1. Plural Marriage Lesson 20 ~ Declaration 1. Topics, lds.org/topics.
Student Readings:
• Jacob 2:27–30; Doctrine and Covenants 132:1–3, 34–48, 54, 63; Official
Declaration 1.
• “Plural Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Gospel
Topics, lds.org/topics.

2. Lesson Outline: The doctrinal basis for plural marriage.
The origins of plural marriage in the latter day Church.
Why plural marriage in the latter days?
The end of plural marriage in the Church.

3. In 1831, while Joseph Smith was working on the inspired translation of the Old Testament, known as the Joseph Smith Translation, he read that some of the ancient prophets practiced plural marriage (also called polygamy). These prophets included Abraham, Jacob, and Moses.

4. D&C 132:1-2
What questions do you think Joseph Smith had as he pondered these ancient prophets?

5. Why had the polygamous actions of notable Old Testament prophet-leaders received divine approval?
Why were such polygamous relationships not violations of the law of chastity?
Why was this not considered adultery?

6. D&C 132:34-36 – Why did Abraham and Sarah practice plural marriage?
The Lord revealed the answers to his questions in a revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants 132. Although the date of this revelation is July 12, 1843, it is likely that Joseph Smith was receiving revelation on the principles recorded in this section over time, beginning as early as 1831.
D&C 132:34-36 – Why did Abraham and Sarah practice plural marriage?

7. Doctrine
Plural marriage is an acceptable practice only when the Lord commands it.
How has your life been blessed by the restoration of temple ordinances?

8. What do we learn from these verses?
Jacob 2:24-30
What do we learn from these verses?

9. Doctrine
Plural marriage is an acceptable practice only when the Lord commands it.
Marriage between one man and one woman is God’s standard unless He commands otherwise.

10. By what authority and by whom is plural marriage approved?
D&C 132:45,48
By what authority and by whom is plural marriage approved?
Plural marriage can be authorized only through the priesthood keys given to the President of the Church.

11. Doctrine
Plural marriage is an acceptable practice only when the Lord commands it.
Marriage between one man and one woman is God’s standard unless He commands otherwise.
Plural marriage can be authorized only through the priesthood keys given to the President of the Church.

12. Whatever God commands is law and is right.
Doctrine
Whatever God commands is law and is right.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob – take plural wives in obedience to God’s commandments.
Abraham attempts to sacrifice Isaac but is stopped – in obedience to God’s commandments.
Nephi slays Laban - in obedience to God’s commandments.

13. What is one reason given here for plural marriage in the latter days?
D&C 132:40
What is one reason given here for plural marriage in the latter days?
According to verse 40, what was the Lord going to do in the last dispensation?

14. Why plural marriage in the latter day Church?

15. Why plural marriage in the latter day Church?
Restore all things.
Provide the blessing of sealings to more Saints.
Raise up a righteous seed.
Provide a test of faith.
The Nauvoo Temple was not going to be functional for very long.
Those that entered into plural marriages – both men and women – did so with great difficulty and after a spiritual witness.

16. “The Prophet Joseph unbosomed his heart [to Lorenzo Snow], and described the trying mental ordeal he experienced in overcoming the repugnance of his feelings, the natural result of the force of education and social custom, relative to the introduction of plural marriage. He knew the voice of God—he knew the commandment of the Almighty to him was to go forward—to set the example, and establish Celestial plural marriage. He knew that he had not only his own prejudices and prepossessions to combat and to overcome, but those of the whole Christian world stared him in the face; but God, who is above all, had given the commandment, and He must be obeyed. Yet the Prophet hesitated and deferred from time to time, until an angel of God stood by him with a drawn sword, and told him that, unless he moved forward and established plural marriage, his Priesthood would be taken from him and he should be destroyed! This testimony he not only bore to my brother, but also to others - a testimony that cannot be gainsayed [contradicted]”.
(Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow [1884], 69–70).

17. Brigham Young:
“It was the first time in my life that I had desired the grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. When I saw a funeral I felt to envy the corpse its situation, and to regret that I was not in the coffin.”
John Taylor:
“…it was one of the greatest crosses that ever was taken up by any set of men since the world stood.”

18. “Consistent with Joseph Smith’s teachings, the Church permits a man whose wife has died to be sealed to another woman when he remarries. Moreover, members are permitted to perform ordinances on behalf of deceased men and women who married more than once on earth, sealing them to all of the spouses to whom they were legally married. The precise nature of these relationships in the next life is not known, and many family relationships will be sorted out in the life to come. Latter-day Saints are encouraged to trust in our wise Heavenly Father, who loves His children and does all things for their growth and salvation”.
(“Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo,” Gospel Topics, lds.org/topics)

20. “Latter-day Saints believe that the marriage of one man and one woman is the Lord’s standing law of marriage. In biblical times, the Lord commanded some to practice plural marriage - the marriage of one man and more than one woman. By revelation, the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to institute the practice of plural marriage among Church members in the early 1840s. For more than half a century, plural marriage was practiced by some Latter-day Saints under the direction of the Church President”.

21. Official Declaration - 1
Pres. Wilford Woodruff
The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.

22. Official Declaration - 1
Pres. Wilford Woodruff
It matters not who lives or who dies, or who is called to lead this Church, they have got to lead it by the inspiration of Almighty God. If they do not do it that way, they cannot do it at all. …

23. Official Declaration - 1
Pres. Wilford Woodruff
The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice. If we had not stopped it, you would have had no use for … any of the men in this temple at Logan; for all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. Confusion would reign throughout Israel, and many men would be made prisoners.

24. Official Declaration - 1
Pres. Wilford Woodruff
Now, the question is, whether it should be stopped in this manner, or in the way the Lord has manifested to us, and leave our Prophets and Apostles and fathers free men, and the temples in the hands of the people, so that the dead may be redeemed. A large number has already been delivered from the prison house in the spirit world by this people, and shall the work go on or stop? This is the question I lay before the Latter-day Saints. You have to judge for yourselves.

25. Doctrine
The Lord will never permit the President of the Church to lead the Church astray.
The Lord directs His Church through revelation to the President of the Church.
We should not seek to receive revelation that is contrary to what the Lord has revealed through His prophets.
How has your life been blessed by the restoration of temple ordinances?

26. “President George Q. Cannon reflected on the revelatory process that brought the Manifesto about: ‘The Presidency of the Church have to walk just as you walk,’ he said. ‘They have to take steps just as you take steps. They have to depend upon the revelations of God as they come to them. They cannot see the end from the beginning, as the Lord does.’ ‘All that we can do,’ Cannon said, speaking of the First Presidency, ‘is to seek the mind and will of God, and when that comes to us, though it may come in contact with every feeling that we have previously entertained, we have no option but to take the step that God points out, and to trust to Him’”.

27. “If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. … More than a century ago God clearly revealed unto His prophet Wilford Woodruff that the practice of plural marriage should be discontinued, which means that it is now against the law of God. Even in countries where civil or religious law allows polygamy, the Church teaches that marriage must be monogamous and does not accept into its membership those practicing plural marriage”.

28. The Prophetic Mission of
Next week:
The Prophetic Mission of
Joseph Smith ~
Lesson 21
Student Readings:
• 2 Nephi 3:1–21; Doctrine and Covenants 122:1–2; 135:3; Joseph Smith - History
1:33.
• Neil L. Andersen, “Joseph Smith,” Ensign, Nov

29. "The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied His sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their covenants, and desire what is right. Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is in the great plan of happiness for all of our Father's worthy children. We know that will be true of temple ordinances. I believe it will also be true of family relationships and experiences.“
(With Full Purpose of Heart, 35).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
There are many who for the foreseeable future cannot enjoy the full blessings of eternal marriage and family, such as those who are single, who are married to someone who is not a member of the Church, or one who experiences same-gender attraction. To such persons, Elder Dallin H. Oaks offers this consolation: "The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied His sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their covenants, and desire what is right. Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is in the great plan of happiness for all of our Father's worthy children. We know that will be true of temple ordinances. I believe it will also be true of family relationships and experiences" (With Full Purpose of Heart, 35).

30. “The Lord’s answer was simple and forthright, although considerable space is devoted to the issue in the revelation (D&C 132): any action inspired, authorized, or commanded of God is moral and good. More specifically, marriages approved of the Almighty are recognized and acknowledged as sacred. Joseph wrote in 1839: “How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart!”
Robert L. Millet

31. “…one simply cannot begin to understand this practice unless he or she realized that once the Prophet Joseph Smith was able to glimpse the significance of such matters as sealing powers, celestial marriage, and eternal families, the effort to make these blessings available to as many of the sons and daughters of God as possible became a pressing obligation. Why? Because, as the Prophet stated, “Those who keep no eternal Law in this life or make no eternal contract are single & alone in the eternal world.” Words of Joseph Smith, 232
Robert L. Millet