Section 94
Overview
Given in October 1833 in Perrysburg, New York, this revelation (known as Section 100 in the modern LDS Doctrine and Covenants) addresses Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon during a proselytizing mission. At the time, both men were anxious about their families back in Kirtland, Ohio, and the escalating mob violence against church members in Jackson County, Missouri (Zion). The text serves a dual purpose: pastoral comfort and ecclesiastical structuring. The Lord reassures them that their families are safe and that the church in Missouri ('Zion') will eventually be redeemed despite current chastening. Ecclesiastically, the text formally establishes a hierarchical dynamic between Smith and Rigdon, mirroring the biblical relationship between Moses and Aaron. Rigdon is ordained as the 'spokesman' who will expound scripture, while Smith is designated as the 'revelator' who provides the 'certainty of all things pertaining to the things of my kingdom.' Theologically, the text explicitly conditions salvation on human obedience, stating that those who 'call on the name of the Lord and keep his commandments, shall be saved,' which represents a significant departure from the evangelical doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith (Designated as the 'revelator' to Sidney Rigdon and the source of certainty for the kingdom's affairs)
- Sidney Rigdon (Ordained as the 'spokesman' to Joseph Smith, tasked with expounding scriptures)
- Orson Hyde (A church elder mentioned as being in God's hands, whose salvation is conditioned on keeping commandments)
- John Gould (A church elder traveling with Orson Hyde to Missouri, whose salvation is similarly conditioned on obedience)
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Prophetic Mediation and Continuing Revelation
Assertion
Joseph Smith is established as the exclusive 'revelator' who provides the 'certainty of all things' regarding God's kingdom on earth.
Evidence from Text
...he [Joseph] shall be a revelator unto thee, that thou mayest know the certainty of all things pertaining to the things of my kingdom on the earth.
Evangelical Comparison
In this text, epistemological certainty regarding the kingdom of God is mediated through a specific human leader: Joseph Smith. Sidney Rigdon, despite his role as a spokesman and expounder of scripture, must rely on Smith as his 'revelator' to know the 'certainty of all things.' This establishes a hierarchical, mediated prophetic office. In contrast, Evangelical Christianity adheres to Sola Scriptura and the priesthood of all believers. Hebrews 1:1-2 declares that while God spoke through prophets in the past, in these last days He has spoken definitively through His Son. The biblical canon is closed, and the Holy Spirit illuminates the once-for-all delivered Word of God (Jude 1:3) to all believers, without the need for a modern prophetic mediator to provide 'certainty.'
Conditional Salvation (Works-Righteousness)
Assertion
Salvation is explicitly contingent upon an individual's ability to keep God's commandments in addition to calling upon His name.
Evidence from Text
...inasmuch as they keep my commandments they shall be saved... and all that call on the name of the Lord and keep his commandments, shall be saved; even so.
Evangelical Comparison
The text explicitly links salvation to human performance. It modifies the biblical promise of Romans 10:13 ('whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved') by appending a strict condition: 'and keep his commandments.' Furthermore, it states regarding Hyde and Gould that 'inasmuch as they keep my commandments they shall be saved.' This creates a works-righteousness paradigm where human obedience is the instrumental cause, or at least a necessary co-requisite, of salvation. Evangelical theology, rooted in Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28, and Romans 4:5, insists that justification is a forensic declaration by God based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ, received by faith alone. Good works are the fruit and evidence of salvation, never the prerequisite or sustaining condition for it.
The Chastening and Redemption of Zion
Assertion
The geographic gathering place of Zion (Missouri) will be redeemed by God, but its inhabitants must first endure a period of divine chastening.
Evidence from Text
Zion shall be redeemed, although she is chastened for a little season.
Evangelical Comparison
The text refers to 'Zion' not merely as a spiritual state or the heavenly Jerusalem, but as a specific geographic location (Jackson County, Missouri) where early Mormons were attempting to build a literal city. The 'chastening' refers to the historical expulsion of Mormons from this area by mobs. The promise that Zion 'shall be redeemed' is a prophetic guarantee of future reclamation of this land. Evangelical Christianity interprets Zion primarily in a spiritual sense under the New Covenant (Hebrews 12:22-24), referring to the heavenly city and the universal Church, rather than a specific plot of real estate in North America that must be physically redeemed by a specific denomination.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text fundamentally diverges from Evangelicalism by conditioning salvation on human obedience to commandments and by establishing a modern prophetic mediator (Joseph Smith) as the source of certainty, violating both Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological chasm between this text and Evangelical Christianity centers on Soteriology and Epistemology. Soteriologically, the text explicitly denies Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone). By stating 'all that call on the name of the Lord and keep his commandments, shall be saved,' the text creates a synergistic model of salvation where human merit (commandment-keeping) is a necessary condition for eternal life. This directly contradicts Paul's teaching in Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9, which declare that salvation is a gift of grace, not of works, so that no one can boast. In the evangelical view, keeping commandments is the fruit of salvation, not the root. Epistemologically, the text violates Sola Scriptura by establishing an ongoing, authoritative prophetic office. Joseph Smith is designated as the 'revelator' who provides the 'certainty of all things pertaining to the things of my kingdom.' This creates a mediated faith where believers must look to a human leader for ultimate truth, rather than relying on the sufficiency of the closed biblical canon illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The evangelical baseline insists that the 66-book Bible is the sole infallible rule of faith and practice, and that Christ's sacrifice was 'once for all,' requiring no ongoing prophetic mediation to secure certainty or salvation.
For All Ages
Imagine you owe a billion dollars to a bank, and a rich king pays it off completely for you. He says, 'Your debt is forgiven because you trusted me to pay it.' That is what Evangelical Christians believe Jesus did for us on the cross—we are saved just by trusting Him (faith alone). But this text says something different. It says, 'You are saved IF you call on my name AND keep all my rules.' That means you still have to earn your way, and you can never be sure if you've kept the rules well enough. Also, Christians believe the Bible is the only rulebook we need. But this text says you need a specific man, Joseph Smith, to be the 'revelator' to tell you what is true. This takes our focus off Jesus and the Bible, and puts it on our own good works and a human leader.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Establishes Joseph Smith as a 'revelator' necessary to know the 'certainty of all things,' denying the sufficiency and finality of the biblical canon.
Sola Fide
Conditions salvation on keeping commandments ('inasmuch as they keep my commandments they shall be saved').
Universal Priesthood
Creates a hierarchical mediation where Sidney Rigdon (and by extension the church) must rely on Joseph Smith for revelation and certainty.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Saved / Salvation"
In This Text
In this context, it refers to ultimate spiritual rescue or exaltation, which is explicitly conditioned upon keeping commandments.
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the penalty of sin, granted as a free gift by grace through faith alone, apart from works of the law (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"Zion"
In This Text
A literal, geographic location in North America (Jackson County, Missouri) designated for the gathering of the saints.
In Evangelicalism
Historically Jerusalem; prophetically and spiritually, the heavenly city, the dwelling place of God, and the universal Church (Hebrews 12:22).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Deliverance and ultimate spiritual security, though in broader LDS theology this often equates to exaltation in the highest degree of heaven.
How Attained: By calling on the name of the Lord AND keeping His commandments.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on one's ongoing performance in walking uprightly and keeping commandments.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text is a direct contradiction of Sola Fide. While Romans 10:13 says 'For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,' this text adds a works-based addendum: 'and keep his commandments.' This aligns with Galatians 1:6-9 as a 'different gospel' that relies on human effort rather than the finished work of Christ (Titus 3:5).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- follow me
- listen to the council which I shall give unto you
- lift up your voices unto this people
- speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts
- declare whatsoever things ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things
- continue your journey
- let your hearts rejoice
- keep my commandments
- let your hearts be comforted
- walk uprightly
- call on the name of the Lord
Implicit Obligations
- Sidney Rigdon must submit to Joseph Smith's authority as his 'revelator'
- The church must accept Joseph Smith's revelations as the standard for 'certainty'
- Members must endure chastening patiently, trusting in the future redemption of Zion
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 4, it says 'all that call on the name of the Lord and keep his commandments, shall be saved.' How do you know if you have kept the commandments well enough to be saved?
- When you read Romans 10:13 in the Bible, it says 'whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Why do you think this revelation adds the requirement to 'keep his commandments'?
- Verse 3 says Joseph is a revelator so that Sidney can know the 'certainty of all things.' If we have the Bible, why do we need a modern man to give us certainty?
- If salvation depends on keeping the commandments, do you ever feel a heavy burden or fear that you might not be doing enough?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
God's care for our families and anxieties
The text taps into a universal human anxiety—fear for our loved ones. We can bridge this to the biblical truth that God is a loving Father who cares for our anxieties, and ultimately, He secured our eternal safety through Christ.
The desire for a Spokesman/Mediator
The text shows a human desire for someone to mediate truth and speak on God's behalf. We can point out that we have the ultimate, perfect Mediator and Spokesman in Jesus Christ, who perfectly reveals the Father.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By explicitly conditioning salvation on keeping commandments ('inasmuch as they keep my commandments they shall be saved'), the text places an impossible burden of performance on the believer. Because no one can keep the commandments perfectly (Romans 3:23), the adherent is left in a constant state of uncertainty, never knowing if they have done enough to secure their salvation. This breeds anxiety, legalism, and a fear of failure.
The text demands that believers rely on a human leader (Joseph Smith) for the 'certainty of all things.' This creates a spiritual dependency on a fallible human institution rather than a direct, secure relationship with Christ through His Word. If the leader's character or prophecies are called into question, the believer's entire foundation for 'certainty' crumbles.