D&C 85:5 “Their names shall not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the of the law of God, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
Study Insights
D&C 85:5 – Names Not Found in the Book of the Law of God
(Revelation Received November 27, 1832)
Doctrine and Covenants 85:5 is a striking and sobering passage received by the Prophet Joseph Smith on November 27, 1832, during a period of administrative challenges in the early Church. This verse reveals the Lord’s deep concern with record-keeping, covenant fidelity, and the eternal consequences of rebellion. It reads: “Their names shall not be found, neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the children written in the book of the law of God, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
At first glance, the verse may seem purely administrative—a divine instruction about Church records and genealogical tracking. But underneath this surface lies a powerful spiritual principle: names matter to God, and being recorded in His heavenly book is symbolic of being counted among the faithful. In this case, those who failed to live in harmony with revealed law, particularly in matters related to stewardship and consecration in Zion, risked not only exclusion from earthly inheritance but also from the eternal record of the righteous.
This revelation came amid growing tension surrounding the Law of Consecration in Missouri. Some Saints were neglecting their covenants, especially in how they dealt with land, property, and obedience to divine directives. The Lord responded by clarifying that failure to uphold these covenants would result in their names being omitted from “the book of the law of God”—a phrase that evokes imagery of divine judgment, accountability, and celestial record-keeping.
To be omitted from this book is more than a clerical issue; it is a spiritual tragedy. It represents the forfeiture of spiritual inheritance, a severing from the covenant lineage that connects generations of Saints. The phrase “neither the names of the fathers, nor the names of the children” underlines the generational impact of personal disobedience. Just as faith and righteousness can ripple through generations, so too can rebellion and neglect.
The Lord of Hosts declares this consequence—not in anger, but in solemn warning. He invites the Saints, then and now, to take their place in the divine record by obedience, sacrifice, and unity. He reminds us that discipleship is more than belief—it’s a covenantal journey etched into eternity, a record written not only by human scribes but by heavenly ones.
D&C 85:5 thus compels modern readers to reflect: Are our names being written in the book of the law of God by the way we live? Are we honoring the spiritual legacies of our forebears and securing the inheritance of our posterity? The Lord’s message is clear: He knows who His covenant people are, and He calls us to live so that our names—and those of our families—are inscribed forever in His eternal ledger.
