Section 50
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants 50 was given in May 1831 to address confusion among early LDS elders regarding various ecstatic spiritual manifestations occurring in the church. Joseph Smith claims this revelation comes directly from the 'living God' to provide a standard for discerning spirits. The text acknowledges that Satan and false spirits are deceiving the world and church members. It establishes an epistemological test: true preaching and receiving of the word must be done by the 'Spirit of truth' (the Comforter), resulting in mutual understanding and edification. Anything that does not edify is 'darkness' and not of God. The revelation introduces the concept of growing in light ('brighter and brighter until the perfect day') and promises that those who are ordained and purified will possess all things and have power over evil spirits. It provides a specific protocol for confronting unrecognized spirits: asking the Father in the name of Jesus, and if the spirit is not given, proclaiming against it without railing accusation. The text concludes with pastoral reassurances, declaring forgiveness of sins for those hearing the words of the prophet, commanding specific individuals to labor in the churches, and affirming Christ's role as the Good Shepherd and the Stone of Israel who will preserve those given to Him by the Father.
Key Figures
- The Lord / Jesus Christ: The speaker of the revelation, claiming to be the Good Shepherd, the Stone of Israel, and one with the Father.
- Satan / False Spirits: Entities seeking to deceive and overthrow church members through false spiritual manifestations.
- Joseph Smith: The prophet receiving the revelation, referred to as 'my servant' through whose mouth the words of the Lord are spoken and sins are forgiven.
- Joseph Wakefield: Commanded to go forth and strengthen the churches.
- Parley P. Pratt: Commanded to go forth with Wakefield to preach.
- John Corrill: Commanded to labor in the vineyard.
- Edward Partridge: Rebuked for hindering the appointed servants and commanded to repent.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Discernment by Edification and Light
Assertion
Truth and spiritual authenticity are determined by whether the manifestation edifies the receiver and brings increasing light.
Evidence from Text
And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light
Evangelical Comparison
The text establishes an epistemological framework where the primary test for a spiritual manifestation is whether it 'edifies' and brings 'light.' While evangelicals agree that the Holy Spirit edifies the church (1 Corinthians 14), the biblical test for spirits is objective, doctrinal truth—specifically, whether the spirit confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-3) and whether the teaching aligns with the apostolic gospel (Galatians 1:8-9). Relying on subjective feelings of 'light' or 'edification' can be dangerous, as Scripture warns that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and the human heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).
Progressive Deification and Possession of All Things
Assertion
Ordained and purified individuals become possessors of all things, with all things in heaven and earth subject to them.
Evidence from Text
Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth... But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.
Evangelical Comparison
The text claims that a purified, ordained man becomes the 'possessor of all things,' with all things in heaven and earth subject to him. This hints at the broader LDS doctrine of exaltation and human deification. In Evangelical theology, while believers are adopted as children of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), the sovereign rule and subjection of all things belong exclusively to the Triune God (1 Corinthians 15:27-28). The Creator-creature distinction remains eternal; humans do not attain a state where all things in heaven and earth are subject to their own power or command.
Forgiveness Mediated Through the Prophet's Word
Assertion
Sins are forgiven by virtue of hearing the words of the Lord directly from the mouth of Joseph Smith.
Evidence from Text
And behold, verily I say unto you, blessed are you who are now hearing these words of mine from the mouth of my servant, for your sins are forgiven you.
Evangelical Comparison
Verse 36 pronounces forgiveness of sins upon the hearers simply because they are hearing the words of the Lord from the mouth of Joseph Smith. In Evangelical theology, forgiveness of sins is exclusively mediated through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22). While hearing the gospel is the ordinary means by which faith comes (Romans 10:17), the act of listening to a self-proclaimed modern prophet does not inherently confer justification or the forgiveness of sins. This elevates the prophet's immediate utterance to a sacramental or absolving level, violating Solus Christus.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text introduces extra-biblical revelation, establishes a subjective test for truth based on 'light' and 'edification,' hints at human exaltation ('possessor of all things'), and mediates forgiveness through the hearing of a modern prophet.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological divergence in D&C 50 centers on epistemology, authority, and anthropology. Epistemologically, the text shifts the burden of discerning truth from the objective standard of the apostolic witness (Scripture) to a subjective, experiential standard of 'edification' and 'light' (vv. 22-24). While the Holy Spirit does illuminate truth, Evangelicalism maintains that the Spirit never operates independently of the Word. Authoritatively, the text violates Sola Scriptura by claiming to be the verbatim 'voice of the living God' mediated through Joseph Smith, effectively adding to the canon and placing Smith in a mediatorial role where hearing his words confers forgiveness (v. 36). Anthropologically, verses 26-28 suggest a trajectory toward deification, where a purified man becomes the 'possessor of all things' with all things in heaven and earth subject to him. This blurs the eternal Creator-creature distinction fundamental to Evangelical theology, which holds that while believers are glorified and reign with Christ, they do not attain sovereign subjection of the cosmos.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a rulebook for a game that everyone agreed was finished. Then someone comes along and says, 'The creator of the game just told me some new rules.' Christians believe the Bible is the finished rulebook. This text claims to be new rules directly from God. Also, the text says you can tell if a spirit is good if it makes you feel 'light' and 'edified' (built up). But the Bible says we should test spirits by checking if what they say matches the Bible, because even bad spirits can pretend to be good and make you feel nice. Finally, the text says if you are perfectly clean from sin, you can own everything in heaven and earth. Christians believe only God owns everything, and we are just His children.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text claims to be direct, new revelation from God that is binding on the church, adding to the biblical canon.
Epistemology
Establishes subjective feelings of 'edification' and 'light' as the primary test for spiritual truth rather than objective Scripture.
Theology Proper / Anthropology
Blurs the Creator-creature distinction by claiming purified men become possessors of all things with all things subject to them.
Solus Christus
Mediates the forgiveness of sins through the act of hearing the words of a modern prophet.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Comforter"
In This Text
A spirit sent forth to teach truth, often conflated in LDS theology with a medium for receiving new, extra-biblical revelations.
In Evangelicalism
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who points believers to the finished work of Christ and illuminates the closed canon of Scripture (John 14:26).
"Light"
In This Text
A quantifiable spiritual substance or intelligence that grows brighter and brighter as one continues in God.
In Evangelicalism
A metaphor for moral purity, the truth of God's Word, and the nature of God Himself (1 John 1:5).
"Purified and cleansed from all sin"
In This Text
A state achieved through personal obedience, endurance, and ordinances, which qualifies a person to possess all things.
In Evangelicalism
The definitive state of justification achieved instantly by faith in Christ's blood, not a prerequisite for earning cosmic power (1 John 1:7).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Inheriting eternal life (v. 5), being purified from all sin (v. 28), and overcoming the world (v. 35).
How Attained: By being faithful and enduring (v. 5), receiving the word by the Spirit (v. 19), being purified (v. 28), and giving heed to the prophet's words (v. 35-36).
Basis of Assurance: Hearing the words of the prophet (v. 36), experiencing growing light (v. 24), and trusting the promise that Christ will not lose those given to Him (v. 42).
Comparison to Sola Fide: While verse 42 sounds like eternal security (borrowing from John 6), the surrounding context conditions success on enduring, being purified from *all* sin to possess all things, and obeying the new revelations. This contrasts with justification by faith alone (Romans 3:28), where the believer's perfection is imputed by Christ, not achieved through personal purification to gain power.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Hearken, O ye elders of my church
- give ear to the voice of the living God
- attend to the words of wisdom
- let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness
- come... and let us reason together
- Let us reason even as a man reasoneth
- ye shall answer this question yourselves
- ye shall ask of the Father in the name of Jesus
- you shall proclaim against that spirit with a loud voice
- let him account it of God
- let him rejoice
- Let my servant Joseph Wakefield... and my servant Parley P. Pratt go forth
- let them labor in the vineyard
- let no man hinder them
- let him [Edward Partridge] repent
- Fear not, little children
- Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready
Implicit Obligations
- Submit to Joseph Smith's authority as the mouthpiece of God
- Maintain personal purity in order to possess all things and command spirits
- Discern spirits using the prescribed method of asking God and evaluating edification
Ritual Requirements
- Ordination to an office is required to preach by the Spirit and to become a possessor of all things (vv. 13, 17, 26)
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- Verse 24 talks about light growing brighter and brighter. How do you personally distinguish between the 'light' of God and a good feeling that might just be your own emotions?
- In verse 28, it says no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin. Do you feel you have reached that level of purification? If not, how does that affect your confidence before God?
- Verse 36 says sins are forgiven by hearing the words from Joseph Smith. How does this compare to what the New Testament says about how our sins are forgiven through Jesus's sacrifice?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The Good Shepherd who loses none of His sheep.
This beautiful truth is pulled directly from the Gospel of John. We can agree that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who perfectly secures His sheep. Because He is the perfect Shepherd, we don't have to rely on our own ability to be 'purified from all sin' (v. 28) to be secure; our security rests entirely in His grip, not our performance.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
Verse 28 states that 'no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.' This places an immense burden on the believer to achieve a state of sinless perfection in order to receive the fullness of God's promises. It shifts the focus from Christ's perfect, imputed righteousness to the believer's own imperfect, ongoing efforts at purification, leading to either self-righteousness or deep spiritual despair.