Section 29
Overview
Section 29 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known as Section 73 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) is a short administrative revelation dictated by Joseph Smith in January 1832. Historically, Smith and his scribe, Sidney Rigdon, had temporarily paused their work on the 'Joseph Smith Translation' (JST) of the Bible to preach locally and counter the publication of anti-Mormon letters by Ezra Booth. In this text, the Lord purportedly speaks in the first person, commanding Smith and Rigdon to resume their 'translation' work until it is finished. Furthermore, it establishes an ecclesiological pattern for the early Mormon church: elders are instructed to preach and exhort in their local regions until a formal 'conference' is held, at which point their specific missionary assignments will be revealed by the 'voice of the conference.' The text concludes with a biblical allusion to 'gird up your loins and be sober,' blending 19th-century church administration with authoritative, scriptural-sounding rhetoric. For believers, this text reinforces the authority of the prophet to alter biblical texts and establishes the precedent of church conferences as the mechanism for divine assignment.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The purported divine author of the text, speaking in the first person to direct church operations.
- Joseph Smith, jr.: Addressed as a servant and prophet, commanded to resume his 'translation' (revision) of the Bible.
- Sidney Rigdon: Addressed as a servant, acting as scribe and companion to Joseph Smith in the translation and preaching efforts.
- Elders: Subordinate priesthood leaders commanded to preach locally and await further direction at the upcoming conference.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Prophetic Revision of Scripture (The Joseph Smith Translation)
Assertion
The text asserts that it is God's will for Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to 'translate again' and 'continue the work of translation, until it be finished,' referring to Smith's inspired revision of the King James Bible.
Evidence from Text
...it is expedient to translate again... and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation, until it be finished.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine represents a severe departure from the Evangelical pillar of Sola Scriptura. The command to 'translate again' refers to the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible. Unlike traditional translation, which involves rendering ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts into a receptor language, Smith's 'translation' was an English-to-English revision. He added, deleted, and altered verses based on claimed direct revelation rather than manuscript evidence, operating under the assumption that the Bible had been corrupted over time. Evangelical Christianity maintains that God has providentially preserved His Word (Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 12:6-7) and that the 66-book canon is closed and sufficient. Altering the biblical text based on new, extra-biblical revelation violates the warnings found in Revelation 22:18-19 and Proverbs 30:5-6.
Restorationist Ecclesiology
Assertion
The text claims that the 'church of the living God' has been 'established in the last days.'
Evidence from Text
...concerning the elders of the church of the living God, established in the last days...
Evangelical Comparison
The phrase 'established in the last days' is rooted in the Mormon doctrine of the Great Apostasy—the belief that the true church, its priesthood authority, and pure doctrine were lost from the earth shortly after the death of the original apostles, necessitating a complete restoration through Joseph Smith. Evangelical Christianity, conversely, holds to the continuity of the Church. Based on Christ's promise in Matthew 16:18 that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,' and Ephesians 3:21 which speaks of glory in the church 'throughout all ages,' Evangelicals believe the true, invisible Church (the body of all true believers) has existed continuously since Pentecost. The claim of a 19th-century 'establishment' of the true church inherently delegitimizes historical Christianity.
Continuing Revelation and Open Canon
Assertion
The text presents itself as direct, verbatim dictation from God ('verily thus saith the Lord') providing new, binding instructions for the church.
Evidence from Text
For verily thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me...
Evangelical Comparison
The text operates on the epistemological foundation of an open canon, where a living prophet receives direct, first-person dictation from God that carries the same (or greater) authority as ancient scripture. This contradicts the Evangelical doctrine of Sola Scriptura, which asserts that the Bible is the sole infallible rule of faith and practice. Evangelicals look to Hebrews 1:1-2, which states that while God spoke through prophets in the past, in these 'last days' He has spoken definitively through His Son. Jude 1:3 also speaks of the faith 'once for all delivered to the saints.' While Evangelicals believe in the ongoing illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit, they reject new normative, institutional revelations that add to the scriptural canon.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text relies on an open canon, the necessity of a modern prophet to direct the church, and the mandate to alter the biblical text, all of which contradict the Evangelical reliance on the closed, sufficient, and preserved Bible.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers on Bibliology and Ecclesiology. Evangelicals hold to Sola Scriptura—the belief that the 66 books of the Bible are the supreme, infallible, and sufficient authority for the Church. Consequently, the canon is closed. This Mormon text, however, operates on the premise of continuing revelation, where a modern prophet receives new scripture that is equally binding. Furthermore, the command to 'translate again' refers to the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. This implies that the Bible, as preserved through history, is corrupt or insufficient, requiring a modern prophet to restore lost truths through direct revelation rather than manuscript evidence. This directly violates the Evangelical understanding of biblical preservation and the warnings against adding to or taking away from God's Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Additionally, the text's assertion that the church was 'established in the last days' relies on the premise of a Great Apostasy, which contradicts the Evangelical belief in the unbroken continuity of Christ's Church throughout history, preserved by the Holy Spirit.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a perfect, finished letter from a King that tells you everything you need to know to be saved. Evangelical Christians believe the Bible is that perfect letter. But this text says a man named Joseph Smith needed to get new, extra messages from the King, and that he even needed to rewrite parts of the old letter because it was supposedly broken or missing pieces. Christians believe God protected His letter so it wouldn't need fixing, and that anyone who tries to rewrite it or add to it is not following the King's original rules.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be new scripture and authorizes the alteration/revision of the biblical text without manuscript evidence.
Ecclesiology (Continuity of the Church)
Claims the church was 'established in the last days,' implying a total apostasy of historical Christianity.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Translate / Translation"
In This Text
To revise, expand, or alter an existing English text (the KJV Bible) through claimed direct revelation, without the use of original language manuscripts.
In Evangelicalism
The scholarly process of rendering ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts into a receptor language.
"The Gospel"
In This Text
In Mormonism, 'the gospel' encompasses the laws, ordinances, and priesthood authority restored through Joseph Smith, including the necessity of modern prophets.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's substitutionary death for sins, His burial, and His resurrection, by which believers are justified by faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Not explicitly defined in this brief administrative text, though implied as being part of the 'church of the living God.'
How Attained: Implied through obedience to the 'gospel' being preached and submission to the church hierarchy.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance in this context is derived from being aligned with the living prophet and obeying the directives of the church conference.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text focuses entirely on works, duties, and administrative compliance (preaching, translating, attending conference). It offers no commentary on grace or faith, contrasting with the Evangelical emphasis on resting in Christ's finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Continue preaching the gospel in the regions round about until conference.
- Continue in exhortation to the churches in the regions round about until conference.
- Translate again (resume the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible).
- Preach in the regions round about until conference (specifically directed to Joseph and Sidney).
- Continue the work of translation after the conference until it is finished.
- Let this be a pattern unto the elders until further knowledge.
- Gird up your loins.
- Be sober.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the authority of Joseph Smith as the mouthpiece of God.
- Attend the upcoming church conference.
- Accept and obey the missionary assignments given by the 'voice of the conference.'
- Accept Joseph Smith's alterations to the Bible as legitimate and divinely mandated.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When the text commands Joseph Smith to 'translate again,' what ancient manuscripts was he using to correct the Bible?
- If God promised to preserve His Word in the Bible, why would it need to be rewritten by a modern prophet?
- How do you discern if a new revelation from a church leader is truly from God, especially if it alters what was previously written in the Bible?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The Voice of the Conference
Just as the elders waited for the 'voice of the conference' to know their calling, Christians rely on the Holy Spirit and the collective wisdom of the Body of Christ (the Church) to discern God's will. However, our ultimate 'conference' is the finished Word of God, which equips us for every good work.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
Because the text establishes that the Bible can be altered by a living prophet, the believer can never have absolute certainty in the written Word of God. Truth becomes contingent on the latest prophetic utterance, creating a subtle anxiety that foundational doctrines might change.
The believer's standing is tied to their obedience to administrative mandates (preaching, attending conferences, accepting assignments). This creates a performance-based spirituality where resting in Christ is overshadowed by institutional duty.
Believing that this is the only 'church of the living God, established in the last days' isolates the adherent from the broader, historical body of Christ, fostering an 'us vs. them' mentality.