"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established"  (2 Corinthians 13:1). 

A Scriptural perspective of Marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its conception on April 6, 1830, was that a man should have only one wife and that Polygamy has never been a commandment from God!

Essay by Kenneth A Card 

(bold italics, underlining, highlights, and parenthesis added for clarity in this essay)

I realize that as some read or hear this essay, they may become angry and upset. It is my hope and prayer that as you read this, you do so with an open mind and heart and allow the Spirit to teach and bring understanding to your experience.

Truth to me stands up on its own integrity. Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Truth then does not need to be defended, it merely needs to be perceived and lived as Christ lived it. “Know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” are the words of Christ.  To live the truth is to become the truth!  Christ’s truth is his divine character manifest through  “divine nature,” and even now He stands upon that integrity! Therefore, my filter for truth must also be in “divine nature,” (fruits of the Spirit)  if I have any hope of becoming like Him!  “Be holy for I am holy” are the words of Jehovah to ancient Israel.  This teaches me that God the Father’s truth is also founded in “divine nature.” Like Father like Son. Therefore, every old and new doctrine or philosophy I hear must be filtered through “divine nature” (the fruits of the Spirit) and if it does not pass that test, through the filter of virtue, honesty and holiness, and every other godly divine attribute; I have learned to “let it go” and I do not worry about it. My confidence, therefore, is not in principalities and governments of men (the arm of flesh and organized religion) but in godliness of character as Father and Christ manifest it.

I took the doctrine of polygamy and it did not pass the test of “divine nature…” as the scriptures will prove. 

Questions we should ask ourselves: Has polygamy ever been right? Will it ever be right? Did the Prophet Joseph Smith ever teach polygamy or live it? Absolutely Not in all cases! For these scriptural reasons.  

The Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith said:

“Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit, and if he repents not he shall be cast out.

Thou shalt not commit adultery, and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not shall be cast out. But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out.”

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 42:22 - 26) 

Revelation given February 9, 1831 

This revelation was called “embracing the law of the Church”  This revelation was true and binding the day it was given and is true and binding for all generations to come.

“And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man.

Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;

And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made.” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 49:15 - 17) 

Revelation given March 1831  This revelation was also true and binding the day it was given and is still true and binding for all generations to come who are true disciples of Christ.

Note that “before the world was made” this law of marriage was ordained by God and it stated that a man was to have only “one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh” (D&C 49: 15-17), “and shalt cleave unto her and none else” (D&C 42: 21-26). If that wasn’t enough clarity section 101 on “Marriage” was added to the Doctrine and Covenants in 1835 and accepted by competent assemblies and conferences of the Church as scripture, by “common consent!” And it was Signed by: Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Fredrick G. Williams (Presiding Elders of the Church).

http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835/9

And all things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much prayer and faith, for all things you shall receive by faith. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 26:2) Revelation given July 1830

In the years following February and March 1831 when D&C 42 and 49 were received, some church members were pursuing the false doctrine of polygamy that had crept into the Church, and the Prophet Joseph was continually fighting that corruption. He, never instigated it, as “true history” will declare. He knew well the “sacred pattern” for marriage God had established from the beginning with Adam and Eve (one man one wife) and D&C 42 and 49 was reestablishing that “sacred pattern.” Section C1 or (101) was put into the Doctrine and Covenants via “common consent” in 1835 and remained there until the 1876 edition under Brigham Young, who “claimed” he had found a revelation on polygamy that Joseph Smith had received. This was a lie and contrary to former revelations. How could the Prophet Joseph Smith (32 years later) defend his character now that he was dead? Section 101 was canonized scripture and stated:

SECTION CI (101) MARRIAGE. (Page 251)

“1. According to the customs of all civilized nations, marriage is regulated by laws and ceremonies: therefore we believe that all marriages in this church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose: and that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high priest, high priest, bishop, elder, or priest, not even prohibiting those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married by other authority. We believe that it is not right to prohibit members of this church from marrying out of the church if it be there determination so to do, but such persons shall be considered weak in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

2. Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving; and at the solemnization, the persons to be married, standing together, the man on the right, and the woman on the left, shall be addressed by the person officiating, as he shall be directed by the holy Spirit; and if there be no legal objections, he shall say, calling each by their names: “You both mutually agree to be each other's companions, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives.” And when they have answered “Yes,” he shall pronounce them “husband and wife” in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the laws of the country and authority vested in him: “may God add his blessings and keep you to fulfill your covenants from henceforth and forever. Amen.” 

3. The clerk of every church should keep a record of all marriages, solemnized in his branch. 

4. All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. It is not right to persuade a woman to be baptized contrary to the will of her husband, neither Is it lawful to influence her to leave her husband. All children are bound by law to obey their parents; and to influence them to embrace any religious faith, or be baptized, or leave their parents without their consent, is unlawful and unjust. We believe that all persons who exercise control over their fellow beings, and prevent them from embracing the truth, will have to answer for that sin.”

http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835/259

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if a person receives a message or revelation that contradicts a previous revelation you may know it is not of God but of Satan, who may appear as an angel of light to deceive. The following quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith shows that D&C 132 belied and was in direct contradiction of the former D&C 101of 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, not to mention D&C 42:22-26 and 49:15-17.

The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote:

“There have also- been ministering angels in the church which were of Satan appearing as an angel of light:— A sister in the State of New York had a vision who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods an angel would appear to her,— she went at the appointed time and saw a glorious personage descending arrayed in white . . . he commenced and told her to fear God and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home or he would not return; whereas God had called him to go to the ends of the earth; and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage and many things that were false.—How it may be asked was this known to be a bad angel?  ...by his contradicting a former revelation.” Times and Seasons 3 [April 1, 1842]: 747 (emphasis added).

The whole notion of a “plurality of wives” was never and has never been a commandment of God as stated in D&C 49: 16-17 from “before the world was made.” So where did the notion of having more than one wife come from? Answer: from the “carnal nature of man.” 

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, [as in the case of polygamy] it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Do not err, my beloved brethren."

(New Testament | James 1:13 - 16)

As far as the scriptures go the first mention of a “plurality of wives” came from the practice of fallen people who had separated themselves from God's true order and pattern for marriage. These people were descendants of the seed of Cain:

Ҧ And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

¶ And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.” 

(Old Testament | Genesis 4:16 – 24)

“And Lamech took unto himself two wives; the name of one being Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.” 

(Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:44)

Sadly, some of Ancient Israel's inhabitance in the old world and in the new world got caught up in these fallen cultural traditions, including Abraham and Jacob, whom I know both repented of the folly, hence their names were changed as part of the true covenant to have only one wife. 

We shall now search the scriptures and discover 5 witnesses that will reveal the truth: “in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” (New Testament | Matthew 18:16) God’s sacred pattern of marriage has always been the same: “one man, one wife” from the beginning, it has never changed!

“And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, [singular] and his sons' wives [singular] with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.”

(Old Testament | Genesis 7:5 - 7)

“In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;” 

(Old Testament | Genesis 7:13)

Witness # 4: God established this sacred pattern of moral integrity (one man, one wife) with the Prophet Joseph Smith and the latter-day generation of which we are all apart:

The revelation was given in March 1830:

“And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife; nor seek thy neighbor's life. And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God.”

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 19:25 - 26)

The revelation was given in  March 1830:

“For marriage is ordained of God unto man.

Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;

And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made.” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 49:15 - 17) 

My testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith is that he never departed from this truth, never lied, (that is not becoming of a “true prophet” of God), and never had but one wife, Emma! Everything said to the contrary to this was lies hatched by others to bring him down to their level and justify polygamy. Who is deceived? Me or those who fell into what the Lord called “whoredoms and abominations” as having more than one wife?

“And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, (this includes marriage) that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations.” (“nations,” meaning, the people and individuals, including the LDS Church and its fall into polygamy) 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section52:14, given June 7, 1831)

“Nevertheless, I give commandments, and many have turned away from my commandments and have not kept them.

There were among you adulterers and adulteresses; some of whom have turned away from you, and others remain with you that hereafter shall be revealed.

Let such beware and repent speedily, lest judgment shall come upon them as a snare, and their folly shall be made manifest, and their works shall follow them in the eyes of the people. (this has come to pass in our day, all the way into the year 2020, how long will it continue?)

And verily I say unto you, as I have said before, he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear.” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:13 – 16, given August 1831)

Is the Lord sharing with us his moral integrity, his “sacred pattern?” He is! His righteousness, His holiness, and His virtue have been the same in every dispensation of time, to all the Prophets and obedient of his children. He is giving us an eternal pattern of morality to follow and heed in a marriage that we might “raise up seed unto” God in righteousness and virtue! The sad truth of polygamy is that it brings with its lies, deceit, deception, murder, misleading doctrines, and eventually the condemnation of a just God. Godliness of character and divine nature is the righteousness God commands his people to follow and endure to the end in!

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts...”

(New Testament | Hebrews 3:14 - 15)

The revelation was given on March 20, 1839:

“let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:45 - 46)

How can one maintain “virtue unceasingly” and live polygamy? Has the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought into a lie since the passing of the Prophet Joseph Smith? YES!

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

(New Testament | 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - 12)

Book of Mormon:

“And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.” 

(3 Nephi 11:40 - 41)

“And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.

But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them.

Therefore, blessed are ye if ye shall keep my commandments, which the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.” 

(3 Nephi 18:12 - 15)

Revelation given Summer of 1828:

“Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely.

Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.

Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.

And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen.” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 10:66 - 70)

The revelation was given on January 19, 1841:

“be a believer in the Book of Mormon, and the revelations I have given unto you, saith the Lord your God; (meaning, having only one wife and walking in holiness)

For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen.”

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 124:119 - 120)

It is my belief, personal witness, and testimony that the Prophet Joseph Smith never engaged (secretly or otherwise) in the doctrine of “plurality of wives” but fought against it his whole life! He never engaged in lies or deception when it came to this moral law of having only “one wife” as the scriptures presented here so testify of in establishing God’s sacred pattern for marriage from “before the world was made.” Everything ever said by others in opposing God’s moral law is and was fabricated lies; histories have been doctored, as have journals and diaries and those who are and have or will promote such will be held accountable themselves and will have to answer to God for their behavior.

One day and a month before Joseph Smith was murdered he spoke to a large group in Nauvoo. He started out this talk by reading 2 Corinthians 11…this was a warning to some of the apostles and others who were secretly living polygamy and accusing him (Joseph Smith) of teaching and living it. (History of the Church May 1844 pg. 408-412). This is what the Prophet Joseph said:

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

(New Testament | 2 Corinthians 11:13 - 15)

On May 26, 1844, Joseph Smith said, one month before he was murdered on June 27, 1844: “What a thing for a man to be accused of committing adultery and having seven wives when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago” 

(History of the Church Vol.6, p.408-412 Sunday, May 26, 1844).

Do you believe these statements? I do! What took place before and after the Prophet was killed with some members of the Church as having “plural wives” does not constitute moral integrity and goes against the very scriptures quoted above and the statements made by the Prophet Joseph. Prior to Joseph’s martyrdom, and according to scripture, God has never commanded a “plurality of wives,” to anyone, ever! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever when it comes to moral integrity, bearing “false witness,” “lying” and “raising up a righteous seed unto Him.”  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Remember:

“A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness will utter lies” (Proverbs 14:5).

The Prophet Joseph was and is to me a “faithful witness” of Christ and godliness of character!

“And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish.” 

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:32)

“Whoredoms” scripturally is having more than one living wife, prostitution, fornication, homosexuality, adultery, lying, and bearing false witness. The Lord God is clear on this throughout the scriptures! People within and outside the Church have lied and born false witnesses about the Prophet Joseph as having more than one wife during his lifetime and after for years. Joseph lived by what he taught; he did not lie or do things in secret as some accuse him of. He lived morally, according to *D&C 42: 21-26 and 49: 15-17 and section 101; which section 101 was removed from the Doctrine and Covenants by Brigham Young in 1876 and replaced with D&C 132. Now that was a strange act and contrary to former revelations taught in the scriptures, and it was done without “common consent!” Section 101 of 1835 was removed from the scriptures and another Section 132 was added, again without “common consent” …a real contradiction of God's eternal pattern and “contradicting former revelations,” which the Prophet Joseph Smith said was a sure way to know it was of Satan and not of God. (Times and Seasons 3 [April 1, 1842]: 747). Emma Smith, the Prophet's wife said that Joseph never wrote or received the revelation known as D&C 132. This is what the Lord said about Emma’s integrity: 

“HEARKEN unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom.

A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 25:1 - 3) The revelation was given in July 1830

Through my own study, research and prayer I have come to know that noble lady and her honesty and virtue. There are inconsistencies in D&C 132 and I will mention but one beginning with verse 1. “Isaac” never did have more than one wife, he only had one and that was Rebecca. Verse 1 says he had “many wives and concubines.” (Note, that Isaac’s name was never changed because he kept the covenant of marriage revealed to Adam and Eve; once Abram and Jacob repented and re-established the covenant of marriage, their names were changed, Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel). The Lord does not make mistakes in scriptures or lie, but fallen man does!

· What were the consequences of such an act of immorality in the early days of the Church after Joseph was murdered?  The Lord called the leadership of the Church to repentance via the United States Government, which put pressure on the Church that brought about the Manifesto which ended the “the crime of fornication, and polygamy” that plagued the Church in its early days and in a historical sense still does today! I feel and KNOW there is much more the LDS Church could do to clear the name of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

All the evidence the LDS Church has today about the Prophet Joseph Smith as having more than one wife is “second-hand testimony,” “hearsay evidence,” “falsified affidavits and journals and diaries” and “doctored histories” that perpetuate the lie; and the only “TRUTH” we really have from Joseph’s own lips and what he taught scripturally and said one month before he was murdered was this: “I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago”… “What a thing for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives when I can only find one.” Was Joseph truthful or was he lying? “True Prophets” don’t lie or do immoral acts in secret or teach false doctrines like polygamy! We have plenty of first-hand testimony from Joseph Smith himself teaching and preaching against having more than one wife and denying his involvement with polygamy or plural wives altogether. His own children testified of their father’s moral integrity and example of having only one wife, Emma. Joseph said in his own words that “my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoke of among all people” (Joseph Smith History 1: 33)

“Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips—

For behold, verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.

Wherefore, let the church repent of their sins…” (do you think that includes polygamy, taught in D&C 132?) YES, absolutely. (August 1831, Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:61 - 63) 

"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—

That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.

For shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land? Verily, I say unto you, Nay.”

(September 1832, Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:54 - 59)

“Neither shall he (any man or King…this includes Abraham, Jacob, King Solomon and King David, Brigham Young and all those who got caught up in polygamy) multiply wives to himself, that his heart… turn…away…from the commandment…keep all the words of this law.”

(Old Testament | Deuteronomy 17:14-20). 

What do you think the Lord was referring to when he said to “remember” the Book of Mormon [Do you think that includes (Jacob 2: 24-30 “one wife”) and “remember” the “former commandments;” do you think that includes…“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart…turn…away…from the commandment…[to] keep all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 17: 14-20) and (D&C 49: 15-17 “one wife”) and “remember” the “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31: 31-33; Lectures on Faith 7:15-17)]. The answer is obvious; this essay is testimony to the truth of having only one wife! The “whole church” today is still “under condemnation” (in my opinion) until it repents of “bearing false witness,” that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a polygamist and remove D&C 132 and put D&C 101 of 1835 back in, along with Lectures on Faith as it was when Joseph was here…this is a simple thing to do. To “repent” and become the “Children of Christ” (Mosiah 5:7-10). What is there to be ashamed of that we can repent of… nothing, unless pride follows us individually or collectively as a Church to the grave and beyond? 

A curse upon the land of those who practice polygamy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXXkwKNdOtQ&t=2379s

(Read President Ezra Taft Benson Conference Address, Ensign. November 1986, pg 80 The Book of Mormon).

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/11/the-book-of-mormon-keystone-of-our-religion?lang=eng

My heart and prayers go out to all those who have been and are beguiled and led away into “false securities” in their thinking and “blinded by the craftiness of men” (D&C 76: 75) when it comes to God’s moral law, that states; “it is lawful that he should have one wife” (D&C 49:16)“and shalt cleave unto her and none else;” and “many wives and concubines” is “abominable before me, saith the Lord” (Book of Mormon Jacob 2: 24-26). And “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20: 14) which has NEVER changed!

 Polygamy is adultery, plain and simple. The Lord warned ancient Israel about such things and modern Israel has been warned too…and should take heed. When a man enters polygamy, (adultery) and when women allow it, they are themselves promoting the “sin” of “adultery” by not speaking out against it. When a “church” promotes polygamy via its past corrupted historical data and actions and does not speak out against it, they too are promoting the “sin” of “polygamy/adultery” and fornication (Ephesians 6:10-20).  

So, every God-loving person should ask themselves the question: Where do I stand? Do I stand with the Lord and His teachings on morality and the sacred pattern of marriage, which is that man should have only “one wife” and “they twain shall be one flesh,” and that multiple wives are an abomination, sin, and adultery (Jacob 1,2,3; Deuteronomy 17:14-20).   Or do I follow or believe in the false doctrine of polygamy as taught in D&C 132? There have been false doctrines taught in the church by some prophets and apostles and polygamy was and is one of those doctrines because the very act of polygamy itself, is adultery! Polygamy does not stand up for the truth in righteousness, in virtue and in holiness of character. It is diametrically opposed to “one man having one wife” as taught by God from the beginning. 

Elder Bruce R McConkie said:

“Nonetheless, as Joseph Smith so pointedly taught, a prophet is not always a prophet, only when he is acting as such. Prophets are men and they make mistakes. Sometimes they err in doctrine. This is one of the reasons the Lord has given us the Standard Works. They become the standards and rules that govern where doctrine and philosophy are concerned. If this were not so, we would believe one thing when one man was president of the Church and another thing in the days of his successors. Truth is eternal and does not vary. Sometimes even wise and good men fall short in the accurate presentation of what is truth. Sometimes a prophet gives personal views which are not endorsed and approved by the Lord…This puts me in mind of Paul’s statement: “There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Cor. 11:19.) I do not know all of the providences of the Lord, but I do know that he permits false doctrine to be taught in and out of the Church and that such teaching is part of the sifting process of mortality. We will be judged by what we believe among other things. If we believe false doctrine, we will be condemned. If that belief is on basic and fundamental things, it will lead us astray and we will lose our souls. This is why Nephi said: “And all those who preach false doctrines, . . . wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!: (2 Ne. 28:15.) This clearly means that people who teach false doctrine in the fundamental and basic things will lose their souls. The nature and kind of being that God is, is one of these fundamentals. I repeat: Brigham Young erred in some of his statements on the nature and kind of being that God is and as to the position of Adam in the plan of salvation, but Brigham Young also taught the truth in these fields on other occasions. And I repeat, that in his instance, he was a great prophet and has gone on to eternal reward. What he did is not a pattern for any of us. If we choose to believe and teach the false portions of his doctrines, we are making an election that will damn us.”

http://www.mrm.org/bruce-mcconkies-rebuke-of-eugene-england

Are “Prophets” ever just “men?” Yes, they can make mistakes and do. Can “prophets prophesy falsely?” Yes… Why would the Lord warn us of prophets and apostles prophesying falsely and teaching false doctrines if it were not possible?

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”

(Old Testament | Jeremiah 5:31). 

This has literally come to pass with the polygamy doctrine today (D&C 63:13-16).

Have some been?... “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” 

(New Testament | 2 Timothy 3:3 - 4)

Is modern Israel immune from this? If our testimonies and beliefs are not rooted and grounded in the “principles of righteousness,” in “moral integrity,” in “holiness of character and virtue,” which to me is the same as being rooted and grounded “in Christ” we are on the road to personal apostasy and forsaking the truth. The council has always been the same: “Be holy for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19: 2).

Look what the Lord said to the prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon when some of the Nephites made the immoral mistake and fell into polygamy: Wake up modern Israel, the Book of Mormon was and is for us, as a warning!

“Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father (it should say fathers) [from 1830 - 1920 Book of Mormon printings Jacob 3:5 says “fathers” and was changed to “father” in the 1981 printing and so it is forwarded on to us falsely today]—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them. And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.”

(Book of Mormon | Jacob3:5 - 6)

Who had the “right” to change the word “fathers” to father, and to do it without the “common consent” of the church?

“Fathers” is how it should read…because “the commandment” to have only “one wife” was a commandment going all the way back to all the “fathers” (Adam onward were to obey this commandment, no exceptions).

Warning: “And they (Latter-day Church) shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written” (September 1832, Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:57).

One of those “former commandments” was to have only “one wife.” Polygamy is the sin of adultery plain and simple. The Prophet Joseph Smith lived from (1805–to 1844) and died a true Prophet of God, he stated: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (History of the Church, 4:461). Did all and have all, followed that council in the restoration process? No! (See Jacob 1:15; 2:24-30; Mosiah 11: 1-2).

“All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.”

(Doctrine and Covenants 1835 Section C1 (101:4)

Scripturally it is clear to what the Lord has and had to say about the true order of marriage and raising a righteous seed unto Him. This essay is my witness and testimony of God’s will regarding marriage, and I will not engage in the false deception the LDS Church is still perpetrating and holding on to today, that the Prophet Joseph Smith had more than one wife; this is shameful, especially considering that polygamy has never been a commandment from God, it is adultery under any situation. The law of “one man one wife” was established “before the world was made,” (D&C 49: 17) and so shall the moral integrity of God and godliness be; for it is the same yesterday, today and forever, that “one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.”(D&C 101:4, 1835 to 1876).“For that which is more or less than this cometh of evil, and shall be attended with cursings and not blessings, saith the Lord your God. Even so. Amen.” (D&C 124: 120). 

Spiritual Insights:

“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 

(New Testament | Matthew 7:21 - 23) 

Inspired Version says: “Ye never knew me,” which puts the responsibility on each of us personally to really “know” the path and pattern of godliness and virtue by living it and becoming a manifestation of it, in thought, word and deed!

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)

It is the fine print of moral righteousness written upon our hearts and minds that really matters.

Therefore, regardless of whatever has taken place in the past by individuals in religion, politics, tribalism, and civilizations, individually or collectively that was and is a lie, wrong, bad, sinful, lustful, or deceitful with regard to polygamy; each individual is accountable for their own acts.  “For as in Adam, [“Adam,” meaning our carnal and fallen nature which we are each accountable for, we will] all die, [being separated from God] even so in Christ [“Christ,” meaning when we repent of our fallen and carnal nature and put on “divine nature” we] shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). It is up to everyone to discover this "truth" for themselves, for it will set anyone free. Individually we can only remove the “condemnation” that falls upon us individually by removing the “false beliefs” (our fallen nature) that we are hanging onto that damns us and let go of any ungodly deeds (our carnal nature or carnal thinking) that separate us form godliness and virtue! 

My council to anyone would be to embrace that "truth" that does not change, which is found in the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5: 22-25) which is eternal in its nature, innate to every person, and is the same yesterday, today and forever...it is what made “god,” “God” and this is the only "truth" that will bring peace to one’s heart and soul! It is not the “form and structure” of religion or polygamy that saves us but the “spirit” of godliness and holiness of character. The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten (how he/she is purged from old sins: by repentance and forgiveness and applying [Moroni 10:32-33]) that he was purged from his old sins.” 

(New Testament | 2 Peter 1:4 - 9) 

"For he [Synonyms for “he” is righteousness, Father, Christ…Godliness, Holiness and Virtue] is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men [because the kingdom of God is innate with all men]. “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (New Testament | Luke 17:21) It has been this way forever, from before the foundation of the world if it so be that they repent and come unto him [synonyms or “him” is godliness, holiness, virtue, patience, kindness, honesty, charity]. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round."

 (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 10: 18 - 19) 

Ask yourself this question, “what is the purpose or function of a prophet?”

“Let us here observe, that after any portion of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge, respecting his character (divine attributes) and glory, will depend upon their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after him, until like Enoch the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to behold him face to face.” (Lectures on Faith 2: 55). 

This is why we have prophets! A prophet is one who immerses himself into the attributes, character, and perfections of godliness and talks to God face to face. So, the purpose of a prophet is to teach mankind how to prepare themselves to talk to God face to face. “Lectures on Faith” 1 through 7 is the best source I have found that teaches this process and truth. Have you ever read or pondered it? If not you are missing the essence of the restoration, the true mystery into godliness and becoming one with Him! There are two commandments that really sanctify the mind and heart of man:

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets>"

If we are truly centered “in Christ” we will only follow a “Prophet” “in righteousness,” “in holiness of character” and “in moral virtue!” This eternal pattern has never and will never change!

The mysteries of godliness…(D&C 19: 10-13) are found in living the two great commandments... how great is that!

The pattern to God or godhood is godliness of character, this is the simple “truth;” it is “the doctrine of Jesus Christ” (Lecture on Faith 1:1). If you choose to read and ponder Lectures on Faith, it is important to understand the difference between the “effects of faith” versus the “affects of faith.” The “effects of faith” is what comes from within us; it is our potential to become as God is, the “effects of faith” reveals our holy place, where the attributes of godliness are waiting for us to immerse ourselves into it, completely, in all our thoughts, all our words and all our deeds. The “affects of faith” are the forms and structures outside ourselves (this would include all organized religion and its ordinances and ceremonies) that fallen man worships; these could be people, places, or things. “True worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). How to worship the Father and the Son is through the attributes of godliness! All the divine attributes necessary to become a God are innate to every person who has ever come to earth and received a mortal body through the watery baptism of mortal birth (John 3:1-13). Mortal birth is our baptism in the water! This is one of the mysteries of godliness that the ordinance of baptism teaches a fallen people who have been separated from God or godliness. Consider the following principles of the “effects of faith:”

1. All people, regardless of religion “have authority by faith (alone) to lay hold on eternal life, the richest boon of heaven because God is no respecter of persons and that every man in every nation has an equal privilege” (Lectures on Faith 3:23).

2. “That the glory that the Father and the Son have is because they are just and holy beings; and that if they were lacking in one attribute or perfection which they have, the glory which they have never could be enjoyed by them, for it requires them to be precisely what they are in order to enjoy it; and if the Savior gives this glory to any others, he must do it in the very same way…” (Lecture 7:15).

3. The “teachings of the Savior most clearly show unto us the nature of salvation (Godhood, how to become a God) and what he proposed unto the human family when he proposed to save them---that he proposed to make them like unto himself, and he was like the Father, the great prototype of all saved beings; and for any portion of the human family to be assimilated into their likeness is to be saved (exalted as a God), and to be unlike them is to be destroyed (or damned by their own choices and beliefs from becoming a God)…on this hinge turns the door of salvation” (Lectures on Faith 7:16).

4. “Who cannot see then, that salvation (as a God) is the effect of faith? …all the heavenly beings work by this principle; and it is because they are able so to do that they are saved, for nothing but this could save them. And this is the lesson which the God of heaven, by the mouth of his holy prophets, has been endeavoring to teach to the world. Hence, we are told, that “Without (the effects of) faith it is impossible to please God;” and that salvation (as a God) is of faith, that it might be by grace, (grace is another word for the attributes of godliness manifest in our thoughts, words, and deeds) to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed” (Romans 4:16). And that Israel, (ancient and modern) who followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. (Why) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith (the “effects of faith”), but as it were by the works (the letter of the law) of the law; for they stumbled at the stumbling stone (Romans 9:32). [Lectures on Faith 7:17].

One of the false concepts that President Brigham Young taught that bled over into much of his thinking was that in order to be a “God” one would have to observe an ordinance or ceremony outside yourselves and his focus was polygamy (having more than one wife), which is completely opposite to what Lectures on faith teaches and the teachings of Christ, especially in John chapter 17; which teaches, that in order to be “one” with the Father and the Son, all one needs to do is become like Him in character and attribute, which draws upon the powers within us (the effects of faith) to become like Him, not obedience to a false doctrine performed outside us like polygamy (which is adultery plain and simple). Please read Galatians 5 to see how “Christ is become of no effect unto you” (verse 4) to those who are caught up in the “letter of the law.” It does not matter what the “letter of the law” is, circumcision or baptism in water, or constructing 1000’s of temples of brick and mortar or seeking out “endless genealogies” (1Timothy 1:4) in doing “work for the dead;” if we do not understand the spiritual significance personally, whether mortal or a spirit in the spirit world, then our works are dead words!  The most important “temple” to construct to God is our own body temple: “ye are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18) and if we ignore the fact that we are the “real temple” of God under construction and our focus is on the letter of the law, then it is “dead works” we are performing and accepting.

 Every ordinance and ceremony of organized religion was and is created to bring us to repentance and forgiveness from our fallen and carnal nature, so that we can clothe ourselves in the robes of personal righteousness, virtue and holiness of character, it is the only way we can really become like God from the inside out! Read and ponder the word “Holiness” in the LDS Bible Dictionary. It is a truth (the word, “holiness”) that is not taught or understood much anymore. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/holiness?lang=eng&letter=H

“According to the Old Testament, things or places were holy that was set apart for a sacred purpose; the opposite of holy is therefore common or profane (1 Sam. 21:5; Ezek. 22:26; 42:20; 44:23; 48:13–15). Similarly, a holy person meant one who held a sacred office. The Israelites were a holy people because they stood in a special relationship to Jehovah. Under the guidance of the Prophets, it was seen that what distinguished Jehovah from the gods of the heathen was His personal character. The word holy therefore came to refer to moral character (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 21:8; Isa. 6:3–8). Israel must be holy in character because the God of Israel was holy (Jer. 7:4–7; see also Matt. 5:48) [that means no adultery/polygamy]. The Law of Holiness (Lev. 17–26) shows how the attempt was made by means of ceremonial observances to secure this holiness of character. The attempt failed [it will always fail] because the later Jews [and the warning is to modern Israel] observed the letter and neglected the spirit; they attached more importance to the ceremonial than to the moral, and the result was a lapse into formalism. But in the writings of the Prophets, it is clearly laid down that the value of worship in the eyes of God depends upon the personal character of the worshipper.” [LDS Bible Dictionary, Holiness]

“The value of worship in the eyes of God depends upon the personal character of the worshipper.” That is a profound statement! Let it burn into our memories and become the foundation of our soul. When we really consider the “work for the dead,” it is about “turning our hearts” to godliness and holiness of character on both sides of the veil. When our “hearts” are sealed to godliness and holiness, we are sealed to God and we will have many personal experiences with Him. The only way the principles of godliness can work is from within us! It is not “who” we worship but “how” and “what” we worship that really counts in becoming as God is.

“I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness” 

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 93:19).

5. Note that this scripture does not mention the “who” to worship here because that is not what is important (that is formalism, a type of idolatry). What is important is the “how,” which is in Spirit (through the “fruits of the spirit), and the “what” is the truth that resides within us, the truth and power to become as He is, is through the attributes of godliness (John 4:22-23)… And this is my favorite verse, note it well: 

“that if they [the Father and the Son] were lacking in one attribute or perfection which they have, the glory which they have never could be enjoyed by them, for it requires them to be precisely what they are in order to enjoy it; and if the Savior gives this glory to any others, he must do it in the very same way…” 

(Lectures on Faith 7:15).

This is the doctrine of Jesus Christ! To this, I testify! (Romans 1:16-32).