The Restored Order of Marriage, cont.
The Manifesto and Beyond
• The Manifesto ended polygamy in October 1890.
• Later interpretations by Pres. Joseph F. Smith applied
the Manifesto to plural marriage outside the United
States.
The Manifesto and Beyond
• Elders Marriner W. Merrill, Matthias Cowley, and John
W. Taylor opposed broader interpretations of the
Manifesto.
•Elder Merrill died and Elders Cowley and Taylor
resigned.
The Manifesto and Beyond
• Matthias Cowley was later disfellowshipped and John
W. Taylor was excommunicated.
• Matthias Cowley returned to fellowship in the Church.
•John W. Taylor was posthumously restored to
membership in 1965.
Why Polygamy?
Historians (some sympathetic and some antagonistic)
have suggested many things…
Why Polygamy?
• to have mistresses honorably
Why Polygamy?
• to have mistresses honorably
• as a social experiment
Why Polygamy?
• to have mistresses honorably
• as a social experiment
• to build up the Kingdom
Why Polygamy?
• to have mistresses honorably
• as a social experiment
• to build up the Kingdom
• to expand marriage opportunities
Why Polygamy?
• to have mistresses honorably
• as a social experiment
• to build up the Kingdom
• to expand marriage opportunities
• as part of the restoration of all things
Why Polygamy?
• to have mistresses honorably
• as a social experiment
• to build up the Kingdom
• to expand marriage opportunities
• as part of the restoration of all things
• to establish connections between families
Why Polygamy
In Section 132, the Lord said:
•All those who have this law revealed unto them must
obey the same
• It was instituted “for the fulness of my glory.”
Joseph Smith’s Explanation
• In a letter proposing marriage to Nancy Rigdon, who
rejected Joseph’s proposal, he said, “ Whatever God
requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may
not see the reason thereof till long after the events
transpire.”
Celestial Marriage
The more important message for us is that we can receive
celestial marriage.
Celestial Marriage
Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a
woman, and a man…
Celestial Marriage
Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a
woman, and a man…
• to bless our marriage and family life in this world
Celestial Marriage
Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a
woman, and a man…
• to bless our marriage and family life in this world
• to seal our spouse and children to us eternally
Celestial Marriage
Celestial marriage is three-way covenant between God, a
woman, and a man…
• to bless our marriage and family life in this world
• to seal our spouse and children to us eternally
• to qualify us for exaltation, so that we can receive all the
Father has.
Calling and Election Made Sure
Those who press forward in righteousness, living by
every word of revealed truth, have power to make their
calling and election sure. They receive the more sure
word of prophecy and know by revelation and the
authority of the priesthood that they are sealed up unto
eternal life. They are sealed up against all manner of sin
and blasphemy except the blasphemy against the Holy
Calling and Election Made Sure
Ghost and the shedding of innocent blood. But the mere
fact of being married for time and eternity in the temple,
standing alone, does not give them this guarantee.
Blessings pronounced upon couples in connection with
celestial marriage are conditioned upon the subsequent
faithfulness of the participating parties.
- Joseph Fielding Smith
Innocent Blood
• 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.
Innocent Blood
• Whose blood is innocent?
Innocent Blood
• Whose blood is innocent?
•How do we figuratively shed Christ’s blood?
Polygamy in the Old Testament
• Approved by the Lord
• Wives given by the prophet
Emma Smith
• 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.
Emma Smith
• And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have
been given unto my servant Joseph.
• 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.
Law of Sarah
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…
Law of Sarah
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…
Law of Sarah
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.
Class 26 – Section 134
Church and State
Section 134
• Approved in August 1835.
• Included in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, but not
as a section of the D&C.
• Probably written by Oliver Cowdery
Section 134
• v. 1. Governments were instituted by God for the
benefit of man.
• v. 2. Their purposes include: securing free exercise of
conscience, protect property, and protect life.
Section 134
• v. 3. We are responsible to seek out good
representatives.
• v. 4. Laws should not infringe on religious practice
unless they infringe on rights and liberties of others.
Section 134
• v. 5. Members are bound to sustain their own
governments.
-- Even if they are oppressive?
Section 134
• v. 5. Members are bound to sustain their own
governments
-- Even if they are oppressive?
•v. 5. … while they are protected in their inherent and
inalienable rights.
Section 134
• v. 8. Governments are justified in punishing offenders
and Saints are expected to help bring offenders to
justice.
Section 134
• v. 10-11. Churches can try people for membership, but
their power doesn’t go beyond that. Other crimes must
be tried in civil courts.
• v. 11. Citizens can protect themselves and their
property in times of emergency.
Section 134
• v. 12. We believe we have the right to preach the
gospel though the earth.
• v. 12. We do not believe it right to interfere with slaves,
to preach the gospel to them, or baptize them without
their masters’ consent.
Section 134
• v. 9. We do not believe it just to mingle civil influence
with civil government, whereby one religious society is
fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual
privileges, and the individual rights of its members , as
citizens, denied.
Separation of Church and State
• If a majority has a strong religious viewpoint, when is it
just for them to enact laws in support of that viewpoint?
Separation of Church and State
• If a majority has a strong religious viewpoint, when is it
just for them to enact laws in support of that viewpoint?
• Consider polygamy vs. same-sex marriage.
Separation of Church and State
• Is there a legal or moral reason that churches in the
United States should not voice opinions about political
matters?
Separation of Church and State
• No!
• But the Church agreed to limit its political influence in
order for Utah to gain statehood.
• If churches support specific candidates, then there
are tax questions, however…