Monday, October 28, 2019

The Book of Mormon Is Not One-to-One Equivalent to the "New Covenant" in D&C 84:57


D&C 84:57 is a commonly misinterpreted text:

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 to do according to that which I have written.

Some, including some critics of the Church, argue that this text teaches that the category of "new covenant" is exhausted by the Book of Mormon. This has resulted in them asking, "if the Book of Mormon is [1:1 equivalent to] the New Covenant, how do Latter-day Saints explain texts such as Jer 31:31; Heb 8:8, 13; 12:24? Clearly, the Book of Mormon is not the New Covenant, contra D&C 84:57!"

That this is a misreading is not difficult to show. In the very text, the Book of Mormon is not referenced alone, but “the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them.” 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" (per Stephen Robinson and H. Dean Garrett in vol. 3 of A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants).

It seems to me that the "New Covenant" is much more general than many LDS have read this text to be, but then there are specific things within this broader category that have been ignored and/or unappreciated by early Church members (i.e., the BOM and "the former commandments"). It would like someone saying "be sure to pray for all those in this Boylan household, even [alt. “especially”] Robert.” I would be part of the larger category of “Boylan household,” but I do not exhaust such a category. In like manner, the Book of Mormon (and the “former commandments”) are members of the category of “New Covenant” in D&C 84:57, but do not exhaust that category.

The two other instances of "New Covenant" in the Doctrine and Covenants supports this:

These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. (D&C 76:69)

To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. (D&C 107:19)

This is also borne out by examining how Joseph Smith and other early Latter-day Saint
used the term “New Covenant” (click here for a listing on the Joseph Smith Papers
Website). As one example, note the following in a letter to William W. Phelps dated 11


. . . for though our Brethren in Zion indulge in feelings towards us, which is are not according to the requirements of the new covenant yet we have the satisfaction of knowing that the Lord approves of us . . .





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