This beautiful revelation on the eternal nature of the marriage covenant has at times been overshadowed by the inclusion of what the Lord called the Law of his Priesthood, or plural marriage.
Given the world’s oft extorted, twisted and perverse view of marriage as being what amounts to a license for sex, which skewed perspective overshadows all discussion of plural marriage, the concept of plural marriage may be difficult to understand coming from a God who delights in chastity, and who cherishes the sanctity, purity and sacramental nature of marriage.
Several years ago, while engaged in an inquisitive and exploratory discussion about the teachings of Section 132 with some family members, the spirit finally broke through to me and I was able to understand it as never before. Since that time, I have found peace and comfort in Section 132, and in the following blogs I will share what I have learned regarding the two main eternal laws it highlights.
Before proceeding, though I will lay some foundational doctrines that must be understood in order to understand D&C 132 in its proper context.
1. Lust is repugnant to God and is NEVER a proper motivation for any action directed by Him.
The prophet Jacob’s beautiful sermon to the Nephites, (which is an essential corollary to D&C 132), makes that clear. One of the purposes for his sermon, which is found in Jacob, Chapters 2 & 3, in the Book of Mormon, was that his people had “hardened their hearts” and engaged in what he labelled as the “wicked practices,” of desiring many wives and concubines. Jacob 1:15. Those Nephites were not responding to a directive from God, but rather for totally inappropriate reasons, they were seeking to implement a corrupted version of a prior law for purposes wholly repugnant to it, which was to satisfy their lusts.
2. God’s Law of plural Marriage is inseparably connected to chastity and is only implemented by Him as and exception to His standard of Eternal Marriage (that between one man and one woman), and solely for the purpose of “raising up seed!”
During his sermon, Jacob, after condemning the pride of his people and urging them to cast it aside, moves to speak on what he terms “grosser crimes.” He notes that because they understood not the scriptures, they sought to excuse their whoredoms based on scriptural accounts of the practices of David and Solomon. Jacob refutes those practices and declares that one of the reasons God had the Nephites depart from among the people in Jerusalem, was to break them from them. He then repeats God’s clear command; ..“Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;”. Jacob 2:27.
Then after declaring that the Lord delights in the chastity of women, and despises whoredoms, he proceeds to explain how the unrighteous practices of lust based plural marriages impacted God's precious daughters whom He loved so dearly. “For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.” Jacob 2:31.
Jacob goes on to explain how that practice was more evil than anything the Lamanites had done, pointing out the result of such practices was the breaking of the hearts of their tender wives, and losing the confidence of their children. Of note, at one point the Prophet Jacob, did repeat the Lord’s one exception to the eternal law, leaving open the single possibility that the Lord might direct a love-based practice of plural marriage but only with the intent to raise up seed unto Himself. (Jacob 2:30)
Understanding that one exception, “raising up seed,” is essential to understanding the true meaning behind plural marriage as outlined in D&C Section 132.
Next ...........D&C 132 in Context