Section 83
Overview
Section 83 of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (canonized as Section 94 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) is a revelation dictated by Joseph Smith on August 2, 1833. It outlines the architectural and geographical blueprint for the 'stake of Zion' in Kirtland, Ohio. The text commands the construction of two specific buildings: one for the First Presidency to obtain revelations and administer the church, and another for printing the 'translation of my scriptures' (referring to Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible and his own revelations). The revelation provides exact dimensions (fifty-five by sixty-five feet) and mandates that these structures be dedicated according to the 'order of the priesthood.' Theologically, the text establishes a highly conditional framework for God's presence: God promises that His glory and presence will dwell in the house of the presidency, but strictly warns that if 'any unclean thing' is allowed to enter, His glory and presence will depart. This text reinforces the Mormon paradigm of continuing revelation, hierarchical priesthood authority, and the necessity of sacred, undefiled physical spaces to mediate the divine presence.
Key Figures
- The Lord (Speaker): Asserts divine authority, dictates building dimensions, and sets conditions for His presence.
- The Presidency (Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams - implied): Designated as the mediators of revelation and administrators of the church, for whom a specific house is to be built.
- Hyrum Smith: Commanded to receive his inheritance on the third lot.
- Reynolds Cahoon: Appointed to the building committee and assigned an inheritance on the north lots.
- Jared Carter: Appointed alongside Cahoon to the building committee to oversee the construction of the Lord's houses.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuing Revelation and Open Canon
Assertion
The church presidency requires a dedicated physical space specifically for the purpose of 'obtaining revelations' and printing new or translated scriptures.
Evidence from Text
...for the building of an house for the presidency, for the work of the presidency, in obtaining revelations... and for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things, whatsoever I shall command you...
Evangelical Comparison
This text explicitly mandates the construction of buildings for the ongoing reception and publication of new scripture. By stating the presidency's work includes 'obtaining revelations' and printing the 'translation of my scriptures,' the text denies the sufficiency and finality of the 66-book biblical canon. In contrast, Evangelical Christianity affirms Sola Scriptura, believing that God's special revelation concluded with the apostolic era (Jude 1:3, Revelation 22:18-19, Hebrews 1:1-2). The institutionalization of a 'presidency' that continuously receives binding revelation creates a fundamentally different epistemological foundation than the evangelical reliance on the completed, sufficient Word of God.
Conditional Divine Presence in Physical Structures
Assertion
God's glory and presence will inhabit a specific building only if it is kept entirely free from any 'unclean thing.'
Evidence from Text
And ye shall not suffer any unclean thing to come in unto it; and my glory shall be there, and my presence shall be there: but if there shall come into it any unclean thing my glory shall not be there; and my presence shall not come into it.
Evangelical Comparison
The text reverts to an Old Covenant paradigm where God's localized presence (Shekinah glory) is contingent upon the strict ritual and moral purity of a physical structure. It threatens the withdrawal of God's presence if 'any unclean thing' enters. Evangelical Christianity, based on the New Covenant, teaches that the veil was torn (Matthew 27:51) and that God no longer dwells in temples made by human hands (Acts 17:24). Instead, the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and God's presence is guaranteed by the finished, perfect work of Christ, not by the believer's ability to maintain a perfectly 'clean' physical environment (Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39).
Hierarchical Priesthood Authority
Assertion
The dedication of sacred spaces and the administration of the church must be done according to a specific 'order of the priesthood' mediated by a 'presidency.'
Evidence from Text
...it shall be dedicated unto the Lord from the foundation thereof, according to the order of the priesthood...
Evangelical Comparison
The text relies on the concept of a restored, hierarchical 'order of the priesthood' that governs the church and validates the dedication of buildings. This implies that without this specific priesthood authority, the dedication would be invalid and God's presence would not manifest. Evangelical theology embraces the 'Priesthood of All Believers' (1 Peter 2:9), asserting that Christ is the sole mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Every believer has direct access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) without the need for an exclusive, ordained class of priests or a 'presidency' to mediate divine presence or revelation.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text shifts the locus of God's presence from the indwelling Holy Spirit in the believer (New Covenant) back to a physical, conditional building maintained by human purity (Old Covenant paradigm). It also establishes an open canon through a mediating presidency.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap lies in Pneumatology, Christology, and Ecclesiology. This text operates on a regressive, Old Covenant paradigm where the Shekinah glory of God is localized in a physical structure and is highly contingent upon the rigorous maintenance of ritual and moral purity by the community ('if there shall come into it any unclean thing my glory shall not be there'). This directly contradicts the New Covenant reality inaugurated by Christ's finished work. In evangelical theology, the veil of the temple was torn, signifying that access to God is no longer mediated by physical geography or exclusive priesthoods. The believer's body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and believers are being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Furthermore, the text's reliance on a 'presidency' to obtain ongoing revelations violates Sola Scriptura, replacing the sufficiency of the biblical canon with an open-ended, hierarchical conduit for new doctrine.
For All Ages
In the Old Testament, before Jesus came, God's special presence lived in a physical building called the Temple. The people had to follow very strict rules to keep the building perfectly clean, or God's presence would leave. But when Jesus died on the cross, He changed everything. Now, because of Jesus, God's Holy Spirit lives inside of Christians! We are the temple now. This text from Joseph Smith goes backward. It says God needs a physical building again, and if anyone makes a mistake or brings something 'unclean' inside, God will leave. This misses the good news that Jesus already made us perfectly clean, and God promises He will never leave us.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Mandates the construction of buildings specifically for the ongoing reception and printing of new revelations and translated scriptures.
Christology / Pneumatology
Makes God's presence conditional on human ability to keep a physical building perfectly free from 'any unclean thing,' ignoring the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit secured by Christ.
Universal Priesthood
Requires a specific 'order of the priesthood' and a 'presidency' to mediate God's presence and revelation.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Scriptures"
In This Text
Includes Joseph Smith's ongoing translations of the Bible (JST) and his own modern revelations.
In Evangelicalism
The closed canon of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.
"Priesthood"
In This Text
A restored, hierarchical authority structure required to legitimately dedicate buildings and administer the church.
In Evangelicalism
The universal status of all believers who have direct access to God through the sole high priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: While not explicitly defining eternal salvation, the text defines spiritual life and divine favor as dwelling in the presence and glory of God.
How Attained: Access to God's glory is attained through strict obedience to architectural commands and the rigorous maintenance of physical and moral purity ('not suffer any unclean thing').
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is entirely conditional and fragile; it is based on the community's success in keeping the sacred space undefiled.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text stands in stark contrast to Sola Fide. Here, God's presence is earned and maintained by human effort (keeping the building clean). In evangelicalism, access to God's presence is granted solely through faith in Christ's perfect, finished sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19-22), not by our ability to maintain a perfectly clean environment.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Commence laying out and preparing a foundation for the city of the stake of Zion in Kirtland.
- Consecrate the first lot on the south for a house for the presidency.
- Build the house for the presidency exactly fifty-five by sixty-five feet in the inner court.
- Dedicate the house to the Lord from the foundation according to the order of the priesthood.
- Do not suffer any unclean thing to come into the house of the presidency.
- Dedicate the second lot on the south for a house for printing the translation of scriptures.
- Build the printing house exactly fifty-five by sixty-five feet.
- Keep the printing house holy and undefiled.
- Assign the third lot to Hyrum Smith for his inheritance.
- Assign the first and second lots on the north to Reynolds Cahoon and Jared Carter.
- Do not build the houses for Cahoon and Carter until a further commandment is given.
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to the authority of the presidency as the legitimate channel for divine revelation.
- Provide the labor, funds, and resources necessary to construct these specific buildings.
- Actively police the community and the buildings to ensure no 'unclean thing' or unworthy person enters the sacred spaces.
Ritual Requirements
- Dedicate the buildings from their foundations according to the 'order of the priesthood.'
- Maintain strict ritual and moral purity within the designated buildings.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- The text says that if any unclean thing enters the building, God's presence will leave. How does a community practically ensure that absolutely nothing unclean ever enters?
- If God's presence leaves because someone makes a mistake and brings something unclean inside, how do you get His presence back?
- In the New Testament, Paul says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). How does the idea of God living permanently inside believers compare to God living conditionally in a physical building?
- If Jesus tore the veil of the temple to give us direct access to God, why do we need to build new physical temples with strict purity rules to experience His glory?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for God's Glory and Presence
The text reveals a deep, beautiful human longing to dwell in the presence of God's glory. This longing is perfectly fulfilled in the Gospel. We don't have to build a 55x65 foot building and live in fear of contaminating it; Jesus Christ is the ultimate manifestation of God's glory (John 1:14), and through faith in Him, that glory comes to dwell permanently inside of us.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places an immense psychological burden on the community by stating that God's presence will abandon them if 'any unclean thing' enters the building. This creates a culture of hyper-vigilance, fear, and mutual suspicion, as believers must constantly police themselves and others to ensure they do not accidentally drive God away through impurity. It robs the believer of the peace and security found in Christ's unconditional grace.
By centralizing revelation and authority in the 'presidency,' the text fosters a spiritual dependency on human leaders. Believers cannot access the fullness of God's direction or presence on their own; they are entirely reliant on the presidency to obtain revelations and the priesthood to dedicate their spaces.