Section 50
Overview
Historically corresponding to modern Doctrine and Covenants Section 27, this text originated in August 1830 when Joseph Smith reportedly set out to purchase wine for a sacrament service but was stopped by a heavenly messenger. The revelation initially established that the physical elements of the sacrament (bread and wine) are irrelevant as long as the ordinance is performed with an 'eye single to my glory.' It explicitly forbids purchasing wine from 'enemies' and mandates that only new wine made among the believers be used, laying the groundwork for the eventual Latter-day Saint practice of using water instead of wine. Beyond sacramental instructions, the text serves as a foundational charter for Mormon priesthood authority. It outlines a grand eschatological banquet where Christ will drink the fruit of the vine on earth with a host of resurrected beings. Crucially, the text systematically lists these beings—Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, the Patriarchs, Adam (identified here as Michael and the Ancient of Days), and Peter, James, and John—and assigns specific 'keys' or dispensational authorities that they have allegedly committed to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. This establishes an exclusive, hierarchical priesthood structure that fundamentally separates Mormonism from Protestant concepts of the universal priesthood of all believers.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: The speaker of the revelation, who dictates the terms of the sacrament and promises to return to earth to partake of it with the faithful and ancient prophets.
- Moroni: An angel identified as the revealer of the Book of Mormon, which is claimed to contain the 'fulness of my everlasting gospel,' and holding the keys of the stick of Ephraim.
- Elias: Identified as a restorer of all things (notably treated here as a distinct individual from Elijah, despite Elias being the Greek translation of Elijah).
- John the Baptist (John the son of Zacharias): The angel who allegedly ordained Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the 'first priesthood' (Aaronic).
- Joseph Smith, Jr.: The primary recipient of the revelation and the designated earthly recipient of the restored priesthood keys.
- Oliver Cowdery: Co-recipient of the Aaronic priesthood and apostolic keys alongside Joseph Smith.
- Elijah: The prophet holding the keys to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, a foundational concept for later Mormon temple theology.
- Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham: The biblical patriarchs through whom the covenant promises remain.
- Michael / Adam: Identified explicitly as the 'father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days,' a radical theological redefinition of a biblical title for God.
- Peter, James, and John: The ancient apostles who allegedly ordained Smith and Cowdery as apostles and especial witnesses, committing the keys of the kingdom and the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Sacramental Element Flexibility
Assertion
The specific food and drink used for the sacrament (communion) do not matter, provided the participant's eye is single to God's glory.
Evidence from Text
it mattereth not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, the Lord's Supper is an ordinance instituted by Christ using specific elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—to symbolize His broken body and shed blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). While Evangelicals do not believe the elements literally transform (rejecting transubstantiation), they generally maintain that the elements themselves are prescribed by scriptural precedent. This Mormon text introduces a pragmatic flexibility ('it mattereth not') that eventually led to the LDS Church universally substituting water for wine, fundamentally altering the biblical symbolism of the crushed grape representing shed blood.
Angelic Restoration of Priesthood Keys
Assertion
Authority to minister the gospel and perform ordinances was lost and had to be literally restored by resurrected biblical figures (John the Baptist, Peter, James, John) laying hands on Joseph Smith.
Evidence from Text
John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, jr. and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto this first priesthood... And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine is the bedrock of Mormon exclusivity. It asserts that biblical authority vanished from the earth and required literal, physical restoration by the original holders of those 'keys.' Evangelical Christianity, based on 1 Peter 2:9 and Hebrews 7-10, teaches that the Aaronic priesthood was fulfilled and rendered obsolete by Christ's perfect, eternal Melchizedek priesthood. Furthermore, all born-again believers are part of a 'royal priesthood' with direct access to God through Christ, requiring no intermediary human priesthood, apostolic succession, or restored 'keys.'
Adam as the Ancient of Days
Assertion
The biblical figure 'Ancient of Days' is identified as Michael the Archangel, who is also Adam, the first man.
Evidence from Text
and also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days
Evangelical Comparison
This is a severe Christological and Theological divergence. In Daniel 7:9, 13, and 22, the 'Ancient of Days' is a divine title for the eternal God, who sits in judgment and to whom the 'Son of Man' (Christ) is presented to receive an everlasting dominion. By demoting the 'Ancient of Days' to a title for Adam (a created being), this text fundamentally alters the biblical theology of God's eternal nature and introduces an exalted, almost deified status for Adam, which later evolved into the controversial Adam-God theory in early Mormonism.
Book of Mormon as the Fullness of the Gospel
Assertion
The Book of Mormon contains the complete and everlasting gospel, and is the fulfillment of the 'stick of Ephraim.'
Evidence from Text
Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel; to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim
Evangelical Comparison
The text elevates the Book of Mormon to canonical status, claiming it contains the 'fulness' of the gospel. This directly violates Sola Scriptura. Furthermore, it misapplies Ezekiel 37:16-19. In Ezekiel, the 'sticks' of Judah and Joseph/Ephraim represent the literal reunification of the divided, physical kingdoms of Israel and Judah under one king (the Messiah). Mormonism reinterprets these physical sticks (representing nations) as books or records (the Bible and the Book of Mormon), a reading unsupported by the historical-grammatical context of Ezekiel.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text replaces the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers with a rigid, hierarchical system of restored 'keys' mediated by angels, and fundamentally alters the nature of God by identifying Adam as the Ancient of Days.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity is profound, centering on authority, ecclesiology, and theology proper. First, the text violates the sufficiency of Christ's finished work by insisting that the Aaronic priesthood—which Hebrews 7 explicitly states was weak, unprofitable, and superseded by Christ—had to be restored to the earth. This creates a mandatory institutional mediator between God and man. Second, the text violates Sola Scriptura by elevating the Book of Mormon to the 'fulness of the gospel' and claiming ongoing, binding revelation. Third, the text commits a severe theological error by identifying Adam as the 'Ancient of Days.' In Daniel 7, the Ancient of Days is the eternal, uncreated God who judges the nations and receives the Son of Man. Ascribing this title to Adam blurs the Creator-creature distinction, laying the groundwork for later Mormon doctrines of human exaltation and polytheism.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a direct, VIP pass to talk to the King anytime you want, because the King's Son gave it to you. That's what the Bible teaches—because of Jesus, we can go straight to God. But this text says that the VIP pass was lost for a long time, and angels had to come back and give it to just two men (Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery). Now, if you want to be right with the King, you have to follow the rules set by the men who hold those special passes (called 'keys'). Also, the Bible calls God the 'Ancient of Days,' but this text says the Ancient of Days is actually Adam, the first man. That's a big difference, because God is the Creator, and Adam is just someone God created.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Adds the Book of Mormon as the 'fulness of the gospel' and claims new, binding revelation.
Universal Priesthood
Establishes an exclusive, hierarchical priesthood restored by angels, denying direct, unmediated access to God's authority.
Christology
Implies Christ's high priesthood is insufficient by requiring the restoration of the lesser Aaronic priesthood.
Theology Proper
Demotes the divine title 'Ancient of Days' by applying it to a created human (Adam).
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Priesthood"
In This Text
A literal, hierarchical authority divided into Aaronic and Melchizedek orders, restored by angels to specific men, necessary to perform valid ordinances.
In Evangelicalism
The status of all born-again believers who have direct access to God through the sole high priesthood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 4:14-16).
"Keys"
In This Text
Specific rights of presidency and authority to direct the church and perform ordinances, held exclusively by Mormon leaders.
In Evangelicalism
The authority of the Gospel to bind and loose, given to Peter and the apostles, fulfilled in the proclamation of the Gospel that opens the kingdom to all believers (Matthew 16:19).
"Ancient of Days"
In This Text
A title for Michael the Archangel, who is identified as Adam, the first man.
In Evangelicalism
A title for the eternal, uncreated God the Father (or the Godhead) who sits in ultimate judgment (Daniel 7:9).
"Elias"
In This Text
A specific ancient prophet distinct from Elijah, who restored the 'dispensation of the gospel of Abraham.'
In Evangelicalism
Simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Elijah, used interchangeably in the New Testament.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Being caught up to be where Christ is at His coming, having withstood the evil day.
How Attained: By partaking of the sacrament worthily, putting on the armor of God, and submitting to the authority of the restored priesthood keys.
Basis of Assurance: Faithfulness to the end and alignment with the prophetic leadership.
Comparison to Sola Fide: While the text mentions Christ's blood shed for the remission of sins, the overarching framework requires participation in a specific institutional structure (the restored priesthood). This contrasts with Sola Fide, where justification is an immediate, completed reality based solely on faith in Christ (Romans 5:1), independent of any earthly priesthood or organization.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Do not purchase wine or strong drink from enemies.
- Partake of no wine for the sacrament unless it is made new among the believers.
- Lift up your hearts and rejoice.
- Gird up your loins.
- Take upon you the whole armor of God (truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, sword of the Spirit).
- Be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of God.
- Be faithful until Christ comes.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the exclusive priesthood authority of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, as they alone hold the restored keys.
- Accept the Book of Mormon as scripture containing the fullness of the gospel.
Ritual Requirements
- Partake of the sacrament with an eye single to God's glory, remembering Christ's body and blood.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed this text says it doesn't matter what we eat or drink for the sacrament. Why do you think Jesus instituted it specifically with bread and the fruit of the vine in the New Testament?
- In Daniel 7, the 'Ancient of Days' is described as sitting on a fiery throne, and the Son of Man (Jesus) is brought before Him. If the Ancient of Days is Adam, as this text says, how does that fit with Daniel's description of Him as the eternal Judge?
- I was reading about the history of this section, and I learned that the parts about Peter, James, and John weren't in the original 1833 Book of Commandments. How do you process the idea that historical revelations were later expanded to include major events like priesthood restoration?
- Hebrews 7 says the Aaronic priesthood was changed because it was weak and unprofitable, replaced by Jesus' eternal priesthood. Why would God restore a priesthood that the New Testament says was fulfilled and set aside?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The Armor of God
Both Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints recognize the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for God's protection. This shared language from Ephesians 6 can be a bridge to discuss what the 'Gospel of peace' truly is—not a restored institution, but the finished work of Christ that brings immediate peace with God.
Remembrance of Christ's Blood
The text acknowledges that remission of sins comes through Christ's shed blood. This can be leveraged to ask if Christ's blood is sufficient on its own, or if it requires the addition of human priesthood keys to be effective.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By asserting that valid ordinances and authority only exist through the specific 'keys' restored to Joseph Smith, the believer is bound to the LDS institution. They cannot seek God independently or find assurance in Christ alone; their standing before God is inextricably linked to their submission to the men who currently hold these exclusive keys.
Because authority is based on a chain of physical ordinations tracing back to this angelic event, any historical doubt about these visitations (especially given the retroactive textual changes) can cause severe faith crises. The believer's foundation is built on 19th-century historical claims rather than the eternal promises of God's Word.