And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but do to according to that which I have written. (D&C 84:57)
I have heard some critics cite this verse as evidence against Latter-day Saint claims, as they claim that this verse in the Doctrine and Covenants equates the [New] Covenant with the Book of Mormon. However, this is a misreading.
Firstly, the “covenant” in view in D&C 84:57 is not only the Book of Mormon; it encompasses “the Book of Mormon and the former commandments” received by early Latter-day Saints, so in reality, there is no issue. The Book of Mormon is part of the saving covenant of God in the same way the text of the Bible is part of God’s saving covenant—being a written expression of the contents of the Gospel and commandments and ordinances thereof.
Covenant
COVENANT, noun [L, to come; a coming together; a meeting or agreement of minds.]
1. A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation. A covenant is created by deed in writing, sealed and executed; or it may be implied in the contract.
2. A writing containing the terms of agreement or contract between parties; or the clause of agreement in a deed containing the covenant
3. In theology, the covenant of works, is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that mans perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live; that do, and die.
The covenant of redemption, is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ.
The covenant of grace, is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.
4. In church affairs, a solemn agreement between the members of a church, that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection.
Even if one wishes to absolutise the verse as some critics are wont to do, there is no issue, as definitions 2 and 4 fit perfectly the verse.
Commenting on this verse, Stephen Robinson and H. Dean Garrett in vol. 3 of A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, wrote the following on this verse which is rather รก propos:
If the Saints will just read the Book of Mormon, they will learn the doctrine of Christ. The fulness of the gospel can also be found in the Bible (see Introduction to the Book of Mormon) and the other scriptures of the Church, but the Book of Mormon has been revealed in the last days specifically as a witness for our dispensation.
With respect to "the former commandments," Robinson and Garrett wrote:
Commandment sometimes equals revelation in the language of the Doctrine and Covenants. "The former commandments" may mean the revelations of Joseph Smith, soon to be printed in the 1833 Book of Commandments, or "former" may mean prior to the Book of Mormon and would thus indicate the revelations given by God in the Bible, which also contains "the fulness of the everlasting gospel" (Introduction to the Book of Mormon).
Again, we see that some critics are guilty of engaging in a gross misreading of uniquely Latter-day Saint Scriptures to attack the Church. Instead of revealing problems with LDS theology and Scripture, it only shows the poor comprehension skills of some critics of the Restored Gospel.