Section 78
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 78, originally dictated in March 1832, serves as a foundational text for early Mormon economic communalism (the United Firm/Order). The text explicitly intertwines temporal financial management with eternal spiritual salvation. It mandates the creation of a storehouse and an 'everlasting covenant' among church leaders to manage properties, asserting that believers cannot be equal in heavenly things unless they are equal in earthly things. Theologically, the text departs significantly from orthodox Christianity by establishing a works-based prerequisite for entering the 'celestial world' (v. 7) and introducing the promise of exaltation, where faithful adherents will be 'made rulers over many kingdoms' (v. 15). Furthermore, it introduces esoteric Mormon doctrines, such as identifying Adam as 'Michael your prince' who holds 'keys of salvation' under Christ, and referring to Christ as 'Son Ahman.' Historically, the text is notable because the modern LDS Church openly admits in the section's headnote that the original wording was retroactively altered by Joseph Smith after the United Firm failed in 1834, changing specific business terms to generalized religious terms to obscure the historical reality of the failed enterprise.
Key Figures
- The Lord God / Holy One / Son Ahman (Jesus Christ): Portrayed as the divine author of the revelation, the Redeemer who prepares all things and directs Michael.
- Joseph Smith, Jun.: The primary recipient of the revelation, ordained from on high, and commanded to sit in council to organize the order.
- Michael (Adam): Identified as a prince who has been given the keys of salvation under the direction of the Holy One.
- Newel K. Whitney: A church leader commanded to sit in council and help manage the storehouse/order.
- Sidney Rigdon: A church leader commanded to sit in council and help manage the storehouse/order.
- Satan: The adversary who seeks to blind the saints and to whom covenant-breakers will be delivered for 'buffetings.'
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Celestial Salvation (Works-Righteousness)
Assertion
Entrance into the highest degree of heaven (the celestial world) requires strict obedience to specific commandments and organizational mandates.
Evidence from Text
For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.
Evangelical Comparison
In D&C 78:7, salvation (specifically, a place in the 'celestial world') is explicitly conditional upon the believer's performance: 'you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you.' This stands in direct opposition to the Evangelical doctrine of Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone). According to Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5, salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, not a result of human works or preparation, so that no one may boast. The Mormon paradigm presented here creates a transactional relationship with God, where obedience to administrative and economic church mandates becomes the currency for eternal reward.
Material Equality as a Spiritual Prerequisite
Assertion
Believers cannot attain heavenly equality or spiritual blessings unless they first achieve economic and material equality through the church's order.
Evidence from Text
For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 78:5-6 inextricably links temporal economics with eternal salvation. It mandates that believers must be 'equal in earthly things' to obtain 'heavenly things.' While the New Testament encourages radical generosity and caring for the poor (e.g., Acts 2, 2 Corinthians 8), it never makes communal economic equality a prerequisite for salvation or heavenly inheritance. In Evangelical theology, heavenly inheritance is secured solely by the believer's union with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), regardless of their earthly financial arrangements or participation in a specific church's economic 'order.'
Exaltation and Theosis (Ruling Kingdoms)
Assertion
Faithful adherents will be crowned and made rulers over multiple kingdoms in eternity.
Evidence from Text
That you may come up unto the crown prepared for you, and be made rulers over many kingdoms, saith the Lord God
Evangelical Comparison
Verse 15 promises that the faithful will 'be made rulers over many kingdoms.' In the broader context of Mormon theology (which this text helps establish), this is a reference to Exaltation—the belief that men can become gods, inherit their own worlds, and rule over them. Evangelical Christianity affirms that believers will receive crowns and reign with Christ (Revelation 5:10, 2 Timothy 2:12), but strictly maintains the Creator-creature distinction. Believers will never become sovereign rulers over their own cosmic kingdoms, nor will they become gods (Isaiah 43:10).
Adamic Mediation (Michael's Keys)
Assertion
Adam (identified as the archangel Michael) is a prince who has been given the keys of salvation.
Evidence from Text
Who hath appointed Michael your prince... and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 78:16 elevates Adam (Michael) to a mediatorial role, stating he has been given the 'keys of salvation' (albeit under Christ's direction). This severely conflicts with the Evangelical understanding of Solus Christus. The Bible teaches that Adam brought sin and death into the world (Romans 5:12), while Christ alone brings salvation. Furthermore, Revelation 1:18 explicitly states that Jesus Christ alone holds the keys of Death and Hades. There is no biblical precedent for Adam holding 'keys of salvation' or acting as a spiritual prince over humanity's redemption.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
D&C 78 conditions eternal salvation and exaltation upon strict obedience to church economic mandates and introduces Adam as a mediator holding keys of salvation, directly contradicting the biblical doctrines of grace alone and Christ alone.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 78 and Evangelical Christianity is profound, centering on Soteriology and Christology. First, the text explicitly violates Sola Fide by establishing a works-righteousness paradigm. Verse 7 demands that believers 'prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded' to earn a place in the 'celestial world.' Furthermore, verses 5-6 make temporal, economic equality a strict prerequisite for heavenly equality. In contrast, Evangelicalism teaches that justification is an instantaneous, forensic act of God based solely on faith in Christ's finished work (Romans 3:24-28), entirely divorced from a believer's financial status or communal economic participation. Second, the text violates Solus Christus by elevating Adam (Michael) to a mediatorial role. Verse 16 claims Adam was given 'the keys of salvation.' While the text notes this is under Christ's direction, Evangelical theology maintains that Christ shares His salvific mediation with no one (1 Timothy 2:5). Adam is the federal head of the fall (1 Corinthians 15:22), not a prince holding keys of redemption. Finally, the promise in verse 15 that believers will be 'made rulers over many kingdoms' introduces the Mormon doctrine of exaltation (theosis), which breaches the orthodox Creator-creature distinction by promising believers a god-like status over cosmic domains.
For All Ages
Imagine you are given a free 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. But this text says you have to earn your ticket by sharing all your money perfectly with the church and doing everything you're told, or else you can't go to the best part of the park. It also says the first man, Adam, holds some of the keys to the park, but the Bible says only Jesus has the keys.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Conditions entrance into the celestial world on doing commanded works and achieving earthly economic equality.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone)
Assigns 'keys of salvation' to Adam (Michael), infringing on Christ's exclusive mediatorial role.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
Adds new, binding economic and organizational mandates as requirements for eternal life.
Theology Proper (Creator-Creature Distinction)
Promises that humans will be made 'rulers over many kingdoms,' laying the groundwork for polytheistic exaltation.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Salvation"
In This Text
Often used interchangeably with exaltation; attaining the highest degree of glory (the celestial world) through obedience, ordinances, and enduring to the end.
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the penalty of sin and the imputation of Christ's righteousness, received as a free gift by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"Michael"
In This Text
The archangel who is actually Adam, the first man, who holds keys of salvation and acts as a prince over humanity.
In Evangelicalism
An archangel who engages in spiritual warfare (Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7), distinct from human beings and entirely separate from Adam.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Attaining a place in the 'celestial world' (v. 7) and being crowned as 'rulers over many kingdoms' (v. 15).
How Attained: By preparing oneself, doing the things commanded (v. 7), achieving equality in earthly things (v. 6), and keeping the everlasting covenant (v. 11-12).
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on one's performance as a 'faithful and wise steward' (v. 22) and strict adherence to the church's order.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text is diametrically opposed to Sola Fide. Romans 4:4-5 states that to the one who works, wages are not a gift but a debt, but to the one who does not work but trusts God, faith is credited as righteousness. D&C 78 demands works (economic equality, obedience to the order) as the explicit prerequisite for heavenly reward.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Hearken and listen to the counsel of the Lord.
- Organize and establish the affairs of the storehouse for the poor.
- Prepare yourselves by doing the things commanded to gain a place in the celestial world.
- Sit in council with the saints in Zion (specifically directed to Smith, Whitney, and Rigdon).
- Prepare and organize by a bond or everlasting covenant that cannot be broken.
- Receive all things with thankfulness.
- Do the things which the Redeemer has commanded.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit personal property and financial autonomy to the church's united order.
- Maintain strict loyalty to Joseph Smith and the church hierarchy to avoid Satan's buffetings.
- View earthly financial management as a deeply spiritual, salvific issue.
Ritual Requirements
- Entering into a formal 'bond or everlasting covenant' regarding property and church organization.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed in the introduction to Section 78 that the words were changed after the United Firm failed in 1834. How does it affect your view of revelation to know that God's quoted words were edited later to hide a business failure?
- Verse 6 says you cannot be equal in heavenly things unless you are equal in earthly things. Do you feel a heavy burden trying to ensure your temporal life is perfectly aligned to earn celestial glory?
- Verse 16 mentions that Adam (Michael) was given the keys of salvation. How do you reconcile that with Revelation 1:18, where Jesus says He alone holds the keys?
- If someone breaks the covenant, verse 12 says they are delivered to the buffetings of Satan. Does that make you feel secure in God's love, or fearful of making a mistake?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for a 'permanent and everlasting establishment' (v. 4).
While human organizations and economic firms (like the United Firm) fail and disband, Christ offers a truly permanent and everlasting kingdom that cannot be shaken, built not on our financial management, but on His finished work.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is told that their place in the celestial world is entirely dependent on 'doing the things which I have commanded you' (v. 7). This creates a never-ending treadmill of performance, where the believer can never be truly certain they have done enough to qualify for heaven.
Verse 12 threatens that anyone who breaks this administrative covenant will be 'delivered over to the buffetings of Satan.' This instills a deep psychological fear of questioning church leadership or failing to meet institutional demands, using spiritual terror as a compliance mechanism.