Section 14
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 14 is a revelation dictated by Joseph Smith in June 1829, directed to David Whitmer. Set against the historical backdrop of the Book of Mormon translation occurring at the Whitmer family farm in Fayette, New York, the text serves as a divine commissioning. It utilizes heavy agricultural metaphors (the field white to harvest, thrusting in the sickle) to urge Whitmer into active evangelism and participation in the 'marvelous work' about to come forth. Theologically, the text establishes a strict conditional framework for salvation: eternal life is identified as the greatest gift of God, yet it is explicitly contingent upon keeping the commandments 'in all things' and enduring to the end. Furthermore, the text asserts that the 'fulness of the gospel' must be brought forth to the house of Israel, implying that the biblical gospel possessed by the Gentiles was incomplete or lost. It blends biblical phraseology from Hebrews, John, and Matthew with a works-righteousness paradigm that defines the early theological development of the Latter-day Saint movement.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: Identified as the speaker, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Son of the living God, and the light in the darkness. He is the one issuing the commands and setting the conditions for eternal life.
- David Whitmer: The direct recipient of the revelation, called to assist in the work, promised spiritual and temporal blessings contingent upon his faithfulness.
- Joseph Smith: The implicit mediator and prophet through whom this revelation is delivered via the Urim and Thummim.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Eternal Life (Works-Righteousness)
Assertion
Eternal life is a gift from God that is earned or secured by keeping all commandments and enduring in obedience until death.
Evidence from Text
And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
Evangelical Comparison
In D&C 14:7, eternal life is explicitly conditional: 'if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life.' This creates a theological paradox by calling eternal life a 'gift' while simultaneously attaching strict behavioral prerequisites ('keep my commandments in all things') to its reception. In Evangelical theology, justification and the reception of eternal life are forensic, instantaneous, and entirely monergistic—based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ received through faith (Sola Fide). Ephesians 2:8-9 explicitly denies that salvation is a result of works, so that no one may boast. Romans 6:23 contrasts the 'wages' of sin with the 'free gift' of God. By making the 'gift' contingent upon enduring obedience, this text redefines grace as a conditional reward rather than unmerited favor.
Salvation through Labor
Assertion
A person treasures up everlasting salvation for their soul by actively laboring in the spiritual harvest.
Evidence from Text
...whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.
Evangelical Comparison
Verse 3 instructs the adherent to 'thrust in his sickle with his might... that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation.' This frames salvation as something accumulated or 'treasured up' through intense personal effort ('with his might'). While Evangelical Christianity highly values evangelism and laboring for the Kingdom (storing up treasures in heaven, Matthew 6:20), it strictly separates these works of sanctification and reward from the acquisition of salvation itself. Titus 3:5 states, 'He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.' The text's conflation of missionary labor with the securing of one's own salvation represents a fundamental departure from the biblical Gospel of grace.
Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel
Assertion
The complete or 'full' gospel must be brought forth anew to the house of Israel, implying it was previously lost or incomplete among the Gentiles.
Evidence from Text
Wherefore, I must bring forth the fulness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel.
Evangelical Comparison
Verse 10 speaks of bringing forth the 'fulness of my gospel.' In the context of Mormonism, this refers to the Book of Mormon and subsequent revelations through Joseph Smith, predicated on the Great Apostasy—the belief that the early Christian church lost essential truths, authority, and ordinances. Evangelical Christianity rejects the premise of a total apostasy that would necessitate a restoration of the Gospel. Jude 1:3 declares that the faith was 'once for all delivered to the saints.' Furthermore, Evangelicals hold to Sola Scriptura, believing the biblical canon is closed and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The claim that a new text or prophet is required to bring forth the 'fulness' of the Gospel directly undermines the sufficiency and preservation of the biblical text.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text fundamentally alters the biblical doctrine of salvation by transforming eternal life from a free gift received by faith into a conditional reward earned through lifelong obedience and labor.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 14 and Evangelical Christianity centers on the nature of grace, justification, and the definition of a 'gift.' In Evangelical theology, rooted in the Reformation, justification is a forensic declaration by God where Christ's righteousness is imputed to the sinner solely through faith (Sola Fide). Eternal life is a present possession for the believer (1 John 5:13) and is entirely unmerited (Romans 11:6). D&C 14:7, however, constructs a synergistic soteriology where eternal life is contingent upon human performance: 'if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life.' This conditional framework redefines the biblical concept of grace. In LDS theology, grace is often viewed as an enabling power that assists individuals in keeping commandments, rather than the unmerited favor that justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:4-5). Furthermore, verse 3 suggests that one must 'treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation' through the labor of harvesting (evangelism). This creates a system of works-righteousness that directly contradicts Ephesians 2:8-9 and Galatians 2:21, which warns that if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
For All Ages
Imagine someone gives you a beautiful, expensive bicycle for your birthday and says, 'This is a free gift!' But then they add, 'However, you only get to keep it if you do all your chores perfectly every single day for the rest of your life. If you mess up or stop doing chores, I take the bike back.' That wouldn't really be a free gift, would it? It would be a wage you have to work for. In this text, it says eternal life is God's greatest gift, but you only get it if you keep all the commandments and work hard until you die. The Bible teaches that Jesus already did all the 'chores' by living a perfect life, and He took our punishment on the cross. Because of that, His gift of eternal life is truly free to anyone who simply believes and trusts in Him, no strings attached.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone)
The text makes eternal life and salvation explicitly conditional upon keeping commandments 'in all things,' enduring to the end, and laboring in the harvest.
Sola Scriptura (Sufficiency of Scripture)
The text claims to be new, direct revelation from Jesus Christ and asserts that the 'fulness' of the gospel must be brought forth, implying biblical insufficiency.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Eternal Life"
In This Text
The highest state of salvation (exaltation in the celestial kingdom), achieved only by keeping all commandments and enduring to the end.
In Evangelicalism
Knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3); a free gift of salvation from sin and death, received instantly upon believing (John 5:24).
"Gospel"
In This Text
The 'fulness' of the gospel includes modern revelations, restored priesthood authority, and new ordinances necessary for exaltation.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
"Salvation"
In This Text
Something to be 'treasured up' through intense personal labor and missionary work (v. 3).
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the penalty of sin, accomplished entirely by Christ and received by faith.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God (v. 3) and eternal life, which is the greatest gift of God (v. 7).
How Attained: By thrusting in one's sickle with might (labor/works), keeping commandments 'in all things,' and enduring to the end.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is impossible in the present tense, as it is entirely contingent upon future, continuous performance ('endure to the end') and perfect obedience ('in all things').
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. Romans 4:4-5 states, 'Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.' D&C 14 treats the 'gift' of eternal life exactly as a wage to be earned through keeping commandments and laboring.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Give heed to my word (v. 2)
- Thrust in his sickle with his might (v. 3)
- Reap while the day lasts (v. 3)
- Ask of me (v. 5)
- Knock (v. 5)
- Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion (v. 6)
- Keep my commandments in all things (v. 6)
- Endure to the end (v. 7)
- Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing (v. 8)
- Stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see (v. 8)
- Declare repentance unto this generation (v. 8)
- Assist [in the work] (v. 11)
- Be faithful (v. 11)
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith as a true prophet speaking for God
- Accept the Book of Mormon translation process as legitimate and divine
- Financially and temporally support the translation work (contextual to the Whitmer family)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- In verse 7, it says we must keep the commandments 'in all things' and endure to the end to have eternal life. Have you been able to keep the commandments in all things? How do you handle the anxiety of knowing if you've endured enough?
- Verse 7 also calls eternal life the 'greatest of all the gifts of God.' If I offered you a gift, but told you that you had to work for me for the rest of your life to keep it, would you still consider it a gift, or a wage?
- Verse 10 talks about bringing forth the 'fulness' of the gospel. What essential parts of the gospel do you believe are missing from the Bible that required a restoration?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The Greatest Gift
We agree that eternal life is the greatest gift! But a true gift cannot be earned by keeping commandments. We can bridge from their desire for this gift to the biblical reality that Jesus offers it freely, having already fulfilled the requirement of perfect obedience on our behalf.
The Harvest
Christians also feel the urgency of the spiritual harvest. However, we harvest not to earn our own salvation, but out of gratitude and love, sharing the good news that the work of salvation is already finished.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The demand to keep commandments 'in all things' to secure eternal life places an impossible burden of perfection on the adherent. It creates a treadmill of religious performance where one can never truly rest in Christ's finished work, leading to spiritual exhaustion.
Because eternal life is contingent upon 'enduring to the end,' the adherent can never have present assurance of salvation. This breeds a low-level, constant fear of failure, as one unrepented sin or period of unfaithfulness could theoretically forfeit their eternal reward.
By claiming the 'fulness' of the gospel is found only in this new movement, the adherent is bound to the institution and its leaders (like Joseph Smith) for access to truth and salvation, rather than having direct, unmediated access to God through the Bible.