Section 42
Overview
Given in June 1829, this text (known in modern LDS editions as Doctrine and Covenants Section 17) serves as the divine mandate for the 'Three Witnesses' of the Book of Mormon: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. The revelation promises that if they exercise faith with 'full purpose of heart,' they will be granted a view of specific ancient artifacts: the golden plates, the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, and the miraculous directors (Liahona). Crucially, the text frames the viewing of these physical objects as a spiritual event requiring faith, rather than a simple empirical observation. Once they have seen the artifacts, they are commanded to testify of them by the power of God. The stated purpose of this testimony is twofold: to prevent Joseph Smith Jr. from being 'destroyed' by his enemies, and to bring about God's righteous purposes. The text concludes with a conditional promise of salvation, stating that if the witnesses obey these commandments, the gates of hell will not prevail against them, Christ's grace will be sufficient for them, and they will be 'lifted up at the last day.' This text is foundational to Mormon epistemology, establishing the paradigm of spiritual witness to validate the Book of Mormon and the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: The claimed speaker of the revelation, who authenticates the translation of the Book of Mormon and issues the commands.
- Oliver Cowdery: One of the three men addressed, commanded to exercise faith to see the plates and testify.
- David Whitmer: One of the three men addressed, commanded to exercise faith to see the plates and testify.
- Martin Harris: One of the three men addressed, commanded to exercise faith to see the plates and testify.
- Joseph Smith, jr.: The central earthly figure of the text, whose translation is divinely authenticated and who is to be protected from destruction by the testimony of the witnesses.
- Brother of Jared: Ancient Book of Mormon prophet cited as the original recipient of the Urim and Thummim upon the mount.
- Lehi: Ancient Book of Mormon prophet cited as the recipient of the miraculous directors (Liahona) in the wilderness.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Divine Authentication of the Book of Mormon
Assertion
The text claims that Jesus Christ Himself declares the translation of the Book of Mormon to be true.
Evidence from Text
...he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine directly challenges the Evangelical pillar of Sola Scriptura. By claiming that Jesus Christ explicitly validates the Book of Mormon translation, the text demands the expansion of the biblical canon. In Evangelical theology, the canon is closed, and the faith was 'once for all delivered to the saints' (Jude 1:3). Any text claiming to be a new revelation that alters the nature of God, the gospel, or the historical narrative of redemption is rejected based on warnings such as Galatians 1:8-9 and Revelation 22:18-19.
Conditional Grace
Assertion
The text asserts that Christ's grace is sufficient for the individual only if they obey specific commandments.
Evidence from Text
...and if you do these last commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you...
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the famous biblical phrase 'my grace is sufficient for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9) is preceded by a conditional 'if': 'if you do these last commandments of mine... for my grace is sufficient for you.' This fundamentally alters the biblical definition of grace (charis), which is unmerited favor. In Evangelical theology, grace cannot be triggered or secured by works or obedience to commandments, otherwise 'grace is no longer grace' (Romans 11:6). Justification is by faith alone (Sola Fide), and good works are the fruit, not the prerequisite, of receiving God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Prophetic Indispensability
Assertion
The testimony of the witnesses is required specifically to protect Joseph Smith from destruction so God's purposes can be fulfilled.
Evidence from Text
...and this you shall do that my servant Joseph Smith, jr. may not be destroyed, that I may bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men, in this work.
Evangelical Comparison
The text places immense theological and historical weight on the survival and success of Joseph Smith. God's 'righteous purposes' are tied directly to Smith not being 'destroyed.' While God uses human instruments in biblical history, Evangelical theology maintains that God's redemptive purposes are entirely secured by the finished work of Jesus Christ. The elevation of a 19th-century man to a position where his survival is necessary for God's work to proceed borders on a violation of Solus Christus, as it shifts the focus of the believer's testimony from the resurrected Christ to the validation of a modern prophet.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text introduces new scripture, elevates a modern prophet to a position of redemptive necessity, and makes Christ's grace conditional upon obedience to specific new commandments.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity is profound, primarily concerning Soteriology and Epistemology. Soteriologically, the text violates Sola Fide and Sola Gratia by explicitly conditioning the sufficiency of Christ's grace on human obedience: 'if you do these last commandments... my grace is sufficient for you.' This transforms grace from an unmerited gift into a conditional reward for performance. Epistemologically, the text violates Sola Scriptura by authenticating a new body of scripture (the Book of Mormon) and establishing a new prophetic authority (Joseph Smith) whose survival and success are deemed necessary for God's 'righteous purposes.' Furthermore, the text redefines the nature of empirical evidence by requiring 'faith' to see physical objects (the plates, sword, etc.), blurring the line between objective historical reality and subjective spiritual vision.
For All Ages
Imagine you are drowning, and a lifeguard throws you a life preserver. In biblical Christianity, the lifeguard saves you completely because he is good, and all you do is grab on (faith). But in this text, the lifeguard says, 'I will save you, but only IF you promise to tell everyone about my assistant, Joseph, and the special tools he found.' It changes God's free gift of grace into a trade. It also adds new rules and new stories that aren't in the Bible, which Christians believe is God's complete and final book.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Authenticates the Book of Mormon as true scripture and claims to be direct, new revelation from Jesus Christ.
Sola Gratia / Sola Fide
Makes the sufficiency of Christ's grace conditional upon doing specific commandments.
Solus Christus
Elevates Joseph Smith to a position where his preservation is necessary for God's righteous purposes to be brought about.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Grace"
In This Text
A divine power or protection that becomes sufficient only *if* the believer obeys specific commandments.
In Evangelicalism
The unmerited, unconditional favor of God bestowed upon the elect, entirely apart from works.
"Faith"
In This Text
A spiritual power or prerequisite required to view physical, historical artifacts.
In Evangelicalism
Trust in the promises of God and the finished work of Christ; the conviction of things *not* seen.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Being 'lifted up at the last day' and having the 'gates of hell' not prevail against you.
How Attained: By obtaining faith, doing the commandments given in the revelation, and testifying of the plates.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on successful obedience to the command to testify and maintaining the faith required to receive the vision.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. It explicitly states, 'if you do these last commandments... you shall be lifted up at the last day.' In contrast, Ephesians 2:8-9 states, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.'
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Rely upon God's word with full purpose of heart.
- Testify of the plates and artifacts by the power of God after seeing them.
- Testify that you have seen them even as Joseph Smith has seen them.
- Do these last commandments given by Christ.
Implicit Obligations
- Protect and support Joseph Smith Jr. from his enemies.
- Generate and maintain sufficient faith to qualify for the visionary experience.
- Publicly align one's reputation with the claims of the Book of Mormon.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed the text says 'it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them.' If the golden plates and the sword of Laban were physical objects made of metal, why would it require faith to see them?
- In verse 3, it says 'if you do these last commandments... my grace is sufficient for you.' How does it feel to know that Christ's grace is conditional on your obedience? Do you ever worry you haven't done enough?
- When you read the Bible, grace is often described as a free gift (Romans 11:6). How do you reconcile the free gift of grace in the Bible with the conditional grace described in this section?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for a tangible witness or proof.
It is human nature to want physical proof of spiritual realities. While God provided physical proofs in the resurrection of Christ, He ultimately calls us to a greater blessing: trusting in His Word without needing to see physical artifacts. The true 'witness' is the Holy Spirit testifying to the finished work of Christ, not to golden plates.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is taught that Christ's grace is only sufficient *if* they obey the commandments. This creates a perpetual cycle of anxiety, as the believer can never be truly certain they have 'done' enough to trigger the sufficiency of grace.
The text implies that spiritual experiences (like seeing the plates) are dependent on generating enough 'faith' with 'full purpose of heart.' If a believer does not experience God, the blame falls entirely on their lack of adequate faith or performance.
The text ties God's 'righteous purposes' directly to the survival and validation of Joseph Smith. This binds the believer's faith not just to God, but to the defense and vindication of a human institution and its founder.