12/31/2018 - Section 132:1-33

December 31, 2018

Section 132:1-33

Marriage Eternal, Marriage Plural, Concubines, Obedience, Eternal Weight of Glory, Celestial Kingdom, Spiritual Growth, Man’s Laws/God’s Laws, Repentance Importance Of,

The history is quite interesting here. “The Prophet knew the Lord’s will on plural marriage within the new and everlasting covenant probably as early as 1831. (see history of the church, 5:xxix)I March 1843 he spoke to William Clayton of eternal marriage. In July of that year, he was discussing the doctrine with his brother Hyrum in William Clayton’s presence when Hyrum said, “If you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace” (History of the Church, 5:xxxii) The Prophet consented and told William Clayton to get some paper to write; but to his brother’s ‘urgent request’ that the Prophet use the Urim and Thummin to recall the exact revelation, Joseph replied that he did not need it, ‘for he knew the revelation from beginning to end.’ When he had finished dictating, William Clayton read it back slowly, and Joseph said that it was exact…..The revelation was not made pubic until Elder Orson Pratt, under the direction of President Brigham Young, announced it at a Church conference on 29 August 1852. The revelation was placed in the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876.” P 327 study guide

There are two major sections. Smith and Sjodahl point out: “The first, comprising vv 3-33, deals mainly with the principle of celestial marriage, or marriage for time and all eternity; the second comprising the remaining verses, deals with plural marriage. The doctrine of celestial marriage remains in force; the practice of plural marriage was abandoned by the acceptance by the Church, in Conference assembled October 6^th, 1890, or the Manifesto of President Woodruff.”

This section came about because Joseph had asked why the patriarchs of the Old Testament (David, Solomon, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses) could find favor with the Lord, while living in a manner contrary to modern moral standards.

The study guide gives Bruce R McConkie’s definition of the word Concubine: “Anciently they were considered to be secondary wives, that is, wives who did not have the same standing in the caste system then prevailing as did those wives who were not called concubines. There were no concubines connected with the practice of plural marriage  in this dispensation, because the caste system which caused some wives to be so designated did not exist.”

Spencer W Kimball explained the New and Everlasting Covenants from v 4: “though relatively few people in this world understand it, the new and everlasting covenant is the marriage ordinance in the holy temple by the properly constituted leaders who hold the genuine, authoritative keys. This glorious blessing is available to men and women on this earth.” Those who reject this covenant cannot progress eternally because they do not inherit the blessings of eternal increase. President Kimball explained in the Ensign, Oct 197, speaking of those who do not get married while on this earth 9: “We promise you that insofar as eternity is concerned, no soul will be deprived of rich and high and eternal blessings for anything which that person could not help, that the Lord never fails in his promises, and that every righteous person will receive eventually all to which the person is entitled and which he or she has not forfeited through any fault of his or her own.”

V 13 shows God’s view of the world and the organizations of people on the earth: “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 . v 14 For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed. V 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…”   Smith and Sjodahl say it this way:  “ The important truth is here taught that all institutions in this world, not founded on divine law but erected by human ingenuity, [will] cease to exist…Man-made governments are obliterated, as are the sand castles children build on the tide-swept beach. Man-made religions and churches are swallowed up in death. Not a trace of them will be seen on the shores of eternity. Social customs and habits not sanctioned by God, will not continue. On the other hand, all institutions founded on the Word of God will remain throughout all eternity. The Church will remain. The family will remain. All the organizations of which God is the author are eternal”  And that’s why I work to find those who have gone before me. My mother and father were sealed in marriage in the temple by proxy after their deaths, and so were Phyllis and I sealed to them. Temple work shall go on far after the second coming so that all will can be made right, will be made right.

V 16 holds a very interesting phrase for me: Speaking of the eternities and attaining the highest glory of the celestial world, that situation is described as “an exceeding , and an eternal weight of glory”. I think back to my earlier thoughts of being a ministering angel, and my prayer is that as I progress, I must be able to learn the truths and skills and understanding that will allow me to appreciate and to work within that “eternal weight of glory” that the Father wants all of us to possess.

I believe the key that locks us in is Obedience: v 21 says very simply “Verily, Verily [truly, truly], I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory” To me He is asking me to receive Him fully---if I can do that, then I can also receive His rewards fully. And that is where true peace and deep happiness abide. I believe I have experiences of that. My goal is to-at some point- make those experiences one eternal round.

11/11/2021 – D&C 132:1-25

This section speaks of plural marriage, and it also speaks of Celestial Marriage.

As Joseph worked on the inspired translation of the Old Testament and read about ancient patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…) having many wives and concubines he asked the Lord about this practice.  He knew this did not follow what Jacob had said in the Book of Mormon: “There shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.” Jacob 2:27. The Lord had also told the saints in D&C 49:15-16: “And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man. Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;”

And there is also Jacob 2:29-30: “Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed buy the land for their sakes. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people, otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.” 

[In studying this section, I learned more about concubines that are spoken of in the Old Testament: In ancient times, a concubine was a woman legally married to a man, but who, because of the time and culture in which she lived, had a lower social status and fewer rights than a wife. -- But that is just for my interest as concubines were not part of plural marriage as practiced by the saints in the time of Joseph Smith.] 

As the Lord answers Joseph’s questions in this section, He first tells Joseph “Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter. Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instruction’s which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. 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.” (v’s 2-4)

In v’s 6-8 the Lord explains: 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. 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 resurrections from the dead; for all contracts that are not. Made unto this end have an end when men are dead. Behold mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.”

I know that in Old Testament times many of the prophets practiced polygamy. And the D&C certainly shows that the Lord wanted some of the saints in Joseph’s time to practice polygamy. But I don’t know the exact “whys’ of Heavenly Father asking for this to be done. 

Jody found a quote from Brittany Nash, who thinks deeper thoughts than mine, but who stated those thoughts in a form that I can understand and embrace: “When I first began my journey studying polygamy, I was angry by what I saw as an injustice. That God required such a difficult principle to be lived by these faithful, tried people. But as I studied the personal writing, stories, and testimonies of polygamist, accepting them on their own terms, I found peace. The practice could have never been sustained for half a century by compulsion, manipulation, or simple sexual desire. Those who set the foundation of the LDS faith were not two-dimensional superheroes as they are sometimes portrayed, but they were complex, strong, intelligent, full-bodied kingdom-builders who were willing to leave loved ones, wealth, comfort, and native countries for what they believe to be true. The same willingness drove them to accept polygamy, a practice they accepted as a commandment of God, instituted in their time for his unique purposes. I have since come to view plural marriage as part of the LDS history to unapologetically own and to hold as one of the most valuable testaments of the faith in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

In v’s 15-16 the Lord goes on to explain Celestial Marriage…whether it is between one man and one women, or between one man and several women as in an appointed polygamous marriage. “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 word. Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry not 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.” We seek the Lord’s glory—that is why we are here on earth—but at the same time we are seeking more responsibility. We knew that was the reason for our coming to earth, and we were anxious for this opportunity. I think we will know much more upon our returning to our heavenly home. 

V 19 speaks of an eternal sealing, and the ways we must live to be able to have that sealing in good standing. And then v 21 is the Lord’s warning of the efficacy of his His promises: “Verily, Verily [truly, truly] I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.” If we can receive Him fully, we will receive His full rewards. 

V’s 23-24 give us the whole story: “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. 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.” That’s the good news.

V 25 gives us warning of the bad news: “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.”