1/2/2019 - Section 132:34-66

January 2, 2019

Section 132:34-66

Plural Marriage, Abraham, Emma, Joseph, Forgiveness, Sin Unpardonable, Call and Election Made Sure, Minister, Mission Journal,

The Lord is continuing to explain and to help Joseph Smith to understand the full concept of plural marriage. He speaks of the patriarchs of old, and he explains King David’s fall from his calling and election made sure when he caused that Uriah be killed…which was the shedding of innocent blood. And then at the end of his long explanations, he speaks specifically of Joseph Smith in V 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.”  To me this points out that our devotion to, and our work for the Lord does not go unnoticed.

V’s 51-56 are directed to Emma, ending with “…let mine handmaid forgive my servant Joseph his trespasses; and then shall she be forgiven her trespasses, where in she has trespassed against me; and I, the Lord they God will bless her, and multiply her, and make her heart to rejoice.” Emma’s life did not become light and easy, but I hope that her heart did really rejoice. To me it strongly teaches us of the importance of our forgiveness of others and its close relationship to our own love and happiness.

V 64 uses the word “Administer”, which is very close to the word that the church is now using in what we are called to do: “minister”—Here is a definition of administer from my adult religion classes in the Edgemont Stake: “afford or give relief, contribute to each other, bring aid or supplies”---interesting definition to ponder upon….

Mission Journal: 

Yesterday: We woke up to New Year's Day, which was a free and open day for us to relax and simply have some time to ourselves. But very shortly after waking up, the day turned into a 12 hour, crazy, work day due to phone call interrupting phone call, texts coming in so fast that I couldn't keep up with all the threads of conversation going back and forth. Some people were having "issues" with their phones and so were using other phones so I thought often thought I was talking to one missionary...it was really another missionary using a borrowed phone. I needed to leave the house to get new crutches for a basketball injury an hour away,  but I couldn't manage to get out of the house until 11:00 a. --and it pace didn't slow down until the night came.  Then this morning happened and I began with scripture study & this is what occurred:

Being the mission nurse is a 24/7 job. You are never ‘off duty’. And the calls that come at the worst times, are usually the ones that require the most focused attention, and the greatest amount of time and energy. Sometimes I just got so very tired of helping others. I found myself yearning for a moment when the phone did not ring, and if it did ring--could I please have a conversation that was not about diarrhea or sore throats or headaches or “do you think that dog, or cat, or squirrel, or bat….just might have had rabies?”.  But then one early morning as I opened my scriptures --before the 5 am phone calls started—I prayed that I might find the nuggets that would help me more deeply to be the kind of person that He would want me to be…..and then there was suddenly the next part of my prayer that just came out of my mouth was….So that I might help others more deeply. This mission was a time of learning to just love---not to criticize or find all the things that these young missionaries might be doing wrong, but to simply find, and fully recognize, the efforts of others, the sweetness of others, the sacrifices of others, the deep desires of others. When I was able to do that, I had no trouble with frustration or irritation, and it didn’t matter what we talked about or how many times we had talked about it—I was just there to reach out a hand and give them a helpful boost so they could get back with full dedication to the reasons why they had come on this mission. Those are the times when I realized I was truly ON my mission.

11/12/21 – D&C 132:26-49

In v 26 the Lord is making sure that we know that entering into the new and everlastsing covenant is our first, and very important, step. There are many promises attached to doing that. BUT He makes sure we understand that even though we are promised many wonderful things, we are still accountable for our sins. Joseph Fielding Smith taught regarding this verse: “The Lord has never promised any soul that he may be taken into exaltation without the spirit of repentance. While repentance is not stated in this passage, yet it is, and must be, implied” 

I think that he was speaking not just of big sins, but of our small mistakes and foibles. That is one of the important reasons for us to start and end our day with prayer, because that keeps us close to Heavenly Father and helps us to be more aware of our words and actions. I pray to be made aware of when I have hurt someone with my words or actions or lack of actions. I want to be able to grow closer to Heaven Father and the Holy Ghost each day. V 46: “… 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.” 

I found these paragraphs in my study guide: “The early Latter-day Saints who were directed to practice plural marriage experienced a test of their faith. The principle ran counter not only to prevailing marriage practices and laws in the United States, but also to the moral standards of Latter-day Saint men and women. Lucy Walker, who was one of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s plural wives, spoke about her struggle to accept this principle: “When the Prophet Joseph Smith first mentioned the principle of plural marriage to me I felt indignant and so expressed myself to him, because my feelings and education were averse to [against] anything of that nature. But he assured me that this doctrine had been revealed to him of the Lord, and that I was entitled to receive a testimony of its divine origin for myself” (Lucy Walker Kimball, affidavit, December 17, 1902, Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah).”

“Lucy agonized over this decision. As recorded in a biographical sketch, she later told Joseph, “I have tried to pray but received no comfort, no light.” She then explained:

“He … said, ‘God Almighty bless you. You shall have a manifestation of the will of God concerning you; a testimony that you can never deny. I will tell you what it shall be. It shall be that peace and joy that you never knew.’ Oh, how earnestly I prayed for these words to be fulfilled. It was near dawn after another sleepless night. While on my knees in fervent supplication, my room became filled with a hol[y] influence. To me it was in comparison like the brilliant sunshine bursting through the darkest cloud.

“The words of the Prophet were indeed fulfilled. My soul was filled with a calm sweet peace that I never knew. Supreme happiness took possession of my whole being and I received a powerful and irresistible testimony of the truth of … plural marriage. Which has been like an anchor to the soul through all the temptations and trials of life” (Lucy Walker Kimball, biographical sketch, pages 10–11, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; spelling and 

punctuation standardized).”

“Bishop Newel K. Whitney and his wife Elizabeth also struggled initially to accept the principle of plural marriage before gaining their own confirming witness. “Bishop Whitney was not a man that readily accepted of every doctrine, and would question the Prophet very closely upon principles if not made clear to his understanding. When Joseph saw that he was doubtful concerning the righteousness of this celestial order [plural marriage] he told him to go and enquire of the Lord concerning it, and he should receive a testimony for himself” (Helen Mar Kimball Whitney, “Scenes in Nauvoo after the Martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch,” Woman’s Exponent, March 1, 1883, 146). Elizabeth Whitney recounted: “Joseph had the most implicit confidence in my husband’s uprightness and integrity of character. … He therefore confided to him, and a few others, the principles set forth in that revelation [D&C 132]. … My husband revealed these things to me; we had always been united, and had the utmost faith and confidence in each other. We pondered upon them continually, and our prayers were unceasing that the Lord would grant us some special manifestation concerning this new and strange doctrine. The Lord was very merciful to us; He revealed unto us His power and glory. We were seemingly wrapt in a heavenly vision, a halo of light encircled us, and we were convinced in our own minds that God heard and approved our prayers and intercedings before Him.” Elizabeth testified that their “hearts were comforted” and their faith “made … perfect” concerning the principle of plural marriage (Elizabeth Ann Whitney, “A Leaf from an Autobiography,” Woman’s Exponent, December 15, 1878, 105).

“Not all [Church members] had such experiences. Some Latter-day Saints rejected the principle of plural marriage and left the Church, while others declined to enter the practice but remained faithful. Nevertheless, for many women and men, initial revulsion and anguish was followed by struggle, resolution, and ultimately, light and peace. Sacred experiences enabled the Saints to move forward in faith” (“Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo,” topics.lds.org).”

11/13/2021 – D&C 132:50-66

In v 51 the Lord speaks to Emma, and explains that He has instituted polygamy “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.”  When the Lord had commanded Abraham to offer up his son as a sacrifice, Abraham did not understand the whys and the wherefore, but he did as he was commanded – until the Lord stopped him at the last moment and know that Abraham would know to always follow His commands. 

This has been an extremely difficult time for Joseph, but also for Emma. The Lord speaks again directly to Emma: “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.” (v 56).  And then He speaks of Joseph: “…for I am the Lord  thy God, and he (Joseph) is my servant; and behold, and lo, I am with him, as I was with Abraham, they father, even unto his exaltation and glory.” (v 57)

The Lord ends this section with v 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”

The following is a statement of Sister Maria Jane Woodward of Huntington, Emery County, Utah, Maiden Name, Maria J. Johnston, that was enclosed with letter from George H. Brimhall to Joseph F. Smith, Apr. 21, 1902, 2–3, in Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah:

“Joseph and Emma loved and respected each other deeply,” which made the Prophet’s obedience to plural marriage all the more difficult for Emma. “She vacillated in her view of plural marriage, at some points supporting it and at other times denouncing it” (“Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo,” topics.lds.org). An account by Maria Jane Woodward, who worked in the Smith home, reflects both Emma’s conflicted feelings over plural marriage and her efforts to believe and accept the practice. Maria recalled a conversation Emma had with her the morning after Maria overheard an emotional exchange between Emma and Joseph regarding plural marriage: “[Emma] told me to sit down on the bed by her and we both sat down on the bed that I was making. She looked very sad and cast down, and there she said to me, ‘The principle of plural marriage is right, but I am like other women, I am naturally jealous hearted and can talk back to Joseph as long as any wife can talk back to her husband, but what I want to say to you is this. You heard me finding fault with the principle. I want to say that that principle is right, it is from our Father in Heaven’, and then she again spoke of her jealousy. Then she continued, ‘What I said I have got to repent of. The principle is right but I am jealous hearted. Now never tell anybody that you heard me find fault with Joseph of that principle. The principle is right and if I or you or anyone else finds fault with that principle we have got to humble ourselves and repent of it”

It appears that there were different levels of sealing. Some sealings were for time and eternity, and others indicated that their relationships were for eternity alone.

We know that Emma did find peace and understanding. It was on or before September 28, 1843 that Emma received her temple endowment after which she administered temple ordinances under Joseph’s direction to many other women.

We also know that in June 1844—this was shortly before the Prophet’s martyrdom, that Emma wrote the blessings she desired most from Heavenly Father. Here is a part of what Emma wrote: “I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself, that I might be able to overcome whatever of tradition or nature that would not tend to my exaltation in the eternal worlds. I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through his servants without doubting. …I desire with all my heart to honor and respect my husband as my head, ever to live in his confidence and by acting in unison with him retain the place which God has given me by his side” (“Emma Hale Smith Blessing,” 1844, typescript, Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah).

We also know that up to her death in 1879, Emma continued to share her testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and the prophetic mission of her husband Joseph Smith.

President Heber J. Grant once explained that the term “celestial marriage” does not imply plural marriage: “Celestial marriage—that is, marriage for time and eternity—and polygamous or plural marriage are not synonymous terms. Monogamous marriages for time and eternity, solemnized in our temples in accordance with the word of the Lord and the laws of the Church, are Celestial marriages”

This is quite an interesting statement from Lorena Washburn Larsen, who had practiced polygamy, at the time when the Manifesto was written. For half a century, many Church members had practiced plural marriage because they firmly believed God had commanded it. Many who had sacrificed so much to obey this commandment reacted to the Manifesto with astonishment and some uneasiness. Lorena Washburn Larsen recounted the wrestle she had after learning of the Manifesto and the confirmation she subsequently received:

“I had gone into that order of marriage … because I believed God had commanded his people to do so, and it had been such a sacrifice to enter it, and live it as I thought God wanted me to. And as I thought about it, it seemed impossible that the Lord would go back on a principle which had caused so much sacrifice, heartache, and trial. …My anguish was inexpressible, and a dense darkness took hold of my mind. … I fancied I could see myself and my children, and many other splendid women and their families turned adrift, and our only purpose in entering [plural marriage], had been to more fully serve the Lord. I sank down on our bedding and wished in my anguish that the earth would open and take me and my children in. The darkness seemed impenetrable.  All at once I heard a voice and felt a most powerful presence. …There was a light whose brightness cannot be described which filled my soul, and I was so filled with joy and peace, and happiness that I felt that no matter whatever should come to me in all my future life, I could never feel sad again. If the people of the whole world had been gathered together trying with all their power to comfort me, they could not compare with the powerful unseen Presence which came to me on that occasion.  In the trying years which followed, often a glimmer of that same light came to me again” (Autobiography of Lorena Eugenia Washburn Larsen [1962], 105–6).

When the Manifesto was first announced, Elder Brigham H. Roberts, who was then serving as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, was on a train heading to Salt Lake City along with several members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. During their journey Elder John W. Taylor of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came across a copy of the Deseret News Weekly, the headlines of which announced the Manifesto, and showed it to Elder Roberts. Elder Roberts later recalled: “I read [the newspaper headlines] with astonishment. But no sooner had I read them, than like a flash of light all through my soul the spirit said—‘That is all right,’ so it passed. Then I began to reflect upon the matter. I thought of all the Saints had suffered to sustain that doctrine; I remembered my own exile [to England], my own imprisonment; I thought of that of others. I remembered what sacrifices my wives had made for it; what others had made for it. We had preached it, sustained its divinity from the pulpit, in the press, from the lecture platform. Our community had endured every kind of reproach from the world for the sake of it—and was this to be the end? I had learned to expect that God would sustain both that principle and his Saints who carried it out, and to lay it down like this was a kind of cowardly proceeding that the more I thought of it the less I liked it. … I was in quite an exasperated mood, and felt crushed and humiliated. …This matter continued a trial to me through the year 1891, and plagued me much, but I said little about it; and by and by I began to remember the flash of light that came to me when first I heard of [the Manifesto], and at last my feelings became reconciled to it. Perhaps I had transgressed in pushing from me the first testimony I received in relation to it, and allowing my own prejudices, and my own short-sighted, human reason to stand against the inspiration of God and the testimony it bore that the Manifesto was alright. When this fact began to dawn on my mind I repented of my wrong and courted most earnestly the spirit of God for a testimony and gradually it came” (quoted in Ronald W. Walker, “B. H. Roberts and the Woodruff Manifesto,” BYU Studies Quarterly, vol. 22, issue 3, article 10 [1982], 364–65, scholarsarchive.byu.edu).