Section 80
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 80 is a short revelation dictated by Joseph Smith on March 7, 1832, in Hiram, Ohio. The text serves as a specific missionary call to Stephen Burnett, commanding him to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It assigns Eden Smith as his missionary companion. Uniquely, the revelation grants them complete geographical freedom, stating that whether they go north, south, east, or west, 'it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss.' The text establishes an epistemology based on personal testimony, instructing the men to declare the things they have heard, believe, and know to be true. Finally, it authenticates itself by claiming to be the direct will and voice of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. Within the broader Latter-day Saint tradition, this section reinforces the early church's emphasis on immediate, localized revelation, the necessity of missionary work, and the foundational practice of proselytizing in companionships.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: Identified as the Redeemer and the direct, first-person author of the revelation ('thus saith the Lord', 'your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ').
- Joseph Smith: The implicit prophet and revelator through whom this message was dictated.
- Stephen Burnett: The primary recipient of the revelation, called to preach the gospel globally.
- Eden Smith: The individual assigned by divine decree to be Stephen Burnett's missionary companion.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Open Canon and Continuing Revelation
Assertion
God continues to give new, binding, verbatim scriptural commands to specific individuals through a modern prophet.
Evidence from Text
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Stephen Burnett... Behold, this is the will of him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ.
Evangelical Comparison
This text fundamentally operates on the premise of an open canon. By utilizing the prophetic formula 'thus saith the Lord' and concluding with the signature of 'your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ,' the text elevates Joseph Smith's 1832 dictation to the level of infallible scripture. Evangelical Christianity, adhering to Sola Scriptura, maintains that the 66 books of the Bible are the supreme, final, and sufficient authority for faith and practice. Evangelicals believe that while the Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture and guides believers subjectively, new, normative, first-person revelation from Jesus Christ ceased with the apostolic era (Hebrews 1:1-2, Jude 1:3). The acceptance of D&C 80 as scripture requires a rejection of biblical sufficiency.
Epistemology of Personal Testimony
Assertion
Missionaries are commanded to preach based on their personal belief, hearing, and internal knowledge of recent events/revelations.
Evidence from Text
Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true.
Evangelical Comparison
Verse 4 instructs the missionaries to 'declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true.' In the context of 1832 Mormonism, this meant testifying of Joseph Smith's visions, the Book of Mormon, and the newly restored priesthood. The epistemological foundation here is experiential—what the individual has heard and feels to be true. In contrast, Evangelical Christianity roots the preaching of the Gospel in the objective, historical reality of Christ's death and resurrection as recorded in the closed canon of Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). While personal testimony of transformation is a powerful tool in Evangelicalism, the authority of the message rests entirely on the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17), not on the subjective 'knowing' of the preacher.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The primary theological gap is the nature of revelation and authority. The text presents itself as a direct, verbatim quote from Jesus Christ in 1832, violating the Evangelical doctrine of a closed biblical canon.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological incompatibility between D&C 80 and Evangelical Christianity lies in the doctrine of Sola Scriptura and the closure of the biblical canon. D&C 80 operates on the premise of continuing, open revelation where a modern prophet (Joseph Smith) speaks the exact words of Jesus Christ ('thus saith the Lord') to direct specific individuals in their daily lives and ecclesiastical duties. Evangelical Christianity maintains that while the Holy Spirit illuminates the text and guides believers providentially, new normative, canonical revelation ceased with the Apostolic age. The author of Hebrews states that God has spoken in these last days by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2), indicating a culmination of revelation. The acceptance of D&C 80 as scripture requires abandoning the sufficiency of the 66-book Bible and accepting a paradigm where modern prophetic utterances carry the same weight as the words of the biblical apostles.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a rulebook for a game, and the creator of the game says, 'This is the final rulebook. Don't add anything to it.' Evangelical Christians believe the Bible is that final rulebook from God. But in this text, a man named Joseph Smith claimed that Jesus was giving him brand new rules and messages to write down. Because Christians believe the Bible is all we need and is completely finished, they cannot accept these new messages as being from God.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be new, binding, first-person revelation from Jesus Christ, adding to the closed canon of Scripture.
Sufficiency of Scripture
The text bases the authority of preaching on subjective personal knowledge and recent unbiblical revelations rather than the objective truth of the Bible.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"the gospel"
In This Text
In the context of 1832 Mormonism, preaching 'the gospel' included declaring the newly restored priesthood, the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith's role as a prophet.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Jesus Christ's substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection for the justification of sinners by grace through faith alone.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Not explicitly defined in this brief text, though Jesus is identified by the title 'Redeemer'.
How Attained: Not explicitly detailed in this text, though the command implies that preaching the gospel is a necessary duty for the called individuals.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance in this context is derived from internal conviction—knowing and believing the things they have heard.
Comparison to Sola Fide: Because this text is a specific missionary directive rather than a systematic soteriological treatise, it does not directly address justification. However, the heavy emphasis on the *work* of proselytizing as a divine mandate aligns with the broader LDS framework where works and obedience to callings are necessary components of ultimate exaltation, contrasting with the Evangelical doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Go ye, go ye into the world
- preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice
- declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith's dictation as the literal voice of Jesus Christ
- Travel and preach alongside the assigned companion, Eden Smith
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When D&C 80 commands Stephen to preach 'the gospel,' how do you define what that gospel is based on the New Testament?
- How do you discern if a modern revelation claiming to be the voice of Jesus aligns with the Jesus revealed in the Bible?
- If someone today claimed that Jesus told them exactly where to move and who to travel with, how would you test if that was truly from God?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to share what one knows to be true.
Evangelicals also possess a deep zeal for sharing the truth of what Christ has done. This shared passion for evangelism can be a bridge to discussing *what* the true, biblical gospel actually is.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By framing specific, localized duties (like going on a mission) as direct, first-person commands from Jesus Christ, the text places a heavy burden of performance on the believer. Failure to fulfill the calling is not just a missed opportunity, but a direct violation of the spoken will of the Redeemer, potentially leading to feelings of inadequacy and fear of divine displeasure.