompany the missionary expedition.
- Oliver Cowdery: Second Elder of the early church, previously called to lead the mission to the Lamanites.
- Peter Whitmer, Jun.: An early church member and Book of Mormon witness, previously called to the Lamanite mission.
- Lamanites: The Native American tribes the missionaries are sent to, identified by Mormon theology as descendants of Israelites from the Book of Mormon.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
First-Person Prophetic Dictation
Assertion
The prophet speaks the exact words of Jesus Christ in the first person, acting as a direct mouthpiece for God.
Evidence from Text
behold, I say unto him that as I live I will that he shall declare my gospel... I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father
Evangelical Comparison
In Mormonism, the President/Prophet has the authority to speak directly for God in the first person, adding new, binding scripture to the canon. D&C 32 is an example of Joseph Smith assuming the voice of Jesus Christ to direct church affairs and individuals. Evangelical Christianity, grounded in Sola Scriptura and Hebrews 1:1-2, maintains that while God still guides and illuminates through the Holy Spirit, the era of authoritative, canonical, first-person revelation ceased with the Apostles. The biblical canon is sufficient for all faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Lamanite Identity of Native Americans
Assertion
Native Americans are 'Lamanites,' a remnant of the House of Israel as described in the Book of Mormon, and are subjects of specific prophetic promises.
Evidence from Text
he shall go with my servants... into the wilderness among the Lamanites.
Evangelical Comparison
The text explicitly commands a mission to the 'Lamanites,' identifying the indigenous peoples of the Americas with the rebellious faction of Israelites in the Book of Mormon narrative. This doctrine fueled early Mormon missionary zeal and shaped their eschatology regarding the gathering of Israel. Evangelical Christianity does not recognize the Book of Mormon as historical or authoritative, and therefore does not view Native Americans as Lamanites. This creates a significant historical and anthropological friction point, as the theological mandate is tied to a historically verifiable (and scientifically contested) claim.
Christ as Advocate
Assertion
Jesus Christ acts as an advocate with the Father for those who faithfully serve Him.
Evidence from Text
I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them.
Evangelical Comparison
The assertion that Christ is the 'advocate with the Father' is a point of strong theological overlap with Evangelical Christianity, directly echoing 1 John 2:1. Both traditions affirm that Jesus intercedes for His people. However, in the broader context of Mormon theology, this advocacy is often contingent upon obedience to laws and ordinances, whereas in Evangelicalism, Christ's advocacy is rooted entirely in His finished, substitutionary work on the cross and applied to the believer by grace through faith alone.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text relies on an open canon where a modern leader speaks in the first person as Jesus Christ, and it mandates a mission based on a historically inaccurate view of Native American origins.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 32 and Evangelical Christianity centers on the doctrines of revelation, authority, and historical truth. Evangelicals hold to Sola Scriptura, believing the 66 books of the Bible are the supreme, final, and sufficient authority for the Church. D&C 32 operates on the premise of an open canon, where Joseph Smith possesses the authority to dictate new, binding scripture in the first-person voice of Jesus Christ. This violates the biblical warning against adding to God's word (Revelation 22:18-19) and the finality of Christ's revelation (Hebrews 1:1-2). Furthermore, the text's mandate is inextricably linked to the historical claim that Native Americans are 'Lamanites'—descendants of Israelites. Because Evangelicalism values historical and objective truth as a component of biblical reliability (e.g., the verifiable geography and history of the Ancient Near East in the Bible), the overwhelming scientific consensus refuting the Israelite origin of Native Americans serves as evidence against the divine origin of this revelation. If the premise of the mission (the Lamanite identity) is historically false, the prophetic voice commanding the mission cannot be the omniscient Jesus Christ of the Bible.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a complete instruction manual for a game, and the creator says, 'This is the final rulebook.' That's how Evangelical Christians view the Bible. But in this text, Joseph Smith is writing new rules and saying, 'These are Jesus's exact words right now.' Christians believe God doesn't add new books to the Bible anymore. Also, this text tells missionaries to go teach the 'Lamanites,' which was their word for Native Americans, because they believed Native Americans came from Israel. But today, scientists and DNA tell us that Native Americans did not come from Israel. So Christians disagree with this text because it adds to the Bible and teaches history that isn't true.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text presents itself as new, post-biblical scripture dictated directly by Jesus Christ, violating the sufficiency and closure of the biblical canon.
Historical Reliability of Scripture
The text identifies Native Americans as 'Lamanites' (Israelites), a claim contradicted by modern genetics and archaeology, undermining the truthfulness of the prophetic voice.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Revelation"
In This Text
Ongoing, authoritative, first-person dictations from God through a modern prophet that are added to the scriptural canon.
In Evangelicalism
The closed body of inspired, infallible truth contained in the 66 books of the Bible, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
"Gospel"
In This Text
In the context of early Mormonism, this included the newly restored authority, the Book of Mormon, and the gathering of Israel (including Lamanites).
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Jesus Christ's sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection, providing justification by faith alone.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Not explicitly defined in this brief text, though divine blessing and protection are promised.
How Attained: Blessing and divine presence are attained through obedience to the specific missionary call and commands ('give heed unto these words and trifle not, and I will bless them').
Basis of Assurance: Assurance of God's presence ('I myself will go with them') is based on their obedience to the prophetic mandate.
Comparison to Sola Fide: While the text mentions Christ as 'advocate,' the immediate context makes His blessing conditional upon their performance of the mission and adherence to the rules ('trifle not'). This contrasts with Sola Fide, where the believer's standing and Christ's advocacy are secured entirely by faith in Christ's finished work, not by fulfilling specific ecclesiastical assignments.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Declare my gospel
- Learn of me
- Be meek and lowly of heart
- Go with my servants, Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jun., into the wilderness among the Lamanites
- Ziba Peterson also shall go with them
- Give heed to that which is written
- Pretend to no other revelation
- Pray always that I may unfold the same to their understanding
- Give heed unto these words
- Trifle not
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the prophetic authority of Joseph Smith, who is delivering this revelation
- Accept the Book of Mormon's historical narrative regarding the Lamanites
- Endure the physical hardships of traveling into the western wilderness
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 4, the Lord commands the missionaries to 'give heed to that which is written, and pretend to no other revelation.' How do you balance this command with the concept of an open canon and ongoing new revelations?
- The mission in this section is specifically directed to the 'Lamanites.' How do you reconcile the historical mandate to gather the Lamanites with modern DNA evidence showing that Native Americans are primarily of Asian, not Middle Eastern, descent?
- Verse 3 says Jesus is our 'advocate with the Father.' What does it mean to you that Jesus is your advocate, and how does that relate to the grace offered in the New Testament?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Christ as Advocate
This is a beautiful, shared truth. An advocate (Paraclete) is a defense attorney who pleads our case. In Evangelicalism, Christ doesn't plead our case based on our missionary service or obedience, but based on His own shed blood. He is our perfect righteousness.
Meek and Lowly of Heart
This directly quotes Jesus's invitation in Matthew 11. The true Jesus who is meek and lowly offers rest for our souls, not a heavy burden of performance or the pressure to earn blessings through strict obedience.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text ends with a stern warning to 'give heed unto these words and trifle not, and I will bless them.' This creates a conditional framework where divine blessing and protection are contingent upon strict obedience to church assignments. Believers may feel a constant pressure to perform their callings perfectly to ensure God's favor.
For a modern LDS member studying this text, the explicit identification of Native Americans as 'Lamanites' creates severe cognitive dissonance when confronted with modern scientific consensus. The believer must either reject science, redefine the word 'Lamanite' in a way the early church did not intend, or doubt the prophetic voice of Joseph Smith.