Section 75
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 75 comprises two revelations given through Joseph Smith on January 25, 1832, at a conference in Amherst, Ohio, where Smith was sustained and ordained as President of the High Priesthood. The text serves primarily as a missionary mandate for several specific elders. It opens with the voice of the Lord commanding the elders to labor vigorously in preaching the gospel, explicitly conditioning the reception of 'honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life' upon their faithful labor and success ('laden with many sheaves'). The revelation proceeds to assign specific missionary companionships and geographic routes to twenty-four named individuals, notably chastening William E. McLellin for murmuring before forgiving and reassigning him. The text heavily borrows language from Jesus's commissioning of the twelve apostles in the New Testament, instructing the elders to go house to house, leave blessings, or 'shake off the dust of your feet' as a testimony against those who reject them. Theologically, it elevates these missionaries to the status of eschatological judges, declaring that in the day of judgment, they will personally judge and condemn the households that rejected their message. The final portion of the text addresses the practical and social logistics of this massive missionary deployment, commanding the church to financially support the families of those called to preach, while simultaneously warning that 'the idler shall not have place in the church.'
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ / Alpha and Omega: The claimed divine author of the revelation who commands the missionaries, promises eternal life for their labor, and delegates eschatological judgment to them.
- Joseph Smith: The prophet through whom the revelation is given, acting as the absolute mediator of God's specific will and geographic assignments for the elders.
- William E. McLellin: An elder whose previous commission to the eastern countries is revoked due to the 'murmurings of his heart'; he is chastened, forgiven, and reassigned to the south.
- Luke Johnson: Assigned as a missionary companion to William E. McLellin.
- Orson Hyde: Assigned to journey to the eastern countries.
- Samuel H. Smith: Assigned as a missionary companion to Orson Hyde.
- Lyman Johnson: Assigned to journey to the eastern countries.
- Orson Pratt: Assigned as a missionary companion to Lyman Johnson.
- Asa Dodds: Assigned to journey to the western countries.
- Calves Wilson: Assigned as a missionary companion to Asa Dodds.
- Major N. Ashley: Assigned to journey to the south country.
- Burr Riggs: Assigned as a missionary companion to Major N. Ashley.
- Simeon Carter: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Emer Harris.
- Emer Harris: Assigned as a missionary companion to Simeon Carter.
- Ezra Thayre: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Thomas B. Marsh.
- Thomas B. Marsh: Assigned as a missionary companion to Ezra Thayre.
- Hyrum Smith: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Reynolds Cahoon.
- Reynolds Cahoon: Assigned as a missionary companion to Hyrum Smith.
- Daniel Stanton: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Seymour Brunson.
- Seymour Brunson: Assigned as a missionary companion to Daniel Stanton.
- Sylvester Smith: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Gideon Carter.
- Gideon Carter: Assigned as a missionary companion to Sylvester Smith.
- Ruggles Eames: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Stephen Burnett.
- Stephen Burnett: Assigned as a missionary companion to Ruggles Eames.
- Micah B. Welton: Assigned to be united in the ministry with Eden Smith.
- Eden Smith: Assigned as a missionary companion to Micah B. Welton.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Conditional Eternal Life (Works-Righteousness)
Assertion
Eternal life, immortality, and glory are promised as a direct reward for faithful missionary labor and obedience to the prophet's assignments.
Evidence from Text
And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life. (v. 5)
Evangelical Comparison
In D&C 75:5, the attainment of 'honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life' is explicitly conditional ('if ye are faithful') and tied to the production of works ('laden with many sheaves'). This represents a synergistic soteriology where human effort and obedience to specific ecclesiastical assignments are prerequisites for ultimate salvation. In stark contrast, Evangelical Christianity adheres to Sola Fide and Sola Gratia. Romans 6:23 declares that eternal life is the 'free gift of God,' and Ephesians 2:8-9 explicitly excludes works so that no one may boast. While evangelicals believe that good works (like evangelism) are the necessary fruit of genuine faith (James 2), they are never the meritorious basis upon which eternal life is granted or 'crowned.'
Delegated Eschatological Judgment
Assertion
Mortal missionaries are granted the authority to act as final judges over the individuals who reject their specific message, possessing the power to condemn them at the final judgment.
Evidence from Text
And you shall be filled with joy and gladness; and know this, that in the day of judgment you shall be judges of that house, and condemn them; (v. 21)
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 75:21 elevates LDS missionaries to the role of eschatological judges, stating they will 'be judges of that house, and condemn them' in the day of judgment. This doctrine shifts the locus of final judgment from the Creator to the creature. In Evangelical theology, based on strict Christology, the Father has entrusted all judgment exclusively to the Son (John 5:22). Jesus Christ is the sole mediator and the only righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:1, Acts 17:31). While the New Testament mentions believers judging angels or participating in Christ's reign (1 Corinthians 6:2-3), it never grants evangelists the autonomous power to 'condemn' those who reject them; condemnation is based solely on a person's rejection of Christ Himself (John 3:18), not their rejection of a specific human messenger or a post-biblical revelation.
Continuous Revelation and Prophetic Authority
Assertion
God continues to give binding, specific, and authoritative commandments through a modern prophet, which carry the same weight as ancient scripture.
Evidence from Text
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I who speak even by the voice of my Spirit, even Alpha and Omega, your Lord and your God— (v. 1)
Evangelical Comparison
The text begins with Joseph Smith speaking in the first person as 'Alpha and Omega,' claiming direct, verbatim transmission of God's voice. This establishes the LDS doctrine of continuous revelation, where the living prophet's words are functionally equal to or supersede previous scripture. Evangelicalism operates on Sola Scriptura, maintaining that the 66 books of the Bible are the final, sufficient, and infallible rule of faith and practice. Hebrews 1:1-2 states that while God spoke through prophets in the past, in these last days He has spoken definitively through His Son. Evangelicals reject the addition of new canonical texts or the elevation of a modern leader's directives to the level of divine, universal mandate.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text fundamentally diverges from Evangelicalism by conditioning eternal life on missionary labor and granting mortal men the divine prerogative to eschatologically judge and condemn those who reject them.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 75 and Evangelical Christianity is rooted in fundamentally different understandings of Soteriology and Christology. Soteriologically, D&C 75:5 presents a transactional framework where 'honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life' are the direct rewards for being 'faithful' and 'laden with many sheaves' (producing missionary results). This violates the evangelical pillar of Sola Fide, which insists that justification and eternal life are granted solely on the basis of Christ's imputed righteousness, received by faith apart from works (Romans 3:28, Titus 3:5). Works are the fruit, not the root, of salvation. Christologically, the text infringes upon the exclusive prerogatives of Jesus Christ. Verse 21 promises the missionaries that 'in the day of judgment you shall be judges of that house, and condemn them.' Evangelical theology maintains that the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). While believers are said to participate in Christ's future reign, the authority to 'condemn' souls to eternal punishment belongs exclusively to the divine, omniscient Judge. Delegating this power to fallible, mortal missionaries elevates human authority to an unbiblical, quasi-divine status, fundamentally altering the biblical doctrine of final judgment.
For All Ages
Imagine you are invited to a royal banquet. In the Evangelical view, the King paid for your ticket completely, and you get to go just by trusting Him and saying 'thank you.' Because you are so happy, you naturally want to tell others about the King. But in this text, the King says, 'If you work really hard, go to all the houses I tell you to, and bring enough people with you, then I will give you the ticket to the banquet.' It turns a free gift into a wage you have to earn. Also, this text says that if people don't listen to you, *you* get to be the judge who punishes them at the end of the world. But the Bible says only Jesus gets to be the Judge, because only Jesus is perfect.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Conditions eternal life and immortality on faithful missionary labor and obedience to specific church assignments.
Christology / Solus Christus
Delegates the divine prerogative of final judgment and condemnation to mortal missionaries.
Sola Scriptura
Presents Joseph Smith's administrative assignments as the direct, verbatim voice of God, adding to the canon of scripture.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Eternal Life"
In This Text
The highest degree of glory (exaltation), which must be earned through faithful labor, obedience to ordinances, and enduring to the end.
In Evangelicalism
A present possession and free gift of God, consisting of knowing God and being justified by grace through faith in Christ.
"The Gospel"
In This Text
The restored church, including its priesthood authority, modern prophets, and specific commandments given through Joseph Smith.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Being crowned with honor, glory, immortality, and eternal life, and overcoming all things to be lifted up at the last day.
How Attained: By being faithful, laboring with one's might, not being idle, and fulfilling the specific callings issued by the church leadership.
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is conditional and maintained only through continuous, diligent labor and obedience ('if ye are faithful').
Comparison to Sola Fide: This text stands in direct opposition to Sola Fide. It explicitly uses an 'if/then' conditional statement linking eternal life to the physical labor of preaching and gathering 'sheaves' (v. 5). Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 4:4-5 explicitly deny that salvation can be earned as a wage for labor.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Go forth and proclaim the gospel (v. 2, 3)
- Do not tarry or be idle (v. 3)
- Labor with your might (v. 3)
- Lift up your voices as with the sound of a trump (v. 4)
- Proclaim the truth according to the revelations and commandments given (v. 4)
- William E. McLellin and Luke Johnson must go to the south countries (v. 8-9)
- Call on the name of the Lord for the Comforter (v. 10)
- Pray always that you faint not (v. 11)
- Orson Hyde, Samuel H. Smith, Lyman Johnson, and Orson Pratt must go to the eastern countries (v. 13-14)
- Asa Dodds and Calves Wilson must go to the western countries (v. 15)
- Major N. Ashley and Burr Riggs must go to the south country (v. 17)
- Go from house to house, village to village, city to city (v. 18)
- Leave a blessing upon houses that receive you (v. 19)
- Depart speedily and shake off the dust of your feet against houses that reject you (v. 20)
- Gird up your loins and be faithful (v. 22)
- The church must assist in supporting the families of missionaries (v. 24)
- Missionaries must obtain places for their families (v. 25)
- Those who can obtain support for their families must not fail to go into the world (v. 26)
- Ask and knock to be made known by the Comforter where to go (v. 27)
- Men obliged to provide for their own families must do so and labor in the church (v. 28)
- Every man must be diligent in all things (v. 29)
- Idlers must repent and mend their ways (v. 29)
- Specific pairings of men must be united in the ministry (v. 30-36)
Implicit Obligations
- Absolute submission to Joseph Smith's authority regarding geographic location and companionship assignments.
- Acceptance that one's eternal destiny is linked to their performance in these specific church assignments.
- The expectation that church members will sacrifice their own resources to support the families of those called away.
Ritual Requirements
- Shaking off the dust of the feet as a formal testimony and curse against those who reject the missionaries' message (v. 20).
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- When you read verse 5, how do you know if you have been 'faithful' enough or gathered enough 'sheaves' to be crowned with eternal life?
- How does the idea in verse 21, where missionaries act as judges who condemn people, fit with John 5:22 where Jesus says the Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son?
- If eternal life is a reward for laboring with our might, how do we understand Paul's teaching in Romans 4:4-5 that salvation is a gift to the one who does not work, but trusts God?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire to proclaim the truth and not be idle.
Evangelicals share this deep desire to share the truth. We can bridge this by discussing *what* truth we are proclaiming: are we proclaiming a heavy burden of works, or the restful truth of Christ's finished work?
The need for the Comforter to teach all things.
We agree that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. We can explore how the Holy Spirit's primary role is to glorify Jesus and remind us of His words, pointing us to the sufficiency of Christ rather than our own efforts.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is placed on a treadmill of performance, where their eternal destiny (immortality and eternal life) is explicitly dangled as a reward for their labor. This creates a constant, underlying anxiety about whether they have done 'enough' to earn the crown.
The strict warning that 'the idler shall not have place in the church' creates a culture where rest can induce guilt. Believers may feel they must constantly be 'doing' church work to maintain their standing in the community and before God.
The command to 'shake off the dust' and the promise that they will 'condemn' those who reject them fosters an adversarial, judgmental posture toward non-believers, replacing the biblical mandate of gentle, patient persuasion with a spirit of condemnation.