Exegesis of Mormons D&C
Section 132
By Perry L. Porter
March 15 1997
1. Were Old Testament Prophets justified with multiple wives and concubines.
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that
inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand
wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching
the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and
concubines--
2. God here gives Joseph Smith the answers to his questions as to why Old Testament Prophets had multiple wives.
2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee
as touching this matter.
3. Must obey law, all those that find out about it.
3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the
instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who
have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
4. This covenant is everlasting and it is a new covenant. Live it or be damned. If anyone rejects covenant not go to heaven with God.
4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting
covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned;
for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter
into my glory.
5. Blessing are predicated upon specific laws, since the start of the world.
5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the
law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions
thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the
world.
6. New and Everlasting Covenant was created to enable us to obtain God's glory. To receive a FULLNESS of Gods glory you must live this law or be damned, that is to not enter Gods heaven.
6 And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it
was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth
a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be
damned, saith the Lord God.
7. Conditions of the law. Any kind of marriage vow that is not done according to this law, become null and void at death. vaguely specified conditions of being married according to the law, which are :
7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law
are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths,
vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations,
that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit
of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for
all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and
commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have
appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed
unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and
there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power
and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no
efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the
dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an
end when men are dead.
8. Vows are bound by rules, because God is consistent.
8 Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God,
and not a house of confusion.
9. Rhetorical question, must vows be done according to Gods specifications if he is to honor them?
9 Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not
made in my name?
10. Rhetorical question, can God accept a marriage that he didn't ask you to create? This question must refer to Plural Marriage, as this is not a requirement of monogamous marriage. Must God honor a sacrifice that he did not request from you?
10 Or will I receive at your hands that which I have not
appointed?
11. Vows of marriage are given by law from God.
11 And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be
by law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you, before the
world was?
12. Can not live with God except that you live his word or law.
12 I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this
commandment--that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or
by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord.
13. All marriage vows by any government, king or preacher that are not done according to this word or law, end at death.
13 And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained
of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of
name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word,
saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after
men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the
Lord your God.
14. Only things (vows) made by God remain after death.
14 For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever
things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed.
15. Repeats verse 14. If vows not done by his word or law are of no force after death. Repeats an earthly married couple are not bound by any law or married after death.
15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he
marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so
long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and
marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are
out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when
they are out of the world.
16. Once dead, there are no more marriages, but former couples become angles or servants to minister to those new Gods that were married by God's law.
[What about proxy marriages for dead couples, i.e. does one become a ministering angel and can one be promoted to a God upon having one's Temple work being done? How can they minister to Gods, but not be allowed in Gods presence in the highest decree? Can proxy plural marriage count, must the couple live the law by living on earth and being tested as a multiple partner marriage? ]
16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither
marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in
heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for
those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an
eternal weight of glory.
17. Angles are those people that didn't live the law. They remain single or non exalted, but only saved forever without a chance of exaltation. They are not Gods but angles of God forever.
17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they
cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without
exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from
henceforth are not Gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.
18. If a man marry a women FOR TIME AND FOR ALL ETERNITY but it is not by Gods word which is his law, The 4 conditions of law are repeated. Marriage for time and all eternity ends at death. They are not bound by his word become other angles and Gods will not allow them to pass into heaven. Repeats that Gods laws are consistent.
[This hints of the sentinels that protect non initiates from progressing in Masonry or the veil in Mormonism]
18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife,
and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if
that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is
not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have
anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid
neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are
not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they
are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the
angels and the Gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot
pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a
house of order, saith the Lord God.
19. Repeat If vows are made by word or law (??? 4 conditions of law repeated) A 5th condition is now added that when obeying the covenant and one may not shed innocent blood. Additional promises are that you will be part of the first or 2nd resurrection, their vows will have force after death, and they will get God hood (name written in the Lambs Book of Life). Pass by the angels and Gods to exaltation and glory in all things. You will be able to have additional children forever.
19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by
my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting
covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of
promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this
power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto
them--Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be
after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall
inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions,
all heights and depths--then shall it be written in the Lamb's
Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed
innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no
murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them
in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time,
and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they
are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the
Gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all
20. Those that keep the law and do not shed innocent blood become Gods because they continue without end. Angles obey them, (from afar).
[Are non Gods not eternal? Can your own children be ministering angles to you? Can Gods minister to another God? ]
20 Then shall they be Gods, because they have no end;
therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because
they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things
are subject unto them. Then shall they be Gods, because they have
all power, and the angels are subject unto them.
21. Obey law or not become a God.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye
cannot attain to this glory.
22. If not know and buy into God in this world (obey his law) otherwise no marriages or continuation of new children after death.
22 For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth
unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there
be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither
do ye know me.
23. Repeat verse 22 in positive voice. If you buy into God now, you can get exaltation with him later.
23 But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me,
and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be
also.
24. Eternal liveS (*S* note unusual use of plural here) or increase of children, is given by knowing God and obeying his law.
24 This is eternal lives--to know the only wise and true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye,
therefore, my law.
25. Repeat verse 22 in the positive voice. Broad is the gate and wide the way to deathS (*S* note unusual use of plural here) of those that did not obey Gods law.
25 Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the
deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they
receive me not, neither do they abide in my law.
26. If a man obey the law or word and meets the conditions of the law and later commits any sin or transgression of the New and Everlasting Covenant or any manner of blasphemies as long as he does not murder and shed innocent blood, he can still be exalted to a God, but will have be punished by Satan, from the time of his death until the redemption.
26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife
according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of
promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall
commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting
covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they
commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall
come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their
exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall
be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of
redemption, saith the Lord God.
27. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is defined as, after you have receive the New and Everlasting Convent that you murder an innocent person. Repeated for the [2nd] time that if you do not obey THIS law you can not be exalted but will be damned.
27 The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be
forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit
murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death,
after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the
Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter
into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.
28. God will give the law of his Holy Priesthood, which was NOT new, but existed before the world was.
[Since this revelation was given 12 years earlier, but not written down until July 12 1843, the verb tense "will give", seems anachronistic.]
28 I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thee the law of
my Holy Priesthood, as was ordained by me and my Father before
the world was.
29. Abraham the polygamist, kept Gods word and was exalted.
29 Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by
revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath
entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.
30. Abraham and all his decedent, including Joseph Smith, have the promises of continuing increase of children, on earth and after death in heaven.
30 Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the
fruit of his loins--from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant
Joseph--which were to continue so long as they were in the world;
and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they
should continue; both in the world and out of the world should
they continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to
count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.
31. Repeated that Joseph Smith was a descendent of Abraham. God was glorified by Abraham's living of the law of polygamy. In other words, God was made to look more powerful and important because a famous Biblical figure lived polygamy, thus correct of observance of the law of plural marriage is essential to making God what he was.
31 This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and
the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the
continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth
himself.
32. "Do the works of Abraham", live the law and be saved.
[inconsistent, should read EXALTED, instead of SAVED. Saved from eternal death, by Christ resurrection and atonement, is NOT the same as being exhaled.]
32 Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye
into my law and ye shall be saved.
33. If you don't do like Abraham and live the law you can not receive the promise of eternal increase of children like Abraham did.
33 But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the
promise of my Father, which he made unto Abraham.
34. Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham because it was the law. A Biblical precedence for a prophet's wife to give the prophet a new wife.
34 God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to
wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from
Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among
other things, the promises.
35. Polygamy not wrong, because it was commanded, even though this section is written in a defensive posture that the assumption is that polygamy is wrong.
35 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say
unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it.
36. Even shedding of innocent blood is ok if you are commanded to do so. Some laws are less everlasting than others.
36 Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless,
it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not
refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness.
37. Concubines are ok because they were within the law of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because they were commanded to do so. These polygamists became Gods because they lived the law.
[Implied is that they had no sex outside the prescribed law. Sex with no intent to product children, is ok if it is done under the auspices of the New and Ever Covenant.]
37 Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children;
and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they
were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and
Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded;
and because they did none other things than that which they were
commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to
the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are
Gods.
38. David, Moses and many others from Adam to now took many wives which was not wrong as long as the women were given to them according to the law.
38 David also received many wives and concubines, and also
Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my
servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in
nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not
of me.
39. David's wives and concubines were authorized by Nathan and other prophets that had keys. Except for causing the death of Uriah so as to take his wife Bathshiba. David lost his exaltation and his wives were given to another.
[Did the wives have any choice in this matter?]
39 David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by
the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who
had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he
sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and,
therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his
portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I
gave them unto another, saith the Lord.
40. Joseph Smith to restore all things. Joseph Smith to be given any women he asks for, because the law that permits or requires such. Joseph Smith asks questions, and gets the law as an answer.
40 I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant
Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things. Ask what ye will,
and it shall be given unto you according to my word.
41. Joseph Smith asked about adultery. If a man marries a wife in the New and Everlasting Covenant and she has sex with a man that she was NOT married to or had been anointed to him during an endowment ceremony, she has committed adultery and she will be damned.
41 And as ye have asked concerning adultery, verily, verily, I
say unto you, if a man receiveth a wife in the new and
everlasting covenant, and if she be with another man, and I have
not appointed unto her by the holy anointing, she hath committed
adultery and shall be destroyed.
42. Sex with a man other than her husband, is adultery for women, unless she has a New and Everlasting Covenant type of marriage.
[It is ambiguous as to with whom she has a covenant. It must mean that she can have relations with someone other than her regular husband, if her other husband's marriage is of the New and Everlasting Covenant type of marriage. At face value this Scripture on it's own tends to sound out of character for typical adultery. However, in the cases where Joseph Smith took as a plural wife, a women that was married to another man civilly, that marriage was not seen as less valid as a New and Everlasting Covenant marriage, therefore the women was not committing adultery, as in the case of Mary Elizabeth Rollings Lightner, whom was still civilly married and had children by Adam Lightner. Out of that context, the direct interpretation of this scripture would seem unusual.]
42 If she be not in the new and everlasting covenant, and she
be with another man, she has committed adultery.
43. If a man has sex outside of his Non-New and Everlasting Covenant marriage it is adultery, but it does not state that he will be destroyed.
[This scripture is also ambiguous, as it refers to the man as being the husband of the Women that has a civil marriage. But it states that if he was under a vow, then he has broken his vow. Now why state the obvious, he is referred to as being her husband, so of course he is under a vow. Unless it intend that this vow refers to a New and Everlasting Covenant vow. Also implied with verse 41 is that women are expendable, while men are not.]
43 And if her husband be with another woman, and he was under
a vow, he hath broken his vow and hath committed adultery.
44. If a women's husband has had sex outside his marriage vows Joseph Smith has been granted the priesthood power to give this women to a non adulterous man.
[No mention if she is given a choice in this matter or not. It does not say that Joseph Smith was given the powers over the reverse situation. i.e. a women commits adultery, her husband can be given to another worthy women. The only remedy offered by this revelation is that she is to be destroyed.]
44 And if she hath not committed adultery, but is innocent and
hath not broken her vow, and she knoweth it, and I reveal it unto
you, my servant Joseph, then shall you have power, by the power
of my Holy Priesthood, to take her and give her unto him that
hath not committed adultery but hath been faithful; for he shall
be made ruler over many.
45. All keys and power have been restored to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith to know all things at sometime.
[This revelation supposedly was given in 1831, but not written down until 1843, less than a year before his death. Other sections of the D&C refer to Joseph Smith receiving even more keys than "All keys". Most notably and the endowment. Oddly Joseph had upwards to 15 plural wives before he gave the first endowments on May 4th 1842. How could he have keys to things such as the second anointing as far back as 1831 when he didn't know all there was to know about the first endowment until 1842. Apparently "All keys and power" is not as encompassing, once you start checking the dates out.]
45 For I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the
priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you
all things in due time.
46. Joseph Smith married (sealed) a couple on earth, therefore they are married (sealed) in heaven at the same moment. Bind according to word, or law, becomes bound in heaven. The Sins that Joseph Smith forgives here are forgiven in heaven. Those sins that Joseph Smith chooses NOT to forgive, will not be forgiven in heaven.
46 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you
seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you bind
on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be
eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you remit on
earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever
sins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven.
47. Joseph Smith has power to bless or curse anyone he feels like cursing.
47 And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless,
and whomsoever you curse I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the
Lord, am thy God.
48. Whenever Joseph Smith marries by the law will not be cursed here or in heaven.
48 And again, verily I say unto you, my servant Joseph, that
whatsoever you give on earth, and to whomsoever you give any one
on earth, by my word and according to my law, it shall be visited
with blessings and not cursings, and with my power, saith the
Lord, and shall be without condemnation on earth and in heaven.
49. God will side with Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith told that he has earned his exaltation with other polygamists.
49 For I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto
the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal
upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the
kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your father.
50. God recognizes Joseph Smith sacrifices and forgives Joseph Smith's sins and God makes plans to exalt Joseph Smith as he did Abraham for obeying God's unreasonable test of faith.
50 Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all
your sins; I have seen your sacrifices in obedience to that which
I have told you. Go, therefore, and I make a way for your escape,
as I accepted the offering of Abraham of his son Isaac.
51. Emma whom was endowed and married to Joseph Smith by way of the New and Everlasting Covenant. Emma doesn't have to take the wife Joseph Smith was asking for. God was just testing, as he did with Abraham.
51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine
handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that
she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to
offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all,
as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your
hand, by covenant and sacrifice.
52. Emma told to accept all of Joseph Smith's current wives, but if Joseph Smith brings Emma a slut for her approval, Emma can say no. If they lie about being a slut, that slut will be destroyed.
[In other words, if Joseph Smith brings Emma a virgin or chase women for approval, Emma must approve.]
52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that
have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and
pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they
were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.
53. Emma must Obey God in that Joseph Smith now has many vies and he will get more.
53 For I am the Lord thy God and ye shall obey my voice; and I
give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many
things; for he hath been faithful over a few things, and from
henceforth I will strengthen him.
54. Emma to be faithful to Joseph Smith and live the commandment and law or Joseph Smith would be destroyed.
54 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and
cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will
not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the
Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she
abide not in my law.
55. If Emma does not live the covenant Joseph Smith will have to do Emma's works of salvation, for Emma, just as Joseph Smith had said. In spite of what ever course Emma takes, God will bless Joseph Smith a 100 times, with everything, included wives and children, not with Emma.
55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my
servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I
will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an hundredfold
in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters,
houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of eternal lives
in the eternal worlds.
56. Emma is to forgive Joseph Smith's sins so that her sins will also be forgiven, and Emma will be blessed if she does forgive Joseph.
[Since this section center around marriage and fidelity or lack there of to marriage, is this the implication of what sins of which Emma is to for give Joseph?]
56 And again, verily I say, let mine handmaid forgive my
servant Joseph his trespasses; and then shall she be forgiven her
trespasses, wherein she has trespassed against me; and I, the
Lord thy God, will bless her, and multiply her, and make her
heart to rejoice.
57. Joseph Smith is NOT to sell property (or property signed jointly with Emma), because Satan would like that. Repeat Joseph Smith was in God's good favor as was Abraham.
57 And again, I say, let not my servant Joseph put his
property out of his hands, lest an enemy come and destroy him;
for Satan seeketh to destroy; for I am the Lord thy God, and he
is my servant; and behold, and lo, I am with him, as I was with
Abraham, thy father, even unto his exaltation and glory.
58. law of Priesthood has many aspects.
58 Now, as touching the law of the priesthood, there are many
things pertaining thereunto.
59. Joseph Smith was correctly called and set apart like Abraham, and had his Endowments and was married by the word and law of God. Joseph Smith's relations were not common sin (adultery) but are justified as ok by God.
59 Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was Aaron, by
mine own voice, and by the voice of him that sent me, and I have
endowed him with the keys of the power of this priesthood, if he
do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word,
he will not commit sin, and I will justify him. In other
words, Joseph Smith is being asked to make this sacrifice of
living Plural marriage because of past sins of Joseph Smith.
60. Don't let anyone pick on Joseph Smith for living plural marriage, because Joseph Smith is making the sacrifice that God asked him to, as a payment for Joseph Smith's transgressions.
60 Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph; for I will
justify him; for he shall do the sacrifice which I require at his
hands for his transgressions, saith the Lord your God.
61. The law of God is, that if a man marry a virgin and wants to have another virgin, he can have her if the first wife gives her ok and the 2nd candidate really is a virgin. This man can not commit adultery by having sex only with the virgin women "given" to him.
61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood--if
any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the
first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they
are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he
justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him;
for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him
and to no one else.
62. If a man have 10 virgin plural wives given to him by the law he can have sex with all 10 and no adultery is happening.
62 And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he
cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are
given unto him; therefore is he justified.
63. If any of the 10 virgins has sex with any other man, she shall be destroyed because the virgin belongs to the 1st man, for the purpose of making children, not making love, and to fulfill Abraham's promise of Eternal child bearing, which is part of exaltation in the after life, thus glorifying God.
63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is
espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery,
and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to multiply
and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to
fulfill the promise which was given by my Father before the
foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal
worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the
work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified.
64. Any endowed priesthood man that is married and teachers her the law of plural marriage, she must obey or be destroyed. Women must give whatever wives the man asks for or the women will be destroyed, because God intends on having the law lived by someone.
64 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have
a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her
the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then
shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be
destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I
will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my
law.
65. If wife is not willing to give her husband other wives according this God's word, then she becomes the transgressor. In this case, the man is exempt from the law of Sarah, whom obeyed the law and gave Abraham Hagar as his wife. The law of Sara is ...
[not giving your husband many virgins, is an act of commission, not an act of omission]
65 Therefore, it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not
this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord
his God, will give unto him, because she did not believe and
administer unto him according to my word; and she then becomes
the transgressor; and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who
administered unto Abraham according to the law when I commanded
Abraham to take Hagar to wife.
66. God will tell more about the law later.
[Again this revelation was given 12 years ago, but only written down in 1842, so how is it seems that now is the time to give more about the law, since many more people than just Joseph Smith has been asked to live it previous to this time.]
66 And now, as pertaining to this law, verily, verily, I say
unto you, I will reveal more unto you, hereafter; therefore, let
this suffice for the present. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega. Amen.
Joseph Smith's take on King David.
The following are some quotes that either come from Joseph
Smith or he was the probable influence on the following view of
King David. Considering some similarities to Joseph's
relationship with Fanny Alger and other Nauvoo plural wives, the
husbands of some of those wives were sent far away on Missions, I
find this a very interesting view of David, as it relates to
convincing Emma of the divine origin of Joseph's plural
marriages.
Murderers Have No Forgiveness
A murderer, for instance, on that sheds innocent blood, cannot have forgiveness. David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.
Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843 44,
p.339
27.& Although David was anointed a king by the Prophet Samuel, it was not, according to this teaching of Joseph Smith, after the order of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood (see 1 Samuel 16:12-13). For this reason, when David ordered the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11), he did not commit the unpardonable sin.
Ehat & Cook, Words, 10 March 1844 Note, p.390
... while, for the crime of adultery with Bathsheba, and for ordering Uriah to be put in the front of battle in a time of war, where he was slain by the enemy, the Priesthood, and the kingdom were taken from David, the man after God's own heart, and his soul was thrust into hell. Why? Because "the Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of David" or, in other words, David possessed the gift of the Holy Ghost, and had power to speak by the light thereof. But even David, though guilty of adultery and murder of Uriah, obtained the promise that his soul should not be left in hell, which means, as I understand it, that even he shall escape the second death.
Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p.433
Status of King David
Question: "Some time ago the question came up as to the standing of King David because of his sin as pertaining to Uriah. Because we understand there is no forgiveness for murder some of the class felt he lost his priesthood and retrogressed from the time of this incident. Others felt that inasmuch as David repented and abhorred his sin and indicated his sorrow, that he did not lose his priesthood. Would you please enlighten us? Whet is the teaching of the Church on this point? What is his status?"
Answer: David sorely repented all his life, but his sin was so great that he lost everything and the Prophet Joseph Smith has given us this information. Speaking of the Jews whom Peter addressed as recorded in the third chapter of Acts, they could not receive forgiveness for their sins, although they repented, until Christ comes, and the same is true of David. These are the words of the Prophet to the Jews:
A murderer, for instance, one that sheds innocent blood, cannot have forgiveness. David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell; he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.
Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fulness of the priesthood; and the priesthood that he received, and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.
. . . "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing (redemption) shall come from the presence of the Lord, and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you," &c.1 ( Acts 3:19-21.) The time of redemption here had reference to the time when Christ should come; then, and not till then, would their sins be blotted out. Why? Because they were murderers, and no murderer hath eternal life. Even David must wait for those times of refreshing, before he can come forth and his sins be blotted out. For Peter, speaking of him says, "David hath not yet ascended into heaven, for his sepulchre is with us to this day."2 ( Ibid., 2:29) His remains were then in the tomb. Now, we read that many bodies of the Saints arose at Christ's resurrection, probably all the Saints, but it seems that David did not.3 ( Matthew 27:52-53.) Why? Because he had been a murderer. . . 4 ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 239, 188.)
Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 3,
p.145
When we see each other in the morning, our sleep has often not been the same, even though we usually each say the same "Good morning." Uriah apparently slept very well when, as a loyal lieutenant of King David, he slept with the servants on the floor at King David's door.. Uriah was loyal to his men "in the open fields," to his king, and to his wife, Bathsheba. By contrast, one cannot help but wonder how well the conspiring and adulterous David slept that same night! The later lamentations of David suggest that many sleepless nights followed his sending of the uncompromised Uriah to his death-in the "forefront of the hottest battle," where the "valiant men were." Uriah fell, but David plummeted from the privileged place reserved for him in the next world. (See 2 Samuel 11.)
Neal A. Maxwell, Deposition of a Disciple, p.77
David's repentance.
King James Version 1 Kings 15:5
Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Joseph Smith Translation (formerly the Inspired version) 1 Kings 15:5
Because David did right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned
not aside from all that he commanded him, to sin against the
Lord; but repented of the evil all the days of his life, save
only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, wherein the Lord cursed
him.
After David had repented with all his heart of his crime with the wife of Uriah, he, notwithstanding the number of wives he had previously taken, took Bathsheba legally, and by that legal marriage Solomon was born; the child born of her unto David, begotten illegally, being a bastard, displeased the Lord and He struck it with death; but with Solomon, a legal issue from the same woman, the Lord was so pleased that He ordained Solomon and set him on the throne of his father David. This shows the difference between the two classes of posterity, the one begotten illegally, the other in the order of marriage. If Solomon had been a bastard, as this pious generation would have us suppose, instead of being blessed of the Lord and raised to the throne of his father, he would have been banished from the congregation of Israel and his seed after him for ten generations. But, notwithstanding that he was so highly blessed and honored of the Lord, there was room for him to transgress and fall, and in the end he did so. For a long time the Lord blessed Solomon, but eventually he violated that law which the Lord had given forbidding Israel to take wives from the idolatrous nations, and some of those wives succeeded in turning his heart from the Lord, and induced him to worship the heathen Gods, and the Lord was angry with him and, as it is recorded in the Book of Mormon, considered the acts of Solomon an abomination in His sight.
Journal of Discourses, Vol.13, p.191 - p.192, Orson Pratt,
October 7, 1869
The greatest promise, it seems, that God could give to Abraham was that his seed should be as the stars for multitude and as innumerable as the sand upon the sea shore, and that in him and his posterity all the nations of the earth should be blessed. It seemed to be the greatest gift that God could pronounce upon him; at any rate, I do not read of anything that He puts ahead of this. David also, though a transgressor is the matter of Uriah the Hittite, and though deprived of many of his blessings because of this great sin, yet the Lord had promised him that He would build him a sure house; and if you will read the history of the dynasty you will see how remarkably God fulfilled His word in that regard, and how He preserved his seed. Notwithstanding they were wicked men, He preserved them. He said that He had made promises to His servant David, which He would fulfill; and I have no doubt that in these days, when the time shall come, the seed of David will be found upon the earth just as the Lord said it should be.
Collected Discourses, Vol.5, George Q. Cannon, June 7, 1896
As a polygamist, David, the anointed King and Prophet of Israel, was called a man after God's own heart; and God Himself expressly declares, by the mouth of Nathan the Prophet, that he gave him his wives.
Parley Pratt Autobiography(1985), p.385
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