Section 84
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 84 is a foundational text in Mormonism regarding the theology and structure of the priesthood. It establishes a historical lineage for the Melchizedek (greater) and Aaronic (lesser) priesthoods, tracing them back to Adam and Aaron respectively, while inserting several non-biblical figures into the patriarchal line. The text asserts that the greater priesthood holds the keys to the mysteries of God and is absolutely necessary to see God and live, establishing a mandatory human mediatorial structure. It introduces the 'oath and covenant of the priesthood,' promising exaltation (receiving all the Father has) to men who magnify their callings, while threatening unpardonable sin for those who break this covenant. The revelation commands the building of a temple in Independence, Missouri ('New Jerusalem') within that specific generation. It also provides extensive instructions for missionaries, commanding them to preach without purse or scrip, promising miraculous apostolic signs, and warning of severe apocalyptic judgments upon those who reject their message. The text emphasizes the necessity of priesthood authority and physical ordinances for salvation, creating a stark contrast with the Evangelical understanding of the universal priesthood of all believers and salvation by grace through faith alone.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: The claimed divine author of the revelation who is directing the establishment of the church and priesthood.
- Joseph Smith, Jun.: The recipient and prophet, designated to dedicate the temple lot in Missouri.
- Moses: Holder of the Holy Priesthood who attempted to sanctify Israel so they could see God's face.
- Aaron: The biblical figure whose name designates the lesser, preparatory priesthood.
- John the Baptist: Described as being ordained at eight days old by an angel to prepare the way for the Lord.
- Newel K. Whitney: A bishop specifically commanded to travel, care for the poor, and warn the cities of New York, Albany, and Boston.
- Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek: Biblical patriarchs cited to establish an unbroken chain of priesthood authority from the beginning of the world.
- Jethro, Caleb, Elihu, Jeremy, Gad, Esaias: Figures listed in the priesthood lineage between Moses and Abraham, some of whom are not found in biblical genealogies.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Priesthood Necessity for Divine Presence
Assertion
The Melchizedek priesthood and its specific ordinances are absolutely required to manifest the power of godliness and for any human to see the face of God and live.
Evidence from Text
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live. (v. 21-22)
Evangelical Comparison
In D&C 84, the 'greater priesthood' (Melchizedek) is presented as an absolute prerequisite for experiencing the fullness of God's presence. The text explicitly claims that without this specific priesthood authority and its associated physical ordinances, no human being can see God and live. This establishes a rigid mediatorial system where human priesthood holders are necessary conduits for divine grace, revelation, and ultimate salvation. In stark contrast, Evangelical Christianity, based on the New Testament, teaches the 'universal priesthood of all believers' (1 Peter 2:9). The veil of the temple was torn at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing direct, unmediated access to God for all believers through Jesus Christ, who is the sole mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5). The requirement of a restored, hierarchical human priesthood to access God directly contradicts the sufficiency of Christ's high priestly work as detailed extensively in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-28; 10:19-22).
Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood
Assertion
Men gain all that the Father has by receiving the priesthood and magnifying their calling, but face unforgivable sin if they break this covenant.
Evidence from Text
For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling... all that my Father hath shall be given unto him... But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come. (v. 33, 38, 41)
Evangelical Comparison
The text introduces a conditional 'oath and covenant' where a man's exaltation (receiving 'all that my Father hath') is strictly contingent upon his faithfulness in obtaining priesthood offices and 'magnifying' his calling through continuous works and service. This places a heavy burden of performance on the individual. Furthermore, it introduces a terrifying caveat: breaking this covenant results in an unpardonable sin, with no forgiveness available in this world or the next. Evangelical theology fundamentally rejects this works-based, conditional inheritance. Romans 8:15-17 declares that believers are adopted as children of God and co-heirs with Christ solely by grace through faith, not by holding a priesthood office or performing administrative duties. The threat of losing salvation and facing unforgivable sin for failing to uphold a human priesthood covenant contradicts the biblical assurance of salvation (John 10:28) and the biblical definition of the unpardonable sin, which is the continuous, final rejection of the Holy Spirit's testimony of Christ (Mark 3:28-29), not the breaking of a church calling.
Baptismal Regeneration and the Holy Ghost
Assertion
Water baptism by proper authority is required for the remission of sins and is the prerequisite for receiving the Holy Ghost.
Evidence from Text
...every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost. (v. 64)
Evangelical Comparison
The text explicitly links the remission of sins and the reception of the Holy Ghost to the physical act of water baptism performed by authorized LDS priesthood holders. This makes the physical ordinance an absolute requirement for salvation, forgiveness, and spiritual regeneration, tying the grace of God to a ritual performed by a specific organization. Evangelical Christianity holds firmly to Sola Fide—justification by faith alone. While baptism is an important command and a public profession of faith, it is not the mechanism that washes away sin or triggers the giving of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10:44-48, Cornelius and his household receive the Holy Spirit upon believing the Gospel, *before* they are baptized in water. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not of works (including rituals like baptism), so that no one can boast.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
D&C 84 establishes a mandatory, hierarchical human priesthood necessary for salvation and access to God, directly contradicting the biblical teaching of Christ's sufficient mediation. It also conditions eternal inheritance on human performance rather than grace alone.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological rupture between D&C 84 and Evangelical Christianity lies in Soteriology and Christology, specifically regarding mediation and justification. D&C 84 constructs an elaborate, necessary human priesthood hierarchy. It asserts that the Melchizedek priesthood and its ordinances are absolute prerequisites for manifesting the 'power of godliness' and seeing the face of God (v. 21-22). This effectively replaces the sufficiency of Christ's high priestly work. In biblical theology, the veil was torn (Matthew 27:51), and Christ is the *only* mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Believers are a 'royal priesthood' (1 Peter 2:9) with direct access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Furthermore, D&C 84 introduces the 'oath and covenant of the priesthood' (v. 33-41), which conditions receiving 'all that my Father hath' upon a man's faithfulness in obtaining priesthoods and 'magnifying' his calling. This is a stark works-righteousness system. It places the burden of exaltation squarely on human performance. Evangelicalism, grounded in Sola Fide and Sola Gratia, insists that inheritance with God is a free gift secured entirely by Christ's perfect obedience and substitutionary death, received by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:4-5). The threat of unpardonable sin for failing this covenant (v. 41) destroys biblical assurance of salvation.
For All Ages
Imagine you want to talk to the King. The Bible says Jesus is the King's Son, and because of what Jesus did, the door is wide open for anyone who believes in Him to walk right in and talk to the King anytime. But this text (D&C 84) says you can't just walk in. It says you need special permission from a specific group of men who hold a special title called the 'priesthood.' It says without their special ceremonies, you can't even see the King. It also says if you get this special title but don't do a good enough job working for the King, you'll be in trouble forever and can never be forgiven. Christians believe Jesus already did the perfect job for us, so we don't need other men to stand between us and God, and we don't have to live in fear of losing God's love because we didn't work hard enough.
Friction Points
Universal Priesthood
Violated by requiring a mediating Melchizedek priesthood to see God and manifest the power of godliness.
Christology / Sufficiency of Christ
Violated by making human ordinances and authority necessary to access the Father, undermining Christ as the sole mediator.
Sola Fide
Violated by requiring baptism and continuous priesthood performance (magnifying callings) for eternal inheritance.
Assurance of Salvation
Violated by the threat of unforgivable sin for breaking the priesthood covenant.
Sola Scriptura
Violated by adding new revelation and commanding obedience to the Book of Mormon under threat of condemnation.
Baptismal Regeneration
Violated by stating water baptism is required for the remission of sins and receiving the Holy Ghost.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Priesthood"
In This Text
Authority given to worthy males to act in God's name, organized in a strict hierarchy, and absolutely necessary for salvation and accessing God's presence.
In Evangelicalism
The status of all believers having direct access to God through the sole high priesthood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9).
"Gospel"
In This Text
Includes laws, physical ordinances, priesthood authority, and the requirement of continuous obedience.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's finished work of substitutionary atonement, received by faith alone.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Receiving 'all that my Father hath' (exaltation) and entering into God's rest/presence.
How Attained: By obtaining the priesthood, magnifying the calling, receiving physical ordinances, water baptism, and enduring to the end in faithfulness.
Basis of Assurance: Highly conditional upon continuous performance, obedience, and magnifying of callings, with the threat of unpardonable sin for failure.
Comparison to Sola Fide: D&C 84 explicitly denies Sola Fide by making the reception of the Father's kingdom contingent upon obtaining priesthood offices and magnifying callings (v. 33-38). Romans 4:4-5 states that to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Build the city of New Jerusalem beginning at the temple lot in Missouri (v. 3-4)
- Build a temple unto the Lord in this generation (v. 4-5)
- Beware concerning yourselves and give diligent heed to the words of eternal life (v. 43)
- Repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, to do what is written (v. 57)
- Remain steadfast in minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer (v. 61)
- Bear testimony to all the world of the things communicated (v. 61)
- Go ye into all the world to preach (v. 62)
- Do not boast of miraculous signs nor speak them before the world (v. 73)
- Preach the gospel to those who have not received it (v. 76)
- Travel to preach without purse or scrip, neither two coats (v. 78, 86)
- Take no thought for the morrow regarding food, drink, or clothing (v. 81, 84)
- Take no thought beforehand what ye shall say (v. 85)
- Treasure up in your minds continually the words of life (v. 85)
- Reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds and teach of judgment (v. 87)
- Cleanse your feet with pure water as a testimony against those who reject you (v. 92)
- Search diligently and spare not (v. 94)
- Send money received by gift to families or make use of it for their benefit (v. 103)
- Those without families must send money to the bishop in Zion or Ohio for printing revelations (v. 104)
- If given a coat or suit, take the old and cast it unto the poor (v. 105)
- Let the strong in Spirit take the weak to edify them (v. 106)
- Take those ordained to the lesser priesthood to make and fill appointments (v. 107)
- Let every man stand in his own office and labor in his own calling (v. 109)
- High priests, elders, and lesser priests should travel (v. 111)
- Deacons and teachers should be appointed to watch over the church as standing ministers (v. 111)
- Bishop Newel K. Whitney should travel to search after the poor and administer to wants (v. 112)
- Bishop Whitney should employ an agent for secular business (v. 113)
- Bishop Whitney must go to New York, Albany, and Boston to warn them of desolation (v. 114)
- The rest of the servants must go forth to cities and villages reproving the world (v. 117)
Implicit Obligations
- Submit entirely to the authority of the LDS priesthood hierarchy.
- Accept Joseph Smith as a true prophet speaking the very words of Jesus Christ.
- Believe the Book of Mormon is scripture equal to or greater than the Bible.
- Accept the burden of continuous performance to maintain the priesthood covenant.
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism by water for the remission of sins (v. 27, 64, 74)
- Priesthood ordination by the laying on of hands (v. 6-18, 33)
- Washing of feet as a ritual cursing/testimony against those who reject the message (v. 92)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verses 21-22, it says without the priesthood ordinances, no man can see God and live. How does this relate to what Jesus accomplished on the cross when the temple veil was torn?
- Verse 41 talks about an unforgivable sin for breaking the priesthood covenant. How does this impact your personal feeling of peace and assurance before God?
- Verses 4 and 5 prophesy that a temple would be built in Missouri in that generation. Since that didn't happen, how do you understand the nature of this prophecy?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to see the face of God and live (v. 22).
The text rightly identifies that sinful man cannot stand in God's holy presence. However, the bridge is not a human priesthood, but Jesus Christ. Jesus said, 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father' (John 14:9). Through Christ's imputed righteousness, we can boldly approach the throne of grace without fear of death.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The 'oath and covenant of the priesthood' places an immense burden on LDS men to constantly 'magnify their callings.' The promise of exaltation is dangled as a reward for relentless service, creating a treadmill of works where one never knows if they have done enough to truly receive all the Father has.
Verse 41 threatens that breaking the priesthood covenant results in no forgiveness in this world or the next. This hangs a sword of Damocles over the believer, replacing the peace of Christ with the terror of making a fatal, unpardonable mistake in their religious duties.
Verses 54-57 state the whole church is under condemnation for treating lightly the things they received. This fosters a culture of perpetual inadequacy and guilt, where the community feels they are constantly falling short of God's demands.