GeneralAssembly 1
Overview
This text serves as the official historical record of the August 17, 1835, General Assembly of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, convened in Kirtland, Ohio. Its primary purpose was to formally present, sustain, and canonize the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. The narrative details the highly structured, hierarchical organization of the church's priesthood quorums—including the High Councils of Kirtland and Missouri, the Bishoprics, the Seventy, and the descending orders of the Aaronic Priesthood (Priests, Teachers, Deacons). Through a systematic process of common consent, the leader of each respective quorum bears personal testimony to the truthfulness of the revelations compiled by a committee (Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams). Following each testimony, the quorums vote unanimously to accept the book as the 'doctrine and covenants of their faith.' A critical theological moment occurs when W.W. Phelps reads the written testimony of the Twelve Apostles, which asserts that the Holy Ghost has borne record to their souls that the commandments given through Joseph Smith are inspired of God. The assembly concludes with the unanimous adoption of two additional articles on Marriage and Government, cementing the text's role as a foundational, open-canon document that places modern revelation on par with the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith, jr: Identified as the prophet through whom God gave the commandments and a key member of the compiling committee.
- Oliver Cowdery: Committee member who introduced the book to the assembly and read the article on governments.
- Sidney Rigdon: Committee member who explained the voting procedure and offered the closing prayer of thanks.
- W.W. Phelps: Bore record of the book, read the written testimony of the Twelve Apostles, and read the article on marriage.
- The Twelve Apostles: Provided a formal written testimony that the commandments were given by inspiration of God, verified by the Holy Ghost.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Open Canon and Continuing Revelation
Assertion
God continues to give binding revelations and commandments through a modern prophet, which are to be compiled and canonized alongside the Bible.
Evidence from Text
These items are to be taken from the bible, book of Mormon, and the revelations which have been given to said church up to this date... commandments, which he gave to his church through Joseph Smith, jr.
Evangelical Comparison
The text explicitly places modern revelations given through Joseph Smith on equal footing with the Bible and the Book of Mormon, establishing an open canon. It institutionalizes the process by which new revelations are canonized through church councils and common consent. In stark contrast, Evangelical Christianity adheres to Sola Scriptura, maintaining that the 66-book Bible is the sole, infallible, and sufficient rule of faith and practice. Evangelicals believe the canon is closed, as warned in Revelation 22:18-19 and affirmed in Jude 1:3 (the faith 'once for all delivered to the saints'). The addition of a new book of 'doctrine and covenants' fundamentally violates the evangelical understanding of biblical sufficiency.
Epistemology of Spiritual Witness
Assertion
The truthfulness of scripture and doctrine is verified by a subjective, internal witness of the Holy Ghost to the individual's soul.
Evidence from Text
the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments were given by inspiration of God
Evangelical Comparison
The text models a specific epistemology where the truthfulness of a document is confirmed by a spiritual, internal witness ('the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost'). This becomes the standard for accepting the Doctrine and Covenants. While Evangelicals believe in the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit (illuminating scripture and confirming salvation, Romans 8:16), they do not rely on subjective spiritual experiences to determine the canon of scripture or to validate new, extra-biblical revelations. Evangelical epistemology relies on the objective, historical, and apostolic foundation of the biblical texts themselves, tested against existing scripture (Acts 17:11), rather than a collective or individual feeling of confirmation.
Hierarchical Priesthood Authority
Assertion
The church must be governed by a strict hierarchy of priesthood offices whose leaders hold authority to speak for and guide their respective quorums.
Evidence from Text
organized the high council... organized the council of the seventy... organized the travelling Elders... organized the Priests... organized the Teachers... organized the Deacons
Evangelical Comparison
The text meticulously details a complex, multi-tiered priesthood hierarchy, including High Councils, Bishoprics, Seventies, and various Aaronic priesthood offices. This structure is presented as essential for church governance and the validation of doctrine. Evangelical Christianity, drawing on 1 Peter 2:5-9 and Hebrews 4:14-16, teaches the universal priesthood of all believers. Christ is the sole mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and there is no need for a specialized, hierarchical priesthood to mediate grace, validate scripture, or govern the church in the Old Testament or LDS manner. The evangelical church is typically governed by elders/pastors and deacons, but these are roles of service and shepherding, not a restored mediatorial priesthood.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text establishes an open canon with new revelations and a complex priesthood hierarchy, directly opposing Sola Scriptura and the universal priesthood of believers.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap centers on the doctrines of revelation, canon, and ecclesiology. By formally canonizing the 'Book of doctrine and covenants,' this assembly explicitly rejects the evangelical pillar of Sola Scriptura. It institutionalizes the belief that the biblical canon is insufficient and that God continues to give binding, scriptural commandments through a modern prophet (Joseph Smith). Furthermore, the text's heavy emphasis on a highly stratified priesthood hierarchy (High Councils, Seventies, Aaronic offices) contradicts the evangelical doctrine of the universal priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). In evangelical theology, Christ's finished work tore the temple veil, granting all believers direct access to God without the need for mediating human priests or complex ecclesiastical hierarchies to validate truth. The LDS reliance on a subjective, internal feeling ('the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us') to validate new scripture also diverges from the evangelical reliance on the objective, historical, and apostolic foundation of the 66-book Bible.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a rulebook for a game that everyone agrees is complete and perfect. That's how Evangelical Christians view the Bible. This text is like a group of people getting together and saying, 'Our leader got new rules directly from the game maker, and we all voted to add them to the rulebook.' Christians believe God gave us all the rules we need in the Bible, and we shouldn't add to it. Also, the text talks about a very strict ladder of bosses in the church (like Priests, Teachers, Deacons, High Councils). Christians believe that because of Jesus, we can all go straight to God without needing a special ladder of human leaders in between.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Adding a new book of scripture ('doctrine and covenants') to be held alongside the Bible.
Objective Truth of Scripture
Validating new scripture based on subjective spiritual experiences and institutional voting.
Universal Priesthood of Believers
Establishing a complex, necessary hierarchy of priesthood offices to govern the church and validate doctrine.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Priests / Teachers / Deacons"
In This Text
Specific, hierarchical offices within the Aaronic Priesthood with distinct governing and administrative duties.
In Evangelicalism
In the New Testament, all believers are priests (1 Peter 2). Teachers and deacons are roles of service, instruction, and care, not tiers in a mediatorial priesthood hierarchy.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Not explicitly defined in this specific historical text, though it references the 'grace of God... that we are permitted to have this privilege'.
How Attained: Implied through obedience to the newly accepted 'doctrine and covenants'.
Basis of Assurance: Alignment with the church hierarchy and participation in the unanimous consent.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text focuses on church governance and accepting new laws/covenants, shifting focus from faith alone in Christ to obedience to a new set of institutional commandments and priesthood authority.
Mandates & Requirements
Implicit Obligations
- Accept the Doctrine and Covenants as binding scripture and the doctrine of the faith
- Submit to the hierarchical priesthood structure and its voting process (common consent)
Ritual Requirements
- Voting by quorums to sustain doctrine and leadership (the law of common consent)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed the assembly voted to accept the book as doctrine. How does the process of voting on scripture compare to how the biblical prophets delivered God's word?
- The text mentions the 'Lectures on Faith' being accepted as doctrine by unanimous vote. Since they were later removed from the Doctrine and Covenants, how do you determine which voted-upon doctrines are eternal and which can change?
- When the Twelve Apostles say the Holy Ghost bore record to their souls that the book is true, how do we test that experience against the warnings in the Bible about testing the spirits?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for order and unanimous agreement.
The deep human desire for unity and peace is ultimately fulfilled not in institutional conformity, but in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By accepting a massive new book of 'commandments' and 'covenants,' the believer is placed under a heavy yoke of new laws, ordinances, and duties required to maintain standing in the church and achieve exaltation.
Relying on subjective feelings ('burning in the bosom') to validate truth can lead to severe doubt and anxiety when those feelings fade or when confronted with contradictory objective evidence.
The intense focus on priesthood hierarchy creates a reliance on human leaders for spiritual validation and access to God's will, rather than resting in direct access to God through Christ.