Church History Matters – Episode 167

D&C 124: Why God Told The Saints To Start Over
October 21, 2025
Hosts: Scott & Casey (Scripture Central)

Overview

In this in-depth episode, Scott and Casey explore Doctrine and Covenants Section 124—a pivotal, lengthy, and complex revelation received by Joseph Smith in January 1841. This episode examines the context, content, controversies, and consequences of Section 124, marking the dawn of the Nauvoo era in Latter-day Saint Church history. The hosts focus on why the Saints were told to begin anew in Nauvoo, the commands to construct both the Nauvoo Temple and the Nauvoo House, and how this period fundamentally shapes modern Latter-day Saint theology and practice.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Historical Context: From Missouri to Nauvoo

[03:36-07:18]

• After devastating losses in Missouri, the Saints regrouped in Quincy, Illinois, before purchasing the swampy land that became Nauvoo.
  • “It was more an expression of faith to call this place Nauvoo. It was them saying what the area could become rather than what it was since when the Saints first settled there. It's a malarial swamp.” – Casey [04:29]
• Suffering illness and death, Joseph Smith introduces baptism for the dead at Seymour Brunson’s funeral in August 1840, as the Saints grapple with pervasive mortality.
• Approval of the Nauvoo Charter [07:18] gave Saints unprecedented political, legal, educational, and military autonomy, crucial after their persecution in Missouri.

2. Receiving and Structuring Revelation: Section 124 as an Ecclesiastical Charter

[10:44-12:38]

• Section 124, the longest revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants, acts as the ecclesiastical ‘yin’ to the secular ‘yang’ of the Nauvoo Charter.
  • “As you said, Casey, you can kind of think of it as an ecclesiastical charter, kind of as the church version of what they had just passed in... the Nauvoo Charter.” – Scott [02:12]
• Outline of Section 124:
  • vv. 1–14: Commandment to proclaim the gospel to world leaders
  • vv. 15–21: Counsel and blessings to specific individuals
  • vv. 22–24: Command to build the Nauvoo House (boarding house)
  • vv. 25–55: Command to build the Nauvoo Temple; release from Jackson County obligation
  • vv. 56–72: Further instructions about the Nauvoo House
  • vv. 73–122: Specific counsel to individuals
  • vv. 123–145: Reorganization of Church government

3. Key Revelations and Mandates: The Proclamation, Nauvoo House, and Temple

a. The Proclamation to the “Kings of the World”

[12:38-15:40]

• The Saints are commanded to proclaim the gospel to world leaders, written with “meekness and by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
  • “I am about to call upon them to give heed to the light and glory of Zion.” – Quoted from revelation [13:46]
• Although initially assigned to Robert B. Thompson, the proclamation was not completed until 1845 by Parley P. Pratt, highlighting delays and shifts in church priorities.

b. The Nauvoo House

[20:07, 44:52-47:10, 61:42-68:12]

• Intended as a public hotel/boarding house, to create an inclusive, welcoming space for visitors to Nauvoo.
  • “The Nauvoo House is an inclusionary structure. It's for everybody... It's the first visitor center, I guess you'd say.” – Casey [62:25]
  • “Let it be a good house... that the weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord.” – Quoted from revelation [20:19]
• Ultimately, the project is never completed as planned, as efforts shift to finishing the temple.
• Insight: The concept of an inclusive, public space prefigured modern LDS visitor centers and PR efforts.

c. The Nauvoo Temple: Restoration of the Fullness of Priesthood

[22:25-29:26]

• The Nauvoo Temple is explicitly designated as the place to “restore again that which was lost... even the fullness of the priesthood.”
  • “This is like the climax of the entire restoration. Like, it's about getting the temple so that we can do these things for the living and for the dead in order to bring about the fullness of the priesthood...” – Scott [29:26]
• New ordinances are introduced or expanded:
  • Baptisms for the dead (previously done in the Mississippi River)
  • Washings and anointings
  • Endowment (and later, sealings)
  • Inclusion of women as temple workers—a historic innovation
    • “In Nauvoo, men and women are going to perform ordinances with authority, and that's a new thing.” – Casey [33:51]
• The temple supersedes the prior commandment to build in Jackson County, Missouri, but the Jackson County command is not revoked permanently (controversial among scholars).
  • “For this cause I have accepted the offerings of those whom I commanded to build up a city and house under my name in Jackson County, Missouri, and were hindered by their enemies...” – Quoted [41:08]

4. Government, Organization, and Church Leadership

[47:10-54:29]

• Section 124 reorganizes the Church government after disruptions caused by deaths and apostasy in Missouri.
  • Appointments and roles: Hyrum Smith (Patriarch and Co-President), William Law (Second Counselor), Brigham Young (President of the Twelve), quorums, and church officers.
• Tragic irony: Some leaders highly praised in this section—John C. Bennett and William Law—would soon betray Joseph Smith and become enemies.
  • “Why would the Lord bring John C. Bennett into that position and William Law... knowing where their trajectories are going?...God gives people chances.” – Scott & Casey [58:43-61:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:29] Casey: “It was more an expression of faith to call this place Nauvoo... It's a malarial swamp.”
• [13:16] Scott: “Joseph Smith, you are my object lesson to this dispensation; to show what I can do with weak people who offer themselves wholly to me, like you've done, Joseph Smith.”
• [20:19] Revelation (regarding Nauvoo House): “Build a house for boarding, a house that strangers may come from afar to lodge therein...that the weary traveler may find health and safety while he shall contemplate the word of the Lord.”
• [29:26] Scott: “This is like the climax of the entire restoration.”
• [33:51] Casey: “In Nauvoo, men and women are going to perform ordinances with authority, and that's a new thing. That's really amazing, actually.”
• [41:25] Casey: “It is clear that this does kind of mark a shift in at least the priorities of the early saints.”
• [62:25] Casey: “The Nauvoo House is a little...the first visitor center, I guess you'd say. And it does show that the Saints need to be as inclusive as possible.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Highlights | |:----------:|-------------------| | 00:00–01:19 | Introduction—Setting the Purpose of the Nauvoo House | | 03:36–07:18 | Historical context: From Missouri expulsion to settling Nauvoo | | 10:44–12:38 | Structure and overview of Section 124 | | 15:40 | Delay and ultimate authorship of the Proclamation | | 20:07, 44:52, 61:42 | The Nauvoo House: Purpose, plans, and broader symbolism | | 22:25–29:26 | Command to build the Nauvoo Temple: Ordinances and Restoration of Priesthood | | 31:17–38:25 | Nauvoo Temple Innovations: Work for the dead and inclusion of women | | 41:08–43:36 | Release from obligation to build in Jackson County, Missouri | | 47:10–54:29 | Church government reorganization; succession implications | | 58:43–61:42 | Reflections: Betrayal by John C. Bennett and William Law | | 69:53–71:17 | The Hebrew meaning of "Nauvoo"—defending Joseph Smith's scholarship | | 71:27–74:53 | Consequences: Lasting impact of Section 124 and the Nauvoo era |

Controversies and Challenging Topics

• Leadership Betrayals: Both John C. Bennett and William Law receive high praise in Section 124 but later become leading figures in opposition to Joseph Smith—demonstrating God’s commitment to offering genuine second chances.
• Nauvoo House’s Apparent “Failure”: Despite extensive revelation, the hotel is never completed. The symbolic value, however, lives on in the Church’s commitment to inclusivity and public outreach.
  • “It's the visitor's welcome sign for Nauvoo.” – Casey [62:25]
• Continuing Destiny of Jackson County: Debate continues as to whether Section 124 releases the church from the obligation to build in Jackson County permanently or only temporarily.

Consequences and Legacy

[71:27–73:57]

• Section 124 initiates the Nauvoo era—a time of “incalculably great” promise, innovation, and controversy for the Latter-day Saints.
  • Proclamation to the leaders of the world
  • Construction of the prototypical modern temple, with new ordinances central to contemporary LDS belief and practice
  • Reaffirmed and reorganized priesthood structure, ensuring institutional continuity after Joseph’s eventual martyrdom
  • Set the “inclusion/exclusion” precedent—temple as sacred, restricted; Nauvoo House as public and outreaching
  • The basis for the Church’s distinctive “Nauvoo Church” status among restorationist groups

Modern Impact:

• Every future LDS temple follows the pattern set in Nauvoo—ordinances for the living and the dead, endowment, and sealing.
• LDS emphasis on genealogy and temple work finds its origin in the theological innovations of this period.
• The Church’s public “visitors welcome” attitude has ongoing relevance.

Closing Thoughts

• Section 124 is the ecclesiastical charter for a new epoch of the Restoration—Nauvoo. It reorients the Saints' focus, introduces enduring temple theology, and establishes a foundation for both sacred exclusivity and broad inclusivity.

  • “So Section 124, a new epoch begins, a new era in church history. The Nauvoo Era is off to the races.” – Casey [74:53]

• Upcoming episodes will cover the theology surrounding work for the dead and further explore the climactic revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants.