Section 111
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 111 was dictated by Joseph Smith in August 1836 during a trip to Salem, Massachusetts. Historically, Smith and other church leaders (Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery) traveled to Salem acting on a rumor that a large sum of money was hidden in the cellar of a house there. At the time, the early LDS church was under crushing financial debt due to the building of the Kirtland Temple and other expenses. When the treasure hunt proved fruitless, Smith delivered this revelation. The text serves to comfort the leaders, with the Lord stating He is 'not displeased' with their journey despite their 'follies' (likely referring to the gullibility of the treasure hunt). The revelation pivots the definition of 'treasure' to primarily mean people who will be converted ('gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion') and genealogical records ('inquire diligently concerning the more ancient inhabitants'). However, it also explicitly promises future literal wealth ('its wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours'). From an evangelical perspective, this text is highly significant as it documents a prophetic pivot following a failed temporal pursuit, raising critical questions about the nature of Smith's prophetic claims, the biblical tests for a prophet, and the use of divine revelation to manage church finances and cover administrative failures.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The claimed divine author of the revelation, depicted as merciful, orchestrating events for the leaders' good, and promising both temporal wealth and spiritual success.
- Joseph Smith (and companions): The recipients of the revelation, who are told their 'follies' are overlooked and are commanded to stay in Salem to preach and gather historical records.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Divine Tolerance of Prophetic Follies
Assertion
God is not displeased with the church leaders' journey, despite it being motivated by a rumor of hidden treasure, which the text categorizes as 'follies'.
Evidence from Text
I, the Lord your God, am not displeased with your coming this journey, notwithstanding your follies.
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, God's grace is abundant and covers the sins of believers through the finished work of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, biblical prophets who spoke presumptuously or led people into foolish, fleshly pursuits were subject to severe discipline, not divine validation of their errant journeys. The biblical standard for leadership requires being 'above reproach' and 'not a lover of money' (1 Timothy 3:2-3). D&C 111 presents a God who casually dismisses the 'follies' of a literal treasure hunt while continuing to use the same prophetic channel to promise future wealth. This contrasts sharply with the biblical depiction of God's holiness and the strict accountability held over those who claim to speak for Him.
The Gathering of Zion
Assertion
God has people in specific cities whom He intends to gather out for the benefit of the LDS church (Zion) through the instrumentality of its leaders.
Evidence from Text
...and many people in this city, whom I will gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion, through your instrumentality.
Evangelical Comparison
The concept of 'Zion' in early Mormonism was highly literal and geographic, referring to specific gathering places (like Missouri or Nauvoo) where the Saints were to build a physical kingdom. In D&C 111, gathering people is explicitly 'for the benefit of Zion.' Evangelical Christianity, drawing on the New Testament, views Zion primarily as a spiritual reality—the heavenly Jerusalem and the universal church of all true believers (Hebrews 12:22-23). The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is about making disciples of Jesus Christ, not gathering people to bolster the demographic or financial strength of a specific, exclusive earthly organization.
Prophetic Promise of Temporal Wealth
Assertion
God promises that the literal wealth (gold and silver) of the city of Salem will eventually belong to the church leaders.
Evidence from Text
And it shall come to pass in due time that I will give this city into your hands... and its wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine presents a severe friction point regarding prophetic accuracy. The text explicitly promises that the 'wealth pertaining to gold and silver' of Salem would belong to Joseph Smith and his companions. Historically, this never happened; they left Salem without the wealth, and the LDS church never acquired the city's gold and silver. In Evangelical theology, a prophet is tested by 100% accuracy (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). A failed promise of temporal wealth marks the prophecy as false. Furthermore, the New Testament consistently warns against the pursuit of earthly wealth (1 Timothy 6:9-10) and never guarantees that God will hand over the gold and silver of secular cities to church leaders.
Subjective Spiritual Epistemology
Assertion
God's will regarding where to stay and what to do is communicated through a subjective feeling of peace and the power of the Spirit.
Evidence from Text
And the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you.
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 111:8 teaches that the primary way to discern God's specific will (in this case, where to reside) is through a subjective internal experience: 'the peace and power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you.' While Evangelicals believe the Holy Spirit provides comfort and illumination, the ultimate and infallible guide for truth and decision-making is the objective Word of God (Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Relying on subjective feelings of 'peace' can be highly deceptive, as human emotions are fallen (Jeremiah 17:9). This Mormon epistemology of the 'burning in the bosom' or feelings of peace is often used to validate extra-biblical revelation, which Evangelicals reject.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text redefines the prophetic office to accommodate failed temporal pursuits and false prophecies regarding wealth, while promoting a subjective epistemology.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap centers on the nature of prophecy, the authority of the prophet, and the definition of divine provision. In Evangelical theology, the prophetic office (prior to the closing of the canon) was authenticated by absolute, infallible accuracy (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). A prophet who predicted an event that failed to come to pass was deemed presumptuous and false. D&C 111 presents a significant theological and historical gap because it attempts to spiritualize a failed temporal pursuit (a literal treasure hunt based on a rumor) while simultaneously doubling down on a temporal promise ('its wealth pertaining to gold and silver shall be yours') that historically failed to materialize for Joseph Smith. Furthermore, the Evangelical baseline rejects the premise that God provides new, binding scriptural revelation to address the financial mismanagement or debts of church leaders. The sufficiency of Scripture (Sola Scriptura) dictates that the canon is closed. The Holy Spirit illuminates the existing Word to guide believers in wisdom, rather than dispensing new, ad-hoc revelations to cover administrative or financial church crises. The text's reliance on subjective feelings ('peace and power of my Spirit') to validate these claims further widens the epistemological gap between Mormonism and biblical Christianity.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a friend who says God told him he would find a buried treasure in his backyard to pay off his massive credit card debt. When he digs and finds nothing, he says, 'Well, God told me He isn't mad at me for looking, and that the *real* treasure is the friends we made along the way. But also, God promises He will still give me literal gold someday.' In the Bible, when God makes a promise through a prophet, it happens exactly as He says, 100% of the time. If it doesn't, the Bible says in Deuteronomy 18 that the person is not speaking for God. This text shows a leader making a mistake, going on a wild goose chase for money, and then claiming God gave him a revelation to make it all okay, even promising gold that he never actually got.
Friction Points
Biblical Inerrancy / Prophetic Test
The text contains a failed prophecy regarding the acquisition of Salem's gold and silver, violating the standard of Deuteronomy 18:22.
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be direct, new revelation from God, adding to the closed canon of Scripture.
Theology Proper
Portrays God as validating a greed-driven treasure hunt and promising secular wealth to church leaders, contrasting with the biblical portrayal of God's holiness and warnings against the love of money.
Epistemology
Elevates subjective feelings ('peace') as the primary verification method for God's will, overriding objective biblical wisdom.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Zion"
In This Text
A specific earthly organization and geographic gathering place (the LDS church and its settlements) that needs to be built up and benefited.
In Evangelicalism
The heavenly city of God, the spiritual reality of God's presence, and the universal body of all true believers (Hebrews 12:22).
"Spirit"
In This Text
A mechanism that provides subjective feelings of peace and power to signal geographic or administrative direction.
In Evangelicalism
The third person of the Trinity who convicts of sin, regenerates the heart, and illuminates the objective truth of Scripture.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: In this specific text, salvation is primarily temporal: being saved from crushing financial debt and public shame ('they shall not discover your secret parts').
How Attained: Attained by trusting the prophet, staying in the city, and waiting for God to provide power to pay debts.
Basis of Assurance: The subjective feeling of peace and the promise of the prophet.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text does not address eternal salvation or justification. However, its focus on temporal works, gathering, and institutional survival distracts from the Evangelical focus on justification by faith alone in Christ's finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Form acquaintance with men in this city, as you shall be led (v. 3)
- Concern not yourselves about your debts (v. 5)
- Concern not yourselves about Zion (v. 6)
- Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about (v. 7)
- Obtain this place by hire (v. 9)
- Inquire diligently concerning the more ancient inhabitants and founders of this city (v. 9)
- Be ye as wise as serpents and yet without sin (v. 11)
Implicit Obligations
- Trust that God will provide the power to pay the church's massive debts
- Accept Joseph Smith's revelation as divine justification for the failed treasure hunt
- Follow the subjective leading of the Spirit to determine where to stay
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 4, the Lord promises that the wealth of Salem, specifically gold and silver, would be theirs. Since history shows they left Salem without this wealth, how do you understand this promise?
- Verse 1 mentions the Lord is not displeased despite their 'follies.' Knowing the historical context that they went to Salem looking for buried treasure in a basement, how does this impact your view of how God directs His prophets?
- If a modern church leader went on a secret trip to find buried treasure to pay off church debts, and then claimed a revelation that God would give them the city's gold, how would you evaluate that leader using the Bible?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
God's mercy despite our follies
While the text uses this to excuse a treasure hunt, the underlying desire for a God who forgives our foolishness is a bridge to the true Gospel. God truly does love us despite our sin and folly, but He dealt with it not by ignoring it, but by paying for it on the cross.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
Adherents must bear the mental and spiritual burden of rationalizing failed prophecies. When a text explicitly promises gold and silver that never materializes, the believer is forced to redefine words, spiritualize literal promises, or ignore history to maintain their faith in the prophet.
The text demands that followers trust a leader who engages in 'follies' (like treasure hunting for church funds). This trains the believer to suppress their God-given discernment and blindly trust the hierarchy, even when leadership acts foolishly or unbiblically.
Relying on 'peace' to make decisions (v. 8) creates anxiety when feelings fluctuate. If a believer doesn't feel peace, they may believe they are out of God's will, leading to a fragile, emotion-based faith rather than resting on the solid rock of Scripture.