Section 88
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 88, historically designated by Joseph Smith as the 'olive leaf' and a message of peace, is one of the most comprehensive theological treatises in early Mormonism. Given over several days in late 1832 and early 1833, the text radically expands Mormon cosmology, soteriology, and eschatology. It introduces the concept of the 'Light of Christ'—a quasi-pantheistic divine energy that fills the immensity of space, gives life to all things, and acts as the law governing the universe. The text builds upon the three degrees of glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial) previously introduced in D&C 76, explicitly tying a person's eternal destination to their ability to 'abide the law' of that specific kingdom. This establishes a rigid, meritocratic framework for the afterlife. Furthermore, the revelation redefines human anthropology by declaring that the spirit and the body together constitute the 'soul of man.' The latter half of the text provides a highly detailed, sequential eschatology involving seven angelic trumps that dictate the order of the resurrection and the final battle between Michael and the devil. Finally, the text shifts to practical, rigorous mandates for the early Latter-day Saints, commanding them to build a temple, establish the School of the Prophets, enforce strict behavioral codes (including ceasing from excess laughter), and institute the ordinance of the washing of feet. For the believer, this text serves as a comprehensive guide to eternal progression, demanding intense personal sanctification and strict obedience to law in order to eventually see the face of God.
Key Figures
- Jesus Christ: Identified as the Son of God, the light of truth, the Bridegroom, and the one whose voice dictates this revelation.
- God the Father: Described as sitting upon His throne in the bosom of eternity, whose presence is the ultimate reward for those in the Celestial kingdom.
- Michael: Identified as the seventh angel and the archangel who will gather the hosts of heaven to fight the devil in the final battle.
- The Devil (Satan): The old serpent who will be bound for a thousand years, loosed for a season, and ultimately defeated by Michael.
- John the Apostle: Referenced regarding his testimony of the Comforter and his account of the washing of feet.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
The Light of Christ
Assertion
A divine light and power that proceeds from the presence of God, fills the immensity of space, gives life to all things, and is the law by which all things are governed.
Evidence from Text
Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne
Evangelical Comparison
In D&C 88, the 'Light of Christ' is described in almost physical, cosmological terms—it is in the sun, moon, and stars, fills the immensity of space, and is the literal power by which the universe was made and is governed. It is an emanation from God's presence. In Evangelical theology, God is transcendent and distinct from His creation (Isaiah 55:8-9). While God is omnipresent (Psalm 139) and sustains the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3), Evangelicals reject the idea of a divine substance or 'light' that permeates all matter and acts as a universal law. The biblical concept of Jesus as the 'Light of the World' (John 8:12) is understood spiritually and metaphorically regarding truth, salvation, and moral purity, not as a cosmological energy field.
The Soul of Man
Assertion
The soul is explicitly defined as the combination of the physical body and the spirit.
Evidence from Text
And the spirit and the body are the soul of man. And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 88:15 provides a strict, materialistic definition of human anthropology: the spirit plus the physical body equals the soul. Therefore, the 'redemption of the soul' is defined primarily as the physical resurrection. Evangelical Christianity, drawing from passages like Matthew 10:28 ('fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell') and Revelation 6:9 (souls of the martyrs under the altar), understands the soul as the immaterial essence of a person. While Evangelicals affirm the future bodily resurrection, the soul is viewed as a distinct entity that survives physical death and consciously exists in the intermediate state prior to the resurrection.
Salvation by Law (Degrees of Glory)
Assertion
Eternal destiny is stratified into different kingdoms (Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial), and inheritance of a specific kingdom is strictly contingent upon a person's ability to abide the specific law of that kingdom.
Evidence from Text
For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory. And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine represents a fundamental departure from the biblical Gospel. D&C 88 teaches that salvation (exaltation to the highest heaven) is earned by one's capacity to 'abide the law of a celestial kingdom.' If one fails, they are relegated to a lesser kingdom. This creates a works-righteousness paradigm where human effort, obedience, and sanctification are the meritorious basis for eternal reward. Evangelicalism teaches that no human being can abide God's perfect law (Romans 3:20). Therefore, justification is a free gift of grace, received by faith alone, based entirely on the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law on our behalf (Romans 8:1-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Ordinance of the Washing of Feet
Assertion
The washing of feet is instituted as a mandatory, saving priesthood ordinance required to cleanse leaders from the blood of the generation and admit them into the School of the Prophets.
Evidence from Text
And ye shall not receive any among you into this school save he is clean from the blood of this generation; And he shall be received by the ordinance of the washing of feet, for unto this end was the ordinance of the washing of feet instituted.
Evangelical Comparison
D&C 88 elevates the washing of feet to a formal, required priesthood ordinance necessary for spiritual purification ('clean from the blood of this generation') and admission into the inner circle of church leadership (the School of the Prophets). It prescribes specific rules for who administers it and how it is performed. In Evangelical theology, Jesus' actions in John 13 are interpreted as a profound object lesson in humility, servanthood, and mutual love among believers. While some Christian denominations practice foot washing as a symbolic act of humility, it is not viewed as a sacrament or a necessary ordinance that confers spiritual cleanliness or exclusive ecclesiastical status.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
D&C 88 teaches a works-based, law-oriented soteriology where different degrees of heavenly glory are earned by obeying specific laws, fundamentally denying the Evangelical doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Theological Gap (Explained)
D&C 88 constructs a highly stratified soteriology and cosmology that departs radically from orthodox Evangelicalism. It posits that salvation (exaltation) is contingent upon one's ability to 'abide the law' of a specific kingdom (Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial). This introduces a meritocratic system of eternal progression that nullifies Sola Fide. Furthermore, the text redefines the soul as the literal combination of spirit and body, and introduces the 'Light of Christ' as a quasi-pantheistic force governing the universe. The requirement for new ordinances (washing of feet) and the promise that believers can 'comprehend even God' blur the Creator-creature distinction and impose a heavy burden of legalistic sanctification. In Evangelicalism, Christ's active and passive obedience fulfills the law entirely on behalf of the believer, granting them full access to God's presence based on grace, not personal law-keeping.
For All Ages
Imagine heaven is a giant, beautiful mansion. The Bible says Jesus bought the whole mansion for us, and if we simply trust Him and accept His free gift, we get to live there with Him forever. But this text says the mansion has three different floors, and you have to follow a very strict list of rules to earn a key to the best floor. If you don't follow the hardest rules perfectly, you get stuck on a lower floor away from God the Father. This changes what Jesus did from a free gift into a reward for our hard work.
Friction Points
Sola Fide
The text explicitly states that inheriting celestial glory requires a person to 'abide the law of a celestial kingdom,' making eternal destiny contingent on law-keeping rather than faith alone.
Sola Scriptura
The text introduces new, binding revelation, mandates new saving ordinances (washing of feet), and establishes a new eschatological timeline not found in the Bible.
Theology Proper
The description of the 'Light of Christ' as a physical/spiritual energy that fills space and governs the universe introduces panentheistic concepts that conflict with the biblical view of a transcendent God.
Anthropology
The text redefines the soul strictly as the combination of spirit and physical body, contradicting the biblical understanding of the soul as the immaterial part of man.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Soul"
In This Text
The literal combination of the physical body and the spirit ('the spirit and the body are the soul of man', v. 15).
In Evangelicalism
The immaterial essence of a human being, which survives physical death and exists independently of the body prior to the resurrection.
"Sanctified"
In This Text
A prerequisite state of purity achieved through law-keeping that qualifies a person to inherit a specific kingdom of glory (v. 21).
In Evangelicalism
The progressive work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life following justification, making them more like Christ, but not the basis of their justification or entry into heaven.
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Salvation is stratified into inheriting different kingdoms of glory (Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial), with the ultimate goal being exaltation in the Celestial kingdom and dwelling in the presence of God the Father.
How Attained: By strictly abiding the specific law associated with the desired kingdom. Celestial glory requires abiding the law of the celestial kingdom (v. 22).
Basis of Assurance: Assurance is based on one's ongoing obedience, rigorous sanctification, and participation in priesthood ordinances, culminating in the promise of receiving the 'Holy Spirit of promise' and eventually seeing God's face.
Comparison to Sola Fide: D&C 88 explicitly denies Sola Fide by stating that individuals must 'abide the law' to inherit glory (v. 22-24). In stark contrast, Romans 3:28 and Ephesians 2:8-9 declare that justification is a free gift of grace received through faith, entirely apart from works of the law.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- sanctify yourselves
- call a solemn assembly
- assemble yourselves together
- organize yourselves
- prepare yourselves
- purify your hearts
- cleanse your hands and your feet before me
- continue in prayer and fasting
- teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom
- Teach ye diligently
- warn his neighbor
- tarry ye, and labor diligently
- Abide ye in the liberty
- entangle not yourselves in sin
- let your hands be clean
- seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom
- seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom
- seek learning, even by study and also by faith
- prepare every needful thing
- establish a house, even a house of prayer... a house of God
- cease from all your light speeches
- cease... from all laughter
- cease... from all your lustful desires
- cease... from all your pride and light-mindedness
- cease... from all your wicked doings
- Appoint among yourselves a teacher
- let not all be spokesmen at once
- let one speak at a time
- let all listen unto his sayings
- See that ye love one another
- cease to be covetous
- learn to impart one to another
- Cease to be idle
- cease to be unclean
- cease to find fault one with another
- cease to sleep longer than is needful
- retire to thy bed early
- arise early
- clothe yourselves with the bond of charity
- Pray always
Implicit Obligations
- Perfect obedience to the specific law of the kingdom one wishes to inherit.
- Constant self-evaluation of one's purity and worthiness to ensure one is 'clean from the blood of this generation.'
- Active participation in the School of the Prophets and the physical labor and financial sacrifice required to build a temple.
- Maintaining a highly solemn, serious demeanor at all times, viewing natural human levity (laughter) as a spiritual hindrance.
Ritual Requirements
- The ordinance of the washing of feet, administered by the president or presiding elder.
- Partaking of bread and wine prior to the washing of feet.
- A highly specific, scripted salutation with uplifted hands required for entry into the School of the Prophets.
- Kneeling in prayer as a token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant upon entering the house of God.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- D&C 88 says we must 'abide the law of a celestial kingdom' to live there. How do you know if you are perfectly abiding that law?
- If our eternal destination depends on which law we can abide, how does that fit with Ephesians 2:8-9 which says salvation is a gift, not of works?
- The text commands us to 'sanctify yourselves' so that God will unveil His face. Do you ever feel the burden of wondering if you are sanctified enough?
- What is the difference between the 'Light of Christ' described in this section and the Holy Spirit?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for light, truth, and the presence of God.
The deep human longing for light, truth, and communion with God is valid and beautiful. However, the Gospel teaches that Jesus Himself is the Light of the World, and we are brought into God's presence not by our own grueling efforts at sanctification, but by being clothed in Christ's perfect righteousness.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The text explicitly ties eternal destiny to one's ability to 'abide the law' of a specific kingdom. This places an immense, crushing burden on the believer to achieve near-perfect obedience to attain the Celestial Kingdom, fostering constant anxiety about whether they have done enough to qualify for God's presence.
The relentless commands to 'sanctify yourselves,' 'purify your hearts,' 'cleanse your hands,' and 'cease from all your light speeches' and 'laughter' create an environment of hyper-vigilance. Believers may feel that any minor moral failing, idle thought, or even natural human joy (laughter) jeopardizes their spiritual standing and delays God unveiling His face to them.