Truth Never Changes Volume 14 No. 4

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES

A PUBLICATION IN THE SPIRIT AND TRADITON OF TRUTH MAGAZINE

Y     VOLUME 14   WINTER  2011 - 2012    NUMBER 04    Y

The Last Battle—The First War

Remembering Teachings from Brother Ted Jessop

[I heard my father on a couple occasions offer an interpretation of the last great battle yet to take place—the battle of Gog and Magog, as described in the book of Revelation.  I found it so fascinating and enlightening and hope you will, too.  I pray that my memory will serve in this instance and I can do his teachings justice.]

A Law Forsaken

Everyone who has ever asked Heavenly Father, knows that the Manifesto of 1890, and the statement later issued in 1904, reinforcing the abolition of Celestial Plural Marriage within the Church, were not from Him.  The Lord Himself asked John Taylor in 1886:

Recommended Sites http://facebook.com/profile.php?id=222773274416317&refied=0&ref=pymk (Supporters/Explorers of Mormon Fundamentalism) allofthegospel.com  ogdenkraut.com 4thefamily.us                                       IN THIS ISSUE The Last Battle—The First War……………………………………..105 Is Jacob 2 a Manifesto?....................................................112 On Seeking a Release From a Marriage…………………….…..120 A Discourse From Brigham Young…………………………….…..125 Commentary On Celestial Plural Marriage……………….…..129 Who Held the Keys?………………………………………………….….132 From Legends & Myths………………………………………………...135 The Everlasting Gospel……………………………………………..….139 The Importance of Plural Marriage………………………………143 Mission Statement………………………………………………………145

“How can I revoke an everlasting covenant, for I, the Lord, am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated, or done away with, but they stand forever.”  (1886 Revelation)

The Law of Celestial Marriage was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith in this, the Last Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, as described in D&C Section 132—Celestial Marriage is Plural Marriage.

Said the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“They accuse me of polygamy, and of being a false Prophet, and many other things which I do not now remember; but I am no false Prophet: I am no imposter; I have had no dark revelations; I have had no revelations from the devil; I made no revelations; I have got nothing up of myself.  The same God that has thus far dictated me and directed me and strengthened me in this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on celestial and plural marriage and the same God commanded me to obey it.  He said to me that unless I accepted it and introduced it, and practiced it, I, together with my people, would be damned and cut off from this time henceforth.  And they say if I do so, they will kill me.  O, what shall I do?  If I do not practice it, I shall be damned with my people.  If I do teach it and practice it, and urge it, they say they will kill me, and I know they will, but we have got to observe it.  It is an eternal principle and it was given by way of commandment and not by way of instruction.”   (Contributor, Vol. 5:259; Celestial or Plural Marriage, p. 8)

Interesting to note that the Prophet Joseph stated that if he did not accept, practice or introduce the principle, he and the Saints would be “damned and cut off from this time henceforth.”  Why then, would the contemporary Church teach the Saints that it is acceptable to abandon or postpone the Principle of Celestial Plural Marriage, if it was not intended for the salvation of all Saints ever to set foot upon this earth in this dispensation?  Is this dispensation not called The Last Dispensation of the Fulness of Times?  What is the Last Dispensation—what does it mean?  It means a dispensation of power and authority—the Holy Priesthood brought to the earth—and that all previous dispensations will funnel into this one.  All things ever restored, all laws ever revealed will culminate into and be lived in this, the Last Dispensation.  Isn’t Plural Marriage an important enough law?  Isn’t Plural Marriage designed for the salvation of mankind?  Aren’t all laws important for our salvation?  Can we omit a portion or decline to live the whole of any law?  How can we lie to ourselves, thinking that we can reap the same reward as others who fulfilled these laws and now reside with the Father?  About this, Brother Rulon Allred said:

            “…if you can’t keep the commandments, you can’t obtain the blessings.  And if you don’t know the law, you won’t be condemned by the law.  But neither will you obtain the blessing.  That’s just simple logic.”  (Treasures of Knowledge, Vol. II, p. 161)

Yet there are many who have lived—and others, who are currently living the Law who will have their wives taken from them.  With greater light comes greater responsibility.  Heber C. Kimball stated on April 12, 1868:

“There are hundreds and thousands of men in this Church today who have a plurality of wives which will be taken from them and they cannot help themselves, because they do not keep the Celestial Law.”  (J. of D. 12:190)

Conversely, the parable of the talents the Savior spoke of is in direct reference to a man and his wives.  Apostle Erastus Snow said:

“Joseph Smith said that the parable that Jesus spoke of that the man who had one talent and hid it in the earth was the man who had but one wife and would not take another, would have her taken from him and given to one who had more.”  (Celestial or Plural Marriage , p. 11)

The Prophet Joseph also stated that the same parable applied to this dispensation.  (H. C. 2:24).  Are we not still living in the same dispensation?  I ask again: Shouldn’t this law of Celestial Plural Marriage still be observed?  What will happen to the man who will not obey this Principle?  Brother Brigham Young said:

“Now where a man in the Church says, ‘I don’t want but one wife, I will have my religion with one,’ he will perhaps be saved in the Celestial Kingdom; but when he gets there he will not find himself in possession of any wife at all.  He has had a talent that he has hid up.  He will come forward and say, ‘Here is that which thou gavest me.  I have not wasted it, and here is the one talent,’ and he will not enjoy it, but it will be taken and given to those who have improved the talents they received, and he will find himself without any wife and he will remain single forever and ever.”  (J. of D. 16:166)

President Joseph F. Smith stated:

“I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean that every man in this Church who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness, and will not shall be damned.  I say I understand it to mean this and nothing less and I testify in the name of Jesus that it does mean that…”  (J. of D. 20:28)

Those are very powerful words—and all from men who lived in our dispensation.  But the leaders of the Church tell us that we cannot live this law any longer; that we will “enjoy this privilege in the Millennium.”  Isn’t that, in effect, telling the Saints that God is a liar?  Or, perhaps saying, “The Lord didn’t really know what He was talking about when he gave the Principle of Celestial Plural Marriage—we know what He was really trying to say.”  Did not the Lord tell John Taylor that He is everlasting and His covenants cannot be abrogated, but stand forever?  Did not the Lord also say on the same revelation:

“Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject?  Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my laws and the keeping of my commandments…”  (1886 Revelation)

The Lord is telling us that He has already given us the commandment!  Why then, is it necessary for us to receive another commandment to live any law, if the eternal decree has already been sent forth?  It isn’t necessary—the Lord has spoken in great plainness, and now it is up to those who have received the law to live the law.  Why do the contemporary leaders of the Church continue to teach the Saints false doctrine?  Brigham Young said:

“Brethren, this Church will be led onto the very brink of hell by the leaders of this people, then God will send the one ‘Mighty and Strong’ spoken of in the 85^th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, to save and redeem this Church.”  (Truth 6:109)

Daniel Chapter 7, verse 25 reads:

“And he (the adversary) shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws…”

Have we not seen several laws relinquished?  Just in our generation alone there has been change upon change in the precepts of the gospel and the ordinances of the Priesthood.  Who changes them?  The leaders of the Church or Priesthood people.  Men change the laws, not the Lord.

The Lord told John Taylor:

“Nevertheless, I the Lord, do not change and my word, and my covenants and my law do not.  As I have heretofore said, by my servant Joseph, all those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law; And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham’s seed and would enter into my glory they must do the works of Abraham?

“I have not revoked this law nor will I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof…”  (1886 Revelation)

This is very simple that a child can understand it.  The Lord never intended the Principle to be revoked!  The Lord intended all laws revealed in this Dispensation to be practiced and observed.  So that means—as many of us know—the Manifesto of 1890 was just a sham, a ruse to try to throw the U. S. government of the trail of the Saints.  But interestingly, prior to President Wilford Woodruff declaring the Manifesto as the “word of the Lord” to the Saints, brethren opposed to Celestial Plural Marriage had approached President John Taylor with a similar document, to which the response was the 1886 Revelation.  There were bitter opponents against the Principle ever since the Prophet Joseph secretly introduced it, to the time when it was voted by common consent within the Church in 1852.  Of the enemies of the Principle, Brother Brigham said:

“The Plurality of wives was established and many of you have fought it and you may fight it until you go into your graves and it will still be the work of God and will continue to be to all Eternity.”  (Teachings of President Brigham Young, p. 281)

It wasn’t so much the men that were opposed to the Principle, but many of the women didn’t want to live this law.  True, the governmental persecution was great and persistent, but my own great grandmother told my great grandfather, “I’ll give you as many children as you want if you’ll not take a plural wife.”  Sisters having seen the forbearance of other sisters living the Principle did not want to live with those feelings and emotions in their own marriages.  The sisters were the driving force behind the Manifesto, and the men were just as culpable for tolerating this to happen.

The Coronation

“I saw…one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”  (Daniel 7:13-14, Inspired Version)

This passage infers the crowning glory given to the Messiah—the Ancient of days (Michael/Adam, a.k.a. Heavenly Father) bestows upon His Son keys of Godhood.  This is the capstone blessing to be given our Savior, the Heir Apparent.  President Brigham Young once stated that there was never a time when the Gods were not progressing, and that the Gods would always be in a state of progression.  Would it not be logical to conclude that this coronation is an advancement—if you will—in the Priesthood?  Christ is progressing to the next level, and that next level, is Godhood.  Christ will then become Michael, and the next step is to form an earth and people it.

President Joseph F. Smith coined the phrase, “As man is, God once was and as God is, man may become.”  We may eventually become like God is, but our immediate step is to become a co-heir with the Savior.

Armageddon

“The battle of Gog and Magog will be after the Millennium.  The remnant of all the nations that fight against Jerusalem were commanded to go up to Jerusalem to worship in the Millennium.”  (TPJS, p. 280)

Satan is to be bound for a thousand years upon this earth, and the Lord is to reign upon the earth.  Does this sound like heaven to you?  Once the thousand years are expired, the devil will be unleashed, and the battle of Gog and Magog will ensue.  However, prior to this battle, will be the first resurrection:

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.

“Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be the priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.

“And he shall go out and deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together in battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”  (Revelation 20:5-8)

This battle is the largest the world will have ever known—it will literally be the forces of good and evil in one final battle, which is highly reminiscent of the first war ever fought for this earth.

The War in Heaven

Every Christian is familiar with the events of the War in Heaven—Lucifer rose up against God and offered a plan that excluded free agency, and aspired to raise himself higher than even God.  This rebellion started a revolt and the followers of Michael wore a white star on their foreheads; those of Lucifer wore a red star.  And interestingly enough, a third of the males and females would not accept of either star and withdrew from the conflict.  Mosiah Hancock’s Vision states that the females led the males by the arm saying, “Come, let us not take part with either side.  Let us retire.”  Mosiah Hancock went on to say that the “neutral ones” became the Cainites on the earth.

Does this sound familiar to you?  Think of the statement in this light: The sisters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints led their husbands by the arm saying, “Come, let us not enter into the Principle; let us not live these laws—they’re too hard—let us retire.”

Brigham Young previously stated that those men who do not live up to their responsibilities will arise in the resurrection without any wife at all.  Brother Joseph B. Thompson took this a little farther—One Sunday in Sacrament Meeting in Bluffdale, Utah, he said many men would not only rise in the resurrection alone, but surprisingly find themselves with the mark of Cain.  And why?  Because they failed to live the law.  They failed in the great responsibility that was given them.

Daniel 12:1-3 states:

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.” 

And once Satan and his followers are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10), the battle of Armageddon will have been won.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”  (Revelation 21:1).

Was this “new heaven and new earth” that John the Divine saw, the next existence where Jesus is Michael?  And the battle of Gog and Magog that he saw, was this the War in Heaven for that next creation? 

I hope this has given you food for thought.

K’Adosh L’Adonai

—Associate Editor—

Is Jacob 2 a Manifesto?

My wife some time ago, asked this question, and of late, one of my sons was approached by a Church scholar, who used Jacob 2 as justification.  In reality, the question is deeper: The question is: Does the Lord revoke or suspend the practice of plurality at times upon the earth?

In speaking of a Manifesto, which normally carries the significance of making something clear or plain; I will use it as it has come to mean to most members of the Church.  Manifesto = Cessation of Plural Marriage.

  I was going to say that the Manifesto suspended plural marriage, but today, the LDS people do not think in those terms.  Today, plural marriage has ended and is over with.  Even the Father is referred to as having a “wife,” singular, in heaven.

In reality, upon this question of suspension, lies the whole argument of Fundamental Mormonism.  If the “Principle” can be laid aside periodically, then Fundamentalists have no leg to stand upon.  But on the other hand: If the Lord never has, or never will revoke an Eternal Principle, such as Celestial Plural Marriage, then obviously, the Church is out of line.  All of this is fine if we like black and white arguments.  Just as food for thought—could there be some middle ground in this complex issue?

As an argument or proof that the “Principle” has often been set aside, members of the Church hasten to point out Jacob, Chapter Two in the Book of Mormon.  Oddly enough, this chapter is used by both the Reorganized Church and also by anti-Mormon scholars.  The Reorganized Church uses this to say, “See, Joseph Smith never started polygamy—neither does the Lord approve of such a wicked practice.”  Anti-Mormon writers use Jacob 2 as proof that Mormon theology was evolving as Joseph Smith was “making up” this new religion.  So there it is:

1)      Church says it’s proof of suspension

2)      Josephites say Brigham—not Joseph Smith Jr. is responsible for introducing Plural Marriage

3)      Antis say that Mormonism was/is evolving.

Then, of course, “there is us,” again, “us,” is divided and subdivided, until one has to ask, “Which one is us?”  During the Watts riots of the ‘60’s, an affluent black family was riding down Firestone Blvd.  The children had been instructed by their costly teachers to recognize that they were better than most other negros.  As they traveled into the ghetto area, the kids started to say, “look at them!  There’s one!  Look at them; they’re all over the place!”  Finally the father, who had worked his way up, became disgusted with the children’s comments and said, “Dem is us!!”  So I guess “We is us!”  And us haz a nutter way of see’n the sitch-ye-ashun!!

I guess to clearly look at the issue, one must look first at Jacob, Lehi’s “first born in the wilderness.”  That is an interesting statement.  I would ask how is he a “first-born”?  Could it be that Lehi also took another wife at the time that Ishmael’s household merged with Lehi’s?  Could it be that Jacob truly was a First Born?  This is some food for thought at the least.

There comes to my mind, some questions about Jacob, Chapter 2:

1)      What office did Jacob hold?

2)      Where was he when he was speaking?

3)      Who was he speaking to?

4)      What were there problems?

5)      Were there others besides his audience, who were not guilty?

6)      If so, did they have the same problems and receive the same rebuke?

Jacob informs us in Jacob 1:18-19 that he and his brother Joseph had been “consecrated” Priests and Teachers.  Without trying to minimize these offices of the Aaronic Priesthood, the word consecrate implies a greater ordinance or office.  All of which brings to my mind another question: Did Nephi hold the keys of the Priesthood to “consecrate” his brothers?  Or did he have to build another boat and sail back to get Jeremiah’s or Ezekiel’s permission to do that?  If there is only one man on the earth at a time, who holds this authority, then Nephi must have been the greatest sailor in the world!!!

It is plain to me that Nephi was a legal administrator, authorized to obtain the will of the Lord to implement it.  So also became Jacob and Joseph, even to the point that the Lord held them responsible, if they did not call the people to repentance and teach them diligently, then the sins of the people would have come upon Jacob and Joseph’s garments.

Jacob was called to the Temple by the Lord.  Eventually, the Nephites had many “temples, sanctuaries and…synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.”  (Alma 16:13).  But at this time, they only had one temple; that temple was “…after the manner of the temple of Solomon…”  (2 Nephi 5:16).  Often the Lord allows and even commands the use of a Temple for solemn assemblies of men, (D&C 88:70; 109:6; 133:6).

It would seem that this was the case in Jacob 2; only brethren are referred to.  This discourse given in the Temple, to men and then later recorded on the small plates.  It appears to me to be incomplete, as recorded, as it ends with Chap. 3; but then continues through Chap. 6.  One is forced to conclude that perhaps as Jacob was writing, he opted to end the written part at Chap. 3, and then moved by the Spirit, also included Chap. 4 through 6.  This was all part of his temple discourse; or it seems to be evident that it was given to the Nephites in two parts.  It is enough to say that Jacob continued his teachings to his “brethren,” and it is also an obvious extension, at least for us, in these latter days.

He was speaking to a divided people—all were Nepites, but a class division had evolved.  “…many of you…” in we’ll call, Nephite Group A, had began to seek gold, silver and precious ores (Chap. 2:2).  Because of their wealth, they began to wear costly apparel—what did all of this lead to?  Group A began to feel that they were better than the rest.  Social opportunities of that day, were greater for them and their children.  The pride of their hearts grew until they began to “…persecute (their) brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they,” (2:13).  So we see that there is a Group B—the poor—those who were “pure in heart,” (Chap. 3:1).

We have these same problems today—people seek titles to affix to their names: Dr., Pres., Bishop, Pastor, Father, Ph.D.  They tell us we announce to all, who and what we are by the clothes we wear, or the car we drive, or the house we live in, or the neighborhood we live in.  All of these carry significance that is soon learned by all of us.

Jacob saw it, and urged that money was used to “clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, liberate the captive and to administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.”  These weren’t just carry-over adjectives from Jerusalem.  Jacob was never in Jerusalem.  These were real problems of their times—Jacob saw it.

It is real today, also.  We have all these in our society.  How often do we excuse ourselves and “suffer the beggar to put up his petition in vain?”  It would appear that the kids in the 5^th Ward thought they were better than those of the 6^th Ward in the Land of Nephi.  There were certainly two social classes attending that day of Temple instruction.

Jacob goes on to a “grosser crime”:

“And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride.  And were it not that I must speak to you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you.

“But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes.  For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things that were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

“Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was an abomination before me, saith the Lord.

“Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.

“Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.

“Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;

“For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.  And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord God of Hosts.

“Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.

“For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up a seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

“For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.

“And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.

“For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of the tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them o fold, saith the Lord of Hosts.

“And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.

“Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren.  Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbing of their hearts ascend up to God against you.  And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds,”  (Jacob 2:22-35)

Here is the controversy and we will not be able to understand the Lord’s message through Jacob, unless we are prayerful—yielding to the Holy Spirit.  One thing is for sure, those men who were guilty knew exactly what Jacob was talking about!  When the Lord sends a servant to someone, the message strikes at the center of the heart.

In verse 23, it shows that one of the problems was they committed whoredom in the name of  polygamy.  Therefore, the obvious question is: Is polygamy whoredom?  If it is, then truly we have an inconsistent God.  The people then used David and Solomon as justification of their actions.

Many are the scriptures that could be cited, that prove that the Old Testament people was a polygamous people.  One reference will suffice: II Chronicles 24:2-3:

“And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.  And Jehoiada took for him two wives and he begat sons and daughters.”

So could Plural Marriage be “an abomination” and at the same time “that which is right” in the sight of the Lord?  It would be mutually exclusive for the same act to be both right and wrong to the Lord.  So obviously, Plural Marriage is not that which the Lord is talking about.

If David and Solomon were the bad examples in “many wives and concubines,” then perhaps we should look at them.  In David’s case, he was rebuked by Nathan the Prophet, for having taken Uriah’s wife.  In II Samuel 12:8 the Lord’s censor says that the Lord gave David:

1)      Saul’s house

2)      Saul’s wives to his bosom

3)      The House of Israel

4)      The House of Judah

Also stating that if these had been too little, He would have given him more!!  So then, how could a plurality of wives be an “abomination,” if the Lord would have given David more???

Solomon also sinned in taking “politically arranged” wives.  A study of I Kings 9, will show the wives that the Lord detested.

The Lord delights in chastity—how often, even today—people suppose they live the law and ignore the Law of Purity in marriage.  The union of a man and his wives are not for satisfying lusts—it is to bring forth children—it is the act of procreation.

The Law of Purity requires that during pregnancy and lactation, self-control be applied.  Joseph Smith taught this, Lorin Woolley taught this, as did Joseph Musser, and Joseph Thompson, too.  It is God’s law to those who would be pure.  So this was another Nephite problem that may hit home to some of us today.  There is only one way to live Celestial Marriage—that is in purity before the Lord!

These Nephites were also indicted for being like those in Jerusalem—they broke the hearts of their tender wives and lost the confidence of their children.  How did they do that?  “For leading captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness…(V. 33.)  Tenderness, I believe, means young—these girls were too young!

The women and children had no confidence in these men.  They were arranging marriages; “You give me your daughter and I’ll give you mine!”  The daughters suffered and cried unto the Lord.  There was no love and this was the abomination and whoredom referred to by the Lord!!!

These men were prohibited by the Priesthood from living the law—nowhere does it say that all the Nephites were so prohibited.  The Priesthood leaders can, have and must not allow any individuals to live the higher laws, if they are unworthy.

Then in Chap. 3, Jacob addresses the “pure in heart.”  Not one word of condemnation, rebuke, nor to cease living the Principle.  Was Jacob living the Law of Plural Marriage?  How else could he preside over others, if they were living a higher law than himself?  If one sees as I do, that 2 to 6 Chapters are part of this discourse, then what do we do with Chapter 6, verse 11?  He tells his brethren to repent and to “enter in at the strait gate, and continue the way which is narrow…”  Modern revelation tells us that Celestial Plural Marriage is the “strait gate and narrow way that leadeth unto exaltation and continuation of lives, and few there be that find it…” (D&C 132:33).

We are informed quite forthrightly by the Lord in D&C 132 that first, that “all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same,” (D&C 132:3).  Next, “Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved.”  (D&C 132:32).

Modern Church apologists attempt to divide D&C 132 into two parts—Temple Marriage and Plural Marriage.  The Lord never divided so—it is one Law!  Everlasting does not mean, until-the-law-of-the-land-changes!!!  Earthly governments cannot change those things that were instituted before the foundation of the earth!!!

Israel once sang before the Lord:

“Glory ye in his holy name; let the hearts of them rejoice that seek the Lord and seek his strength, seek his face continually.  Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders and the judgements of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.  He is the Lord our God; his judgements are in all the earth.  Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; Even the covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And he hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and unto Israel for an everlasting covenant.”  (I CHRON 16:10-17)

Has Celestial Plural Marriage ever stopped at any time when the Lord has had a people upon the earth?  I boldly declare NO!  There are not two gates, two ways—only one—strait and narrow!  I will go as far as to say that every one of the Lord’s prophets, who have presided over this Priesthood, from Father Adam down to the present, have been polygamists!!!  You prove me wrong if you can.  Truth Never Changes.  (Jackson Ted Jessop)

The Kingdom or Nothing!

On Seeking for Release

From a Marriage

I want the Spirit of God to attend me in the few moments I occupy before you.  A considerable disturbance has been felt here upon the ranch and elsewhere because of a question and answer session we had here a couple months ago.  It particularly seems to arise over the fact that a lot of people got the idea from what I said that there was the very strong likelihood that many of you had, because you are governed by the things of the world, chosen the wrong mate.  A considerable number were distraught and upset in their feelings and were beginning to search out if this were not possible in their case and see if they couldn’t find a better man.

I have had two or three of the sisters come to me and ask if they had really chosen the right mate because they had been very much upset with the way things were going, and they would like to be released and have another try at it.

Now, I would like to draw your attention to a number of things tonight that may help you correct that impression.  I had a sister this month come to me who heard that address, or didn’t hear it, and got the message, from perhaps the way I gave it, perhaps somewhat distorted, who was very much concerned about it and was going to make it a matter of prayer.  At that time she decided she had made a mistake and wanted to be released and sealed to somebody else.  I had therefore created a trap for myself, and I want to

sew up all the avenues of escape for you.  I’m not doing it because I don’t want you to be happy.  I’m doing it because there are some things that I want you to remember.

Brigham Young said,

“I’m having sisters come to me and ask for a divorce or a release.  I remind them that their sealing is for time and all eternity, and in the first place, they made the choice, not I.  They said yes, not me.  If they had made a mistake this time, what assurance did I have that somebody who was so foolish as to make a first mistake, wouldn’t make a worse one in the second attempt.  With this thought in mind I try to discourage them from following such a destructive course.  Covenants made for time and all eternity are not to be trifled with.”

Some will not take “no” for an answer, and they insist upon a release.  I tell you, sisters, such a step is backwards and not forward.  My counsel to you is, if you have made a mistake, make the most of it and prove yourself to be such a Saint that if your husband is not worthy of you, when you get on the other side you will have a choice under the direction of God that will be a good one and not another mistake.  Now, I take that message from Brigham Young to hold for all of us.

…Now, I want to tell you dear sisters, I want to repeat to you in relation to this subject, if you feel you have made a mistake, do not trouble your minds about it.  Put the matter in the hands of the Lord, be a good wife and honor your husband, uphold virtue.  Remember the choice you made and the covenant that you have made, no matter what the circumstances are.  If those circumstances are wrong, if you will do your part, God will hear and answer your prayers.  You will be rewarded doubly for your faithfulness.

This is the message I have for you, because, as I say, I have had a number of cases come to my attention since I made that address, wondering if they had not made a mistake and, in some instances, asking for a release.  You will gain a thousand times more by being faithful to the covenants you have made.  Do not forget that the gospel message of salvation has been declared to all the world.  The warning given to the missionaries in their field of labor by the Prophet Joseph was this:

When you go and preach the gospel, do not enter into any man’s home and teach his wife and children contrary to his will.  If they will not receive your message, go out and wash your feet against that house.  God will hold that man accountable for the destruction that came upon his wife and children.  Or the fact that they were not able to receive the gospel at that time, if they love the truth the time will come when he will be removed out of the way, and they will gain the exaltation and the blessings and the salvation that they are entitled to through their prayers and faithfulness.

This has reference to the first principles of the gospel, as well as every other principle of the gospel.  The missionaries, the seventies, the Council, myself, none of us has the right to go and preach the gospel in a man’s family without his permission.  If he denies that permission, then we must not preach that gospel to that woman and children.  If they wish to act independently of the husband, that responsibility must lay solely upon their shoulders and not lay upon the shoulders of the seventies, the Council or the missionaries.  If it does, they will be condemned before God.

I know of many instances, and you will find it recorded in Church history, where women have received a testimony of the gospel, and they have gone by themselves for many miles to attend meetings of the Church missionaries.  They have been converted, they have been baptized without the knowledge of their husbands, they have been faithful and come into this work and have been shining lights in it.  But they did that upon their own responsibility, without seventies or elders or apostles going and inviting their wives out where they could be taught secretly without the knowledge of their husbands.

I am reminded of a brother who lives next door to us in Salt Lake City.  He was forbidden to ever invite missionaries into his father’s home.  Later, he was forbidden to attend any of their meetings.  He was a very persistent young man.  It was during the war days when things were terrible, and they were suffering for food.  Often he would be gone all day looking for food or a bargain where he could bring something back to the family.  Every time he could, he might travel anywhere from two to 50 miles to attend a Latter-day Saint meeting.  He did it upon his own responsibility.  He received the gospel, he was baptized, he entered the Church and came to this land and proved a very faithful man.  That was his responsibility.  The elders could not at any time be blamed for entering into that man’s home and teaching the gospel to him.

This is an example for you, my dear sisters.  Don’t forget it.  Remember that if anyone has made mistakes in relation to this in the past, let the responsibility lay where it will.  But we are called to be Saints; we are not justified in repeating the mistakes that have been made in the past.  We must set our lives in order in regard to these things, because God expects us to be Latter-day Saints, not just ordinary people.

I have made mistakes in relation to the administering of the ordinances.  I have considered men and women better prepared for the blessings that were bestowed upon them.  When I found out that they were not ready, that they were not worthy, that I ought not to have given them that blessing, which was hidden from my sight perhaps because they didn’t think it was necessary to tell me, perhaps because they wouldn’t have told me had I asked, perhaps had I enough of the Spirit of the Lord with me I wouldn’t have done it had I been spiritually inclined enough, whatever the reason may have been, when I found out they were not worthy of the blessing, the responsibility of the ordinance had to be maintained.  It had been done.  The justification for it must be borne by me and by the man and wife in the eternal worlds.

The only course I can follow is as I have done in a number of instances with men and women who have entered into this holy principle unworthy, to say, “Why didn’t you tell me about this in the first place?”

I have gotten varying answers.  When it was understood that I did know, they have said, “Well, we wanted to prove to the Lord that notwithstanding our past mistakes, we could make it.”  My answer to that has been, “Alright, you can prove to the Lord that you can, and you prove to me that you can, and you will take a terrible burden off my shoulders, because I consider you unworthy.  If I had known I would never have let you enter into the principle.  But since you have, since it is never too late to repent, now is the time for you to buckle down and prove that you are a true Latter-day Saint, and never sin again in relation to these matters, lest your former sins come upon you again.”

This is the position that many of us may find ourselves in.  Let us not say that “I have sinned so much I cannot find repentance before the Lord.”  The Prophet Joseph Smith has said it is never too late, never too late, to go onto repentance.

Let us take the position that no matter what mistakes we have made in the past, that we will not make them in the future, and try to live such a godly life that God can sustain us and will not have to remember our past sins and mistakes.  This is the kind of people God wants us to be.  He wants us to maintain our family unity.  He wants husbands to get over their stubbornness, any cruelty that can be in their makeup.  He wants them to stop making mistakes.  He wants us to be husbands that will make their wives happy all the time.  Of course that’s a very big assignment.  Lots of times husbands don’t succeed in the fulfillment of it.  Every once in a while they do fall short.  They cannot live up to such a big assignment.  Sometimes the fault is theirs, sometimes the fault is the wife’s, sometimes the fault lies with both of them.  The fault is never because of the principle.  It lies with the individuals.

The principle is holy, it is beautiful, it is exalting, it is the best opportunity that God can give us as man and wife to sanctify our lives and become perfect before our Father in heaven.  That family order is the perfect family order in heaven, and we should make it heavenly.  Every man should be godlike in his dealings with his wife and his children.  Parents should remember that the principle was not made for their personal satisfaction or gratification or pleasure.  It was, however, made for their personal exaltation and eternal joy and happiness in this life and in the world to come, if their eyes are single to the glory of God and their desire is to serve the Lord and keep His commandments.  If they proceed in living this holy law in such a manner as to sanctify their lives and to rid them of evil thoughts and evil deeds and to enable them, notwithstanding one another’s imperfections, to get along and be happy and to set a good example to the world, to the community and to their children particularly, God will bless them.

Remember, the law was given unto us for one major purpose: That we might raise up a royal seed unto the Lord.  In this matter we are failing miserably, in many areas.  Our children are not being raised up as a royal seed.  Fathers are not home teaching their children as they should be.  Too often, I find they are out wandering the streets or in the poolhalls or in occupations where they ought not to be, where they should be either preaching the gospel at home or abroad.  This is a terrible failure on the part of our menfolk.  Many of them will go back into the presence of an offended God with the knowledge keenly presented before them in the recollection of their lives where they were given a most glorious opportunity in a most glorious dispensation of time to bring up a righteous seed before the Lord, but they utterly failed.  There can be no greater condemnation than that condemnation which comes upon a man who had such great opportunities and failed in them.

But what is true of men is also true of women.  If a woman is a gossiper, if she is a talebearer, if she is filled with the spirit of hate and animosity, if she tears down her husband and the Priesthood, if her example to her children is not holy, if she does not try to govern them by the Spirit of God, then she falls short of her responsibility, and she ought not be in the principle.  She is unworthy of it, and if she is unworthy of it, it is time right now to repent and do better.

…I therefore wish to impress upon you in my closing remarks that it is as impossible to get into the celestial glory without complying with all of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is to get into this world without being born of a mother.  For those laws are irrevocably decreed from before the foundation of this world.  We cannot receive the blessings, unless we obey the laws upon which those blessings are predicated.

Most of us are doing our level best.  But it is our solemn duty from this hour on to get the Spirit of God in our lives and be happy in the family where we reside as far as it is possible to be happy, and if you can’t get along with your husband, then learn to get along without them and be happy.  Don’t be miserable.  The better course, of course, is to get along with them, because you have a foundation.

A man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man.  If there is a rift between us as husband and wife, that rift should be healed as soon as possible and so far as possible, in order that we might be in a position where God’s blessings can be poured out upon us.  No man can hold the Priesthood in its fulness, no man can be exalted in fulness, unless he has a wife or wives. 

If that is true with a man, it is certainly true with a woman.  If you can’t belong to one husband and get along, you might find it about as difficult to get along with another.  If you made a bad mistake in the first, or second or third or fourth place, and you are given a release and divorce now, the odds are that your sense hasn’t much improved by the experience, and that your choice is not going to be so much better the next time.

Keep these things in mind.  Dwell upon them.  Above all, remember that it is God’s desire to have us as perfect in our sphere as He is perfect in His.  None of us can do any better than the very best that we know how.  (Rulon C. Allred, Treasures of Knowledge II, p.191-192, 194-197, 198; Relief Society, Pinesdale, MT, 10/16/1975) [Bold print added for emphasis]

 

 

Brigham Young

On the God the Father, Exaltation & Happiness in Plural Marriage

“…When it was mentioned this morning about seeing God, about what kind of being He was, and how we could see and measurably understand Him, I thought I would tell you.  If we could see our Heavenly Father, we should see a being similar to our earthly parent, with this difference, our Father in Heaven is exalted and glorified.  He has received His thrones, His principalities and powers, and He sits as a governor, as a monarch, and overrules kingdoms, thrones, and dominions that have been bequeathed to Him, and such as we anticipate receiving.  While He was in the flesh, as we are, He was as we are.  But it is now written of Him that our God is as a consuming fire, that He dwells in everlasting burnings, and this is why sin cannot be where He is.

“There are principles that will endure through all eternity and no fire can obliterate them from existence.  They are those principles that are pure, and fire is made typical use of to show the glory and purity of the gods, and of all perfect beings.  God is the Father of our spirits; He begat them, and has sent them here to receive tabernacles, and to prove whether we will honor them.  If we do, then our tabernacles will be exalted; but if we do not, we shall be destroyed; one of the two—dissolution of life.  The second death will decompose all tabernacles over whom it gains the ascendancy; and this is the effect of the second death, the tabernacles go back to their native element.

“We are of the earth, earthy: and our Father is heavenly and pure.  But we will be glorified and purified, if we obey our brethren and the teachings which are given.  When you see celestial beings, you will see men and women, but you will see those beings clothed upon with robes of celestial purity.  We cannot bear the presence of our Father now; and we are placed at a distance to prove whether we will honor these tabernacles, whether we will be obedient and prepare ourselves to live in the glory of the light, privileges and blessings of celestial beings.  We could not have the glory and the light, without first knowing the contrast.  Do you comprehend that we could have no exaltation, without first learning by contrast?

“When you are prepared to see our Father, you will see a being with whom you have long been acquainted, and He will receive you into His arms, and you will be ready to fall into His embrace and kiss Him, as you would your fathers and friends that have been dead for a score of years, you will be so glad and joyful.  Would you not rejoice?  When you are qualified and purified, so that you can endure the glory of eternity, so that you can see your Father, and your friends who have gone behind the veil, you will fall upon their necks and kiss them, as we do an earthly friend that has been long absent from us, and that we have been anxiously desiring to see.  This is the people that are and will be permitted to enjoy the society of those happy and exalted beings.

“Now for my proposition; it is more particularly for my sisters, as is frequently happening that women say they are unhappy.  Men will say, ‘My wife, though a most excellent woman, has not seen a happy day since I took my second wife;’ ‘No, not a happy day for a year,’ says one; and another has not seen a happy day for five years.  It is said that women are tied down and abused; that they are misused and have not the liberty they ought to have, that many of them are wading through a perfect flood of tears, because of some of the conduct of some men, together with their folly.

“I wish my own women to understand that what I am going to say is for them as well as others, and I want those who are here to tell their sisters, yes, all the women of this community, and then write it back to the States, and do as you please with it.  I am going to give you from this time to the 6^th day of October next, for reflection, that you may determine whether you wish to stay with your husbands or not, and then I am going to set every woman at liberty and say to them, ‘Now go your way, my women with the rest, go your way.’  And my wives have got to do one of two things: Either round up their shoulders to endure the afflictions of this world, and live their religion, or they may leave, for I will not have them about me.  I will go into heaven alone, rather than have scratching and fighting around me.  I will set all at liberty.  ‘What, your first wife, too?’  Yes, I will liberate you all.

“I know that my women will say, they will say, ‘You can have as many women as you please, Brigham.’  But I want to go somewhere and do something to get rid of the whiners; I do not want them to receive a part of the truth and spurn the rest out of the doors.

“I wish my women, and brother Kimball’s and brother Grant’s to leave, and every woman in this Territory, or else say in their hearts that they will embrace the Gospel—the whole of it.  Tell the Gentiles that I will free every woman in this Territory at our next Conference.  ‘What, the first wife, too?’  Yes, there shall not be one held in bondage, all shall be set free.  And then let the father be the head of the family, the master of his own household; and let him treat them as an angel would treat them; and let the wives and the children say amen to what he says, and be subject to his dictates, instead of their dictating to the man, instead of their trying to govern him.

“No doubt some are thinking, ‘I wish brother Brigham would say what would become of the children.’  I will tell you what my feelings are; I will let my wives take the children and I have property enough to support them, and can educate them, and then give them a good fortune, and I can take a fresh start.

“I do not desire to keep a particle of my property, except enough to provide me from a state of nudity.  And I would say, wives you are welcome to the children, only do not teach them iniquity; for if you do, I will send an Elder, or come myself, to teach them the Gospel.  You teach them life and salvation, or I will send Elders to instruct them.

“Let every man thus treat his wives, keeping raiment enough to clothe his body; and I say to your wives, ‘Take all that I have and be set at liberty; but if you stay with me, you shall comply with the law of God, and that, too, without any murmuring and whining.  You must fulfill the law of God in every respect, and round up your shoulders to walk up to the mark without any grunting.’

“Now recollect that two weeks from tomorrow I am going to set you at liberty.  But the first wife will say, ‘It is hard, for I have lived with my husband for twenty years, or thirty, and have raised a family of children for him, and it is a great trial to me for him to have more women.’  Then I say it is time that you gave him up to other women who will bear children.  If my wife had borne me all the children that she ever would bare, the celestial law would teach me to take young women that would have children.

“Do you understand this?  I have told you many times that there are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is your duty?  To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness, debauchery, and every species of crime.  It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can; hence if my women leave, I will go and search up others who will abide the celestial law, and let all I now have go where they please; though I will send the Gospel to them.

“This is the reason why the doctrine of plurality of wives was revealed, that the noble spirits that are waiting for tabernacles might be brought forth.

“If the men of this world were right, or if they were anywhere near right, there might not be the necessity which there now is.  But they are wholly given up to idolatry, and to all manner of wickedness.

“Do I think that my children will be damned?  No, I do not, for I am going to fight the devil until I save them all; I have got my sword ready and it is a two-edged one.  I have not a fear about that, for I would be almost ashamed of my body if it would beget a child that would not abide the same law of God, though I may have some unruly children.

“I am going to ask you a good many things, and to begin with I will ask, what is your prayer?  Do you not ask for the righteous to increase, while the unrighteous shall decrease and dwindle away?  Yes, that is the prayer of every person that prays at all.  The Methodists pray for it, the Baptists pray for it, and the Church of England and all the reformers, the Shaking Quakers not excepted.  And if the women belonging to this Church will turn Shaking Quakers, I think their sorrows will soon be at an end.

“Sisters, I am not joking, I do not throw out my proposition to banter your feelings, to see whether you will leave your husbands, all or any of you.  But I do know that there is no cessation to the everlasting whining of many of the women in this Territory; I am satisfied that this is the case.  And if the women will turn from the commandments of God and continue to despise the order of heaven, I will pray that the curse of the Almighty may be close on their heels, and that it may be following them all the day long.  And those that enter into it and are faithful, I promise them that they shall be queens in heaven, and rulers to all eternity.

“ ‘But,’ says one, ‘I want to have my paradise now.’  And says another, ‘I did think I should be in paradise if I was sealed to brother Brigham, and I thought I should be happy when I became his wife, or brother Heber’s.  I loved you so much, that I thought I was going to have heaven right off, right here on the spot.’

“What a curious doctrine it is, that we are preparing to enjoy!  The only heaven for you is that which you make yourselves.  My heaven is here (laying his hand on his heart).  I carry it with me.  When do I expect it in its perfection?  When I come up in the resurrection; then I shall have it, and not until them.

“But now, we have got to fight the good fight of faith, sword in hand, as much so as men have when they go to battle; and it is one continual warfare from morning to evening, with sword in hand.  This is my duty, and this is my life.

“But the women come and say, ‘Really, brother John, and brother William, I thought you were going to make a heaven for me,’ and they get into trouble because a heaven is not made for them by men, even though agency is upon women as well as upon men.  True there is a curse upon the woman that is not upon the man, namely, that ‘her whole affections shall be towards her husband,’ and what is the next?  ‘He shall rule over you.’

“But how is it now?  Your desire is to your husband, but you strive to rule over him, whereas the man should rule over you.

“Some may ask whether that is the case with me; go to my house and live, and then you will learn that I am very kind, but know how to rule.

“If I had only wise men to talk to, there would be no necessity for my saying what I am going to say.  Many and many an Elder knows no better than to go home and abuse as good a woman as dwells upon this earth, because of what I have said this afternoon.  Are you, who act in that way, fit to have a family?  No, you are not, and will never be, until you get good common sense.

“Then you can go to work and magnify your callings; and you can do the best you know how; and on that ground I will promise you salvation, but upon no other principle.

“If I were talking to a people that understood themselves and the doctrine of the holy Gospel, there would be no necessity for saying this, because you would understand.  But many have been—what shall I say?  Pardon me, brethren—hen-pecked so much, that they do not know the place of either man or woman; they abuse and rule a good woman with an iron hand.  With them, it is as Solomon said, ‘Bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.’  You may talk to them about their duties, about what is required of them, and they are still fools, and will continue to be.

“Prepare yourselves for two weeks from tomorrow; and I will tell you now, that if you will tarry with your husbands, after I have set you free, you must bow down to it, and submit yourselves to the celestial law.  You may go where you please, after two weeks from tomorrow, but remember, that I will not hear any more of this whining.

“In the midst of all my harsh sayings, shall I say chastisements?  I am disposed, in my heart, to bless this people; and I do bless you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.”  (J. of D. 4:54-57)

—COMMENTARY—

ON

CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE

In the 1991 correspondence between Brian Hales and Vance Allred, (A Search for Truth), Dr. Hales, a published author of anti-Fundamentalist Mormon works, asked, “If the Lorin Woolley 1886 ordinations never occurred, are (we Fundamentalists) still justified before the Lord?”

To me, as a student of LDS and Fundamentalist history, the answer is obviously and affirmatively simple:

1)      Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  This section is about the Plurality of wives, regardless of how contemporary LDS Church members want to vainly interpret and justify their monogamist standpoint.  There is no question to the Lord’s interpretation of His law.  Do these men think they know the Laws of God better than He who gave them?  Why did an angel of God appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith with a drawn sword, commanding him to enter into the principle of Celestial Plural Marriage, or suffer death?  Do the corporate Church members really believe that the Manifesto of 1890, which begins with, “To whom it may concern,” was a revelation from God?  The Principle of Plural Marriage is an Eternal Principle, and it is a law of the Priesthood—not the Church.  The Eternal Priesthood of God organized the Church, which is a temporal entity.

2)      In 1880, in Sunset, Arizona, Wilford Woodruff received a revelation from the Lord, wherein He stated, “And I say again, woe unto that nation or house or people who seek to hinder my people from obeying the Patriarchal Law of Abraham, which leadeth to a Celestial Glory, which has been revealed unto my saints through the mouth of my servant Joseph, for whosoever doeth these things shall be damned, saith the Lord of Hosts, and shall be broken up and wasted away from under heaven by the judgments which I have sent forth, and which shall not return unto me void.”  Why would the Lord change His mind just ten years later?  His mandates are so clear.

3)      John Taylor received a revelation from the Lord on June 25^th and 26^th in 1882 on Celestial Marriage, wherein the Lord clearly states Celestial Marriage, including the plurality of wives must be obeyed, in order to attain Celestial Glory.

4)      John Taylor also received a revelation (the fourth recorded revelation of that year) in October 13, 1882, and here, the Lord issues instruction to Seymour B. Young to fill the vacancy in the presiding quorum of the Seventies, “…if he will conform to my law; for it is not meet that men who will not abide my law shall preside over my Priesthood…”  And what was that “law”?  It was the Law of Celestial Plural Marriage—Seymour had not yet entered into that Order of marriage.  I find it interesting that the Lord wants polygamists to be the leaders of His Church.  Here, the Lord defines that men living a lesser law cannot preside over those who are living higher laws.

5)      We are all well acquainted with the story of the 1886 revelation.  Dr. Hales’ question did not dismiss the reception of that revelation—he asked if we would be “…justified before the Lord.”  In this revelation, the Lord states, “Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject?  (Meaning Celestial Plural Marriage)  Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my law and the keeping of my commandment…Nevertheless I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants do not.  As I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph all those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law.”  How can the Lord’s will regarding this form of marriage become clearer?  And on the other hand, how can anyone with common sense refute these words?

6)      In November, 1889, Wilford Woodruff received another revelation, wherein the Lord warned, “Let not my servants who are called to the Presidency of my Church, deny my word or my law, which concerns the salvation of the children of men.”  And what was the saddening occurrence a year later?

7)      Joseph White Musser:

A)     In November 1899, Joseph Musser, age 27, and his wife were invited by President Lorenzo Snow to the Salt Lake Temple, where he received his higher blessings.  Joseph Musser on that Thanksgiving Day, received all the Priesthood authority a mortal man can receive upon the earth—he received the Apostleship—the Fulness of Priesthood.  For he and his wife, it was indeed, a day of thanksgiving. (Truth Never Changes, Vol. 10, page 90-91)

B)     December 1899, Joseph Musser had been selected by President Snow to enter into Celestial Plural Marriage and “help keep the Principle alive.”  (Ibid.)

C)     In 1915 Joseph Musser was set apart and again issued instruction to “insure the Principle did not die out.”  (Ibid.)

D)     On 14 May 1929, Lorin Woolley set Joseph Musser apart “a High Priest Apostle and a Patriarch to all the world.”  (Ibid.).  This last setting apart—and I call it a setting apart because Joseph Musser received all the authority in 1899.  These later occurrences were merely delegations, so to speak—giving him the right to act, for he already possessed the ability.  Prior to 1886, Lorin Woolley already held a fulness of Priesthood, and had been called to the Apostleship by Brigham Young himself.  This means he received nothing new or more on that date, except the “right to act,” for he also already possessed those keys.

8) Many LDS members urge that we should adhere to all laws of the land, even to the point where the laws of God take the backseat to laws of men.  Section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants verses 4 and 5 state: “And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.  And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me…” 

So as you can see, dear reader, had those ordinations in 1886 never taken place, we Fundamentalist Mormons would still indeed be justified in our course before the Lord, with the provision that the Saints abandoned the Principle of Celestial Plural Marriage, as they did in 1890.  If Plural Marriage were to become legalized within the law of the Land, how many Saints would enter into it?  If that Principle were to be introduced into the Church again, would the Saints still oppose it?  Samuel W. Taylor hypothesized in his book, Rocky Mountain Empire, page 140: “I wonder what today’s Mormons would do if the repeal of sex laws swept away the only reason for not obeying Section 132?  While my crystal ball license has expired, I expect that regardless of Section 132, the Saints would put up a ferocious fight against legislation that would result in the right to practice polygamy.”

Who Held the Keys?

In my hearing at a Priesthood meeting in Salt Lake, Vance related a comment he heard from his father.  While President McKay was still alive, Brother Rulon often made the comment that if Pres. McKay would step forward and begin to direct the affairs of the Priesthood work, that he, Bro. Rulon, would step to one side and allow Pres. McKay to take charge.  The obvious question is: Why would Bro. Rulon propose this situation?

I have brought this up to other brethren, who also heard Bro. Rulon make this statement.  This proposes an interesting set of circumstances.  The possibilities are:

A)     I am fabricating this story,

B)     Bro. Rulon’s sons and those brethren who heard these statements misunderstood Bro. Rulon, or

C)     Bro. Rulon was wrong and failed to understand Priesthood keys.

You can’t throw rocks at me and say I’m not being truthful—I’m sorta getting used to that.  But I know that I heard this, and alterations would have to have been made in the Priesthood minutes to accommodate this position.

I have spoken to carious individuals who also heard Bro. Rulon say this.  They all concur that Bro. Allred did indeed say this.  Did Bro. Allred understand Priesthood keys?  I believe he did.  Then, what was meant in this declaration?  Did he believe Pres. McKay held greater keys than himself?

The keys of the Priesthood—all of the keys—have been perpetuated by those who have lived all the laws and received all the ordinances.  During the Eight-Hour Meeting, those brethren received a Fulness of Ordinances—the Fulness of Priesthood and the Keys thereof.

There is no other way they could direct the Priesthood affairs and give validity to Priesthood functions.  My testimony is that these men truly held the Keys and were numbered among the “Apostles, even God’s High Priests.”  Not just ordained Apostleship, but patterned after the Fulness of Ordinances, such as received in the School of the Prophets.  No student of the Gospel, who looks in depth, can mistake the many, many individuals, who sought for and received a Fulness of Priesthood blessings.

Bro. Brigham, who was the Head of Priesthood for the longest timeframe, probably gave more of these blessings.  Nevertheless, those who followed, also perpetuated this, the most lofty of Priesthood blessings.  So those at the 1886 Eight-Hour Meeting were not the only ones to receive those keys or blessings.

It is reported that during that meeting, the Prophet Joseph Smith appeared.  All of which strengthens my testimony that a Fulness of Blessings were given.  We find recorded that Pres. Lorenzo Snow called into the Salt Lake Temple, the youthful Joseph Musser, (at age 27) and his wife, and bestowed upon them these blessings.  Failing to understand the totality of the blessings and keys given at that time, is failing to understand the magnitude of the highest blessings that can be bestowed upon man in the flesh.  Are there other Keys to be given?

These blessings began to disappear from the Church in Pres. Grant’s administration.  Pres. McKay was called to the Apostleship by Pres. Joseph F. Smith, and thus received a Fulness of Ordinances.

When Pres. Joseph W. Musser called the new Council, they were called to perpetuate the Fulness of the Priesthood.  I have journals that attest to this.

Did Pres. McKay hold the Keys?  Yes!  Did Pres. Rulon Allred hold the Keys?  Yes!  Were they in harmony?  Not completely, or maybe not at all.  Did that alter the validity of the ordinances they had received?  Perhaps even it was the cause that Pres. McKay didn’t recognize the avenue, by which Bro. Rulon received his blessings—but God did!!!  And no one can get around that.

Pres. McKay and others of the Church failed to do the work of the Priesthood—the higher laws or Celestial Plural Marriage and the Law of the United Order.

Now, suppose that the Church leaders under the direction of Pres. McKay would have begun to implement those laws?  Would they have been valid?  Yes!  The Fulness of Keys were there.  Evidences suggest that there were people still alive in the 1970’s, who were sealed in plural marriage in the Mormon Colonies.  All of this by Church authority and the participants only belonged to the Church and never were part of any Fundamentalist group.  Is there any true Latter-day Saint, who would not doubt the validity of their sealing?  I cannot.

What two heads?  It reminds one of the question Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah asked Jehoram, the King of Israel: “Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?”  What two Prophets held the Keys or mantle?

“Well, yes,” says one, “They didn’t have telephones then.”

That question is like another one I have heard: “Why did it take the Lord so long to reveal penicillin?”  Was the Lord’s arm cut short?  How could the Jaredites hold the Keys and Melchizedek also hold Keys?  Or Peter and 3^rd Nephi?  Were the Jaredites and the Nephites unique?  Were they the only ones the Lord lead away to other parts of the Earth?  I don’t think so.  The Lord I worship has ever done great and marvelous works!!!

When any Apostle closes the doors of opportunity for higher blessings—look around—there the Lord will have prepared another Apostle, who will open the doors to the faithful Saints.  The Lord’s work will not be frustrated.

Could Joseph Smith III have done the work of the Lord?  He was set apart by William Marks, who had received a Fulness of Blessings.  There certainly existed that potential.  But both young Joseph and William Marks had rejected the higher laws and at best could only function in a lesser capacity.

The Gospel of Christ cannot and will not change—there is no shadow of change in the Lord, but Who Can Declare His Works?

From Legends & Myths

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp.49-53)

Every religion, creed, or faith upon this earth began with one—the first religion, brought to this world by Father Adam, instituted by Jehovah.  From that point, Cain and others, the adversary insinuated pollution and decay took over—but the truth has always been eternally constant and unchanging as empires rose and fell with their dogmas.  We are privileged to live in a day where the One True Religion—the Gospel of Jesus Christ is again upon the earth in its celestine purity, and utilizing these doctrines and principles as a gauge, one can look back across the annals of history and see the remnants of truth manifested in the various religions, myths and legends.

All cultures have a beginning or a “creation,” and accredit a deity or deities with the work.  Some of the similarities are remarkable.

In roughly 1396 B. C., a Pharaoh called Tutmosis IV, also known as Akenaten, began a monotheistic movement.  They worshipped a creator-god, called Aten.  This movement lasted only as long as Akenaten was alive, for his successor Amenhotep III (King Tut), re-instituted the worship of all Egyptian deities.

And in Egyptian lore, the deity Atum was the primeval creator-god.  He was believed to have been self-gendered (male and female), who rose up from the Nile and created mankind.  The temple devoted to Atum at Heliopolis was one of the oldest cults in the land two and a half thousand years before Christ.  Atum—the name—meant “the one not yet completed, who would attain completion.”  He was identified with the sun-god Ra, under the composite title, Atum-Ra.

Female deities were also present in different variations, according to Egyptian Lore—one states that a mother goddess made man out of clay, like a figurine, and animated him with the blood from an obscure god called We-ila, and their saliva.  This figurine was the “first human” and other mother goddesses resumed their work and created seven males and seven females.

In the Akkadian myth of the creation, tells of a period before the appearance of man the gods had to fend for themselves.  The lesser gods, who were responsible for the more difficult work, rebelled and so the chief gods decided to create mankind to do the work for them.

Yahwiests present that Adam, filled with the breath of life, was placed within the Garden of Eden, and mankind became subject to death because of Adam’s partaking of the forbidden fruit.  In doing so, Adam lost his immortality and became mortal.  This nature—mortality—he passed on to his children.

Another story from the Koran, is that the angels were jealous of Adam—some advised God against creating him, but were destroyed by God’s rage.  When Adam had been created, the archangel Michael commanded the host of heaven to fall down and worship him—all obeyed, save Lucifer, who was too proud and was hurled out of heaven in banishment.  Others say that this is why Satan tempted Eve in the form of a serpent, to avenge himself on Adam.

Some Gnostics, after the era of Christ, identified with the god of the Old Testament, as an evil being who created an evil world.  The serpent—the tempter—became a virtuous creature, sent by God to teach Adam and his wife.  According to the Gnostics, the Secret Book of John, man was created by the god of the Jews, whose name was Ialdabaoth.  He seduced Eve after their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and fathered the two sons called Cain and Abel--whose real names, according to this book—were Elohim and Jehovah.

In Nordic legends, we find that the great void which preceded the creation was called, Ginnungagap.  This place consisted of Niflheim in the North, where lived a race of giants.  This is particularly interesting, because in Jewish mythology, the angels who took the daughters of men as wives, fathered a race of giants called Nephilim (GEN 6).  The Norse also tell that the first man, Ymir, was sustained from the milk of a giant cow, from whose udders flowed four rivers of milk.  Genesis states the Garden of Eden was sustained by the river Pison, which flowed in four broad heads.

Christ in the D&C calls himself Son-Ahman.  We read of Adam-Ondi-Ahman, and are taught that Ahman is another name for God—so Christ verily called Himself the Son of God, when he proclaimed Himself, Son-Ahman.  And we also learn that Adam-Ondi-Ahman means, “the place where Adam was proclaimed God.”  Is it not interesting that the Egyptians, who vainly attempted to emulate the Priesthood they could never hold, in their ceremonies and rites, called their chief deity, Amen-Ra?  To me, I see this as another thing they plagiarized from the children of Israel.

The Egyptians believed that their Pharaohs were the embodiment of deity—god personified.  Horus means, “he on high,” and was to them, the current Pharaoh.  Like the Hebrews, they believed that God had secret names—Isis cajoled Ra into revealing his secret name, and in Hebrew mythology, one of the angels that fell to earth from heaven, was the chief executor of oaths, and revealed Michael’s secret name to his children.

The Aztecs believed that beyond the world and the gods of nature, there must exist a Supreme Creator, whom they called Ometecuhtli, which means, two-lord—they believed that no creating could ever take place without a man and a woman.  And interestingly enough, they believed that the “old, old god,” Ueueteotl, was the symbol of continous creation and lived in the Pole star, the pivot of the universe—the very star that the Prophet Joseph Smith pointed to as being Kolob, the residence of the Gods.  The Aztecs also believed there are several degrees of heaven—glory—and the lowest being a fiery place where souls passed to return to earth and again enter into mortality.  Enoch saw several heavens.

Nearly all cultures believe their deities had mates: The Syrians, Tamuz & Ishtar; Romans, Jupiter and Juno; the Greeks, Zeus & Hera; Norse, Odin & Frija; the Celts, Loucetius, which means, “shining one,” and his consort was Nemetona.  We know that man is not complete without the wife, and vice versa.  Deity is male and female.  The examples listed are merely corruptions from the truth.

Palestinians called the Supreme God, El, as do the Moslems.  Ancient Canaanites also worshipped El, and his wife Asherah, which may have evolved into Ishtar, who was known in Hebrew mythology as Lilith.  The Mesopatamians believed that Enlil was the principle deity, and in cuneiform, it is he, who made the decision to destroy mankind with the deluge.

Looking back into the histories of the cultures that have preceded us, I find it a great treasure and a wonderful thing to have the Fulness of the Gospel in our time—that we have revelations of God to lighten our path so that we do not stagger blindly in the darkness as so many before us have done.  The Scriptures contain the real truths, the real histories of this earth, and there will come a day when we will have more knowledge, when the hidden books and histories are revealed to mankind.  May we never falter in our path back to the Lord.  May we always be a record-keeping people, for our children’s children and our posterity.  God’s blessings upon you all.

The Everlasting Gospel

We live in a time of changes, inconsistency, betrayal and deception.  People are taught to be leery of business contracts and expect that others will try to take advantage of you.  You can’t even drive down a highway or freeway, without the greed of mankind being made manifest.  Each driver, seeking to go first, or cut you off.

The most sacred and dearest of social contracts—that of marriage—is ignored by most today, and even if it exists, it seems to hold no real, lasting commitment.  Oddly, one observes that those who just live together, with no more than a day to day commitment to each other, seem to get along better than when they decide to “make their relationship legal,” by getting married.  Almost always, even after five to ten years of living together, the moment their marriage is “legalized,” they enter into difficulties and end in divorce.

So it there apparently is no commitment, and greed, strife, betrayal, and deception are common characteristics of modern culture, then what remains consistent?  Surely not technology; changes have been exponential in the past three decades.  Systems are continually out-dated.  The whole industries are forced to change and update to stay competitive.  Companies are forced to re-evaluate methods of management.  Cuts and layoffs are now commonplace, and new technology seems to be ever increasing.  One would again ask: What remains constant?

Governments merge and dissolve, new countries appear and then disappear, world atlases become out-dated almost every five years; inflation, devaluation of currency, new monetary systems; credit; credit cards; unstable jobs; weak marriage commitments; cars that are built not to last; houses that always need repair—these are all the benchmarks of modern life.  What remains the same?

Churches are re-thinking their doctrinal positions.  One denomination is reported to be re-examining its position on suicide, which would “allow” suicides to go to heaven.  Abortion, women clergy, homosexual marriages—are some of the major issues facing believers.  Faith healing, though often real, is fraudulent deception coming to light.  People often turn to psychics for spiritual fulfillment.  What remains the same?

Even our beloved Church endorses many of these same issues—members embrace the changes because it is a “living religion” and to follow a “living Prophet” is better than historical or scriptural truths.  What remains the same?

Even through change, divisions and turbulent times, the LORD and HIS Gospel do NOT change.  The Gospel consists of Laws, Authority, and Ordinances.  These cannot change.  Even God must adhere to them, or cease to be God.  Can we, therefore, alter, add, or take away from what the LORD has instructed before the world was?

Is there any other way to obtain a blessing, other than obeying the law upon which it is predicated?

Can obeying a law without proper authority hold any validity before the Lord?

If the ordinances change, will the Lord recognize them?

The Lord slew two of Aaron’s sons for altering temple ordinances.  Are all alterations thus addressed by the Lord?  No, but that does show the importance the Lord places upon the purity of ordinance?

In D&C 43, we are told that if Joseph Smith should have transgressed, that he would only have power to appoint another in his stead.  Many would say that this applies to the President of the Church or Head of the Priesthood now.  The argument will often be expounded that “since he hasn’t done this, he still must be the One.”

Does the Lord cease to recognize a people for surrendering a part of the Gospel?  I believe the answer could be seen in studying the history of Israel or the ancient Nephites.  Truly the Lord is long-suffering.  But I would ask, will the Lord’s Appointed announce, “I am going to change this or that—I know it is wrong, but I’m going to change it anyway.”

I have never heard of such a declaration.  I have heard different leaders expound how inspired they feel about making this or that change, how they feel it is right and will bring added benefits &c.  Never have they admitted that the change was wrong.

If on was appointed in his stead, what would he do?  “…he that is ordained of me shall…teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed,” (D&C 43:7).  So he would therefore, do the works of Joseph Smith.

Can a man enter into the presence of God without living the same laws, without holding the same authority, or without receiving the same ordinances that the Father himself lived?  Is there another way to God?

If one Apostle closes the door to any of the Laws, Authority, or Ordinances, what should we do?

“And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit, which leadeth to do good – yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;”  (D&C 11:12-13)

Trust in the Spirit and look for an Apostle who is doing the works of Joseph Smith.

President Brigham Young states: “The Lord operates upon the principles of continuing to organize, of adding to, gathering up, bringing forth, increasing and spreading abroad; while the opposite power does not.”  (J. of D. 1:117)

To help build up the Kingdom of God is the work of the Lord.

Hosea 9:8 says that “The watchman of Ephraim was with my God; but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.”  (J. S. T.)

Shall we require miracles as proof of Apostleship or a Prophetic calling?

“Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons.”  (D&C 24:13)

So, it isn’t a display of power that establishes who are the “Watchmen of Ephraim.”

Often it is the weak, unlearned, and unassuming, who are used by the Lord as we see in D&C 35:12-13:

“And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation.

“Whereofre, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit…”

In fact, we should, of our own free agency, be engaged in good works.

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”  (D&C 58:27-27)

“And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that very good gift cometh of Christ.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all of these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men.”  (Moroni 10:18-19)

This instructs us that Christ never changes—the spirit of Christ is the spirit of truth—so there is the constant.

“For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”  (D&C 84:45)

There is our anchor in this turbulent sea of change!  Truth Never Changes

THE IMPORTANCE

OF PLURAL MARRIAGE

Brother Joseph B. Thompson,

The House of the Lord,

Colonia Industrial, Ozumba Mexico

09 October 1983

(Truth Never Changes, Vol. 7, No. 2)

“…I realize how close the veil is.  At times you can close your eyes and you can be gone just that way, or open your eyes and be able to stay if you can keep them open.  What I’m trying to tell you is that in these experiences, it teaches us that there is more than just what we see around us now.

“I have said many times to you before, if you were called to go home right now, are you ready?  If the Savior should walk in your midst right now, would you be ashamed?  Many of us would be ashamed to have Him find us in our present condition. T his is something that my father-in-law Lyman Jessop taught me many times—you should so conduct your life that if the Savior appeared to you at any time that you would not be ashamed.  Now, if you adopt that into your life, you would not be very far off from the truth.

“Now if we’re going to be joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, we should live our lives that we are worthy of it.  And I wish I had the tongue of an angel right now that I could explain some things to you.  But the only way you can go back into the presence of Jesus Christ and be a joint-heir with Him is that you live the laws required of you to do this.  One law is the law of Celestial Marriage, and if you understood it the way you should understand it, if you understood how important it was to you, you would not rest until your husband had another wife, and you husbands would not rest until you obtained another wife.

“I have told you the story about the man who went from Ephraim, UT to St. George, UT on business.  There were some girls eating their lunch out in front of the business and the man came up and stood on a box in front of them while they were eating and told them who he was, where he lived and all about himself.  Then he told the girls, ‘My wife told me when I left home that I was not to come back home, unless I brought a second wife with me.  Now you look me over and if you like what you see, talk to me.’

“So the three girls, after they got through eating their lunch came up and talked to him and one of them finally married him and he was able to go back home.

“Now it was important to this woman that her husband have another wife so that she could be exalted; because if he did not do it, she could not be exalted.  So, she put pressure on her husband to fulfill the law.  Every one of you sisters should do likewise.  If you sisters take the attitude that if you do take a second wife, I will leave you and take the children with me—if you have that feeling or you say that, you will not only NOT have a husband, but you will NOT have children and you will not have many things; you will be lucky to serve in the Telestial Kingdom.

“I showed some of you the pictures of some of my family down here.  I think about this very often when I look at my children.  I fell in love with a beautiful girl one time and we wanted to get married, but she didn’t want me to have another wife.  She only wanted to have two children and she outlined the way our lives could be.  Every Friday our two children could have their friends in our home and on Thursdays we would have our friends come and play bridge.  Right there, I died.  No way could I do that.  So, when I look at my family today, my 59 children and my 65 grandchildren, I think how, as much as I loved her and as much as I still love her through memory, I would not have these children!  I would have thrown them all out of the way and what would I have thrown it away for?  For one beautiful woman and two children away for eight beautiful wives and 59 children.  Now, did I make the right choice?

“What do you think I think of a woman who would stop a man from taking that many wives and that many children?  ‘Why you selfish, little brat.  You’re losing everything you think you want.’

“And what about a man that would let a woman stop him from doing it?  I say, ‘You weak-kneed, undeserving man, you don’t even deserve the one you’ve got, let alone more.’

“Now, if you want the blessings of the Lord, you men get busy and see to it that you live the law.  And you sisters, if your husbands are holding back, get after them.  Make them go to bed without their supper.  Don’t get them any breakfast when they get up so that out of hunger they will be glad to do what they ought to do.  If you don’t, you’re not going to have a husband or children.  You’ll be working in that garden, but denied to go into the beautiful palace and mingle with the Gods—providing you even make it to the garden.  You’ll probably be down shoveling coal to make the sun shine.

“What kind of people are you going to be?  I want you sisters to see to it that your husbands live the law.  Because if you do not, you break the covenant that you made.  You made a covenant when you married your husband that you would fulfill every law pertaining to the New and Everlasting Covenant.  So, if you don’t, you lose that privilege, you’ll become as it says, ‘covenant breakers’ and you’ll have to accept the punishment of those who break their covenants.  Have I made my point this morning?

“I know how thin the veil is.  Once you step across the veil, you cannot change one thing.  Because once you step across it, you are what you are.  Because you can’t change anything.  I want you to change it.  Not tomorrow, not next week, but now.  I don’t mean after you get out of this meeting, but right now!  As it says in the Book of Mormon, that spirit you have when you lay down your life is that spirit you will find in the spirit world.  So the spirit you have at this moment will either bless or condemn you.  I am not going to condemn you, but the spirit you have will be the condemnation or the blessing.  I can’t change it—only you can change it.

“This law was revealed to Joseph Smith.  He revealed this law to Emma Smith and she opposed him in it.  Finally, after a long time, she consented to have him go ahead and have a plural wife.  She said, ‘I’ll let you have another wife if I can choose the wife,’ and I admire Joseph Smith for even consenting to that.  She said, ‘You can marry these two sisters who are living in our house, the Partridge sisters.’  And he consented to do it, but they were already his wives.  So they got married twice.  And more than that, he had 23 wives at that time!  So, while he worked with Emma, he went ahead and complied with the law.

“This is what we must do.  We don’t throw them away, we work with them and work with them and work with them.  But there comes a time when we must go ahead and live the law that is revealed to us.  It is not right for one individual to stop another individual.  Not even the Priesthood can stop you.  Even if I didn’t like you at all, if you complied with the law, I don’t have the right to stop you and must administer the law to you, regardless of my personal feelings.  Because if you are complying and you are worthy, I cannot stop you, but if I like you, it’s that much better.”

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