University of Virginia Library

18. XVIII.
THE REVELATION OF JOSEPH SMITH.

I have not troubled the reader with extracts from
Mormon documents. The Book of Mormon is ponderous,
but gloomy and at times incoherent, and I
will not, by any means, quote from that. But the
Revelation of Joseph Smith in regard to the absorbing
question of Plurality or Polygamy may be of
sufficient interest to reproduce here. The reader
has my full consent to form his own opinion of it.

REVELATION GIVEN TO JOSEPH SMITH, NAUVOO,
JULY 12, 1843.

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: Behold! and lo, I am
the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching
this matter: 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; 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; for all who will
have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law
which was appointed for that blessing, and the con-ditions
thereof, as was instituted from before the
foundations of the world; 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.

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,

[ILLUSTRATION]

The Otoe Indian buries his tomahawk, and settles down to farming. See page 208.

[Description: 483EAF. Image of a Native American dressed in a combination of finery and costume, pushing a plow.]

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.

Behold! mine house is a house of order, saith the
Lord God, and not a house of confusion. Will I
accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not
made in my name? Or will I receive at your hands
that which I have not appointed? 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? 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; and every

thing 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; for whatsoever things remaineth
are by me, and whatsoever things are not by me,
shall be shaken and destroyed.

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 is
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; 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;
for these angels did not abide my law, therefore they
can not 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 for ever and ever.

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 can not be received there, because the
angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom
they can not pass; they can not, therefore, inherit
my glory, for my house is a house of order, saith
the Lord God.

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 for ever and ever.

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.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide
my law, ye can not attain to this glory; 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. 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. 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. Broad is the gate, and wide the way that
leadeth to the death, and many there are that go in
thereat, because they receive me not, neither do
they abide in my law.

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.

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 no wise enter into my glory, but
shall be damned, saith the Lord.

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. 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.

Abraham received promises concerning his seed,
and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye
are, viz., 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 sea-shore, ye could not number them. This
promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham,
and the promise was made unto Abraham, and by
this law are the continuation of the works of my
Father, wherein he glorifieth himself. Go ye, therefore,
and do the works of Abraham; enter ye
into my law, and ye shall be saved. But if ye
enter not into my law, ye can not receive the promises
of my Father, which he made unto Abraham.

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. Was Abraham,
therefore, under condemnation? Verily, I say unto
you, Nay; for the Lord commanded it. 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.

Abraham received concubines, and they bare 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. David also received many wives and
concubines, as also Solomon, and Moses my servant,
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.

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.

I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee,
my servant Joseph, by appointment, and restore all
things; ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto
you, according to my word; 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. If she be not in the new and everlasting
covenant, and she be with another man, she has
committed adultery; and if her husband be with
another woman, and he was under a vow, he hath
broken his vow, and hath committed adultery; 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; 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.

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.

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.

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, 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. 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.

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;
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; 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.

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; but if she will not abide this
commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all
things for her, 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. And again, verily I say, let mine handmaid
forgive my servant Joseph his trespasses, and
then shall she be forgiven her trespasses, wherein
she hath trespassed against me; and I, the Lord
thy God, will bless her, and multiply her, and make
her heart to rejoice.

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.

Now, as touching the law of the priesthood,
there are many things pertaining thereunto. 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 any thing in my
name, and according to my law, and by my word,
he will not commit sin, and I will justify him. 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.

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 vewed to no other man, then is he justified;

he can not commit adultery, for they are given unto
him; for he can not commit adultery with that that
belongeth unto him, and to none else; and if he
have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he can
not commit adultery, for they belong to him, and
they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.
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.

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. 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. 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.