Section 26
Overview
Section 26 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (canonized in the modern LDS Church as D&C 70) was given in November 1831 to establish a formal stewardship over the publication of Joseph Smith's revelations. Historically, this text established what became known as the 'Literary Firm,' a group of six men—Joseph Smith Jr., Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, Sidney Rigdon, and William W. Phelps—tasked with managing the printing of the Book of Commandments and the financial 'benefits' (profits) derived from it. The text mandates that these men, and by extension all members of the church, must operate under the Law of Consecration. Any income or resources exceeding their basic 'necessities and wants' must be surrendered to the Lord's storehouse for the benefit of Zion. Theologically, the text makes a profound and controversial assertion: it explicitly conditions the 'manifestations of the Spirit' upon the believers' strict adherence to temporal equality and cheerful financial consecration. Furthermore, it promises divine reward and security only 'inasmuch as they have not sinned,' establishing a rigid, works-based paradigm for maintaining both temporal security and spiritual vitality within the community.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith, jr.: The primary prophet and recipient of the revelation, appointed as a chief steward over the revelations.
- Martin Harris: Early financial backer of the church, appointed as a steward over the revelations and their proceeds.
- Oliver Cowdery: Primary scribe for the Book of Mormon, appointed as a steward.
- John Whitmer: Early church historian, appointed as a steward.
- Sidney Rigdon: Prominent early theologian and spokesman for the church, appointed as a steward.
- Wm. W. Phelps: Church printer and publisher, appointed as a steward to manage the physical publication of the revelations.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Open Canon and Ongoing Revelation
Assertion
The text asserts that God has given revelations and 'shall hereafter give unto them' more revelations, over which these men are stewards.
Evidence from Text
...stewards over the revelations, and commandments which I have given unto them, and which I shall hereafter give unto them...
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine fundamentally violates the Evangelical pillar of Sola Scriptura. The text normalizes the expectation of continuous, authoritative, and binding revelation from God through a specific prophetic hierarchy. In contrast, Evangelical theology maintains that the canon of Scripture is closed, having been completed with the apostolic era. Hebrews 1:1-2 declares that while God spoke through prophets in the past, in these last days He has spoken definitively through His Son. Jude 1:3 speaks of the faith 'once for all delivered to the saints.' The Mormon assertion of an open canon requires believers to subject themselves to the ongoing, shifting dictates of modern leaders rather than resting in the sufficiency of the completed biblical text.
Conditional Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
Assertion
The text claims that the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit will be withheld if believers are not equal in temporal (financial) things, or if they give grudgingly.
Evidence from Text
...nevertheless, in your temporal things you shall be equal, and this not grudgingly, otherwise the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit, shall be withheld.
Evangelical Comparison
This is a severe departure from biblical pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit). The text turns the presence and manifestation of the Holy Spirit into a transactional reward contingent upon financial communalism and perfect internal attitudes ('not grudgingly'). In Evangelical theology, the Holy Spirit is the down payment and seal of the believer's inheritance, given entirely by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). While believers can 'grieve' the Spirit through sin (Ephesians 4:30), the Spirit's abiding presence and the core spiritual blessings of the New Covenant are not held hostage to a believer's success in maintaining strict economic equality within a church community.
Law of Consecration
Assertion
Believers are required to surrender any resources that exceed their basic necessities and wants to the church's storehouse.
Evidence from Text
...inasmuch as they receive more than is needful for their necessities, and their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse, and the benefits shall be consecrated unto the inhabitants of Zion...
Evangelical Comparison
The text mandates a form of religious economic communalism. It removes the individual believer's autonomy over their surplus resources, demanding that all excess be legally and practically consecrated to the institutional church ('the Lord's storehouse'). While the New Testament church in Acts 2 and 4 voluntarily shared goods so that none were in need, this was a voluntary, Spirit-led generosity, not an institutional mandate required to maintain spiritual standing. The Apostle Peter explicitly affirmed private property rights even during this communal period (Acts 5:4). The Evangelical view emphasizes cheerful, voluntary giving (2 Corinthians 9:7) rather than a compulsory system of total consecration.
Conditional Blessing Based on Sinlessness
Assertion
The Lord promises to bless and reward the stewards specifically on the condition that they have not sinned.
Evidence from Text
...for they have been faithful over many things, and have done well inasmuch as they have not sinned.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine introduces a terrifying caveat to divine blessing: 'inasmuch as they have not sinned.' It implies that divine favor, reward, and security are directly proportional to a believer's ability to maintain a state of sinlessness. This directly contradicts the biblical doctrine of justification by faith and the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Romans 4:4-8 explains that God justifies the *ungodly*, and blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not count against him. If blessings are only given 'inasmuch as they have not sinned,' then no one can be blessed, because 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23). This text places the burden of perfection squarely on the shoulders of the believer.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text conditions the presence of the Holy Spirit and divine blessing upon strict financial communalism and behavioral perfection, replacing the unconditional grace of the New Covenant with a transactional, works-based system.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers on the nature of grace, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the basis of divine blessing. In this text, the 'manifestations of the Spirit' are explicitly held hostage to the believers' compliance with a temporal, economic mandate: they must be perfectly equal in their finances, and they must do so without grudging. If they fail, the Spirit is withheld. Furthermore, verse 4 states that the leaders have done well and will be rewarded 'inasmuch as they have not sinned.' This creates a strict, conditional, works-righteousness paradigm. Evangelical theology, rooted in Sola Fide and Sola Gratia, vehemently rejects this. The Holy Spirit is not a reward for financial communalism; He is the down payment of our inheritance, given freely to all who believe in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). While believers are called to generosity, their standing before God and their possession of the Spirit are not contingent upon economic equality. Furthermore, the Evangelical understanding of justification recognizes that believers still struggle with sin (1 John 1:8), but they are blessed and secured because Christ's perfect righteousness has been imputed to them (2 Corinthians 5:21). Conditioning blessings on 'not sinning' nullifies the grace of God and places an unbearable burden of perfectionism on the believer.
For All Ages
Imagine if your parents told you, 'We will only love you and let you live in our house if you share every single toy you have perfectly, and if you never make a single mistake.' That would feel really scary, right? This text says something similar about God. It says God will take away His Spirit if the people aren't perfectly equal with their money, and that He only blesses them 'inasmuch as they have not sinned.' But the Bible teaches something much better! The Bible says God loves us and gives us His Spirit as a free gift because of what Jesus did, not because we are perfect or because we give all our extra money to the church. Jesus was perfect for us, so we don't have to be afraid of losing God's love when we make mistakes.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be direct revelation from God, adds to the canon, and promises future ongoing revelations.
Sola Fide / Sola Gratia
Conditions divine blessing on sinlessness ('inasmuch as they have not sinned') and conditions the Spirit's presence on financial works.
Christian Liberty
Mandates the surrender of all surplus private property to a central church authority under threat of spiritual abandonment.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Stewardship"
In This Text
A specific, divinely mandated assignment to manage church assets, publications, and financial profits.
In Evangelicalism
The general responsibility of all believers to faithfully manage the time, talents, and resources God has entrusted to them for His glory.
"Manifestations of the Spirit"
In This Text
Spiritual experiences or presence that are conditionally granted based on strict adherence to financial equality and consecration.
In Evangelicalism
The gifts and presence of the Holy Spirit distributed according to God's sovereign will for the edification of the church, rooted in grace.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: In this specific text, salvation is framed as entering 'into the joy of these things' and receiving an 'inheritance' and 'security'.
How Attained: Attained through faithful stewardship, surrendering excess wealth, maintaining temporal equality, and not sinning.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is entirely conditional, based on the believer's ongoing performance in temporal matters and their ability to avoid sin.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. It explicitly states that blessings are a 'reward of their diligence' and are granted 'inasmuch as they have not sinned.' Romans 4:4-5 explicitly refutes this: 'Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.'
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Hearken and hear the word of the Lord.
- Manage the revelations and commandments, and the concerns and benefits thereof.
- Do not give the stewardship of these things to the church or the world.
- Give anything received that is more than needful for necessities and wants into the Lord's storehouse.
- Be equal in temporal things.
- Do not be equal grudgingly.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the authority of the six named men regarding the publication and management of church revelations.
- Maintain a state of sinlessness to ensure the reception of promised blessings.
- Accept that spiritual manifestations are tied to financial obedience.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When you read verse 3, how does it make you feel to know that the 'manifestations of the Spirit' might be withheld if you aren't perfectly equal in temporal things?
- Verse 4 says the leaders did well 'inasmuch as they have not sinned.' Since we all sin, how can anyone have assurance that they will receive God's blessings under this standard?
- How do you balance the requirement to give all your excess to the church with the biblical idea of cheerful, voluntary giving found in 2 Corinthians 9:7?
- If the Holy Spirit is a free gift of grace, why would God threaten to take His manifestations away over financial matters?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Stewardship
The text emphasizes that we are stewards who must give an account to God. Evangelicals agree! However, the greatest stewardship we have been given is not managing the profits of a book, but the stewardship of the Gospel message itself. We are called to share the good news of God's free grace.
Caring for the Community (Equality)
The desire for equality and ensuring no one is in need is a beautiful, biblical desire. It reflects the heart of the early church. However, the Gospel achieves this through the transformative, inward power of the Holy Spirit producing voluntary love and generosity, rather than through a top-down, fear-based mandate that threatens to withdraw the Spirit if we fail.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places a heavy burden on the believer to surrender all surplus wealth to the institution. The believer is constantly evaluating what constitutes a 'necessity' versus a 'want,' knowing that keeping too much for themselves violates a direct commandment of God.
The phrase 'inasmuch as they have not sinned' creates a terrifying standard. Believers are left wondering if their daily sins and shortcomings are actively disqualifying them from God's blessings and security. It removes the rest and peace found in Christ's finished work.
The threat that the 'manifestations of the Spirit shall be withheld' if one gives grudgingly or fails to maintain equality creates deep spiritual anxiety. The believer must constantly police their internal emotions and external finances to ensure God doesn't abandon them.