Read, ponder and pray about these principles.
(Click on the links below to expand the text.)
What Does the Revelation on Celestial Marriage Teach?
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132)
What was the reason behind the revelation?
Is plural marriage just a practice, or also a principle or doctrine?
(See verses 1-2)»
What is the law being spoken of? (In verses 3-6)
(See verses 28-38)»
A law of the Church or the Priesthood?
(See verses 2, 28, 58 & 61)»
Is it a commandment?
(See verse 37)»
Is plural marriage essential to exaltation?
(See verses Verses 3-4, 6, 21, 27, 32)»
When was plural marriage made a requirement?
(See verses 5, 11, 28 & 63)»
Is it part of the restoration of all things?
(See verses 40 & 45)»
How long have God’s servants lived this way?
(See verse 38)»
Without it can we receive the promises of God?
(See verses 33-34)»
Is it necessary to qualify for “eternal increase”?
(see verses 19 & 30)»
Does it glorify God?
(See verse 31)»
Is it adulterous?
(See verses 61-62)»
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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—
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. …
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.
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.
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.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
(Also see verses 17,19-20,24-25,37,54,64 & D&C 131:2-3)
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.
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.
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.
33 But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promise of my Father, which he made unto Abraham.
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.
19 … 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.
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.
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.