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Chapter Nine
THE RESTORATION OF THE DISPENSATION OF ABRAHAM
The Dispensation of Abraham was restored in the Kirtland
Temple on April 3, 1836:
D & C 110:12 "After this, Elias
appeared , and committed the dispensation of the
gospel of Abraham, saying that IN US AND OUR SEED
ALL GENERATIONS AFTER US SHOULD BE BLESSED ."
Joseph Smith gives the following on the priesthood power
that ELIAS had who restored the
Dispensation of Abraham:
Words of JS, Pages 328 & 329 ".... The spirit of Elias
is to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God which
is THE PRIESTHOOD OF ELIAS or THE PRIESTHOOD THAT
AARON WAS ORDAINED UNTO .........IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW WHO
HOLDS THE KEYS OF POWER & WHO DONT. OR WE MAY BE LIKELY
TO BE DECIEVED ..........THIS IS THE ELIAS
SPOKEN OF IN THE LAST DAYS & HERE IS THE ROCK UPON WHICH
MANY SPLIT THINKING THE TIME WAS PAST IN THE DAYS OF JOHN
(the Baptist) & CHRIST & NOMORE TO BE , "
(See Words of JS, Pages 327-329)
IF ELIAS HAD POWER IN THE HIGHER
PRIESTHOOD IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO BE DECEIVED WHERE POWER
WAS CONCERNED FOR THOSE HOLDING THE HIGHER PRIESTHOOD CAN
ADMINISTER IN THE LESSER ALSO .
This is consistent with the 132nd Section of the Doctrine
and Covenants which, in part, is on the Dispensation of
Abraham as follows:
Verse 58 Now, as touching the LAW OF THE
PRIESTHOOD , there are many things pertaining
thereunto.
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 nanme, and according to my law and
by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify
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, ........then is he justified;"
In the King James Bible Concordance Dictionary Elias and
Elijah are given as one and the same. Joseph Smith changed
this:
King James Version: Matt. 17:10 "And his disciples asked
him, saying, why then say the scribes that Elias must first
come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall
first come, and restore all things.
12 But l say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they
knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed.
Likewise shall the son suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of
John the Baptist."
The following gives the same scripture with Joseph Smith's
corrections Bolded and in
capital letters:
RB, St. Matt. 17:9 "And his disciples asked him, saying, Why
then say the Scribes that Elias must first come?
10 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall
first come, and restore all things, AS THE PROPHETS
HAVE WRITTEN .
11 AND AGAIN I say unto you that Elias HAS
come already, CONCERNING WHOM IT IS WRITTEN. BEHOLD.
I WILL SEND MY MESSENGER AND HE SHALL PREPARE THE WAY BEFORE
ME ; and they knew him not, and have done unto him
whatsoever they listed.
12 Likewise shall ALSO the Son of Man
suffer of them.
13 BUT I SAY UNTO YOU! WHO IS ELIAS?
BEHOLD. THIS IS ELIAS. WHOM I SEND TO PREPARE THE WAY BEFORE
ME .
14 Then the disciples understood that he
SPAKE unto them of John the
Baptist, AND ALSO OF ANOTHER WHO SHOULD COME AND
RESTORE ALL THINGS. AS IT IS WRITTEN BY THE PROPHETS."
These corrections inform us beginning in Verse 10 that Elias
will restore all things that the prophets have
written and that which was written concerning Elias
was that he was a messenger to prepare the way before the
Savior's mission on earth (Verses 11 & 12). Verse 13
identifies Elias as being John the Baptist and Verse 14,
that another other than John will come and restore all
things which, of course, was the Savior.
And there are contradictions to the foregoing scripture:
In the 77th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the
Answer to Question 9 gives Elias power to restore the
sealing powers. These were restored under Melchizedek
Priesthood power by Elijah (D & C 110:13-15), and the
Answer to Question 14 gives Elias power to gather the twelve
tribes of Israel. This was also under Melchizedek Priesthood
power, and was restored by Moses (D & C 110:11). Section
77, according to the explanation at the beginning, was
received while Joseph Smith was translating the book
"Revelations" in the Bible. It would have been impossible
for Joseph Smith to have contradicted his own corrections.
It appears that most contradictions occur in material that
was published after Joseph Smith's death. The 77th Section
of the Doctrine and Covenants was supposed to have been
received in the year 1832, yet, when the revelations were
published in 1833 and again in 1835 this was not included
and it was not printed as part of the Doctrine and Covenants
until the 1876 edition long after Joseph Smith's death.
Verse 6 in Section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants is also
contradictory concerning the power of Elias. This verse was
not part of the original revelation. Section 27 was included
in the 1833 publication of the Doctrine and Covenants which
was then known as The Book of Commandments. In this
publication Verses I through 4, all of Verse 14 and part of
Verses 5, l 5 and l 8 belonged to the origina]
revelation which was on the Sacrament. Since the
publications of the Doctrine and Covenants were after Joseph
Smith corrected the errors in the Bible on Elias he could
not have made this mistake.
The original revelation is:
LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF JESUS CHRIST, YOUR LORD,
YOUR GOD, AND YOUR REDEEMER, WHOSE WORD IS QUICK AND
POWERFUL.
2 FOR, BEHOLD I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IT MATTERETH NOT WHAT YE
SHALL EAT OR WHAT YE SHALL DRINK WHEN YE PARTAKE OF THE
SACRAMENT, IF IT SO BE THAT YE DO IT WITH AN EYE SINGLE TO
MY GLORY - REMEMBERING UNTO THE FATHER MY BODY WHICH WAS
LAID DOWN FOR YOU, AND MY BLOOD WHICH WAS SHED FOR THE
REMISSION OF YOUR SINS.
3 WHEREFORE, A COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YOU SHALL
NOT PURCHASE WINE NEITHER STRONG DRINK OF YOUR ENEMIES;
4 WHEREFORE, YOU SHALL PARTAKE OF NONE EXCEPT IT IS MADE NEW
AMONG YOU; YEA, IN THIS MY FATHER'S KINDOM WHICH SHALL BE
BUILT UP ON THE EARTH.
5 BEHOLD, THIS IS WISDOM IN ME; WHEREFORE, MARVEL NOT, FOR
THE HOUR COMETH THAT I WILL DRINK OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE
WITH YOU ON THE EARTH, (the rest of Verse 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 has been added)
14 AND ALSO WITH ALL THOSE WHOM MY FATHER HATH GIVEN ME OUT
OF THE WORLD.
15 WHEREFORE, LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS AND REJOICE, AND GIRD UP
YOUR LOINS, (the rest of Verse 15, 16, 17, and part of 18
has been added except for) - AND BE FAITHFUL UNTIL I
COME. AMEN. (JSBHW, Vol II, The Book of Commandments, Page
60)
In the publishing of the 1835 edition of the revelations
Oliver Cowdery was on the committee. Oliver was chastened of
the Lord for trying to write revelations (See D & C
28:1-5). A footnote (No. 8) in the book Diaries, Page 19,
informs us that Oliver greatly expanded blessings beyond
their contents as initially given by Joseph Smith when
recorded in the Patriarchal Blessing books. This may be the
source for the "addition" that is wedged
into the original revelation.
The promise restored in the Kirtland Temple was: IN
US AND OUR SEED ALL GENERATIONS AFTER US SHOULD BE
BLESSED ." (D & C 110:12)
This PROMISE , as explained by
Joseph, PERTAINS TO THE FLESH and belongs
to the Law of Adoption:
Words of JS, Page 73 "The speaker (Joseph Smith) then spoke
on the subject of election, and read the 9th chap. in
Romans, from which it was evident that THE ELECTION
THERE SPOKEN OF WAS PERTAINING TO THE FLESH AND HAD
REFERENCE TO THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE
GOD MADE TO ABRAHAM, SAYING. "IN THEE AND IN THY SEED ALL
THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED. " To
them belonged the ADOPTION , and the
COVENANTS &c."
Nephi explains this PROMISE as being
TEMPORAL also:
I Ne. 22:6 "....BEHOLD THESE THINGS OF WHICH ARE
SPOKEN ARE TEMPORAL: FOR THUS ARE THE COVENANTS OF
THE LORD WITH OUR FATHERS ;
.......................
8 ......the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work
among the Gentiles, which shall
be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is
likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being
carried in their arms and upon their shoulders
.
9 ........unto the making known of the covenants of the
Father of heaven unto Abraham,
saying: IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE KINDREDS OF THE
EARTH BE BLESSED ."
Since the promise. restored in the Kirtland Temple. is the
same promise given to Abraham in the foregoing scripture and
it concerns the LITERAL SEED OF HIS BODY
44 then
could it be that those who were to receive this promise
would marry into this lineage to lift the curse the same as
Abraham did for the Canaanite lineage through Hagar and
Keturah which of course would involve plural marriage?
44 Abraham 2:11 " and in thy seed after
thee (that is to say, the LITERAL SEED, or the SEED OF THE
BODY) shall all the families of the earth be
blessed,...."
The following was sent to Pres. Brigham Young which explains
the reason for plural marriage. This was taken from the copy
that is in the Church Historian's Office of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Evidently the Saints in
Salt Lake City did not know about the contents of this
revelation until 1861 when a copy of it was received from W.
W. Phelps and the purpose of his sending it must have been
the realization that the Church lacked understanding on this
part of the restoration.
"President B. Young I have the pleasure of sending you
"The Substance
"of a revelation by Joseph Smith Junr. given over the
boundary, west of Jackson co. Missouri, on Sunday morning
Julv 17. 1831 , when seven Elders, viz:
Joseph Smith Jun., Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, Martin
Harris, Joseph Coe, Ziba Peterson and Joshua Lewis united
their hearts in prayer, in a private place, to inquire of
the Lord who should preach the first sermon to the remnants
of the Lamanites and Nephites, and the people of that
section, that should assemble that day, in the Indian
Country, to hear the gospel and the revelations according to
the Book of Mormon.
"Among the company there being neither pen, Ink or paper,
Joseph remarked that the Lord could preserve his words, as
he had ever done, till the time appointed, and
proceeded:
" I Verily, Verily, saith the Lord, your Redeemer, even
Jesus Christ, the light and the life of the world,
ye cannot discern with vour natural eyes. the design
and the purpose of your Lord and vour God. in bringing you
thus far into the wilderness FOR A TRIAL OF YOUR
FAITH , and to be especial witnesses, to bear
testimony of this land, upon which the zion of God shall be
built up in the last days, when it is redeemed.
"2 Verily, inasmuch as ye are united in calling upon my name
to know my will concerning who shall preach to the
inhabitants that shall assemble this day to learn what
doctrine you have to teach them, you have done wisely, for
so did the prophets anciently, even Enoch, and Abraham, and
others; and therefore, it is my will that my servant Oliver
Cowdery should open the meeting with prayer; that my servant
W. W. Phelps should preach the discourse and that my
servants Joseph Coe and Ziba Peterson should bear testimony
as they shall be moved by the Holy Spirit. This will be
pleasing in the sight of your Lord.
"3 Verily, I say unto you, you are laying the foundation of
a great work for the salvation of as many as will believe
and repent, and obey the ordinances of the Gospel, and
continue faithful to the end: For, as I live, saith the
Lord, so shall they live.
"4 Verily, I say unto you, that the wisdom of man, in his
fallen state, knoweth not the purposes and the
privileges of my holy priesthood , but ye
shall know when ye receive a fulness by
reason of the anointing: For it is my
will, that in time, YE SHOULD TAKE UNTO YOU WIVES OF
THE LAMANITES AND NEPHITES, THAT THEIR POSTERITY MAY BECOME
WHITE, DELIGHTSOME AND JUST. for even now their females are
more virtuous than the gentiles.
"5 Gird up your loins and be prepared for the mighty work of
the Lord to prepare the world for my second coming to meet
the tribes of Israel, according to the predictions of all
the holy prophets since the beginning; For the final
desolation decreed upon Babylon: For, as the everlasting
gospel is carried from this land, in love for peace, to
gether mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, for
Zion - even so shall rebellion follow after, speedily, with
hatred for war until the consumption decreed hath made a
full end of all the kingdoms and nations, that strive to
govern themselves by the laws and precepts, and force and
powers of men under the curse of sin, in all the world.
"6 Verily, I say unto you, that the day of vexation and
vengeance is nigh at the doors of this nation, when wicked,
ungodily and daring men will rise up in wrath and might, and
go forth in anger, like as the dust is driven by a terrible
wind; and they will be the means of the destruction of the
government: and come the death and misery of men's souls,
but the faithful among my people shall be preserved in holy
places, during all these tribulations.
"7 Be patient, therefore, possessing your souls in peace and
love, and keep the faith that is now delivered unto you for
the gathering of scattered Israel, and lo, I am with you,
though you cannot see me, till I come: even so. Amen.
"Reported by W. W. P.
"About three years after this was given, I asked brother
Joseph, privately, how 'we,' that were mentioned in the
revelation could take wives from the 'natives' as we were
all married men? He replied, instantly 'In the same manner
that Abraham took Hagar and Keturah; and Jacob took Rachel,
Bilhah and Zilpah; by revelation - the saints of the Lord
are always directed by revelation.
"Respectfully I have the faith to be, as ever
W. W. Phelps"
"August 12, 1861
Note the Bolded in Verse
4 concerning the Nephites and Lamanites a cursed
lineage. becoming white. delightsome and just ,
which was to be a genetic and spiritual uplift through those
chosen by revelation to take wives of this lineage.
This is consistent with the reason Abram took concubines of
the cursed lineage of Ham. For through this covenant, LAW OF
ADOPTION, a nation that did not have the right of the
birthright (priesthood) naturally would receive it THROUGH
ADOPTION. In the foregoing scripture Paul identifies all of
the seed (children) of Abraham - the CHOSEN SEED (Isaac) and
those who would be recipients of the Law of Adoption who are
referred to as the CHILDREN OF THE FLESH:
RB, Ro. 9:4 "Who are Israelites; to whom are THE ADOPTION,
and the glory, and the COVENANTS, and the giving of the law,
and the service of God,
5 And THE PROMISES which are made unto the fathers, and of
whom, AS CONCERNING THE FLESH, Christ was, who is God over
all, blessed for ever. Amen.
6. .........For they are not all Israel, which are
of Israel:
7. Neither, because they are all children of Abraham, are
they the seed but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8. That is, They which are the CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, these
are not the children of God: but the children of the promise
are counted for the seed..
9. For this is the word of promise. At this time will I
come, and Sarah shall have a son."
And because ABRAM became the father of the
lineage of Ham, HAM was added to his name -
AbraHAM :
RB, Gen. 17:9 "And this covenant I make, that thy children
may be known among all nations. Neither shall thy name any
more be called Abram, but thy name shall be called
AbraHAM: for, A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE
THEE ."
And the foregoing bolded became a reality because Ishmael,
son of Hagar, begat twelve sons who became the princes of
the Arabic Nation. -(Gen. 25:13-16 and 1 Chron. 1:29-32)
Note also the underlined above "ye cannot discern
with your natural eyes. the design and the purpose of your
Lord and your God. in bringing you thus far into the
wilderness. for a trial of your faith. " The "trial
of their faith" was the restoration of the Law of Sacrifice
(Dispensation of Abraham):
D & C 132:51 "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 REOUIRE AN OFFERING AT YOUR HAND. BY
COVENANT AND SACRIFICE."
The "OFFERING" would be their
progeny
who would become a light and delightsome people through the
genetic uplift
45
and the "SACRIFICE" would be. to those who were righteous,
the departure from the sacred vows of monogamy to the carnal
works of polygamy.
The Law of Sacrifice was restored again because of
transgression:
45 Words of JS, Page 42, .
the offring of Sacrifice shall be continued at the last time
then shall the sons of Levi offer an acceptable offering to
the Lord Se Malichi 3 Chap. 3 & 4 And he shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons
of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they rnay
offer unto the Lord~
Those who are ~called~ to live the Levitical Law are
referred to as ~the sons of Levi~ and had they lived the law
righteously they would have been purified (void of
licentiousness) for they were to take wives of a depraved
and hackward nation who were, through this genetic uplift,
to become a light and delightsome people and this upgraded
situation for the American Indian would have been an
~acceptable offering~ unto the Lord.
D & C 132:59 ".... IF A MAN BE CALLED OF MY
FATHER, AS WAS AARON,
.........and I have endowed him with the keys of the power
OF THIS PRIESTHOOD I
will justify him.
60 Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph;
.............HE SHALL DO THE SACRIFICE WHICH I
REOUIRE AT HIS HANDS FOR HIS TRANSGRESSIONS , saith
the Lord your God."
How he transgressed will be covered in another chapter.
A further explanation of the Law of Sacrifice (Levicital
Law) restored in the Dispensation of
the Fullness of Times is:
Teachings, Page 319 "Here is a little of law which
must be fulfilled . The LEVITICAL
PRIESTHOOD is forever hereditary - fixed on the
head of Aaron and his sons forever, and was in active
operation down to Zachariah the father of
John....................
The Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence ,
etc.
The Kingdom of heaven continueth in authority until John.
The authority taketh it by absolute power.
John having the power took the Kingdom by authority.
How have you obtained all this great knowledge? By the gift
of the Holy Ghost. Wrested the Kingdom from the Jews.
Of these stony Gentiles - THESE DOGS - to raise up
children unto Abraham ." (Also Words of JS, Pages
234 and 235)
The Levitical Priesthood is inherited from our earthly
fathers (Adam bringing it because of transgression); that
when it is in operation heaven suffers
because it is a carnal law; that it was in operation until
John the Baptist restored the Gospel of Baptism, therefore
taking the authority from the Jews who still refused to have
faith in the living Savior and his mission (the Plan of
Salvation); that it is restored again in the Dispensation of
the Fullness of Times wherein the stony Gentiles referred to
as "DOGS " were to raise up children unto
Abraham through the Law of Adoption (plural marriage).
Scripture continues to inform us of the law:
RB, Ro. 4:1 "What shall we say then that Abraham our father,
AS PERTAINING TO THE FLESH HATH FOUND ?
2 For if Abraham were justified by the law of works, he hath
to glory in himself; but not of God.
3 For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God,
AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS .
4 Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the
reward reckoned, not of grace, but of debt.
5 But TO HIM THAT SEEKETH NOT TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE
LAW OF WORKS. BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIETH NOT THE
UNGODLY. HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
."
This is consistent with modern day scripture:
D & C 132: 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 Abraham received CONCUBINES , and they
bore him children; and IT WAS ACCOUNTED UNTO HIM FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS ,...."
To kill or commit adultery is "accounted unto one as
righteousness " when the Lord commands it for a
righteous purpose. But we know that that which is righteous
is always righteous no matter what purpose it may be used
for and does not need to be ACCOUNTED UNTO US AS
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Paul explains the Levitical Law to the Galatians
(See Gal. 4:19-31).
THE CARNAL WORKS UNDER THE LAW OF
SACRIFICE ARE WITHIN THE BOUNDS GIVEN THE TEMPORAL
PRIESTHOOD. THEREFORE. THEY CAN NOT GRADUATE TO A HIGHER
LEVEL OR TAKE ON SOME OTHER IDENTITY:
Elders' Joumal, Vol. I, Number II, Pages 28 and 29 "I
answered the questions which were frequently asked
me, while on my last journey but one from
Kirtland to Missouri .
Seventh (Question) - "Do the Mormons believe in
having more wives than one ?"
(Answer) "NO, not at the same time . But
they believe that if their companion dies, they have a right
to marry again." (Also Teachings, P. 119)
The 132nd Section of the Doctrine and Covenants is on the
carnal commandment (Law of Sacrifice):
Verse 8 "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the
Lord God, and not a house of confusion.
9 WILL I ACCEPT OF AN OFFERING, SAITH THE LORD, THAT
IS NOT MADE IN MY NAME ?
10 OR WILL I RECEIVE AT YOUR HANDS THAT WHICH I HAVE
NOT APPOINTED ?"
What was acceptable unto the Lord?
1. Bounds and Conditions of the Law
A choice is given when the law of opposition is
involved:
D & C 132:61 "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..."
This is consistent with that which is written about Adam and
Eve and their choice between the Tree of Life and the Tree
of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
While some things are consistent in the 132nd Section of the
Doctrine and Covenants there are also tremendous
contradictions. Some of the contradictions are:
Verse 64: "And again ......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 ADMISTER UNTO
HIM, or SHE SHALL BE DESTROYED, saith the Lord your God;
..."
While Verse 64 cancels out the right to choose WITH THE
ADDED THREAT ON HER LIFE (which certainly could not be from
God) Verse 65 exempts him from the law if she does not obey
and also refers to this law as "THE LAW OF
SARAH
."46
46 This referring to the
law as a MAN-MADE law is consistent with the scriptures:
RB, Gal. 3:8 "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the heathen through faith, preached BEFORE
THE GOSPEL unto Abraham, saying, In thee
shall all nations be blessed . .............
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; THOUGH
IT BE BUT A MAN'S COVENANT , yet when it be
confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto."
God promised Abraham a son (Gen. 15:5) but Sarah
disbelieving, laughed (RB, Gen. 18:13-15) and influenced
Abraham through her lack of faith (Gen. 16:1 & 2).
Verse 61 "....if any man espouse a virgin, and
DESIRE to espouse another, AND THE
FIRST GIVE HER CONSENT ,.... "
The term "DESIRE " is contradictory to
Verse 29 as follows:
"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."
REVELATION is what God allows through the
limitations he has set but what a man DESIRES
could have no bounds and could also be prompted by
that nasty little characteristic of the flesh known as
"lust."
Verse 50 exempts Joseph from living the law:
"Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all
your sins; ... Go, therefore, and I make a way for your
ESCAPE, as I accepted the offering of Abraham of his son
Isaac.
Verse 52 contradicts:
"And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that
have been given unto my servant Joseph ...."
The number of women justified is:
Verse 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 . "
Abraham was well this limit
The works of the law, being carnal, were "accounted
unto them as righteousness :"
D & C 132:37 "Abraham received
CONCUBINES , and they borehimchildren;
and IT WAS ACCOUNTED UNTO HIM FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS , "
The term "concubines" in the foregoing informs us that only
the onginal wife was legal in the bonds of marriage.
Justification for this law was NOT through
the works of the law but through faith:
Gal. 3:7 "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith,
the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the heathen through faith. preached BEFORE THE
GOSPEL unto Abraham. saying, IN THEE SHALL ALL NATIONS BE
BLESSED .
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful
Abraham.
.................
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the
sight of God. it is evident: for. The just shall live by
faith ."
Note again the same promise above (Verse 8) that was
restored in the Kirtland Temple. While Abraham was a heathen
when he received the promise "In thee shall all
nations be blessed " and could be justified through
faith, Joseph was not. He, in the Kirtland Temple, was a
witness to the validity of a living Savior before he
received the Dispensation of Abraham from Elias. Therefore,
he could not be justified by faith. Thus, as has already
been stated, he was exempt from doing the works of the
law:
D & C 132:50 "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."
The following verifies this fact:
History of C, Vol. 6, Page 411, May 26, 1844 (just a month
before his martyrdom the Prophet said the following:
"What a thing it is for a man to be accused of
committing adultery, and having seven wives. WHEN I CAN ONLY
FIND ONE.
47
47 Because the Prophet had
seen Jesus, the Christ, as well as the heavenly Beings who
restored the Gospel HE COULD NOT DENY OR PERVERT
ANYTHING RECEIVED . His instructions to the Twelve
were:
Teachings, Page 156 "O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by
this important Key - that in all your trials, troubles,
temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death,
see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not
betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren;
that you do not betraY the revelations of God. whether in
Bible. Book of Morrnon. or Doctane and Covenants or any
other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto
man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your
kicking and flounderings see to it that you do not this
thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and
you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared
to sinning against the Holy Ghost. and proving a traitor to
the brethren.~ (Also Words of JS, Pages 7 & 8 and Alma
39:6)
I am the same man and as innocent as I was fourteen years
ago; and I can prove them all perjurers.
48
48 And there was
perjury :
Entries of marriages of Joseph Smith to other women and
deceased women sealed to him were ~ADDED. in another's
handwriting than the original scribe. (See Diaries, Pages
387, 396 and 423)
Only certain ones were commanded by revelation to
live the law as was Abraham:
D & C 132:29 NAbraham received all things, whatsoever
he received, by revelation and commandment
, by my word, saith the Lord,...."
Because justif~cation was through faith, knowledge was
withheld. (See RB, Gen. 18:17 & 18)
|Without knowledge much error crept in:
T & S, Vol. 5, Page 474 "Whereas brother Richard Hewitt
has called on me to-day, to know my views concerning some
doctrines that are preached in your place, and states to me
that some of your elders say, that a man having a
certain priesthood. may have as many wives as he
pleases , and that doctrine is taught here: I say
unto you that that man teaches false doctrine, for
THERE IS NO SUCH DOCTRINE TAUGHT HERE; NEITHER IS
THERE ANY SUCH THING PRACTICED HERE . And any man
that is found teaching privately or publicly any such
doctrine, is culpable, and will stand a chance to be brought
before the High Council, and lose his license and membership
also: therefore he had better beware what he is about. And
again I say unto you, an elder has no business to undertake
to preach mysteries in any part of the world.
Therefore beware what you teach for the mysteries of
God are not given to all men: and unto those to whom they
are given they are placed under restrictions to impart only
such as God will command them; and the residue is
to be kept in a faithful breast, otherwise he will be
brought under condemnation. By this God will prove
his faithful servants, who will be called and numbered with
the chosen . "
This is signed by Hyrum Smith - joint President of
the Church with his brother Joseph Smith.
Note the bolded "an elder has no business to
undertake to preach mysteries " which proves that
knowledge was not had else how could they be chastised for
preaching about "mysteries?"
Those who preached, not having knowledge, were judged:
T & S, Vol 5, Page 423 "Thursday , Feb 1, 1844 Notice:
"As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by the name
of Hiram Brown, has been preaching POLYGAMY, and
OTHER FALSE AND CORRUPT DOCTRINES , in the county
of Lapeer, state of Michigan.
This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has
been cut off from the Church, for his iniquity; and he is
further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the
6th of April next, to make answer to these charges."
Signed Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Presidents of said
Church.
Confusion and contadictions continued and followed them from
Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake Basin where Orson Pratt was
called upon to make THE OFFICIAL AND FIRST
ANNOUNCEMENT of plural marriage before the public
at a special conference held on August 28th, 1852:
"The discourse is devoted to the central thought that
marriage is ordained of God for the legal perpetuation of
the race, that men might~ IN THE WAY ORDAINED OF
God49
fulfill the divine injunction "to be fruitful and multiply
and replenish the earth. and subdue it ; " (See
Comp. History, Century One, Vol. IV, Page 56 and 57)
49 Note the term "in the
way ordained of God " used for justification of plural
marriage which is totally contradictory. Adam, the first
man, was given one wife with this injunction "multiply and
replenish the earth,~ and when the earth began again with
Noah it started with eight souls - four men and four women
(Gen. 7:13 and 9:1)
Also D ~ C 49:16 "....it is lawful that he should have ONE
WIFE. and they twain shall be one flesh. and all th~s that
the earth might answer the end of its creation;
17 And THAT IT MIGHT BE FILLED WITH THE MEASURE OF MAN,
according to his creation before the world was made."
Records show a tremendous shortage of women in the Salt Lake
Valley at that time so the practice of polygamy would make
this shortage critical.
To further explain the purpose for plural marriage a letter
of appointmenmt was given by the First Presidency of the
Church to Orson Pratt. (See The Seer, Republished by Eugene
Wagner, SLC, Utah, Vol. 1, Page 2)
From this appointment Orson published "The
Seer " which explained the reason the Saints were
commanded to practice plural marriage. The main
point this book stresses is that we! through the
continuation of this Telestial system of reproduction will
create spirit children in heaven as does God .
Three years later Brigham Young cancelled republishing the
book as it contained "MANY ITEMS OF ERRONEOUS
DOCTRINES ." (See Comp. History, Century One, Vol.
IV, Pages 61 & 62, Footnote 16)
According to the record complete understanding never became
a reality. Here are some of the CONFLICTING
opinions:
Brigham Young , Journal of Discourses, Vol.
11, Page 269 "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of
God, are those who enter into polygamy."
Bruce R. McConkie - Mormon
Doctrine, 1958 Ed. Page 523 "Plural marriage is not
essential to salvation or exaltation. Nephi and his people
were denied the power to have more than one wife and yet
they could gain every blessing in eternity that the Lord
ever offered to any people."
John A. Widtsoe (an apostle), Evidences and
Reconciliations, 1960 Ed. Page 393 "WE DO NOT
UNDERSTAND why the Lord commanded the practice of
plural marriage."
Pres. Heber J. Grant formed a committee to
make a careful study of the revelation of marriage and to
decide just what Celestial marriage meant. James E. Talmage
(an apostle) was a member of this committee. The findings of
the committee were to the effect that the marriage of one
man to one woman for time and eternity, by proper authority,
was celestial marriage in full. (Marriage, Ballard-Jensen
Correspondence, Page 47)
It appears that Heber J. Grant, as President of the Church,
did not understand the plural marriage issue.
Melvin J. Ballard: Ogden
Standard Examiner, Dec. 6, 1926 "The new and everlasting
covenant of marriage which entitles a person to the highest
degree of celestial glory is not plural marriage. "
William E. Berrett , The Restored Church,
1956 Ed. Page 250 "In the early period of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints an unusual condition
prevailed. More women than men joined the Church. This was
true of the period at Nauvoo and for a number of years after
the arrival of the Saints in Utah. There were not
enough men to go around - The alternative was
plural marriage."
John A. Widtsoe , Evidences &
Reconciliations, 1960 Ed. Pages 390-392 "Plural marriage has
been a subject of wide and frequent comment. Members of the
Chruch unfamiliar with its history and many nonmembers, have
set up fallacious reasons for the origin of this system of
marriage among the Latter-Day Saints. The most
common of these conjectures is that the Church. through
plural marriage sought to provide husbands for its large
surplus of female members . The implied assumption
in this theory, that there have been more female than male
members in the Church, is not supported by theory, that
there have been more female than male members in the Church,
is not supported by existing evidence. On the contrary,
there seems always to have been more males than females in
the Church.
"The United States census records from 1850 to 1940. and all
available Church records! uniformly show a preponderance of
males in Utah. and in the Church. Indeed, the excess in Utah
has usually been larger than for the whole United States, as
would be expected in a pioneer state. "
Published in the Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 20,
Page 133 dated May 1, 1885 (five years before the Manifesto)
was a report on a census taken in the Church. In this report
there was an excess of 5,055 males over
females.
And last but not least a "story " stressing
the importance of continuing the practice of plural
marriage:
Marriage! Ballard-Jensen Correspondence ,
Page 84 & 85 "Let us suppose a case. John and Henry are
good neighbors, fast friends and devoted Latter-day Saints,
equally sound in faith and willing to sacrifice all for
salvation.
John marries a wife for time and eternity under the
authority of the Priesthood; Henry does the same. After
bearing him ten sons, John's wife dies; John marries a
second wife for time and eternity, who also bears him many
children. This gives John two wives and a large family of
children. Henry's wife, though faithful and good, is barren,
but she does not die; in fact, as if to complete the
tragedy, she outlives Henry. The Church would not let Henry
marry in polygamy, though he was willing to sacrifice even
to his life to obtain the advantage which came to John
through the death of his first wife. But no, John is the
fortunate one -his wife died, thus permitting him to enter
the plural marriage relation; and Henry's wife - stubborn
soul - refused to die, thereby holding Henry back. Though
Henry's wife may bear him children in eternity, John has
such a lead that Henry cannot be expected to catch up with
him during the eternities, and they are never again equal.
John, through the death of his wife was permitted to live
the law of Abraham and thereby go where Abraham is, while
Henry, through his wife not dying, is forever deprived of
the privilege. Realizing the seriousness of the situation,
one wonders at the great inequality of the law, and if Henry
might not be justified in inviting his wife to die so as to
enable him to marry another wife and catch up with
John!"
The only remark I can make about the foregoing is that I am
happy it is fictitious for John is not only way ahead of
Henry but also way ahead of Abraham. If this were the reason
for plural marriage and the story were true poor Abraham
would have to go to the bosom of John instead of John going
to the bosom of Abraham.
Again I quote from Verse 60 in the 132nd Section of the
Doctrine and Covenants:
"... HE SHALL DO THE SACRIFICE WHICH I REOUIRE AT
HIS HANDS FOR HIS TRANSGRESSIONS , saith the Lord
your God. "
How he (Joseph Smith) transgressed is our next chapter.
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