Section 37
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 37, given in December 1830, marks a pivotal historical and theological shift in early Mormonism. At the time, Joseph Smith was engaged in his 'inspired translation' of the Bible (now known as the Joseph Smith Translation or JST). Facing growing local opposition in New York ('the enemy'), this revelation commands Smith to halt his translation work temporarily. It mandates that he and Sidney Rigdon preach the gospel and strengthen local branches, specifically highlighting the faith of the Saints in Colesville, New York. Most significantly, verse 3 issues the first official divine mandate for the 'gathering' of the Saints, commanding the church to physically assemble in Ohio (Kirtland) before Oliver Cowdery returns from his mission to the Lamanites. This text establishes the precedent of the Mormon prophet directing the geographic and logistical movements of the church, transitioning the movement from a localized New York sect to a centralized, gathered community. It concludes with an appeal to individual agency, allowing every man to 'choose for himself' in obeying this directive.
Key Figures
- God/Jesus Christ: The implied first-person speaker issuing the commandments ('I say unto you', 'my gospel').
- Joseph Smith: The primary recipient, commanded to stop translating and relocate.
- Sidney Rigdon: Co-recipient of the revelation, commanded to preach and relocate.
- Oliver Cowdery: Mentioned as being away (on a mission to Missouri) and expected to return to the gathered church.
- The Church/Saints: The collective body commanded to assemble in Ohio.
- The Enemy: Unnamed local opposition in New York prompting the relocation for the Saints' safety.
- Saints in Colesville: A specific group of early members commended because 'they pray unto me in much faith.'
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Continuing Directive Revelation
Assertion
God speaks directly through a modern prophet to issue binding, logistical, and geographic commands to the church.
Evidence from Text
Behold, I say unto you... a commandment I give unto the church, that it is expedient in me that they should assemble together at the Ohio
Evangelical Comparison
This text operates on the premise of an open canon where God continuously dictates new, specific mandates through a singular prophetic mouthpiece. In this case, the command is not just spiritual, but logistical—requiring believers to uproot their lives and move to Ohio. Evangelical Christianity, grounded in Sola Scriptura (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 1:3), maintains that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and godly living. While Evangelicals believe the Holy Spirit guides believers, they reject the concept that a human leader can receive extra-biblical, universally binding commandments that equate to the voice of God.
The Gathering of the Saints
Assertion
God commands His people to physically assemble in specific geographic locations for safety and preparation.
Evidence from Text
assemble together at the Ohio, against the time that my servant Oliver Cowdery shall return unto them.
Evangelical Comparison
Section 37 introduces the Mormon doctrine of the 'Gathering,' which became a defining characteristic of 19th-century LDS practice (moving to Ohio, Missouri, Nauvoo, and Utah). This doctrine conflates spiritual safety and obedience with physical proximity to the prophet and the institutional church. In contrast, Evangelical ecclesiology is based on the New Covenant paradigm articulated by Jesus in John 4:21-24, where true worship is no longer tied to a specific geographic center (like Jerusalem or a modern equivalent) but is done 'in spirit and truth.' The true Church is the spiritual body of Christ (1 Peter 2:5), present wherever believers are.
Inspired Translation
Assertion
Joseph Smith was engaged in a divinely directed translation project that God could pause or direct.
Evidence from Text
it is not expedient in me that ye should translate any more until ye shall go to the Ohio
Evangelical Comparison
The command to stop 'translating' refers to Joseph Smith's work on what is now called the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible. Smith claimed prophetic authority to restore 'lost' truths to the biblical text. Evangelical textual criticism relies on thousands of ancient Greek and Hebrew manuscripts to ensure the accuracy of the Bible. Smith's translation process involved dictating additions and changes to the English King James Version without the use of ancient manuscripts, which Evangelicals view as an illegitimate alteration of God's Word, violating warnings against adding to Scripture (Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text establishes a paradigm where God issues binding, geographic, and logistical commands through a modern prophet, making obedience to these extra-biblical mandates a test of faithfulness.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The fundamental theological gap lies in the nature of authority and the definition of the Church. D&C 37 operates on the premise of an open canon and continuing, directive revelation through a singular prophetic mouthpiece. It commands a physical 'gathering,' which became a hallmark of Mormonism, conflating spiritual safety with geographic location and obedience to a human leader. Evangelical Christianity, grounded in Sola Scriptura, maintains that the canon is closed and sufficient (2 Tim 3:16-17). Furthermore, the New Covenant shifts the locus of worship from specific geographic centers to the universal, spiritual body of Christ (John 4:21-24). Mandating a physical relocation as a divine commandment binds the conscience of the believer to an extra-biblical authority, violating Christian liberty.
For All Ages
Imagine if your pastor stood up on Sunday and said, 'God told me that everyone in our church must sell their houses and move to Ohio right now. If you don't, you aren't following God.' As Christians, we believe God gave us everything we need to know about how to live and be saved in the Bible. We don't need a new prophet to tell us where to live. Jesus said we can worship God anywhere in our hearts, not just in one specific city.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Adds new, binding commandments to the church via a modern prophet, placing Smith's words on par with biblical mandates.
Ecclesiology (Nature of the Church)
Ties spiritual obedience and safety to a physical, geographic gathering directed by an institutional leader, rather than recognizing the universal, spiritual nature of the New Covenant church.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"translate"
In This Text
Joseph Smith's inspired revision of the English Bible (JST), adding or altering text based on claimed revelation rather than ancient documents.
In Evangelicalism
Rendering original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts into another language.
"the church"
In This Text
The specific institutional body led by Joseph Smith, which is commanded to physically assemble.
In Evangelicalism
The universal body of all true believers in Christ across all times and locations.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: In the immediate context of this text, salvation is framed as temporal deliverance and safety from 'the enemy' through obedience to the prophet.
How Attained: Attained by obeying the prophet's command to move to Ohio.
Basis of Assurance: Following the logistical and spiritual directives of Joseph Smith.
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text emphasizes works (preaching, moving, strengthening) as the immediate requirement to please God and find safety, contrasting with the Evangelical emphasis on resting in Christ's finished work for ultimate spiritual safety (Romans 8:1).
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- translate any more [do not] until ye shall go to the Ohio
- go to the Ohio
- preach my gospel in those parts
- strengthen up the church whithersoever it is found
- assemble together at the Ohio
- let every man choose for himself until I come
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith's voice as the literal voice of God.
- Liquidate property and physically relocate families to Ohio.
- Support Oliver Cowdery upon his return.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When God commands the church to gather in Ohio here, how does that compare to Jesus's words to the woman at the well in John 4 about worshiping in spirit and truth regardless of location?
- If a prophet today commanded you to leave your home, sell your property, and move across the country, how would you discern if that was truly from God?
- What do you think Joseph Smith was translating in 1830, and why would God tell him to stop?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
Fleeing from the enemy to a place of safety.
Just as the early Saints sought physical refuge from physical enemies, we all need spiritual refuge from sin and the ultimate enemy, death. Christ is our true refuge and fortress, not a geographic location or an institutional church.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer's standing, safety, and faithfulness are tied to radical obedience to a human leader's logistical commands (uprooting one's life to move to Ohio). This creates a paradigm where questioning the leader's administrative directives is equated with disobeying God, placing a heavy burden of compliance on the adherent.