A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel 30

A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel 30

We find that the Lord confirmed blessings to Abraham, and to his seed,

by recorded ordinance and covenant. For this reason it is not probable

that a blessing of such magnitude, as the sealing upon man and wife the

power of eternal increase, is an exception. Abraham, in his own record,

translated by Joseph the Seer, says, "I sought for the blessings of the

fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the

same." One of these blessings was, "To be a father of many nations, a

prince of peace;" _P. of G. P., page_ 26.

 

Abraham understood that this right could only be bestowed by

ordination, by one of the fathers who had received it from the fathers

in regular descent from Adam. He states that this right was conferred

upon him from the fathers, according to his desire. That this right

included the authority to regulate the marriage relations, in the

future generations of his children, is evident from the further

statement, "I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according

to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed." That

is, he sought for that especial authority in the Priesthood, through

which he had obtained the power of eternal increase.

 

The priest's office was bestowed upon Aaron and his posterity forever,

by ordinance and covenant; _Exodus_ 40. 15. Could this have been the

case unless his posterity was made an eternal heritage through the

everlasting covenant of marriage? This power of uniting husband and

wife by an everlasting covenant of marriage, and by that ordinance

giving them an eternal right over their posterity, descended from

Abraham through the fathers, until Israel, by transgression, forfeited

the blessing.

 

From the sharpness with which the prophet Nathan reproved David, and

the statement that the Lord had given him the wives of his master Saul;

2 _Sam_. 12. 1-12, it is probable that the prophet held this authority.

 

The great sin of David, apart from the murder of Uriah, was, that he

had taken from another man that which the Lord had given him, and

stepped outside of his own covenant limits.

 

Whether the prophet Malachi held the keys of this power or not, he

evidently saw in prophetic vision, that it would be taken from the

earth, and be restored again, that the broken links of past generations

might be welded together. For the Lord said, through him, "I will send

you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful

day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the

children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come

and smite the earth with a curse;" 4. 5, 6. Or as it is rendered in _P.

of G. P., page_ 50, "And he shall plant in the hearts of the children,

the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall

turn to their fathers; if it were not so, the whole earth would be

utterly wasted at his coming."

 

Evidently a very important part of these promises was, that the

children would open up the way of salvation to the fathers, through the

ordinances of the Gospel, and through them the broken links of past

generations would be connected.

 

Centuries of darkness passed away in which we hear nothing of the order

of the holy Priesthood, or of any saving ordinances for the dead, when

an obscure man, Joseph Smith, Jun., appeared in the United States of

America, and claimed that to him was committed the authority to open

up the Dispensation of the fulness of times, in which all the keys and

powers of the holy Priesthood should be restored to the earth.

 

He professed to be a fulfiller of prophecy, and numerous facts, which

have become a part of history, prove him to be what he professed.

He asserts that in the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, Elias appeared and

committed the dispensation of the "Gospel of Abraham," "Saying, that in

us, and our seed, all generations after us should be blest." In this

we see the needed preparatory work for sealing, upon men the power of

eternal lives, through the everlasting covenant of marriage, through

which Abraham sought "To be a father of many nations."

 

Then at the same place appeared Elijah, and said, "Behold, the time has

fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying

that he (Elijah) should be sent before the great and dreadful day of

the Lord come, To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and

the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a

curse. Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your

hands;" _Doc. & Cov_. 110. 11-16. Thus we see that the way has been

opened for the complete reunion and salvation of all the generations or

men, through the keys of the Holy Priesthood which have been bestowed

upon Joseph Smith, Jun. This is the designed glorious culmination of

the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage--the eternal union of the

generations of the righteous in bonds never to be broken.

 

In _Doc. & Cov. sec_. 128. Joseph, the Seer, gives instructions for

restoring the past; in _sec_. 132, he tells the world how future

generations may come forth in unbroken succession, each succeeding

intelligence, the heritage of its fathers, worlds without end.

 

PLURALITY OF WIVES.

 

Plural marriage is a very ancient institution. Although generally

ignored by peoples professing modern Christianity, it is still

customary among a large portion of the family of man. Many customs of

modern Europe and America are modeled after those of pagan Greece and

Rome, instead of after the primitive patriarchs, or after the examples

recorded in the history of ancient Israel.

 

While these ancient nations were monogamists, the limits of intercourse

between the sexes, especially on the part of men, were very indefinite.

This phase of society is quite characteristic of the modern nations of

Europe and America. While the Christian sects of to-day profess some

respect for the patriarchs of Israel, they practically condemn their

family relations as corrupt and immoral.

 

If plural marriage be unlawful, then is the whole plan of salvation,

through the house of Israel, a failure, and the entire fabric of

Christianity without foundation.

 

God said to Abraham, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be

thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will

multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked

with him, saying, as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou

shalt be a father of many nations;" _Gen_. 17. 1-4.

 

Here we are informed that God talked with Abraham, told him to be

perfect, bestowed upon him the blessings of a numerous posterity, and,

as a sequence, future power and glory. If polygamy was contrary to

his law, it is remarkable that God should have condescended to talk

with and greatly bless a man who had, but a short time before, taken

a second wife, while the first was living; a fact of which we are

informed in the second and third verses of the previous chapter. If

this was criminal, Sarai, the mother of all Israel, was involved in the

transgression, for she gave Hagar to her husband for a wife; _Gen_. 16.

3.

 

The Lord told Joseph, the Seer, that he commanded, "And Sarah gave

Hagar to Abraham to wife;" _Doc. & Cov_. 132. 34. This is also the

testimony of Josephus, the Jewish historian; _Ant_. B. 1. C. 10.

 

When Hagar was in distress, on account of difficulty with her mistress,

the Lord did not treat her as a profane, cast off woman, but sent an

angel to counsel and comfort her, by assuring her that her posterity

should not be numbered for multitude; _Gen_. 16. 8-10.

 

The Lord further promised to bless Ishmael, the fruit of this polygamic

marriage, and said, "I will make him fruitful, and will multiply him

exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget and I will make him a great

nation;" 17. 20.

 

We find that this great and good man, Abraham, whom the Lord especially

favored, had concubines: for "Unto the sons of the concubines, which

Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his

son;" 25. 6.

 

Jacob, the grandson and heir to all the blessings of Abraham, was a

polygamist. He served seven years for Rachel the daughter of Laban,

but being deceived, and Leah given him instead, he served other seven

years for Rachel. Each of these wives had a handmaid, which they gave

to their husband for wives; _Gen_. 29. 18-35. _Chap_. 30. 3-12.

 

Moses was conversant with the Lord, and was the great lawgiver of

Israel; in his laws especial provision was made for polygamous

children; _Deut_. 21. 15-17. In them polygamy is not mentioned as one

of the crimes for which penalties were provided.

 

Elkanah was a polygamist, yet his son, Samuel, was a great prophet, and

judge in Israel. He was born, and lived under the special favor of God.

 

David, king of Israel, was the chosen of the Lord; 1 _Sam_. 16. 12,

13. He took Abigail and Ahinoam, "And they were also both of them his

wives;" 1 _Sam_. 25. 42, 43. He "Took him more concubines and wives out

of Jerusalem;" 2 _Sam_. 5. 13.

 

We are further informed, that "David did that which was right in the

eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded

him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the

Hittite;" 1 _Kings_ 15. 5. In this passage we have an assurance that

David did right in taking all his wives and concubines, except in

one instance, for which he was severely chastised. When Nathan, the

prophet, reproved him for this sin, he said to him, in the name of the

Lord, "I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy

bosom;" 2 _Sam_. 12. 8.

 

After having repented and suffered for his sin, Bath-sheba was given

him for a wife, and she bare Solomon; _verse_ 24. The Lord appeared

to this son of a plural wife in a dream, and bestowed upon him great

blessings; 1 _Kings_ 3. God gave him "Wisdom and understanding

exceeding much;" 1 _Kings_ 4. 29. He was not reproved for plural

marriage but for marrying strange wives, who led him into idolatry and

wickedness; 1 _Kings_ 11. Many chief men in Israel, to whom the Lord

manifested his favor, were polygamists.

 

The following is sometimes quoted as an argument against plural

marriage: "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and

cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh;" _Mark_ 10. 7,

8. But "Know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body?

for two, saith he, shall be one flesh;" 1 _Cor_. 6. 16, shows that it

has no connection with the subject.

 

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife;" 1 _Tim_.