Section 7
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 7 is presented as a revelation given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in April 1829. According to the section's heading, Smith used the Urim and Thummim to translate a hidden, lost parchment originally written by John the Beloved. The text resolves a debate between Smith and Cowdery regarding whether the Apostle John died or remained on earth. The revelation asserts that John asked for and received 'power over death' so he could continue bringing souls to Christ until the Second Coming. The text contrasts John's desire with Peter's desire to quickly enter God's kingdom; while Peter's desire was 'good,' John's was a 'greater work.' Consequently, John is made a 'flaming fire and a ministering angel' to earthly heirs of salvation. Crucially, the text establishes that Peter, James, and John were given the 'keys of this ministry.' This section serves as foundational text for the Latter-day Saint doctrines of 'translated beings' (mortals who bypass death) and the exclusive priesthood keys held by the ancient apostles, which Mormonism claims were later restored to Joseph Smith.
Key Figures
- The Lord (Jesus Christ): The divine authority who grants John's request for immortality, evaluates the desires of the apostles, and dispenses the keys of the ministry.
- John the Beloved: The purported original author of the parchment; he asks for and receives power over death to remain on earth to bring souls to Christ, performing a 'greater work.'
- Peter: The apostle who desired to speedily enter the kingdom of heaven; his desire is validated as 'good,' but he is assigned to minister for John and James and is given priesthood keys.
- James: Mentioned alongside Peter and John as a recipient of the power and keys of the ministry.
- Joseph Smith: The modern prophet who claims to have translated this hidden parchment via the Urim and Thummim without physical access to the document.
- Oliver Cowdery: The scribe and co-inquirer whose debate with Smith prompted the revelation.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Translated Beings (Immortality before Resurrection)
Assertion
A human being (John) can be granted 'power over death' to remain in the flesh on earth until the Second Coming.
Evidence from Text
Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee. And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory
Evangelical Comparison
In Mormon theology, 'translated beings' are individuals whose bodies are temporarily changed so they do not experience pain or death until their final resurrection. D&C 7 establishes John the Apostle as one of these beings. Evangelical Christianity rejects this concept entirely. Hebrews 9:27 states, 'it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.' Furthermore, D&C 7 directly contradicts the biblical author's own clarification in John 21:23: 'So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"' The biblical text explicitly corrects the rumor that John would not die, whereas D&C 7 validates the rumor as historical and theological fact.
Priesthood Keys of the Ministry
Assertion
Specific, exclusive 'keys of this ministry' were given to Peter, James, and John to hold until Christ's return.
Evidence from Text
And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will give this power and the keys of this ministry until I come.
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 7 introduces the concept of 'keys of this ministry' being held specifically by Peter, James, and John. In Mormonism, these keys represent the literal authority to act in God's name (the Melchizedek Priesthood), which LDS theology claims these three resurrected/translated apostles later physically conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Evangelical Christianity holds to the Universal Priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). The 'keys' mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 16 are understood as the authority of the Gospel message itself—opened to the Jews at Pentecost and the Gentiles at Cornelius's house by Peter—not a mystical or hierarchical priesthood authority that must be passed down through physical ordination or angelic visitation.
Hierarchy of Righteous Desires
Assertion
Desiring to remain on earth to do works (bring souls) is a 'greater work' than desiring to go to heaven to be with Christ.
Evidence from Text
I say unto thee, Peter, this was a good desire; but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater work yet among men than what he has before done.
Evangelical Comparison
The text creates a spiritual hierarchy based on human desires and works. Peter's desire to go to heaven is labeled 'good,' but John's desire to stay and work is labeled 'greater.' This introduces a performance-based metric into the believers' relationship with God. In contrast, the Apostle Paul wrestled with this exact dilemma in Philippians 1:23-24: 'I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.' Paul recognizes that departing is 'far better' for him, but staying is necessary for the church. He does not frame staying as a 'greater work' that earns him a higher spiritual status, but rather submits entirely to God's sovereign placement.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
D&C 7 contradicts the biblical record by claiming John did not die, introduces a works-based hierarchy of spiritual desires, and establishes an exclusive priesthood hierarchy (keys) foreign to the New Testament.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 7 and Evangelical Christianity is severe, touching on bibliology, christology, and ecclesiology. First, bibliologically, D&C 7 violates the closed canon by claiming to be a lost writing of the Apostle John. It directly contradicts John 21:23, where the biblical author explicitly dispels the rumor that John would not die. D&C 7 resurrects that very rumor and canonizes it as truth. Second, ecclesiologically, the text introduces the concept of exclusive 'keys of the ministry' held by Peter, James, and John. In Mormonism, this justifies a rigid, hierarchical priesthood that mediates God's authority. Evangelicalism rejects this, holding to the universal priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9) and Christ as the sole mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Finally, the text imposes a works-righteousness framework by ranking Peter's desire to be with the Lord as merely 'good,' while John's desire to stay and work is 'greater.' This contradicts the Apostle Paul's assertion in Philippians 1 that departing to be with Christ is 'far better.'
For All Ages
Imagine you have a favorite book that ends by saying, 'The hero didn't promise his friend would live forever.' But then, someone writes a new chapter claiming, 'Actually, the hero DID make his friend live forever, and I found a secret invisible paper that proves it!' That's what Doctrine and Covenants 7 does with the Bible. The Bible says Jesus didn't promise John would live forever, but this text says He did. Also, this text says that wanting to stay on earth to work hard is 'better' than wanting to go to heaven to be with Jesus. But the Bible teaches that being with Jesus is the best thing ever, and we don't have to earn extra points by working harder than other Christians.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Claims to be a lost, translated parchment of John, adding to the biblical canon and directly contradicting the biblical text of John 21:23.
Theology Proper / Anthropology
Asserts that a human being can bypass death and remain in a 'translated' state on earth for millennia, contradicting Hebrews 9:27.
Universal Priesthood
Establishes exclusive 'keys' held by specific apostles, laying the groundwork for a mediating priesthood hierarchy.
Sola Gratia / Sola Fide
Ranks human desires based on works, calling the desire to do 'greater works' superior to the desire to be with Christ.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Keys of this ministry"
In This Text
Literal, exclusive priesthood authority required to administer saving ordinances and govern the church.
In Evangelicalism
The authority of the Gospel message itself to open the kingdom of heaven to those who believe (Matthew 16:19).
"Salvation"
In This Text
In LDS theology, 'heirs of salvation' often refers to exaltation (the highest degree of heaven), which requires priesthood ordinances.
In Evangelicalism
Deliverance from the penalty of sin through faith alone in Christ's finished work.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Becoming 'heirs of salvation,' which in the broader LDS context implies exaltation and eternal life.
How Attained: Through the ministry of authorized servants (like John) and the administration of priesthood keys.
Basis of Assurance: Alignment with the authorized priesthood hierarchy and the ongoing performance of 'greater works.'
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text shifts the focus from Christ's finished work on the cross to the ongoing, necessary ministry of translated beings and priesthood key-holders. Sola Fide teaches that faith in Christ alone is sufficient (Ephesians 2:8-9), requiring no ongoing earthly ministry of immortal apostles.
Mandates & Requirements
Implicit Obligations
- Accept Joseph Smith's authority as a seer capable of translating lost, hidden ancient documents via the Urim and Thummim.
- Acknowledge the exclusive priesthood keys held by Peter, James, and John (which validates the LDS priesthood structure).
Ritual Requirements
- Implicitly, participation in the ordinances administered by those who hold the 'keys of this ministry' (the LDS priesthood).
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed that D&C 7 says John asked to live until the Second Coming, and Jesus granted it. But when I read John 21:23 in the Bible, it says, 'yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die.' How do you reconcile the Bible's clarification with the parchment's claim?
- If D&C 7 is a direct translation of a parchment written by John, how do we explain that the verses about Peter, James, and John holding the keys (verses 6-7) weren't in the original 1833 publication, but were added in 1835?
- In verse 5, Peter's desire to go be with the Lord is called 'good,' but John's desire to stay and work is called 'greater.' How does this compare to Paul's feelings in Philippians 1:23, where he says departing to be with Christ is 'far better'?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to bring souls to Christ.
The desire to see others saved is a beautiful, biblical desire. The Apostle Paul wished he could be accursed if it meant his brothers would be saved (Romans 9:3). We can affirm the LDS friend's desire for evangelism, while pivoting to the truth that it is Christ's finished work, not our ongoing effort, that actually saves.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
By labeling the desire to go to heaven as merely 'good' and the desire to stay and work as 'greater,' the text places a heavy burden on the believer to constantly strive for 'greater works.' It subtly shames the desire to simply rest in Christ's presence, demanding ongoing labor to prove one's spiritual superiority.
By establishing that specific men hold the exclusive 'keys of this ministry,' the believer is tethered to an institution rather than directly to Christ. Their standing before God is mediated by whether they are aligned with the men who claim to hold these keys today.
Relying on a text that claims to be a translation of an invisible, unverified parchment forces the believer to suppress critical thinking and historical evidence, relying solely on subjective feelings to validate truth.