8. Verily, verily I say unto you, ex- his exaltation, and sitteth upon his cept ye abide my law, ye cannot at- throne. tain to this glory; for strait is the 12. Abraham received promises gate, and narrow the way, that leadeth concerning his seed, and of the fruit unto the exaltation and continuation of his loins, from whose loins ye of the lives, and few there be that are, viz, my servant Joseph,—which find it, because ye receive me not in were to continue, so long as they were the world, neither do ye know me. in the world; and as touching AbraBut if ye receive me in the world, ham and his seed, out of the world, then shall ye know me, and shall re- they should continue; both in the ceive your exaltation, that where I world and out of the world should they am, ye shall be also. This is eter- continue as innumerable as the stars; nal lives to know the only wise or, if ye were to count the sand upon and true God, and Jesus Christ the sea shore, ye could not number whom he hath sent. I am He. them. This promise is yours, also, Receive ye, therefore, my law. Broad because ye are of Abraham, and the is the gate, and wide the way that promise was made unto Abraham, leadeth to the deaths; and many there and by this law are the continuation are that go in thereat; because they of the works of my Father, wherein receive me not, neither do they abide he glorifieth himself. Go ye there. in my law. fore, and do the works of Abraham ; 9. Verily, verily I say unto you, if enter ye into my law, and ye shall be a man marry a wife according to my saved. But if ye enter not into my word, and they are sealed by the Holy law, ye cannot receive the promises Spirit of promise, according to mine of my Father, which he made unto appointment, and he or she shall com- Abraham. mit any sin or transgression of the 13. God commanded Abraham, and new and everlasting covenant what- Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham, to ever, and all manner of blasphemie, wife. And why did she do it? Be. and if they commit no murder, where- cause this was the law, and from Ha. in they shed innocent blood,-yet gar sprang many people. This, they shall come forth in the first resur- therefore, was fulfilling, among other rection, and enter into their exaltation, things, the promises. Was Abrabut they shall be destroyed in the ham, therefore, under condemnation ? flesh, and shall be delivered unto the Verily, I say unto you, Nay; for I the buffetings of Satan, unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.

10. 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.

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.

14. Abraham received concubines, and they bare him children, and it was accounted unto him for righteous. ness, 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 11. I am the Lord thy God, and commanded; and because they did will give unto thee the law of my none other things than that which Holy Priesthood, as was ordaine by me, and my Father, before the world was. Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revela tion and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into

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 the heavens; and whosesoever sins

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 ne 15. 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.

you remit on earth, shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whose. soever sins you retain on earth, shall be retained in heaven.

18. And again, verily I say, whom. soever you bless, I will bless; and whomsoever you curse, I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God.

19 And again, verily I say unto you, my servant Joseph, that whatso ever you give on earth, and to whom. soever 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, 16. I am the Lord thy God, and I saith the Lord, and shall be without gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, condemnation on earth, and in hea. an appointment, and restore all things; ven; for I am the Lord thy God, and ask what ye will, and it shall be given will be with thee even unto the end unto you, according to my word; and of the world, and through all eternias ye have asked concerning adultery, ty: for verily, I seal upon you, your verily, verily I say unto you, if a man exaltation, and prepare a throne for receiveth a wife in the new and ever- you in the kingdom of my Father, lasting covenant, and if she be with with Abraham, your father. Behold, another man, and I have not appoint. I have seen your sacrifices, and will ed unto her by the holy annointing, forgive all your sins; I have seen she hath committed adultery, and your sacrifices, in obedience to that shall be destroyed. If she be not in which I have told you: go, therefore, the new and everlasting covenant, and I make a way for your escape, as and she be with another man, she has I accepted the offering of Abraham, committed adultery; and if her hus- of his son Isaac. band 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.

17. 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

20. Verily I say unto you, a com. mandment 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 haud, 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.

21. And I command mine hand. vowed to no other man, then is he maid, Emma Smith, to abide and justified; he cannot commit adultery, cleave unto my servant Joseph, and for they are given unto him; for he to none else. But if she will not cannot commit adultery with that, abide this commandment, she shall that belongeth unto him, and to none be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I else: and if he have ten virgins am the Lord thy God, and will des- given unto him by this law, he cantroy her if she abide not in my law; not commit adultery; for they belong but if she will not abide this com- to him; and they are given unto mandment, then shall my servant him ;-therefore is he justified. But Joseph do all things for her, even as if one, or either of the ten virgins, he hath said; and I will bless him, after she is espoused, shall be with and multiply him, and give unto him another man, she has committed adulan hundred fold in this world, of fa- tery, and shall be destroyed; for they thers and mothers, brothers and sis. are given unto him to multiply and ters, houses and lands, wives and replenish the earth, according to my children, and crowns of eternal lives commandment, and to fulfil the pro. in the eternal worlds. And again, mise which was given by my Father verily I say, let mine handmaid for-before the foundation of the world; give my servant Joseph his trespasses, and for their exaltation in the eternal and then shall she be forgiven her worlds, that they may bear the souls trespasses, wherein she hath tres- of men; for herein is the work of passed against me; and I the Lord my Father continued, that he may be thy God will bless her, and multiply glorified. her, and make her heart to rejoice.

22. 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 des. troy; for I am the Lord thy God, and he is my servant; and behold! and lo, I am with him, as I was with Abra. ham, thy father, even unto his exaltation and glory.

23. 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 anything 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.

name upon

25. 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 priest. hood, 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 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 accord. ing 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."

24. 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 PLURALITY OF WIVES is a docconsent; and if he espouse the sec- trine very popular among most of ond, and they are virgins, and have mankind at the present day. It is

practiced by the most powerful nations) Some of the nations of Europe who of Asia and Africa, and by numerous believe in the one wife system have nations, inhabiting the Islands of the actually forbidden a plurality of wives sea, and by the Aboriginal nations of by their laws; and the consequences the great Western Hemisphere. The are that the whole country among one wife system is confined principally them is overrun with the most abomito a few small nations, inhabiting ble practices? adulteries and unlawEurope and to those who are of Eu- ful connections prevail through all ropean origin, inhabiting America. their villages, towns, cities, and counIt is estimated by the most able his-try places to a most fearful extent. torians of our day that about four-fifths And among some of these nations of the population of the globe, be- these sinks of wickedness, wretchedlieve and practice, according to their ness, and misery, are licensed by law; respective laws, the doctrine of a Plu- while their piety would be wonderrality of Wives. If the popularity of fully shocked to authorize by law the a doctrine is in proportion to the num- Plurality system, as adopted by many bers who believe in it, then it follows neighboring nations. that the Plurality system is four times The Constitution and laws of the more popular among the inhabitants United States, being founded upon the of the earth, than the one wife system. principles of freedom, do not interThose nations who practice the fere with marriage relations, but leave Plurality doctrine consider it as vir- the nation free to believe in and practuous and as right for one man to tice the doctrine of a Plurality of have many wives, as to have one only. wives, or to confine themselves to the Therefore, they have enacted laws, one wife system just as they choose. not only giving this right to their citi- This is as it should be; it leaves the zens, but also protecting them in it, conscience of man untrammeled, and and punishing all those who infringe so long as he injures no person, and upon the chastity of the marriage cove does not infringe upon the rights nant by committing adultery with any of others, he is free by the Constituone of the wives of his neighbor. tion to marry one wife, or many, or Those nations do not consider it pos- none at all, and becomes accountable sible for a man to commit adultery to God, for the righteousness or unwith any one of those women to righteousness of his domestic relations. whom he has been legally married ac- The Constitution leaves the several cording to their laws. The posterity States and Territories to enact such raised up unto the husband through laws as they see proper in regard to each of his wives, are all considered Marriages, provided that they do not to be legitimate, and provisions are infringe upon the rights of conscience made in their laws for those children, and the liberties guaranteed in that sathe same as if they were the children cred document. Therefore, if any of one wife. Adulteries, fornications, State or Territory feels disposed to and all unvirtuous conduct between enact laws, guaranteeing to each of its the sexes, are severely punished by citizens the right to marry many wives, them. Indeed, Plurality among them such laws would be perfectly constiis considered, not only virtuous and tutional; hence, the several States and right, but a great check or preventa- Territories practice the one wife systive against adulteries and unlawful tem out of choice, and not because connections which are among the they are under any obligations so to greatest evils with which nations are do by the National Constitution. Incursed, producing a vast amount of deed, we doubt very much, whether suffering and misery, devastation and any State or Territory has the condeath; undermining the very foundatious of happiness, and destroying the frame-work of society, and the peace of the domestic circle.

stitutional right to make laws, prohibiting the Plurality doctrine in cases where it is practiced by religious societies, as a matter of conscience or

as a doctrine of their religious faith. at a certain age, because it would inThe first Article of the Amendments fringe upon the rights of conscience to the Constitution says, expressly, among the Shakers, and they would that "Congress shall make no law re- be prohibited the free exercise of their specting an establishment of religion, religion. or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" Now if even Congress, itself, has no power to pass a law "prohibit ing the free exercise of Religion," much less has any State or Territory power to pass such an act.

From the foregoing Revelation, given through Joseph, the Seer, it will be seen that God has actually commanded some of His servants to take more wives, and has pointed out certain duties in regard to the mar The doctrine of a Plurality of riage ceremony, showing that they Wives was believed and practised by must be married for time and for all Abraham, the father of the faithful; eternity, and showing the advantages and we find that while in this prac- to be derived in a future state by tice the angels of God frequently min- this eternal union, and showing, still istered to him, and at one time dined further, that, if they refused to obey with him; and God manifested Him- this command, after having the law self to him, and entered into familiar revealed to them, they should be conversation with him. Neither God damned. This revelation, then, nor His angels reproved Abraham for makes it a matter of conscience being a Polygamist, but on the contrary, among all the Latter-Day Saints; the Almighty greatly blessed him and and they embrace it as a part and made promises unto him, concerning portion of their religion, and verily both Isaac and Ishmael, clearly show-beileve that they cannot be saved and ing that Abraham practiced, what is reject it. Has Congress power, called, Polygamy, under the sanction then, to pass laws, "prohibiting" the of the Almighty. Now if the father Church of Jesus Christ of Latterof the faithful was thus blessed, cer-Day Saints, "the free exercise" of tainly it should not be considered ir- this article of their religion? Have religious for the faithful who are called any of the States or Territories a his children to walk in the steps of constitutional right to pass laws "protheir father Abraham. Indeed, if the hibiting the free exercise of the reliLord, Himself, through His holy pro-gion" which the church of the Saints phets, should give more wives unto conscienciously and sincerely believe his servants, as He gave them unto to be essential to their salvation? the prophet David, it would be a great No: they have no such right. sin for them to refuse that which He gives. In such a case, it would become a matter of conscience with them, and a part of their religion, and they would be bound to exercise their faith in this doctrine, and practice it, or be condemned; therefore, Congress would have no power to prohibit the free exercise of this part of their religion; neither would the States or Territories have power, Constitutionally, to pass a law "prohibiting the Constitution of our country, that the free exercise thereof." Now a cer- freedom of the people might be tain religious society, called Shakers, maintained, according to the free believe it to be wrong for them to agency which He had given to them; marry even one wife; it certainly that every man might be accountable would be unconstitutional for either to God and not to man, so far as rethe Congress or the States to pass a ligious doctrines and conscience are a law, compelling all people to marry concerned. And the more we exam

The Latter-Day Saints have the most implicit confidence in all the revelations, given through Joseph, the prophet; and they would much sooner lay down their lives and suffer martyrdom, than to deny the least reve. lation that was ever given to him. In one of the revelations through him, we read that God raised up wise men and inspired them to write the