List of code names in the Doctrine and Covenants

The original 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of LDS scripture, used code names for certain people and places. These names appear only in a few of the book's sections, mainly those dealing with the United Order. It is believed that their purpose was to avoid the use of these sections in lawsuits by opponents of the Church, since giving the real names might have provided evidence that the United Order was legally a company, with its members financially liable for each other and the whole Order.^[1]

The 1981 LDS edition replaced these with the real names. The Community of Christ edition still uses the code names.

Code names for people

• Ahashdah: Newel K. Whitney
• Alam: Edward Partridge
• Baneemy: originally Lyman Wight, reinterpreted by Orson Pratt as "mine elders" in 1876, perhaps corrupt Hebrew for “my sons”; also claimed as a title by Charles B. Thompson
• Baurak Ale: Joseph Smith. This is a very clear Hebrew for barakh 'el (ברך אל) “blessed [of] El,” i.e., God.
• Enoch: Joseph Smith
• Gazelam: Joseph Smith (cf. Gazelem)
• Horah: John Whitmer
• Mahalaleel: Algernon Sidney Gilbert
• Mehemson: Martin Harris
• Olihah: Oliver Cowdery (see -ihah)
• Pelagoram: Sidney Rigdon
• Shalemanasseh: William Wines Phelps (cf. Shalmaneser, Manasseh)
• Shederlaomach: Frederick G. Williams (cf. Chedorlaomer, Shedolamak)
• Zombre: John Johnson

Other code words

• Cainhannoch: New York (cf. Enoch son of Cain)
• Lane-shine-house: printing office
• Ozondah: mercantile store
• Shinehah: Kirtland, Ohio (a word for the sun used in the Book of Abraham see also -hah)
• Shinelah: print
• Shinelane: printing
• Shule: ashery
• Tahhanes: tannery (cf. Tahpanhes)
• United Firm: United Order

References