CODE NAMES WERE USED IN THE EARLY MORMON SCRIPTURES

Code names were used in some early Mormon scripture verses in place of people's actual names, locations and places. Even Jesus Christ had other names. Except for the Lord's name, only the code names were used in certain Sections of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants (D&C), and sometime later newer editions of the D&C used the code names and real names together, until the 1981 edition, when the code names were dropped entirely (The last paragraph of the Explanatory Introduction of the 1986 edition of the D&C says: "(such as discontinuing the unusual names beginning with Section 78).").

By whose authority were code names used? By men according to Apostle Orson Pratt. He reported that the code names were not in the original manuscript revelations (Journal of Discourses 16:156) but were added before printing because of "persecution" in Kirtland (Kirtland, Ohio was a Mormon town near what is now Cleveland. The persecutors probably were disgruntled Mormons fed-up with Joseph's banking schemes (Joseph Smith's Kirtland, Karl Ricks Anderson, pages 205-206, 235-236, Deseret Books, 1989). The first LDS Mormon temple was built there and is now owned by the RLDS.) and regions near by. Jesus Christ is allegedly the source of the Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 1:2-6). Couldn't he in 1832 to 1834, when the revelations were allegedly given, anticipate that in 1835 code names would have to be used due to "persecution"? (It then took over 145 years to return the wording back to the original revelation.)

The present edition of the D&C, 1:2, and the 1835 D&C 1:1, both say, "....the voice of the Lord is unto all men,...." In Luke 8:17 the Lord said "....nothing is secret....neither anything hid...." How could the 1835 D&C be unto ALL men if codes were used to hide information?

Some Examples of the Code Names

Even Jesus Christ and New York City had code names!

* "....I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer, even the Son Ahman,...." (75:4, page 205 in the 1835 D&C). The same wording is in 78:20 in the 1968 D&C.

* "....saith Son Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or, in other words, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord...." (95:3, page 234 in the 1835). The same wording is in 95:17 in the 1968 D&C.

* "....write speedily unto Cainhannoch,....", (98:13, page 245 in the 1835 D&C). From 104:81 the 1968 edition we learn that Cainhannoch is New York. It says "....write speedily unto Cainhannoch (New York)...."

* "....let my servant Pelagoram have ....and the lot of Tahhanes,....my servant Mahemson....my servant Zombre....my servant Gazelam....my servant Shederlaomach,....my servant Olihah....have the Lane-shine-house...." (98:3-5, pages 241-242 in the 1835 D&C). From 104:20-29 in the 1968 edition we learn that Pelagoram is Sidney Rigdon; Tahhanes is the tannery; Mahemson is Martin Harris; Zombre is John Johnson; Gazelam is Joseph Smith Jr.; Shederlaomach is Frederick G. Williams; Olihah is Oliver Cowdery; Lane-shine-house is the printing office.

There are many more instances of which this is just a short example. This subject is covered in History of the Church, 1:256, 268, 352, 363; 2:56, 57, 60, and the Journal of Discourses 16:156.

John Farkas and David Reed

Berean Christian Ministries; P.O. Box 1091; Webster, NY 14580

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E-mail: bcmmin@frontiernet.net

Web page: http://www.frontiernet.net/~bcmmin