The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901Linn, William Alexander
History
The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901
Linn, William Alexander
Latter Day Saints -- History; Utah -- History
"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 fulfill 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 teacheth 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 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."
This jumble of doctrinal and family commands bears internal evidence of
the truth of Clayton's account of its offhand dictation with a view to
its immediate submission to the prophet's wife, who was already in a
state of rebellion because of his infidelities.
The publication of the "revelation" was made at a Church Conference
which opened in Salt Lake City on August 28, 1852, and was called
especially to select elders for missionary work.* At the beginning of
the second day's session Orson Pratt announced that, unexpectedly,
he had been called on to address the conference on the subject of a
plurality of wives. "We shall endeavor," he said, "to set forth before
this enlightened assembly some of the causes why the Almighty has
revealed such a doctrine, and why it is considered a part and portion of
our religious faith."
*For text of the addresses at this conference, see Deseret News,
extra, September 14, 1852.
He then took up the attitude of the church, as a practiser of this
doctrine, toward the United States government, saying:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account