Church History Matters Podcast – Episode 137 Summary

Title: D&C 78-80 CFM – Codenames & Early Business Ventures - E29B July 14-20
Host: Scripture Central
Released: July 9, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 137 of the Church History Matters podcast, hosts Sam and Casey delve into Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) Sections 78 through 80. This episode explores the early Latter-day Saint Church's integration of spiritual and temporal governance through the establishment of the United Firm, the use of codenames to protect church leaders, and the missionary experiences of Jared Carter and Stephen Burnett. The discussion provides a comprehensive understanding of these foundational sections, their historical context, and their lasting impact on the Church's financial and spiritual practices.

Overview of Sections 78-80

Sections 78-80 of the Doctrine and Covenants chronicle the Church's first large-scale attempt to balance spiritual objectives with temporal needs through organized business ventures. This initiative, known initially as the United Firm and later as the United Order, involved prominent Church leaders and introduced the use of codenames to safeguard their identities amid growing opposition.

Detailed Analysis of Section 78

Sam: "This is the church's first large scale attempt to integrate spiritual and temporal governance through a formal business structure. And it's not going to be the last." [00:00]

Casey: "We don't see a big difference between doing something spiritual and doing something temporal." [00:10]

Section 78 directed Church leaders Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Newell K. Whitney to organize the United Firm by consolidating various economic ventures, including Sidney Gilbert's store in Independence, Missouri, and Newell K. Whitney's store in Kirtland, Ohio. The primary goals were to secure the Saints' financial footing and fund the publication of Joseph Smith's revelations, which culminated in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Casey: "This revelation [Section 78] directed church leaders to organize these ventures into one firm. And originally it's called the United Firm, but the name was later edited in the Revelations to be called the Order or the United Order." [01:21]

Codenames and Obfuscation

To protect the identities of Church leaders amid persecution and potential litigation, Section 78 employed codenames. Although these names have been removed in later editions of the Doctrine and Covenants, their initial use reflects the precarious environment faced by early Saints.

Casey: "The code names have been taken out of our current Doctrine and Covenants. But when Section 78 was first published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, there's different code names used for different figures." [04:03]

Examples include:

• Enoch for Joseph Smith
• Pelogorum for Sidney Rigdon
• Ahashta for Newell K. Whitney

Casey: "Elder Orson Pratt later explains why the code names were used... their enemies are going to completely organize their efforts to torpedo the Kirtland Bank." [05:41]

Sam reflects on the personal connection to these historical details, recalling how childhood encounters with these codenames left a lasting impression.

Principles and Legacy of the United Firm

Despite its eventual dissolution, the United Firm laid the groundwork for the Church's modern financial independence and integrated approach to spiritual and temporal matters.

Casey: "The principles and ideas here are everlasting... these principles are still very valuable and they're used by the Church to guide it in its attempts to live out the law of consecration." [12:30]

Sam: "In our day, Casey, we say it humbly, but we say it truly. We have achieved financial independence as a church... what we can do now is powerful and that is undeniable." [20:11]

The hosts emphasize that the United Firm served as a prototype for future Church financial ventures, ensuring that the Church could operate independently and sustainably.

Casey: "The United Firm is sort of the prototype. It's our first test drive to use this unique fusion of two things that are usually separated... the spiritual and the temporal." [42:43]

Sections 79-80: Jared Carter and Stephen Burnett

Sections 79 and 80 focus on revelations given to missionaries Jared Carter and Stephen Burnett, respectively. These sections highlight their early devotion and subsequent challenges within the Church.

Section 79 – Jared Carter

Sam: "The Lord opens here by declaring that it is his will that my servant Jared Carter should go again into the eastern countries... I will crown him again with sheaves." [46:07]

Jared Carter embarked on missions that initially saw success, converting numerous souls. However, over time, he experienced a decline in faith, ultimately leaving the Church and settling in Illinois.

Casey: "He leaves the church... just kind of this like slow petering, says the spirit of God left me and he just didn't really feel the fire anymore." [56:28]

Section 80 – Stephen Burnett

Sam: "The Lord says, my servant, Stephen Burnett, go ye... declare the things which ye have heard and verily believe and know to be true." [49:37]

Stephen Burnett, one of the youngest high priests, received a mission alongside Eden Smith. Their mission was less successful, leading Stephen to eventually apostatize during the Kirtland apostasy, vehemently opposing Joseph Smith and the Church.

Casey: "In his apostasy... rejoiced in the great victory he had obtained over the great God and all the holy angels." [56:28]

Controversies and Historical Lessons

The stories of Jared Carter and Stephen Burnett serve as cautionary tales about the challenges of maintaining faith amidst external pressures and personal trials. Their trajectories from devout missionaries to disillusioned individuals underscore the importance of consistent spiritual nourishment and resilience.

Sam: "Maybe section 79 and 80 can just serve as a sobering and cautionary tale for any of us who've ever felt the warm glow of faith..." [58:58]

Casey: "It's a maybe all too familiar narrative where you meet somebody that has the real fire in their life, and then for whatever reason... they kind of lose that fire that they had as younger people." [60:00]

The use of codenames and the eventual dissolution of the United Firm also highlight the complexities and unintended consequences of the Church's early financial strategies.

Casey: "The code names... created confusion to cause decades of misunderstanding, even up into the highest levels of the Church." [37:30]

Conclusion

Episode 137 of Church History Matters offers a nuanced exploration of Doctrine and Covenants Sections 78-80, illuminating the early Church's efforts to intertwine spiritual missions with temporal stability. Through the examination of the United Firm's establishment, the strategic use of codenames, and the missionary journeys of Jared Carter and Stephen Burnett, Sam and Casey provide listeners with valuable insights into the foundational challenges and enduring principles that have shaped the Church's evolution. The episode underscores the delicate balance between spiritual devotion and practical governance, a theme that remains relevant in the Church's ongoing development.

Notable Quotes:

• "The purpose of all of this is to enable the church to stand independent, not be subject to anyone on earth, in order to prepare for the second coming of Jesus." – Sam [00:23]

• "We strive to sacrifice to help others, but we also strive to be independent." – Casey [00:18]

• "You have to do the work to understand what about the law of consecration is eternal and still applies today, and what was situational." – Casey [38:25]

• "Elder McConkie kind of favored that reading [Son of Man as Son of Ammon], but... biblical scholarship would say... to obfuscate his true identity until it was time." – Sam [30:34]

This summary encapsulates the rich discussions and historical insights presented in the episode, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a comprehensive understanding of the early Church's efforts to harmonize spiritual aspirations with temporal necessities.