Section 71
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 71 was dictated by Joseph Smith on December 1, 1831, during a period of intense public scrutiny for the early Latter-day Saint movement. Historically, this text was a direct response to the publication of letters by Ezra Booth, a former member who apostatized and wrote critically about the church in the Ohio Star. The revelation instructs Smith and his scribe, Sidney Rigdon, to pause their ongoing project of revising the Bible (the Joseph Smith Translation) to engage in a public relations and apologetic mission. Theologically, the text is significant because it establishes a militant, defensive posture against critics, equating opposition to Smith and Rigdon with opposition to the Lord Himself. Furthermore, it explicitly mandates an open canon, instructing the leaders to 'prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.' It promises divine protection, borrowing heavily from Isaiah, assuring them that no weapon formed against them will prosper and that their enemies will ultimately be confounded.
Key Figures
- The Lord: The claimed divine author of the text, who dictates the mission and promises protection.
- Joseph Smith, Jun.: The primary recipient and prophet, commanded to preach, confound enemies, and receive future revelations.
- Sidney Rigdon: Scribe and counselor to Smith, commanded to share in the preaching and apologetic mission.
- Ezra Booth (Implicit): The apostate whose critical letters necessitated this revelation and preaching mission, representing the 'enemies' to be confounded.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Open Canon and Continuous Revelation
Assertion
The text asserts that more divine commandments and revelations are forthcoming and that believers must prepare for them.
Evidence from Text
prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come. (D&C 71:4)
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, the canon of Scripture is closed, having been definitively delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). The 66 books of the Bible are viewed as the complete, sufficient, and final special revelation from God to humanity, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). D&C 71:4 explicitly shatters this boundary by commanding the preparation for 'commandments and revelations which are to come.' This establishes a theological framework where the Bible is inherently insufficient, requiring ongoing, authoritative, extra-biblical dictations through a modern prophetic office to guide the church.
Prophetic Proxy (Equating the Prophet with the Lord)
Assertion
The text asserts that arguments and opposition directed against Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are actually directed against the Lord.
Evidence from Text
Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord. (D&C 71:8)
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 71 creates a dangerous theological conflation between the human leaders of the LDS church and God Himself. By stating that the enemies of Smith and Rigdon are bringing their 'strong reasons against the Lord,' the text insulates the prophet from legitimate biblical critique. In Evangelical Christianity, the Bereans were commended for testing even the Apostle Paul's teachings against the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). Evangelicalism maintains that all human leaders are fallible and subject to the ultimate authority of the Word of God. Equating a leader's critics with God's enemies fosters an authoritarian environment that suppresses discernment.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text diverges fundamentally by establishing an open canon dependent on a modern prophet, and by equating the defense of that prophet with the defense of God Himself.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap centers on the doctrines of Revelation and Authority. Evangelical Christianity operates on the principle of Sola Scriptura, asserting that the 66 books of the Bible are the supreme, final, and sufficient authority for faith and practice. The canon is closed because God's revelation culminated in the incarnation of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). D&C 71 explicitly dismantles this by commanding believers to 'prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come' (v. 4). This creates a paradigm of continuous, progressive revelation that supersedes or alters previous biblical revelation. Additionally, the text violates the Evangelical understanding of human fallibility and divine sovereignty. By challenging critics to bring their 'strong reasons against the Lord' (v. 8) when the critics were actually arguing against Joseph Smith, the text conflates the identity and authority of the human prophet with the Creator. In Evangelicalism, no human leader is beyond biblical critique. Equating opposition to a church leader with opposition to God is a hallmark of authoritarian religious systems and stands in stark contrast to the biblical mandate to test all spirits and teachings against the established Word of God (1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11).
For All Ages
Imagine you have a complete, perfect instruction manual for building a Lego castle. The manual says, 'This is everything you need; do not add any pages.' That is how Evangelical Christians view the Bible. But this text from Joseph Smith says, 'Get ready, because I am going to keep handing you new pages of instructions.' Furthermore, if anyone says, 'Wait, these new pages don't match the original manual,' this text says those people are actually fighting against the creator of the Legos. Christians believe we should always check everything against the original, finished manual (the Bible).
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
The text explicitly commands preparation for future, extra-biblical commandments and revelations, denying the sufficiency and closure of the biblical canon.
Universal Priesthood / Solus Christus
The text elevates Joseph Smith to a mediatorial, unquestionable status where arguing against him is defined as arguing against the Lord.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Gospel"
In This Text
The message of the restored church, including the necessity of modern prophets, new revelations, and eventually restored priesthood ordinances.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the justification of sinners by grace through faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
"Mysteries"
In This Text
Esoteric or newly revealed truths accessible only through the modern prophetic office and the LDS priesthood.
In Evangelicalism
Truths that were hidden in the Old Testament but have now been fully revealed to all believers in the New Testament, specifically concerning Christ and the inclusion of the Gentiles (Colossians 1:26-27).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Not explicitly defined in this specific text, though 'power' and 'abundance' are promised to those who receive the revelations.
How Attained: Implied through obedience: 'keep my commandments; they are true and faithful' (v. 11) and by receiving the new revelations (v. 5-6).
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on faithfulness to the new commandments and witnessing the confounding of the church's enemies.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text focuses heavily on human effort ('labor ye', 'confound your enemies', 'keep my commandments') rather than resting in the finished work of Christ. It lacks any mention of grace or faith in Christ's atonement, focusing entirely on institutional defense and obedience to new dictates.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel
- Expound the mysteries out of the scriptures
- Proclaim unto the world in the regions round about
- Proclaim in the church also
- Labor in my vineyard
- Call upon the inhabitants of the earth
- Bear record
- Prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come
- Understand and receive
- Confound your enemies
- Call upon them to meet you both in public and in private
- Let them bring forth their strong reasons
- Keep my commandments
Implicit Obligations
- Defend the church against apostates and critics
- View opposition to church leadership as opposition to God
- Suspend other religious duties (like Bible translation) when new prophetic directives are given
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- If a church leader today claimed that arguing against them was the same as arguing against the Lord, how would you test if that was true?
- Verse 4 talks about preparing for future revelations. How do you discern if a new revelation contradicts the Bible, and which one takes priority if they do?
- When the text says 'no weapon formed against you shall prosper,' how do we reconcile that with the historical reality that Joseph Smith was eventually killed by his enemies? Does that mean the promise failed, or does it mean something else?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for divine protection and vindication.
Believers naturally desire to know God is on their side and will protect them. While D&C 71 applies this to institutional defense, the Gospel offers the ultimate protection: security from the wrath of God and eternal condemnation through Christ. Our ultimate vindication is not winning arguments on earth, but being declared righteous in heaven.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text places a heavy burden on believers to 'confound' their enemies and publicly defend the faith. If enemies are not confounded, the implication (from v. 7 'inasmuch as ye are faithful') is that the believer lacked faith or power. This creates a performance treadmill where spiritual validity is tied to winning arguments.
By labeling critics as 'enemies' who are fighting 'against the Lord,' the text fosters an 'us versus them' mentality. This isolates believers from outside perspectives, creating fear and suspicion of anyone who questions the church's truth claims, severely damaging relationships with non-members or former members.
Because the text mandates preparing for 'revelations which are to come,' the believer can never rest in a finished, complete body of truth. Doctrine is always subject to change by the living prophet, leading to theological instability.