Section 65
Overview
Section 65 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (known as Section 49 in the modern LDS edition) was dictated by Joseph Smith in March 1831. It is directed to Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, and Leman Copley, a recent convert from the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (commonly known as the Shakers). The revelation serves as a direct theological refutation of core Shaker tenets. It explicitly condemns the Shaker practices of mandatory celibacy and dietary asceticism (specifically abstaining from meat), declaring that marriage and the consumption of animals are ordained by God. Furthermore, it rejects the Shaker belief that Christ had already returned in the form of a woman (Ann Lee), prophesying instead a future, dramatic, and bodily Second Coming. Theologically, the text is significant because it firmly establishes the exclusivity of the newly formed Mormon church. It mandates that baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost must be performed by the 'elders of this church,' directly challenging the Evangelical doctrines of Sola Fide and the universal priesthood of all believers. The text also introduces early concepts of pre-mortal existence and reiterates prophecies concerning the gathering of Zion and the Lamanites (Native Americans).
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: The claimed author of the revelation, asserting His role as Redeemer and coming King.
- Sidney Rigdon: Commanded to preach the Mormon gospel to the Shakers.
- Parley P. Pratt: Commanded to accompany Sidney and Leman to preach to the Shakers.
- Leman Copley: A former Shaker commanded to reason with his former community using new Mormon teachings rather than his old traditions.
- Peter: Cited as the apostolic model for preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins.
- Shakers: The target audience of the preaching, described as desiring truth only 'in part' and needing repentance.
- Lamanites: Prophesied to 'blossom as the rose,' representing Native Americans in Mormon theology.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Exclusive Priesthood Mediation
Assertion
The gift of the Holy Ghost can only be received through the physical laying on of hands by the elders of the Mormon church.
Evidence from Text
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of the hands of the elders of this church.
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, the reception of the Holy Ghost is strictly conditional upon a physical ordinance (the laying on of hands) performed by a specific group of men ('the elders of this church'). This establishes a rigid system of priesthood mediation where human leaders control access to the third person of the Trinity. Evangelical Christianity, grounded in Sola Fide and the Universal Priesthood of all believers, rejects this mediation. According to Ephesians 1:13-14, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit the moment they hear and believe the gospel. In Acts 10:44-48, the Holy Spirit falls upon Cornelius and his household simply upon hearing Peter's preaching, prior to any baptism or laying on of hands. The Evangelical view maintains that God's grace and Spirit are not bound by institutional rituals or exclusive earthly priesthoods.
Pre-mortal Existence of Humanity
Assertion
Humanity existed in some form of creation before the physical world was made.
Evidence from Text
that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made.
Evangelical Comparison
The text introduces the concept that man had a 'creation before the world was made,' which lays the groundwork for the later, more developed Mormon doctrine of the pre-mortal existence of human spirits. This suggests that human identity and existence predate physical conception and the creation of the earth. Evangelical theology holds to a strict distinction between the Creator and the creature. Only God is eternal and pre-existent. Jesus Christ is the only human who pre-existed His earthly incarnation (John 1:1-3, 14). Human beings are created beings whose existence begins at conception (Zechariah 12:1, Psalm 139:13-16). The concept of human pre-existence blurs the line between the eternal nature of God and the finite nature of humanity.
Divine Ordination of Marriage and Dietary Liberty
Assertion
Marriage and the eating of meat are ordained by God, and forbidding them is contrary to God's will.
Evidence from Text
whoso forbiddeth to marry, is not ordained of God... And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God
Evangelical Comparison
The text directly attacks the Shaker doctrines of mandatory celibacy and vegetarianism, declaring that God ordained marriage (specifically between a man and a woman, 'twain shall be one flesh') and provided animals for human consumption and use. It places a moral boundary on this liberty, warning against wasting flesh unnecessarily. This doctrine aligns very closely with Evangelical Christianity. In 1 Timothy 4:1-3, the Apostle Paul explicitly warns against false teachings that 'forbid to marry, and command to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving.' Evangelicals agree that marriage is a divine institution (Genesis 2:24) and that dietary asceticism is not a requirement for holiness (Mark 7:19, Romans 14).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text diverges fundamentally by requiring baptism and the laying on of hands by a specific church's elders for salvation and the reception of the Holy Spirit, denying justification by faith alone.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers primarily on Soteriology (how one is saved) and Ecclesiology (the nature and authority of the church). While the text uses familiar Christian terminology (repentance, belief, Jesus Christ), it redefines the mechanics of salvation. It explicitly mandates that the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost are contingent upon baptism and the laying on of hands by 'the elders of this church.' This creates a system of exclusive priesthood mediation, directly violating the Evangelical pillar of Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone). In Evangelical theology, the Holy Spirit is given, and sins are remitted, at the moment of genuine faith in Christ's finished work (Ephesians 1:13, Romans 5:1), without the necessity of human mediators or institutional rituals. Furthermore, the text violates Sola Scriptura by presenting itself as the direct, verbatim dictation of Jesus Christ, adding new binding revelation to the canon. It introduces concepts foreign to biblical anthropology, such as the 'creation before the world was made' (pre-mortal existence). While the text accurately reflects biblical teachings against asceticism (mirroring 1 Timothy 4), it embeds these truths within a framework of new, extra-biblical authority that demands allegiance to Joseph Smith's prophetic office and the newly established Mormon hierarchy.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a free ticket to the best amusement park ever, given to you by a friend who already paid for it. Evangelical Christians believe Jesus gave us this free ticket to heaven just by trusting Him. But this text says that to get into the park, you can't just trust Jesus's ticket; you also have to go to a very specific group of men in one specific church, have them dunk you in water, and have them put their hands on your head. It also says that God is giving brand new rules and messages today that aren't in the Bible. Christians believe the Bible is like a completed instruction manual—everything we need to know about God is already in there. By adding new rules and requiring specific men to do specific rituals, this text changes the free gift of Jesus into something you have to earn through a specific organization.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
The text requires baptism and the laying on of hands by specific church elders for the remission of sins and the reception of the Holy Ghost.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
The text claims to be new, direct revelation from Jesus Christ, adding to the closed canon of Scripture.
Theology Proper / Anthropology
The text implies a pre-mortal existence for humanity ('creation before the world was made'), blurring the Creator/creature distinction.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"The Gospel"
In This Text
A system of belief that includes faith, repentance, and specifically the ordinances of baptism and the laying on of hands administered by Mormon priesthood authority.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Jesus Christ's sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection, which provides salvation as a free gift received by faith alone.
"Holy Ghost"
In This Text
A member of the Godhead whose presence and gift must be mediated and conferred through the physical laying on of hands by authorized Mormon elders.
In Evangelicalism
The third person of the Trinity who immediately indwells, seals, and regenerates every believer at the moment of faith.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Being 'saved' from damnation, which involves receiving Christ and participating in the gathering of Zion.
How Attained: By receiving Christ, which is explicitly defined as believing, repenting, being baptized for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands by Mormon elders.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on obedience to the commandments and submission to the proper priesthood authority for ordinances.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. While it mentions belief and repentance, it explicitly adds ritual requirements (baptism) and institutional mediation (laying on of hands by specific elders) as necessary components for the remission of sins. This contradicts Romans 3:28 and Ephesians 2:8-9, which declare that justification is by faith apart from works or rituals.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Hearken unto my word
- go and preach my gospel... unto the shakers
- reason with them... according that that which shall be taught him by you
- repent
- Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus
- be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ... for the remission of sins
- be not deceived
- continue in steadfastness
- looking forth for the heavens to be shaken
- go forth as I have commanded you
- repent of all your sins
- ask and ye shall receive
- knock and it shall be opened unto you
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the authority of Joseph Smith's revelations
- Accept the exclusive priesthood authority of the Mormon church
- Abandon Shaker beliefs regarding celibacy, vegetarianism, and Ann Lee
- Acknowledge the historical and prophetic destiny of the Lamanites
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins
- Laying on of hands by the elders of this church for the gift of the Holy Ghost
- Marriage (one wife)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- If the Apostle Paul already warned Timothy in the Bible about people who forbid marriage and eating meat, why do you think a new revelation was needed to tell Leman Copley the same thing?
- How do you understand the requirement to have hands laid on by the 'elders of this church' to receive the Holy Ghost, when in Acts 10, Cornelius and his family received the Holy Spirit simply by hearing and believing the Gospel?
- What does it mean to you that the text says man was created 'before the world was made'? How does that fit with the Genesis account of creation?
- If someone believes in Jesus and repents, but doesn't have access to the elders of your specific church, how does God view their salvation based on this text?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to know the truth
The text rightly identifies that human beings have a God-given desire for truth, but often settle for partial truths, human traditions, or false teachings (like the Shakers did). This can be a bridge to discuss how Jesus does not just offer partial truths or new rules, but He *is* the Truth.
The promise of Christ's presence
The desire for God's presence and protection is universal. While this text promises it to missionaries of a specific church, the biblical Gospel promises that Christ is intimately present with all who trust in Him, and nothing can separate us from His love.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is burdened with the belief that their standing with God, the remission of their sins, and their possession of the Holy Spirit are entirely dependent on their connection to a specific earthly organization ('this church') and its priesthood hierarchy. This creates a deep-seated fear of being disconnected from the institution, as salvation and the Spirit are mediated through its leaders rather than directly through Christ. It shifts the focus of faith from the finished work of Jesus to the performance of specific rituals by specific men.