LDS Doctrine and Covenants Critique
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The Doctrine and Covenants
SECTION 132
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois,
recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant,
including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of
plural marriage. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence
indicates that some of the principles involved in this revelation were
known by the Prophet earlier. See Official Declaration 1.
1–6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant;
7–14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15–20,
Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to
become gods; 21–25, The strait and narrow way leads to eternal lives;
26–27, The law is given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost;
28–39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation are made to prophets
and Saints in all ages; 40–47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind
and seal on earth and in heaven; 48–50, The Lord seals upon him his
exaltation; 51–57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true;
58–66, Laws governing plural marriage are set forth.
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 Behold, and lo, I am the
Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter. 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 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.
Note: The everlasting covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and
gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then
He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink
from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28
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 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.
Note: The everlasting covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working
in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
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.
Note: Believers have been justified through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God,
through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there
is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that
He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26
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? 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 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.
Note: Jesus Christ gives rest while false religion gives people hardships.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is
easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
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 For whatsoever
things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be
shaken and destroyed.
Note: Everything that Joseph Smith built in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois did not last.
Early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did
not stay permanently in Ohio, Missouri, or Illinois because of severe
economic crises, intense political and religious conflicts, and forced
expulsions by local mobs and state governments.
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 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 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.
Note: Yahweh declares exaltation to godhood is false.
“You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, and My servant whom I have
chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. Isaiah
43:10
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.
Note: Yahweh declares there are no other gods.
I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I
will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from
the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I
am the LORD, and there is no other; Isaiah 45:5-6
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 things, as hath been sealed
upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of
the seeds forever and ever.
Note: Yahweh declares there are no other gods.
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of
hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.”
Isaiah 44:6
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 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide
my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
Note: Believers declare there is just one God.
For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Psalms 86:10
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
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.
Note: Joseph Smith died within the year due to his blasphemy.
I said, “You are gods (judges), and all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men,
and fall like one of the princes.” Psalms 82:6-7
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
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 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 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.
Note: Believers have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His
glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
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.
Note: The New Covenant abolished the priesthood.
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a
High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true
tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest
is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is
necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on
earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the
gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the
heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to
make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has
obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of
a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if
that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been
sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold,
the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to
the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them
by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not
continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write
them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them
to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember
no more.” In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to
vanish away. Hebrews 8
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 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 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 Go ye, therefore, and do
the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved. 33
But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promise of my
Father, which he made unto Abraham.
Note: Believers have been justified by faith not the law.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you
as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the
Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so
foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by
the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in
vain? Therefore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles
among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith? — just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” Therefore, know that only those who are of faith are
sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand,
saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So, then those who
are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:1-9
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 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say
unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it.
Note: God did not command Abraham to take Hagar.
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman,
the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born
according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which
things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from
Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now
is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is
free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O
barren, you who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in
labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a
husband.” Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But,
as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was
born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless, what
does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the
son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the
free. Galatians 4:21-31
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.
Note: God stopped the practice of human sacrifice.
But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham,
Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand
on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God,
since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then
Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram
caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram and
offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham
called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to
this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” Genesis
22:11-14
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.
Note: Joseph Smith has placed LDS people under a curse.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it
is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things
which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one
is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just
shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who
does them shall live by them.” Galatians 3:10-12
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 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.
Note: Nathan condemned David for his sin.
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him:
“There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich
man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had
nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished;
and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate his own
food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a
daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to
take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the
wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and
prepared it for the man who had come to him.” So, David’s anger was
greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD
lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore
fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no
pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD
God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you
from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s
wives into your keeping and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And
if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why
have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?
You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his
wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the people
of Ammon. 2 Samuel 12:1-9
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 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 If she be not in the new and
everlasting covenant, and she be with another man, she has committed
adultery.
Note: Within one year, Joseph Smith was judged.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy
who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the
covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the
Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews
10:29-31
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 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 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.
Note: God did not restore the priesthood.
Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went
into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But
into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not
without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins
committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way
into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first
tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in
which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who
performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned
only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances
imposed until the time of reformation. But Christ came as High Priest
of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect
tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with
the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the
Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For
if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling
the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new
covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the
promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:6-15
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 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 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.
Note: Jesus Christ gives grace and truth not the law.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of
whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was
before me.” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for
grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17
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 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.
Note: Believers declare there is just one God.
Therefore, know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD
Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no
other. Deuteronomy 4:39
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Fanny Alger.
Alger's relationship with Smith was attested to by several people,
including Emma Smith, Warren Parish, Oliver Cowdery, and Heber C.
Kimball.[19] Several Mormons including Benjamin F. Johnson, Heber C.
Kimball and Andrew Jenson, and former Mormons Chauncey Webb and Ann
Eliza Webb Young, regarded the relationship as a marriage.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Louisa Beaman.
Listed as a Smith plural wife by Joseph F. Smith, who noted an 1869
affidavit of Beaman's brother-in-law Joseph B. Noble, stating he
officiated at the wedding.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Zina Jacobs.
Zina’s husband was Henry Bailey Jacobs, who was aware of her plural
marriage to Smith. Jacobs wrote, "[W]hatever the Prophet did was right,
without making the wisdom of God's authorities bend to the reasoning of
any man."
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Presendia Huntington.
Presendia was the sister of Zina. After Smith's death, married Heber C. Kimball.
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 hundred-fold 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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Agnes Smith.
Agnes was the widow of Smith's brother Don Carlos. (1808–1876). After Don Carlos died in 1841, Agnes married Smith in 1842.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Sylvia Lyon.
Sylvia was the daughter of David Sessions and Patty Bartlett Sessions,
who married Smith one month after her daughter's marriage to him.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Mary Lightner.
In 1835 she married another man, Adam Lightner a non-Mormon. They had
two children and she was pregnant with her third at the time she was
sealed to Joseph Smith in 1842. After the sealing she continued to live
with her first husband Adam.
58 Now, as touching the law of the priesthood, there are many things pertaining thereunto.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Lucinda Harris.
"Sarah Pratt reported that while in Nauvoo Lucinda had admitted a
long-standing relationship with Smith"; and that there is an "early
Nauvoo temple proxy sealing to Smith". This marriage was polyandrous,
as Lucinda lived with her husband George Washington Harris until about
1853. Compton believes the marriage occurred around 1838, when Smith
was living with Lucinda and her husband.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Patty Sessions.
Her daughter Sylvia Porter Sessions Lyon, who had married Smith one month before, was present at Sessions' wedding to Smith.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Marinda Hyde.
Marinda was the wife of Orson Hyde; daughter of John Johnson.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Elizabeth Durfee.
The statement made by Sarah Pratt was, "I don't think she was ever
sealed to him, though it may have been the case after Joseph's death
... At all events, she boasted here in Salt Lake of having been one of
Joseph's wives".
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Delcena Sherman.
Delcena was the widow of Lyman R. Sherman.
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 fulfil 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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Eliza Snow.
William Clayton said Smith told him in February 1843 that Snow was one
of his plural wives. She was married to Brigham Young from 1844 until
his death in 1877.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Sarah Whitney.
Joseph Smith Jr. and Newel Whitney had a very close friendship.
According to Brodie, after her parents were introduced to the principle
of plural marriage by Smith, the marriage of Sarah to Smith was
arranged with her parents' consent.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith committed adultery with Martha Knight.
Martha was the widow of Vinson Knight; later sealed to Heber C. Kimball.
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.
Note: Joseph Smith was continually committing adultery.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit
adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for
her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew
5:27-28