Class 25 – Sections & Official Declaration 1 The Restored Order of Marriage

Section 131 From instructions given in May 1843.

Section 131 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees…

Section 131 “a man must enter this order of the priesthood” Is marriage an order of the priesthood into which women enter, too?

What are the essential ingredients of a Covenant?

A person -- a promise The Lord -- a blessing The Lord’s representative The Holy Spirit of Promise Witnesses What are the essential ingredients of a Covenant?

Promise The Lord makes the terms, we agree to do certain things and the Lord guarantees to give us certain blessings.

Physical Manifestation An ordinance administered by proper authority is the physical manifestation of the covenant. This is like signing a contract.

The Holy Spirit of Promise D&C 132:7 The Holy Ghost who accepts the contract for the Lord.

Contract The contract is made by ordinance. The covenant lasts until the terms of the contract are realized.

Section 132 Recorded July 1843 when Emma refused to accept plural marriage. Hyrum thought she would come around if she could read the revelation. Joseph dictated it from memory to William Clayton.

Section 132 The revelation may have been given as early as It was first published in 1852 when polygamy was made public.

Polygamy and Joseph Smith Joseph Smith probably married no one between 1836 and Joseph married about 30 women. 10 of these women were already married to other men.

Polygamy and Joseph Smith These 10 continued to live with their husbands. Six of the husbands were active LDS members. It is likely but not certain that sexual relations were part of at least some of the marriages.

Polygamy and Joseph Smith There is no clear evidence that Joseph fathered any children except by Emma.

Polygamy and Joseph Smith Joseph would usually ask a relative of the woman to arrange the marriage. There was seldom any indication of romance. He recognized that if word spread about plural marriage, his life would be in danger.

Polygamy in Nauvoo By the time of Joseph Smith’s death, about 30 men in Nauvoo had plural wives. Ceremonies were held publicly, but sometimes in disguise. In one case, Joseph’s bride was dressed as a man and the group acted as if they were engaged in conversation.

Polygamy in Nauvoo Some of Joseph’s wives lived in the Mansion House for periods of time. Most lived with their own family. Most plural wives did not live with their husbands.

Joseph Smith’s View of Polygamy Joseph would indicate that if a woman would enter into a plural marriage with him, it would bring eternal blessings upon them and their family.

Joseph Smith’s View of Polygamy Joseph received the revelation, but wanted to ignore it. Joseph said that an angel with a drawn sword came to him three times and that if Joseph did not obey the principle, the angel would slay him.

How Others Viewed Polygamy Many were shocked and outraged at first. Joseph asked them to seek the Lord’s witness. Many report receiving great spiritual manifestations of the truth of the principle.

Calling and Election Made Sure Those who press forward in righteousness, living by every word of revealed truth, have power to make their calling and election sure. They receive the more sure word of prophecy and know by revelation and the authority of the priesthood that they are sealed up unto eternal life. They are sealed up against all manner of sin and blasphemy except the blasphemy against the Holy

Calling and Election Made Sure Ghost and the shedding of innocent blood. But the mere fact of being married for time and eternity in the temple, standing alone, does not give them this guarantee. Blessings pronounced upon couples in connection with celestial marriage are conditioned upon the subsequent faithfulness of the participating parties. - Joseph Fielding Smith

Innocent Blood If a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.

Innocent Blood Whose blood is innocent?

Innocent Blood Whose blood is innocent? How do we figuratively shed Christ’s blood?

Polygamy in the Old Testament Approved by the Lord Wives given by the prophet

Emma Smith Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.

Emma Smith And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph. And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed.

Law of Sarah And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified…

Law of Sarah If any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed…

Law of Sarah It shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord his God, will give unto him.

Plural Marriage in Utah About 10% of Mormon men had plural wives. Many felt that exaltation required plural marriage. Many men were sealed to other women posthumously. Many women were sealed to noteworthy men.

Plural Marriage in Utah In 1856, the Republican party called for the dissolution of the “twin relics of barbarism –slavery and polygamy” in the territories. Political pressure increased after the Civil War.

Plural Marriage in Utah Laws were enacted against polygamy. Many church leaders were imprisoned. Pres. John Taylor died in Kaysville, hiding from federal marshals. Church property was confiscated.

Plural Marriage in Utah Appeals were made to the U.S. Supreme Court. Public opinion was that religious freedom could not be allowed when important institutions such as marriage and family were at stake. The Church appealed the court decisions, but lost.

The Manifesto and Beyond The Manifesto ended polygamy in October Later interpretations by Pres. Joseph F. Smith applied the Manifesto to plural marriage outside the United States.

The Manifesto and Beyond Elders Marriner W. Merrill, Matthias Cowley, and John W. Taylor opposed broader interpretations of the Manifesto. Elder Merrill died and Elders Cowley and Taylor resigned.

The Manifesto and Beyond Matthias Cowley was later disfellowshipped and John W. Taylor was excommunicated. Matthias Cowley returned to fellowship in the Church. John W. Taylor was posthumously restored to membership in 1965.

Why Polygamy? Historians (some sympathetic and some antagonistic) have suggested many things…

Why Polygamy? to have mistresses honorably

Why Polygamy? to have mistresses honorably as a social experiment

Why Polygamy? to have mistresses honorably as a social experiment to build up the Kingdom

Why Polygamy? to have mistresses honorably as a social experiment to build up the Kingdom to expand marriage opportunities

Why Polygamy? to have mistresses honorably as a social experiment to build up the Kingdom to expand marriage opportunities as part of the restoration of all things

Why Polygamy? to have mistresses honorably as a social experiment to build up the Kingdom to expand marriage opportunities as part of the restoration of all things to establish connections between families

Why Polygamy In Section 132, the Lord said: All those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same It was instituted “for the fulness of my glory.”

Joseph Smith’s Explanation In a letter proposing marriage to Nancy Rigdon, who rejected Joseph’s proposal, he said, “ Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire.”

Celestial Marriage The more important message for us is that we can receive celestial marriage.

Celestial Marriage Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a woman, and a man…

Celestial Marriage Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a woman, and a man… to bless our marriage and family life in this world

Celestial Marriage Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a woman, and a man… to bless our marriage and family life in this world to seal our spouse and children to us eternally

Celestial Marriage Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a woman, and a man… to bless our marriage and family life in this world to seal our spouse and children to us eternally to qualify us for exaltation, so that we can receive all the Father has.