This is currently under construction, I tried to break up the text the best i could without having to completely read the whole book. there are numerous ocr mistakes, if you want perfect then buy the book! I think pages 47-49 are interesting since they show that Lehi was a polygamist. also, about 6 pages worth are repeated. I will get around to removing them later.

XIVTHE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Chapter Subheadings X. Resurrection of Joseph Smith (continued) R, Principle of Resurrection (continued) 26. Resurrection of Apostle John W. Taylor 27. Resurrection of Louis A. Kelsch, Senior 28. Lillie May Allred's Testimony of the Resurrection S. Summary of Evidence of Resurrection of Joseph Smith T. Spiritual Evidence Supersedes All Contrary-Physical Arguments Journal Notes chart of particulars Index Page 333 333 333 333 334 334 336 338 340

THE 1886 VISITATIONS OF IESUS CHRIST AND JOSEPH SMITH TO JOHN TAYLOR, THE CENTERVILLE MEETINGS

CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW

In order to adequately understand, appreciate, and apply all the principles resented by precept or by example in these volumes, it is essential to first [carefully and prayerfully read, study, digest, and apply the contents of this first1 [chapter. ____________________] ception of The Prophet Joseph Smith: In 1820, Christendom, at large, knew nothing of the extremely important "visitations of God the Father and Jesus Chnst to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Once the Christian world began learning of these divine events, they generally rejected any testimonies of it. Why? They were too steeped and confined in their own conception of sacred history and doctrine. Yet within their conceived picture of theology, there were important clues pointing to God's marvelous work and \\ondcr of the latter days. Christ had said that, "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which Icadeth unto life, and few there he that find it.'' [Matt 7 14. Emphases, mine.] The few who find the way arc those who rccogni/c the Holy Spirit which ipnfirms the truth of the heavenly pattern fulfilled on earth in these last days, ncerning the few who may find the only safe path, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." [John 10:27] t

In Latter Day revelation, the Lord has explained that the Holy Spirit is His Voice: **'- "My voice is Spirit, my Spirit is truth; tmlh abideth and hath no end; and if it ^ ... be in you il shall abound." [D&C 88:66j i '•'• The Savior's sheep in Christendom who accepted the restoration through Joseph Smith did so because they were familiar with the Spirit of the Lord, which is His voice. They were attracted to the Voice of His Spirit because they had, for a long time hungered and sought righteousness in their lives The more they jjyjfcperienccd the joy of the Spirit which was sweet above all that is sweet |Alma

THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST 32:42], and that filled their souls with peace and satisfaction, the more of it they wanted. Like attracts like. Spirit cleaves to Spirit. Mercy loves Mercy, and so forth. [D&C 88:40] When they were introduced to the testimonies of Joseph Smith and prayed about it, they again recognized the familiar deep warmth of the Holy Ghost which accompanied and verified these holy testimonies. The Voice of the Lord, which is the Spirit of God which they were familiar with, told them that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon, the Restoration of Christ's true Church, and the correct Plan of Salvation, all of which were revealed by God through the Prophet Joseph Smith, were indeed true. Their hearts were filled with exquisite fire, some more, some less, giving them an undeniable assurance of the goodness, the divinity, and the truthfulness of these things. They KNEW it. Whether or not they had thought of the promise in the Book of James, they had put it to the test, just as Joseph Smith had done: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." [James 1:5] Similarly, the Latter Day missionaries of the restored Church urge everyone to try the promise contained in the Book of Mormon: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are nol true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unlo you. by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know Ihe truth of all things " [Moroni 10.4-5] Some investigators, especially those who are honest and who are familiar with the workings of the Holy Ghost, have put this challenge to the test and have learned that the Book of Mormon is true. Others, through prejudice, may not seriously try. Perhaps for many of them, their 'ground" is shallow.1 Maybe they are not of the Lord's sheep who know His voice. Still others begin to taste of the Spirit but then withdraw their efforts as their sectarian leaders and their relatives and friends try to persuade them to look no further and to reject what they are beginning to grasp.:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: In the early 1800s, the Lord Jesus Christ restored His Church, never again to be taken from the earth. That Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There is no other church among us that the Lord regards as His own All other church claims among us are mistaken and do not have the divine 1 Alma 32:39: See Christ's parable of the Sower and the Seed, Mull. 13:3-8, 18-23. ; For a deeper and more extensive discussion of this vital doctrine of KNOWING THE TRUTH BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD, see Criterion For Truth, The Holy Spirit, and also. The Infallible Key to Survival, both by the Aulhor.

OVERVIEW 3

authority to organize as churches of Jesus Christ. Multitudes of saints have learned and know by the Holy Spirit that these things are true The Marvelous Work and Wonder: There is no doubt that in the vast missionary system of the LDS Church, the Holy Spirit is confirming the truth of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration to myriads of investigators throughout the world in our day. It should be plain to all who love righteousness that the Church and its leaders and general membership are engaged in a wonderful program. The Spirit backs up much of the encouragement that is continually given to the Saints at Conference time and at other times- The hymns of the righteous are as prayers to God and shall be answered with blessings from above. [D&C 25:12] All these good things are part of the Marvelous Work and Wonder of the latter days. But there is more. Just as Christendom, in general, are not familiar with the Lord's Marvelous Wonder of the restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith, so also is Mormondom, in general, not familiar with the Lord's ADDITIONAL Marvelous Works and Wonders among some of His Prophets and Saints in these last days. One of the most outstanding, yet little known, occurrences of God's work since the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith is the visitation of the Savior and the resurrected Joseph Smith to President John Taylor at Centcrville, in 1886. So far-reaching is this event, that it is the subject of this entire book. Many other books could also be written upon the same subject, for the ramifications are immense.

Just as Christendom, in general has not encountered the details of the marvelous works of the Latter days, such as Ihe First Vision of Joseph Smith, so also has Mormondom. generally not heard of the 1886 vision and visitations to John Taylor in Cenlerville. Unfortunately, a good portion of those, both in Christendom and Mormondom, who have encountered the greater light, have rejected it. The renouncers in Christendom have rejected the Latter Day restoration through Joseph Smith, while those of Mormodom have rejected the revelations and visitations to John Taylor. hi both cases, it is either because they have not had enough Spirit to recognize the Lord's great and valuable works, or it has been due to worries, concerns, and pressures from others which have dampened the Spirit with which they began their searches. But in both cases, the portion of God's words they had previously accepted, contain clues to the truth of the new revelations which are either unknown or unaccepted by them. In both cases, the additional truths could have been known BY THE HOLY SPIRIT through much honest fasting and prayer. In both cases, it is likely that much truth had previously been accepted and known BY THE SPIRIT to be true In both cases, those who were truly the Lord's sheep could learn the truth of more of His Word, by consistently following the same Spirit, for His sheep know His voice, THE HOLY SPIRIT, and they will not follow a stranger.

4 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST The Voice of the Spirit Confirms All Truth: I, as well as multitudes of other Mormons, have had the poignant experience as missionaries of pleading and urging our fellow Christians to please look, study, and pray sincerely, and unbiasedly about the truth of the Book of Mormon and the Restored Church. How joyfiil it is when an investigator honestly and humbly takes up the challenge. But oh how painful and sorrowful it is when they do not. It is especially sad when good people who love spiritual things and righteousness begin to look but then turn aside because of the persuasions of others To all who have felt these disappointments, I now encourage you to do as you desired with all your heart that others would do: When you receive these things about the Visitations to John Taylor and the Meetings in Centerville, continue with your investigation and prayer regarding these things, and by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know that these things are true and are part of the Lord's Marvelous Work and a Wonder of the last dispensation. It is such an encouragement to know that by Ihe power of the Holy Ghost one may KNOW the truth of ALL things. The sincere student who hungers for righteousness and all true principles needn't fear. He needn't, shouldn't, and wouldn't set aside his search for TRUTH just because he had already- learned some TRUTHS by the Holy Spirit. He would continue, reali/ing that he could KNOW the truth of ALL things by the power of the HOLY GHOST. [Moroni 10;5J Sadly, there arc many who, after successfully putting Moroni's challenge to the lest while learning the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the identity of the true Church of Jesus Christ, have set aside this vital and eternal principle and have adopted another idea in its place, 'Follow the living prophet' The Lord has strictly warned against this. He has said that one of the purposes of all His revelations in these last days is that we should NOT lean on the arm of any mortal but that ALL might speak in the name of the Lord. Each person can know the truth by PERSONAL REVELATION. The Lord explained all these things in His preface to the Doctrine and Covenants: "Hearken, O ye people of my Church, saith Ihe voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye lhat are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. For verily Ihe VOICE OF THE LORD IS UNTO ALL MEN, and there is none lo escape; and the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow . .And Ihe VOICE OF WARNING SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE Wherefore, 1 the l.ord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jim., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments . . . that MAN SHOULD NOT COUNSEL HIS FELLOW MAN, NEITHER TRUST IN THE ARM OF FLESH BUT THAT EVERY MAN MIGHT SPEAK IN THE NAME OF GOD THE LORD, even the Savior of the world; that faith also might increase in the earth; that mine everlasting covenant might be established. ..." [D&C 1:1-2,4,17,19-22 Emphases, mine.] Smith emphasized the same principles: Joseph Smith: "Visited with a brother and sisler from Michigan, who thought that 'a prophet is always a prophet", but I told them that a PROPHET WAS A PROPHET ONLY WHEN HE WAS ACTING AS SUCH [HC 5 265. ;- Emphases, mine.] Joseph Smith: "If anything should have been suggested by us, or any names mentioned, except by commandment, or thus saith the Lord, we do not consider It binding." [HC 3:295. Emphases, mine.) "President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel —said the people should EACH ONE STAND FOR HIMSELF, AND DEPEND ON NO MAN OR MEN that RIGHTEOUS PERSONS COULD ONLY DELIVER THEIR OWN SOULS ... said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall S( —that they were DEPENDING ON THE PROPHET, HENCE WERE DARKENED IN THEIR MINDS [HC 5 19. Emphases, mine.]

liam Young testified lo the same doctrine: Brigham Young: "How easy it would be for your leaders to lead you to *;;* destruction, unless you actually know the mind and will of the SPIRIT "'"yourselves. That is your privilege " [Journal of Discourses 4 368. Emphases, mine.]

-. Brigham Young: "I am more afraid that thiis people have so much confidence ;. in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led t by Him. I am tearlul they settle down in a state of self security, trusting their eternal »destiny in the hands of their leaders with a RECKLESS CONFIDENCE that in. j.ilself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence •they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves by the revelations of ft.--Jesus, thai they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman KNOW, BY THE WHISPERING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD to themselves, whether their •Headers are walking in the path the Lord dktates or not" [Journal of Discourses 9:150. Emphases, mine.]

Brigham Young: "Do you know why some men give counsel different one from another? Because they undertake to give counsel without the Spirit of the Lord to dictate them Hut when the Spirit dictates, then each one knows what to I j . do, and their counsel will be the same Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, all the Patriarchs •r, and Prophets. Jesus and the Apostles, and every man that has ever written the word ; _ of the Lord, have written the same doctrine upon the same subject, and you never ... Can find that Prophets and Apostles clashed in their doctrines in ancient days. JNeither will they now, if all would at all times foe led by the SPIRIT OF fc,,-, SALVATION." [Journal of Discourses 5:329. Emphases, mine.]

Brigham Young: "How often has it been taught that if you depend entirely upon the voice, judgment, and sagacity of those appointed to lead you, and

6 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST neglect to enjoy (he SPIRIT FOR YOURSELVES, how easily you may be ted into error, and finally he cast off to the left hand?" [Journat of Discourses % 59. Emphases, mine.]

Brigham Young: "Now those men or women why know no more about the powers of God and the influences of the Holy Spirit than to be led entirely by anolher person, suspending their own understanding and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, wiM never be capable of entering into the celestial glory to he crowned as they anticipate. Thev noer will be capable of becoming Gods ] Journal of Discourses 1312. Emphases, mine.]

Brigham Young: "Let every man and woman KNOW, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates or not 'Ihis has been my exhortation continually." [Journal of Discourses 9.150. Emphases, mine.]

George Q. Cannon concurred. In 1867, he sounded the following warning: George Q. Cannon: "If we, in our experience, have not yet proved the truth of the words of the prophet —'Cursed is he that trusteth in man, or maketh llesh his arm' —probably we will do if we live long enough. There is a curse attending every man and woman who does this. If \\ewill watch the operations of (he gospel of Jesus Chris! among us, we will see that it has a tendency lo develop knowledge in the bosoms of all audit is the design of Providence that il should be so. We must all learn to depend upon God and upon Him ALONE Why, the very man upon whom we think we can rely with unbounded confidence, and trust with all we possess, may disappoint us sometimes, but trust in God and He never fail* We can go before Him at all limes, und upon all occasions, and pour out our souls and desires before Hun, and we feel that we lean upon a rock that will not fail, and upon a thend that will not desert us in the day of trial. I ie is omnipotent, and in Him only can we trust under all circumstances, therefore we perceive why the prophel has said —'Cursed is he that tru^eth in man. or maketh flesh his arm.' " \Journal of Discourses 12:45-46 Emphases, mine.]

Perhaps it is significant that a similar but more specific warning made by George Q. Cannon was published in 1891, one year after the Manifesto; George Q. Cannon: DO NOT, BRETHREN. PUT YOUR TRUST IN MAN though he be a Bishop, an Apostle, or a PRESIDENT, if you do they will fail you at some time or place, they w ill do wrong, or sixm lo, and your support is gone; hut if we lean on God, He will never fail us When men and women depend on God alone, and trust in Him alone, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside " [Millennial Star 53:673-4. Emphases, mine.j

How can a person ever hope to become as God if he cannot or does not get revelation to himself continually, thereby growing in perfection?3 Moses received profound revelations from the Lord as he talked with Him face to face, but he did not think he had received enough. His spiritual appetite was only wetted for more. He said. Moses: "I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him.' |Moses 1:18] : In order to demonstrate that (he Bible is not the only word of God, LDS . missionaries often refer to the Book of Mormon passages'1 in which the Lord : .slates that He speaks to the inhabitants of all nations, and that the testimonies and records of one nation confirm the testimonies of God from another nation. Perhaps ..some miss or lose sight of the message implied here, that God does not restrict ,,His revelations to just one man, but that ALL may receive revelation and that ,we should not set aside this opportunity simply because we have learned some ,things and think we may then abandon the principle of personal revelation and blindly follow the sayings of another man. The reference referred to here is as .follows. We have purposely emphasised portions of il which are more or less overlooked by some: "Know yc not that there are more nations than one'' Know ye not that I. the your God, have created ALL men, and that I remember those who are upon the :> of the sea; and that 1 rule in the heavens above and in the earth heneaih, and I ring forth MY WORD unto the children of men, yea, even UPON ALL the ations of the earth'' Wherefore murmur ye, because that yc shall receive MORE of my word: w ye nol that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that 1 am God, ,af [remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the SAME words to one nation like unto anolher And when the two nations shall run together the stimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that! may prove unto many that I am the SAME YESTERDAY, ijjTODAY, AND FOREVER; and that 1 speak forth my words according to mine tmn pleasure And because thai I have spoken one word ye need not suppose .hat I eannot speak another, for my work is not yet finished; neither shall il be 'junlil the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. . . For I command ALL men. both in the east and in the west, and in the noith, %id in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which •3 speak unto them; for out of the books which shall he written 1 will judge the world, •ery man according to their works, according to that which is written

For additional discussion on the crucial necessity of'personal revelation* and its distinction from the dire consequences of 'blind obedience,' see pp. 105-107 ' 2 Nephi 29:1-14.

8 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST

For behold, 1 shall speak unto the Jew sand they shall \vrilc it, and 1 shall also speak unto the Nephite^ and they shall u rite il; and I shall also speak unio the oiher tnbesofthehouseof Israel, whieh I have led away, and (hey shall \\riteit, and I shall also speak unlu ALL nations of the earth and [hey shall write it." [2 Nephi 29:7-9, 11 -12. Emphases, mine.) Essence and Properties of The Spirit: Why arc spiritual experiences so important? It is because the Spirit gues life lo all things It quickens all tilings literally. both in outwardly obscn ed motion and in inward intelligence. It is only by the Spirit that we can truly know the truth of anything, particularly the truth of spiritual things not discerned or observed by mortal eyes. The Spirit is a real essence, an actual substance and energy that emanates from the \ cry throne of God and fills the universe. This most wonderful Spirit literally strives with ali mankind to encourage righteousness. When we obey its "voice" and promptings, then more of it permeates literally into our whole being, but its center resides in the bosom. Thus, a great concentration of il is literally experienced as a peaceful and happy burning in the bosom.

Since this light comes only from God, then neither Satan, nor Satan's angels, nor any of his followers can have this light. There is a diametric opposition between this lighl and unrighteousness. Therefore. Satan docs not have this light logive. He may perform "special effects," fireworks and outward imitations of it. but it will be lacking the peaceful warmth, pure certainty, and righteous compassion and happiness that accompanies God"s Spirit. Joseph Smith, after his death, came lo Bngham Young and explained these things lo him m response to a question. Bngham Young wanted to know what would be the most important thing he could lell the sainls. Joseph replied lhal ihey should obtain and keep the Spirit and that one IS able to distinguish between the true Spirit of the Lord and Satan's counlerfeits Therefore, this is ihe most basic and important principle a person can apply Without the Spirit, we have no direction from God. We arc as a ship without a rudder. Joseph said. Joseph Smith: "Tell ihc sainls to get the Spirit of God and keep it. You CAN tell it from all other spirits It vviil give peace and joy to the heart and mind " \Juvenile Instructor, 8:114. Emphases, mine.) This is such a simple principle and yet it is the means of ultimately ha\ing perfect joy and intelligence. All through the scriptures, the Lord explains the same thing. He savs lhal this Spirit is His voice (D&C 88:66) and thai if a person will yield to its messages and have an eye single to the glory of God, then he \\ill receive more and more light till his whole body is full of light without any darkness a! all, and then he will be fult of the knowledge and understanding of all things. The Lord lold Oliver Cowdery that this was the Spirit that he, Oliver Cowdery, felt when the Lord first revealed to him that the work through Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon was true. This w as before Oliver had met Joseph. ie Lord said, "Did I not speak peace to your heart'' What greater witness can you have than from God? " (D&C 6:23. Emphases, mine.|

It does not appear that Oliver Covvdery at this time saw a vision or an angel, but simply felt and knew the truth by the Spirit Certainly, there is no greater witness of truth than the pure Spirit of God. It matters not whether a voice is also heard at (he same time or whether or not an angel appears to deliver the message. The essential and common thread is the Spirit of God itself The addition of the appearance of an angel to accompany the Spirit docs not make the experience more true or more convincing Without the Spirit, an angel's message would be dead, a sure sign that the angel was not sent from God. The Lord even told Oliver Cowdery that this Spirit which witnesses the truth to a person and which is discerned literally both in the mind and in the heart is called the Spirit of Revelation and is the same power that Moses used in leading the children of Israel across the Red Sea. [D&C 8:2-3] The power of I God that directed Moses was simply and purely an abundance of the Holy Spirit! Only One Spirit or Power from God: Therefore, there is only one Spirit of God But this Spirit may be present in different degrees of concentration. It was once revealed to me when 1 was fasting for se\eral days in the summer of 1965. that the personage of The Holy Ghost is simply a perfected and sanctified individual who is filled with a perfect concentration of this samg Spirit. This is the reason that the characteristics of the Spirit in scriptural accounts are identical to descriptions of the properties of having the Holy Ghost. The gift of the Holy Ghost is simply a special privilege given of God by the laving on of hands by those holding the priesthood. The recipient of this gift may then receive visits from the perfect individual called the Holy Ghost who is so compiclcly filled with this same Spiri). that His entire being is radiant in flames of heavenly fire.

Furthermore, the power of the priesthood is also the Spirit This same Spirit is employed by the authority of Jesus Christ and in His name. At the lime these things were repealed tome by the Spirit, this Spirit burned in my heart and remained with me for days as it re\ ealcd many things lo my mind and soul. 1 felt 1 was on fire through this period oftimc \\hich lasted several days. To my mind Was brought the remembrance of many other times during my life when I had felt this same Spirit: all during my childhood and especially during the times of my bedtime stories and while listening to the Spiritual testimonies of my km, my Grandfather, and returned missionaries and other inspired speakers in Church and in special cottage meetings, and in family song and prayer, and in family hour.

The Spirit is Unbound by Time or Distance: One of the marvelous features of the Spirit of the Lord is that it opens a channel of communication which is unbounded by time or space so that the recipient knows that what is revealed is indeed true even if he is not actualK present in the immediate vicinity or also present in the actual time that the revealed event initially occurred. But, because the revelation is not given or received by the physical senses, the recipient must exercise faith beyond his mortal faculties Faith is action based upon spiritual experience or knowledge We are accountable for everything revealed to us by the Spirit because this knowledge is more certain than any knowledge that is given by physical means alone.

Let us then prepare our hearts and minds to continually seek the Lord for personal revelation and to know by personal revelation from Him the truth of all His words and doings among all men. Light Cleaves to Light: The most important revelation to burst upon the Earth since the atonement, resurrection, and witness of Jesus Christ to His disciples, both in America and in Palestine in the Meridian of lime, was the appearance of bolh the Father and the Son to the boy Joseph Smith in the Spring of 1820. Light was attracted to Light. First, while studying the scriptures, seeking an answer from God, Joseph Smith was greatly impressed by the Spirit that the key to unlocking the door to the knowledge he sought was inscribed in the book of James, chapter 1. verse 5 "It" any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, thai givcth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be gi\en him [.lames 1:5] Joseph Smith described the effect of this bright light upon himself as follows Joseph Smith: "Never did any passage of scripture come v. ilh more power to the heart of man than this did at (his time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God. I did: for how to act I did not know, and unless 1 could get more wisdom than 1 then had. 1 would never know: tor the teaehers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible \PearlofGreatPrice Joseph Smith 2 12. Emphasis, mine.)

Joseph, obeying this added light and warmth in his heart, sought a private spot in the woods behind his house. He knelt and humbly poured out his petition in prayer to God. Though Satan, seeing this light, tried to extinguish it, attempting to destroy him. these forces of darkness were thwarted by the power of God. for this light had also been observed from the heavens. In response to Joseph's continued pleadings for deliverance, a pillar of bright light suddenly shown down upon him directly above his head. The burning light in his bosom was immediately magnified white the powers of evil were dispersed: Joseph Smith: "But exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out f^ofthe power of the enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair . . .just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar ifc;, of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended i] gradually until it tell upon me. it no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held i... .me hound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness * and glon defy all description, standing above me in the air One of them spake ' unto me. calling me by name and said, pointing to the other —This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" \Ibid. Verses 16-17 Emphases, mine.]

Light cleaved to Light, Joseph Smith's prayers were answered, and a (lame "understanding and direction was kindled in his heart and mind which ultimately resulted in the restoration of the fulness of the gospel and priesthood from the Father of Lights, for as Joseph earnestly continued to humbly seek the Lord, revelation upon revelation was divulged to him from above. Light was attracted to Light as angels brought their Keys of authority and knowledge to him —Moroni with the Book of Mormon: John the Baptist with the Aaronic Priesthood; Peter, James, and John with the Apostleship; and Moses, Elias. Elijah, and the Savior in the Kirtland Temple. Diligence and obedience to God's continued instructions and commandments fanned the flames of truth and Spirit within the Prophet's soul.

From the beginning of these revelations, thousands have likewise prayed most sincerely and have learned that these heavenly gifts were truly of God. They are the true sheep of His fold. They recognized His voice which is the voice of the Spirit [D&C 88:66], This Light attracted the Light from above. Their bosoms were saturated with this power Their hearts burned within them as the truths of these things were confirmed with an undeniable certainty.

CHAPTER 2 THE VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST AND JOSEPH SMITH TO JOHN TAYLOR

The principles of Light and Truth are eternal. In September of 1886, Uvo thirds of a century after Joseph Smith's First Vision, two heavenly beings were again sent to the Lord's Anointed upon the Earth. This time, the Lord's Anointed was John Taylor. The divine visitors were the Savior Jesus Christ and the Prophet Joseph Smith Again, Light was attracted to Light. They came in response to the humble importuning of John Taylor The occasion for this critical juncture was a crisis of solemn proportions. President John Taylor's administration was greatly burdened with severe persecution from the concerted efforts of both governmental and nongovernmental forces which were determined to wipe out the practice of Plural Marriage. Of all the vital principles that had been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the most important one, circumscribing all other divine principles, was now being threatened w ilh extinction —the principle of Celestial Marriage. Of Joseph Smith's testimony to this respect, his faithful scribe. William Clavton. recorded: William Cluyton: "1-rom him (Joseph Smith) I learned that the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on the earth and without obedience to that principle no man can ever attain to the celestial glory " [HistoricalRecord6.226. Emphases, mine.] From the days of Joseph Smith to the administration of John Taylor. almost all the leading LDS authorities had testified that Plural Marriage was synonymous President John Taylor with Celestial Marriage.5 To these and many other true and faithful Latter Day Saints, the definition of Celestial Mamage was, "Divinely Established Plural Marriage,' the ONLY mamage in Celestial Glory, the ONLY marriage practiced by the Gods. These saints were in full harmony with the Lord's explanations of Plural Marriage as recorded in D&C 132, wherein the Lord explains that Plural Marriage is NECESSARY5 for exaltation and is the Law of the Priesthood,5 and that no man can obtain the blessings of Abraham (eternal posterity) unless he obeys the Law of Abraham, the Law of the Priesthood, Plural Marriage.5 The Lord instructed that it is in this respect that his servants Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon, and ancient prophets were justified, and indeed commanded by the Lord to practice Plural Marriage/' There is absolutely no justification for twisting the revelation [D&C 132] to refer to both Plural Marriage and to eternal marriage without a Plurality The question asked of the Lord by the Prophet Joseph Smith was "what was the Lord's justification for Plural Marriage as practiced by His servants in former times1'' The Lord then explained that what He was going to answer must be obeyed by those to whom He was revealing it, and that it is a Law of the Priesthood. The entire revelation is exclusively the Lord's answer —Plural Marriage, and nothing but Plural Marriage, is the subject of the entire revelation.'

Joseph Smith practiced this principle and died for it. John Taylor also practiced this holy principle and died for it. Brigham Young foretold this martyrdom of John Taylor: Lorin C. Woollcy: "In the early fifties, Brigham Young said substantially as Hows: After me will come a man to lead the people who will die a martyr. He ohn Taylor) will give his life for the same principle that Joseph Smith did; and his tune men will he raised up who will offer their lives for the same principle they will become martyrs though they may live to see the second coming of Christ." [Items From The Book Of Remembrance of Joseph Wh'Oe Musser, p.21] John Taylor suffered worse than death in Carthage jail and ultimately Fered a premature death in exile, a martyrdom caused by the enemies of all that is holy and good." John Taylor had given his all for the restored gospel. He loved the Lord and His Prophet Joseph Smith with all his heart. Indeed, he had laid all things on the altar, even his life. He had mingled his blood with the Prophets Joseph and Hymm at Carthage. He had testified that God would never stop the practice of Plural Marriage: 5 See Chapter 3. For a deeper discussion of these doctrines from D&C 132, see Chapter 3 Also, see ttieMay, 1995 issue of How To Be A Prophet. See Chapter 3. 8 See pp.50, 225. See also, April 1995 issue of How To Be A Prophet, pp $5-86.

John Tayior: "One sure thing is that we will NOT surrender polygamy." \DeseretNews, Nov. 12, 1880. Emphases, mine.] Further, John Tayior said that though almost all Mormons were shot or imprisoned, there would still be some left to continue keeping Plural Marriage alive: John Tayior: "there will always he somebody left to carry on the work." [Deseret News, Feb. 25, 188S. Emphases, mine.] For many years, there had been much persecution and efforts by the government and non-Mormons against the practice of Plural Marriage. Efforts to stop it came to a high pilch during the administration of John Tayior. Since the practice of plural marriage was necessary for a fulness of Celestial blessings. it would never be stopped by the Lord. As the prophets have testified, all God's servants in every dispensation have obeyed it.9 Therefore, the Lord at this time would provide for its continuance regardless of the efforts of any nation, house or people to destroy it. In Light of these indelible testimonies and experiences engraved and etched forever in the memory of his soul. John Tayior, in 1886, was greatly pressured. not only by the Government but also by many of the saints which even included a good number of the leading men in Mormondom to give up the practice of Plural Marriage. He could not and would not relent. He had already been forced into exile rather than to experience a repeat of Carthage. He insisted on being free to govern over Israel from a safe location rather than lo be shackled in his administration by chains and fetters in prison.

John Tayior was absolutely immovable from the cause of God. With the same kind of pressures that would bear down upon his successor, Wilford Woodruff, John Tayior utterly refused to compromise. He knew from experience how to obtain the mind and will of God on any subject. He earnestly sought the Lord in prayer and was answered. As the Lord's Anointed on earth, he bowed in humility before the Lord and offered up the signs of the priesthood Being filled with the Holy Spirit, his solemn petition was answered as two personages filled with bright light descended from heaven and stood before him in his bedroom The two heavenly beings were the Savior Jesus Christ and the Prophet Joseph Smith. This most wonderful and momentous even! occurred in September of 1886 The place of exile was the home of John W. Woolley in Centerville. At this time John Tayior received a most uncompromising answer and commandment: God thru John Tayior (1886): "My Son John You have asked me concerning the New and Iwerlasting Covenant, and how far il is binding upon my 9 See p.45 for Brigham Young testimony to this effect. people, THUS SAITH THE LORD: ALL commandments that I give MUST BE OBEYED by those calling themselves by my name, unless they are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant; for I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated, nor done away with, but they stand forever. I lave I not given my word in great plainness on this subject? Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my laws and the keeping of my commandments, and yet have 1 borne with them these many years; and this because of their weakness, because of the perilous times, and furthermore, it is more pleasing to me that men should use their free agency in regards to these matters. Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not. And as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph: All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law. And have 1 not commanded men that if they were Abraham's seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham? I have not revoked this law, NOR WILL I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory MUST obey the conditions thereof; Even so, Amen." [Truth 14:148, Sept. 26-27. Emphases,

The Savior Jesus Christ and the resurrected Prophet Joseph Smith in this divine session which lasted several hours, revealed much to John Tayior. The Savior discussed these vital matters for a number of hours till midnight. Joseph Smith continued the conversation and instructions until daybreak. John Tayior was commanded to make no concessions on Plural Marriage and was shown that contrary lo (his divine edict, the saints in general would not only reject the practice ofthis principle bul would change and discard many other eternal and necessary ordinances of salvation. This would ultimately require the return of the Prophet Joseph Smith lo set the House of God in Order just prior lo ihe days of tribulation thai would sweep the wicked from the earth in preparation for the Second Coming of ihe Lord Jesus Christ. Immediately following these heavenly visitations. John Tayior mcl with more than a do/en 'undcrgrounders' for eight hours explaining and testifying of the marvclous and vital revelations and commandments he had jusl received. In order to assure the opportunity of exaltation for those who hungered and thirsted for receiving and obeying all God's commandments. John Tayior was told to fill up the presidency of a Priesthood Council which, like the Political Kingdom of God organization wilh its Grand Council of Fifty, was completely separate and distinct from the Church,10 The Presiding quorum ofthis high Priesthood Council consists of seven men when it is complete. This priesthood quorum is part of and the presidency of a larger body of 70 men referred to as The Council of Friends.

See Volume Two of this series, for a more extensive discussion of these three divisions of the House of God which comprise this high Council of Priesthood called I he Council of Friends, also the Political Kingdom of God. and finally, The Church.

John Taylor was told by the Lord to give authority and direction to call others into this Council to keep Plural Marriage alive and to place in motion the divine mechanism and means whereby this Holy Order would be perpetuated till the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Accordingly, and immediately after the eight hour meeting, five men were called in to a private session in which they were tangibly, by handclasps, introduced to the Prophet Joseph Smith and ordained as Apostles of Jesus Chrisl and given specific commandments and instructions to keep Plural Marriage alive These men were John W. Woolley, Lorin C. Woolley. George Q. Cannon, Samuel Bateman, and Charles Wilcken. Ultimately, this quorum of priesthood included Joseph F. Smith after his return from Hawaii. Previous to this 1886 event, this quorum, Ihe presidency of The Council of Friends, consisted only of John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, the former members having died.

So great was the presence and power of God in the eight hour meeting of 1886, and so profoundly was John Taylor endowed was the Holy Ghost at this time, that he was frequently elevated several inches above the floor as he powerfully testified of these essential things. An apex and crescendo of this highK and most rare and holy phenomenon was when John Taylor, while holding forth a document similar to the Manifesto that would ultimately be signed by his successor, Wilford Woodruff, testified that it was from hell and that rather than sign it he would suffer his arm to be torn from its socket and his tongue from his mouth. So pronounced was the Spirit of the Lord, that John Taylor's face and countenance shown bright like the sun, and it was difficult for his faithful followers to look upon him.

The earliest known written account of these significant events, is a statement in affidavit form made by Lorin C. Woolley, dated October 6, 1912, and filed in the Church Historian's Office: "STATEMENT OF FACTS" [1912 AFFIDAVIT OF LORIN C. WOOLLEY] "In the latter part of September, 1886, the exact dale being not now known to me,President John Taylor was slaying af (he home of my father, John W. Woolley, in Cenlerville, Davis County, Utah.

At the particular time herein referred to, President Taylor was in hiding (on the under-ground). Charles II. Bearrell and I were the "guardsmen" on walch for the protection of the President. Two were usually selected each night,and they took turns standing guard to protect the President from trespass or approaching danger. Exceptional activity was exercised by the U.S. Federal Officers in their prosecutions of the Mormon people on account of their family relations in supposed violations ol the Federal Laws.

Soon after our watch began, Charles R Bearrell reclined on a pallet and went to sleep. President Taylor had entered the south room to retire for the night. There was no door-way entrance to the room occupied by President Taylor, excepl the entrance from the room occupied by the guardsmen. Soon after nine o'clock, I heard . the voice of another man engaged in conversation with President Taylor, and I observed thai a very brilliant light was illuminating the room occupied by the President. I wakened Bearrell and told him what I had heard and seen, and we both remained awake and on watch the balance of Ihe night. The conversation was carried on all night between President Taylor and the visitor, and never discontinued until the day began to dawn -when it ceased and the light disappeared. We heard the , voices in conversation while the conference continued and we saw the light. • My father came into the room where we were on walch, and was there when President Taylor came into the room that morning. As Ihe President entered the room, he remarked, "I had a very pleasant conversation all night with the Prophet Joseph " At the time President Taylor entered the room his countenance was very bright and could be seen for several hours after. After observing that some one was in conversation with the President, I went out and examined all of the windows and found them fastened as usual.

The brethren were considerably agitated about this time over the agitation about Plural Marriage, and some were insisting that the Church issue some kind of edict to be used in Congress concerning the surrendering of Plural Marriage, and that if some policy was not adopted to relieve the strain the government would force the Church to surrender. Much was said in their deliberations for and against some edict or manifesto that had been prepared, and at a meeting that afternoon, at which a number there were present and myself, I heard President Taylor say, "Brethren, I will suffer my right hand to be cut off before I will sign such a document." I, Lorin C. Woolley of CenlerviHe, Utah, do hereby certify, that I have carefully made and read the tbregoing statement of facts and the same is true lo the best of my knowledge. Daled this 6th day of October, 1912. [signed] Lorin C. Wootiey" Other accounts were written later. For some background on this, we quote he following: Charles W. Kingston: "Now, this part we've been discussing is a very small part of it, beeause when I heard the story of the Eight-hour Meeting in Centervillc, Utah, at the home of John W. Woolley, I knew that was one of the most wonderful things that had happened in the Church since the days of Joseph Smith. So I went to Brother Lorin Wcx.ille\ and told him that we ought to have a record of that. I asked him if he would write it for me so that I could preserve it for future generations. He said, "No, 1 won't do that, but you write the story as you have heard it from me, then bring it to me and I'll correct it for you." That I tiki and got him to con-eel it for me.A short time later, members of the Council (of Friends) got together and had a stenographer wrile the story, and I have published thai and called il "An Event of the Underground Days.

At first five copies were made of this account that Brother Lorin Woolley gave at this meeting, and these copies were given lo different trusted people if they would bring them back ihe same day. So with considerable difficulty. I finally obtained a copy from an old gentleman by the name of Balde. who came lo my home in Idaho Falls and handed me a copy of mission'which they had made. He said, "Did you ever see this?"! said, "No, but I've been trying lo gel a hold of a copy for the last number of months They wouldn't let me have one." (I wanted this copy because il was more complete lhan the one I wrote that Lorin corrected for me.). . I then asked," Could you lei me give it to my daughter who is a typist, so I can have a copy of it?!.' "Go ahead," he said; "1 have to have it back in Salt Lake by 11:00 pm. tonight, and the train gets to Salt Lake about 10:00 p.m., so I'll be able lo take it back, as I agreed," So I got two copies of it and sent one to Jessie B. Stone with money enough to publish 1,000 copies of "An Event of the Underground Days." There is a detailed story of these wonderful happenings. It's written, so perhaps I won't have to tell it now. It's all there"

Rhea A. Baird: "That's very fine. Others have since published the same account —my father in A Leaf in Review. Francis M. Darter in a pamphlet, and possibly olhers. " {Reminiscences of John W. Woottey and Lorin C. Woolley. Volume 3. pp.2-?, by Rhea Allred Kunz.]

The 1929 signed affidavit of Lorin C. Woolley follows, in which Brother Woolley gives more details lhan were divulged in the 1912 affidavit: VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST AND JOSEPH SMITH TOJOHNTAVLOR AS RELATED BY LORIN C. WOOLLEY Lorin C. Woolley's Affidavit of 1929: "While ihe brethren were al ihe Carlisle residence in May or June of 1886, letters began to come to President John Taylor from such men a-; John Sharp, I lorace Eldredge, William Jennings, John T C'aine, Abraham Hatch, President C luff and many other leading men from all over the Church, asking the leaders lo do something, as the Gentiles were talking of confiscating their property in connection with the property of ihe Church.

These letters not only came from those who were living in the Plural Marriage relation, hut also from prominent men who were presiding in various offices of the Church who were not living in that relation. They all urged that something be dune lo satisfy' the Gentiles, so that their property would not be confiscated.

George Q. Cannon on his own initiative selected a committee comprising himself, I lynim B. Clawson, Kranklin S. Richards, John T. Came, and James Jack to get up a statement or Manifesto ihat would meet the objeetions urged by ihe Brethren above named They met from time to time to discuss the situation. From the White home, where President Taylor and companions stopped, after leaving the Carlisle home, they came oul to Father's. George Q Cannon would go and consult with the brethren of the committee, I taking him back and forth each day On September 26, 1886, George Q. Cannon, Hyrum B. Clawson, Franklin S. Richards, and others met with President John Taylor at my father's residence at Centerville, Davis County, Utah, and presented a document for President Taylor \s consideration I had just got back from a three day's trip, during most of which time I had been in the saddle, and being greatly fatigued, 1 had retired lo rest Between one and two o'clock p. m.. Brother Bateman came and woke me up and asked me to be at my Father's home where a manifesto was lo be discussed. I went there and found there were congregated Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, L. John Nuttall, Charles Birrell, George Q Cannon, Franklin S Richards and Hyrum B. Clawson.

We discussed the proposed manifesto at length, but we were unable to become united in the discussion. Finally George Q. Cannon suggested that President Taylor take the matter up wilh ihe I ,ord and decide the same the next day. Brothers Clawson and Richards were laken back to Salt Lake. That evening I was called lo acl as guard during the first part of the night, notwithstanding the faci that I was greatly fatigued on account of the three days' trip 1 had just completed.

The brethren retired to bed soon after nine o'clock. The sleeping rooms were inspected by the guard as was Ihe cuslom President Taylor's room had no oulside door. The windows were heavily screened. Sometime after the brethren relired and while I was reading ihe Doctrine and Covenants, I was suddenly attracted lo a lighl appearing under the door leading lo President Taylor's room, and was al once slarlled to hear the voices of men talking there. There were three distinct voices I was bewildered because it was my duty to keep people out of thai room and evidently someone had entered without my knowing it. 1 made a hasty examination and found ihe door leading to ihe room bolted as usual. 1 then examined the outside of ihe house and found all ihe window screens intact While examining the last window, and feeling greatly agitated, a voice spoke to me, saying, "Can't you feel the Spirit'7 Why should you worry':'" Al ihis 1 returned lo my posl and continued lo hear Ihe voices in ihe room They were so audible that although I did not see ihe parties 1 could place their positions in ihe room from the sound of ihe voices. The three voices continued until about midnight, when one of them left, and the other two continued. One of ihem I rccognr/ed as President John Taylor'.s voice. I called Charles Birrell and we bolh sal up until eight o'clock the nexl morning.

When John Taylor came out of his room about eight o'clock of the morning of September 27, 1886, we could scarcely look al him on account of the brightness of his personage. He stated, "Brelhren, I have had a very pleasanl conversation all night with brother Joseph." I said, "Boss who is the man that was there until midnight?" He asked, "What do you know about it, Lorin?" I told him all about my experience I ie said, "Brother Lorin, that was your Lord."

By that time we were all filled with the Holy Ghost. President Taylor and those present occupied about three hours up to this time. After placing us under covenant, he placed his ringer on the document, his person rising from the floor about a foot or eighteen inches, and with countenance animated by the Spirit of the Lord, and raising his right hand to the square, he said, "Sign that document; —Never! I would sufTer my nght hand to be severed from rny body first. Sanction it, —Never! I would suffer my tongue to be torn from the roof of my mouth before I would sanction it!" I An earlier publication of Ihis statement (Truth 2.119) says, ". torn from its roots m my mouth..."I After that he talked for about an hour and then sal down and wrote the revelation which was given him by the Lord upon the question of Plural Marriage Then he talked to us for some time, and said, "Some of you will be handled and ostracized and be cast out from the Church by your own brethren because of your faithfulness and integrity to this principle, and some of you may have to surrender your lives because of the same, but woe, woe, unto Ihose who shall bring these troubles upon you." Three of us were handled and ostracized for supporting and sustaining this principle. There are only three left who were at the meeting mentioned — Daniel R. Balcman, George Earle, and mvself. So far as 1 know those of them who have passed away ail stood firm to the covenants entered into from that day to the day of their deaths.

After the meeting referred to. President Taylor had L. John Nuttall write five copies of the revelation. He called five of us together: Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, George Q. Cannon, John W. Woolley, and myself. He (hen set us apart and placed us under covenant that while we lived we would see to it that no year passed by without children being bom in the principle of Plural Marriage. We were given authority to ordain others if necessary to cany this work on, they in turn to he given authority to ordain others when necessary.

President Taylor said that the time would come when many of the Saints would apostatize because of this principle. He said "one-half of this people will apostatize over the principle for which we are now in hiding, yea, and possibly one-half of the other half." He also said the day will come when a document similar lo mat then under consideration would be adopted by the Church, following which "apostasy and whoredom would be rampant in the Church." He said that in the time of the seventh president of mis Church, the Church would go into bondage both temporally and spiritually and in thai day die one Mighty and Strong spoken of in the 85lh section of the Doctrine and Covenants would come.

Among many other things staled by President Taylor on this occasion was this: "1 would be surprised if ten per cent of those who claim to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood will remain true and faithful to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chris! at the 1 time of the seventh President and that (here would be thousands that think they hold | the Priesthood at that time, but would not have it prope22 DANIEL R. BATEMAN CORROBORATES LORIN C. WOOLLEY'S TESTIMONY "I was privileged lo be at the meeting of September 27, 1886, spoken of by Brother Wooliey, I myself acting as one of Ihe guards for the brethren during those exciting times

The proceedings of the meeting, as related by Brother Wooliey, are correct in every detail. I was not present when the five spoken of by Brother Wooliey were set apart for special work, but have on different occasions heard the details of the same /related by both Lorin C. Wooliey and John W. Wooliey, and from all circumstances with which I am familiar, I firmly believe the testimony of these two brethren to be true." Signed — DANIEL R. BATEMAN [Truth 2:120]

When Lorin C. Wooliey and Daniel R Bateman made their signed statements, September 22,1929, three other men witnessed their testimonies and signatures. The testimony of these three was notarized May 4, 1934 STATE OF UTAIL County of Salt Lake SS. "J. Leslie Broadbent, John Y. Barlow and J. W Musser, being each duly sworn, on oath, depose and say, that the above and foregoing four pages, constitute a full, true and correct copy of a signed statement of I.orin C. Wooliey and Daniel R. Bateman, made in their presence, as the statement purports, September 22, 1929.

J LESL1H BROADBHNT JOHN Y. BARLOW J. W. MUSSER Subscribed and sworn lo before me this 4th day of May, 1934 (Seal) ANNA M. HILL, Notary Public of Salt Lake City, Utah [Star of Truth 3:305] In addition to the above affidavits, LeRoy A. Wilson has written the following testimonies which he heard from Daniel R. Bateman. LeRoy A. Wilson: "Daniel Bateman has a good reputation for truthfulness. He has lived a clean, honest life for four-score years Following is the affidavit he gave me 'On September 27, 1886.1 was at a meeting at the home of John Wooliey, at Centerville in Davis County, Utah, as one of the guards of President John Taylor, who was then at the home of Brother Wooliey, on the underground. Others who were present were John Wooliey, Lorin C. Wooliey, President George Q. Cannon, Brother Nuttall, and there were others.

The Manifesto had been prepared tor President Taylor to sign He hat! made it a matter of prayer, and the next morning in addressing himself to the subject, he was lifted off the floor and a halo of light was around his body and he made the statement that he \vould suffer his hand to be severed from his body rather than place his signature to that document, and rather than endorse it he would suffer his tongue lo be torn from its roots m his mouth.

He asked those present if they were willing lo consecrate all that they had to the furtherance of the cau^c of righteousness in case it is requested of them. They responded the)'were. He asked if they"were willing to give up their lives for the truth in Ihe event it was required They answered they were. He then placed them under covenant to uphold and sustain the principles of the Gospel, particularly the principle of the Patriarchal Order of Marriage, from thence on as long as they lived. He said "Some of you will live to be handled for sustaining and upholding this principle for which we are now in hiding. Some of you will live to sec (he time when there will scarcely be a family among the I .aiter-day Saints that will be united on all the principles of the Gospel." I le said the time will come when one-half of the people will apostati/e over the principle of Celestial Mamage, and perhaps one-half of the other half.

He counseled as not to begin our work until told to do so by proper authority iuch of the instruction he was giving we would forget, but that at the proper would come back to us.' Brother Bateman also staled that twelve or fourteen years ago President Joseph F. Smith had counseled him and Lorin C.' Woolley that the time had now come to teach the principles of Patriarchal Mamage to the Latter-da) Saints, and since then they had been doing so. both he and Lorin having been handled by the authorities as a result. He stated that the prediction of President Taylor that all things would be brought back to their memory in the proper time, had literally been fulfilled.

He also told of the very strong impression these instructions had made upon him and bore testimony to the fact that President John Taylor was moved in his remarks by the Spirit of Ihe Lord to such an extent that those in his presence could feel it all through their system. And when he got through talking his body rested back on the floor of the room " [Truth 17 70-71. Emphases, mine.] '

also personally heard Lxsrin C Wooliey relate his testimony. ^Irtoroni Jcssop: " fhat night he |Lorin C Wooliey] told us what the Master Jd to ['resident Taylor when he appeared at John W's home in Centerville. and Resident 1'aylor had predicted. "One half of this Church would apostati/eover principle for which he was then in hiding. \ea and one half of the last half will Also, that later President Joseph F Smith had prophesied that "One half of that .Would go " Lorin made the statement to me later. "The Master had told him lent Taylor): he would do well ii" he could find ten per cent (10%) of the men rly conferred upon them." John Taylor set the five mentioned apart and gave them authority to perform ! marriage ceremonies, and also to set others apart to do the same thing as long as they remained on the earth; and while doing so the Prophet Joseph Smith stood by directing the proceedings. Two of us had not mel the Prophet Joseph Smith in. his mortal life-time, and we — Charles H. Wilkins and myself— were introduced to ; him and shook hands with him." Signed—LOREV C. WOOLLEY

'- [Publisher's Note. The preceding statement of Lorin C. Woolley was given at ft Lake City, Utah, September 22, 1929 At the same time and place, Daniel R. lan, another participant of this meeting, gave the following corroborative nony These accounts arc taken from Truth, Vol.6,pp.134-136.] holding the Melchizedek Priesthood thai would prove true to the cause, and he didn't know whether he could find enough men to fill the vacancies in [he offices of the Church to set it in order n [Testimony of Moroni Jessop, p. 5-6] Joseph Musscr. another close friend and associate of Lorin Woolley, recorded the following details which he heard from Lorin C. Woolley: Lorin C. Woolley: "At the time of the meeting held by Pros. John Taylor, Sept. 27, 1886, during the meeting, singing was first heard by onl\ fo LIT or five of the thirteen present, the last song being heard by all present. A quartette sang, "The Birth of Christ," and a double quartette sang, "The Birth of Joseph Smith" and'"The Seer;" two or three other songs were sung The singing was beautiful President Taylor remarked afler singing ceased, "That is the first time I have heard a heavenly choir' [Itemsfrom The Book of Remembrance, p30] (See Rem'tn iscences of John W. Woolity and Lorin C. Woottey, 3 7 & 8 ) Joseph W. Musser: ''Had a long talk with John T. Clark. Told me of a long conversaUon had with Lorin C. Woolley a few days ago Brother Woolley told him that at the time Pres. John Taylor received his revelation in 1886, at his father's home, and while surrounded with a halo of light, among other things, Pres Taylor said in substance- At the time of the 7th President in the Church, the Church will be in spiritual and financial bondage, and then the Lord mil raise up a deliverer a-, spoken of in the 85th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Brother Woolley heard this statement. It was at this time that Pres faylor plaeed his hands on his (Bro. Woolley's) head and ordained him an apostle and ga\e him a certain mission to perform with relation to Celestial Marriage, the words being dictated by the Prophet Joseph Smith who stood b\ Pres Taylor's side " [Unpublished Journal of Joseph W. Musser, June 14, 1922. My emphases.]

Joseph W. Musser: "Bro. Loren C. Woolley honored us by spending the night at our Yale Ave. home. In answer to a question as to what Pres. Taylor said about the time when the One Mighty and Strong would come. Bro. Woolley said that Pres. Taylor, in referring to it said, (after the Church shall be in financial and spiritual bondage, etc )' Itien the Lord will send the One (Mighty and Strong) whose right it is to set the Church in order in this dispensation " Bro Woolley thinks it is Joseph Smith The Lord will raise up an Indian Prophet, but will -aaid the One Mighty and Strong Pres. Taylor blessed him and said, ' You will \ et live to he great and mighty in the Church and Kingdom of God." The testimony of Bro. Woollen always rings true I love to hear him talk and rehearse the things that happened while he was guarding the brethren " [Unpublished Journal of Joseph W. Musscr, August 13,1922 My emphases.] Lorin C. Woolley: "Instructions to the Five [Who Were Ordained Sept. 27, 1886] 'You will have the weight of the world upon you and one of you will have nd alone ' Joseph Smith laid his hands upon their heads while John faylor set i apart and acted as mouth " \Itemsfrom The Book of Remembrance, p 23] Lorin C. Woolley [Instructions from the Lord, to the Seven which iluded the fKe men chosen by the Lord through John Taylor to keep Plural srriage alive): "Regarding my servants whom 1 have called to this labor, men snail speak evil and do all manner of things against you and those who seek to serve me, but if you continue faithful to the covenants you have made with me, it will be to their shame and to your triumph." [Items from The Book of Remembrance, p. 27] Lorin C. Woolley |August 6,1922): "Pres. Taylor had stated that some of the Saints would be handled and ostraci/ed by their brethren for practicing the principle for which they were then in hiding, and some would go to prison and it may he that some would have to lay down their lives for it. (Pres. Anthon H. Lund told Bro. Higgs it would cost the best blood of some of our people to re-establish that nciple, but it must he done.)" {Itemsfrom The Book of Remembrance, p. 5]

John Taylor [at the 1886 meeting as quoted by Lorin C. Woolley): "Those |io take part in casting vou out and are vicious, their names shall be blotted out pm the Book of Life." [Hems from The Rook ofRemembrance, p 211 Lorin C. WooUey: "At the 1886 meeting John faylcr said: "Kings and queens the rulers of the earth will pay tribute to some of you and some of your iates ' [Itemsfrom The Book of Remembrance, p .21 ] Rhea A. Kuiu [commenting on the above statement, refers lo things she rd from Lorin Woolley]; "Both John W. Woolley and Lorin C. Woolley knew |mgs, queens, and rulers '" [Reminiscences of John W, Woolley and Lorin C. •Uey. 5:38] Joseph W. Musser [Aug. 7,1922); "Bro. W [Lonn C Woolley 1 made a vow lithe above meeting (Sept. 27, 1886) that there would never be a year pass that iildrcn would not be born in that principle and he and his father John W Woolley, ; ordained to this special work, with others, by John faylor, the Prophet Joseph ng also present and directing." [Itemsfrom The Book of Remembrance, p. 6]

ii Jessop spoke of a number of small, private gatherings in which Lorin C. Woolley related dclails of the 1886 meeting and of many other e\enls of the underground" period of Mormon history. In one of Uiese meetings, Daniel i was also present and added his testimony lo the testimony of Lorin C. Moroni Jessop: "In one of these meetings Professor Josiah Hickman from Ogan came to learn about some facts What he wanted to know was in connection h what took place in 1886. That meeting lasted for several hours Jt was a long Professor Hickman was greatly surprised when told of what took place in that year At the conclusion of the interview he asked Lorin for permission to reveal certain things which look place in September, 1886, at Ihe eight hour meeting. Lonn forbade him to reveal them in full, bul there were some things he was told he could tell. In this meeting Dan (Bateman) related some things which had happened, and told of others which was yet to lake place. And as he told them, and as Lorin confirmed them, both would occasionally walk up and down the office room with tears running down their faces. It was in this meeting, and so far as I know, it was the first tune that Dan admitted he had seen the Prophet Joseph Smith. He testified he saw him at the eight hour meeting of 1886 Lorin recited some of the things President John Taylor there taught, what was said against the proposed \ Manifesto, that he would rather have his hand severed from his body and his tongue torn from the roots of his mouth than either sign or sanction that document; and that while saying it, he was elevated from the floor by the power of God. Lorin would turn to Dan and say, "And I can prove those things by this living witness (pointing to Dan) who was there/' At this, John Y. jumped to his feel, and said, "You never in your life told me you had seen the Prophet Joseph Smith." Dan said, "There are a lot of things [ have left for (.orin to tell you." [Testimony of Moroni Jessop, pp.3-4 My emphases.]

CHAPTER 3 THE NECESSITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE

Why is Divine Plural Marriage, according to Joseph Smith's testimony, "the MOST HOLY and IMPORTANT doctrine EVER REVEALED to man on the earth'7" How does it encompass all the commandments and principles of God? The whole purpose of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. [Moses 1:39.J But. according to the prophets, there is no eternal increase without Plural Marriage.11 If Satan could destroy the perpetuation of this principle, he could prevent entire and eternal worlds from coming into existence. According to the Lord Plural Marriage is The Law of the Priesthood.1- Without obedience to this Law of Plural Marriage, no person can dwell in the presence of God.11 These poignant and far-reaching statements may be illustrated by the following quotations, some of which have been referred to previously: William Clayton: "[•'rom him (Joseph Smith) I learned thai the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on Ihe earth and without obedience lo that principle no man can ever attam to the celestial glory." \Historical Record 6:226. Emphases, mine.] " See D&C 132'32-33 For extended discussion on thuse necessan pomis. see p.33. l! SeeD&C 132:28-35.1-or a M discussion, see pp.29 to 33. 15 D&C 132:4. For a discussion on this point, see pp.29, 35,37 lo 38. SITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 27 Joseph Smith: "The same God that has thus far dictated me and directed me 'and strengthened me in this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on celestial and PLURAL MARRIAGE and the same God COMMANDED me lo obey it He said that unless I accepted it and introduced it, and practice it, I, together with my people, would be damned and cut off from Ibis time henceforth And they say if! do so, they will kill me. O, what shall I do? If I do not practice it. I shall be damned with my people. If I do teach it, and practice it, and urge it, they say they will kill me, and I know they will. But we have got to observe it It is an ETERNAL PRINCIPLE and was given by way of COMMANDMENT and NOT by way of instruction." [Contributor, Vol. 5:259. Emphases mine.] Benjamin F.Johnson: "II was Sunday morning, Apr. 3rd or 4th, 1843. . that the prophet [Joseph Smith] was at my home in Rarnus . . . I le [Joseph Smith] said that years ago in Kirtland the Lord had revealed to him the ancient Order of Plural marriage, and the NECESSITY for its practice,. . . [Joseph said:] 'and I will today preach a sermon to you' . . . The text of his sermon was our use of the Lone. five and ten talents', and as God had now commanded plural marriage, and as exaltation and dominion depended upon the number of their righteous posterity, from him who was found but with the one talent, it would be taken and given him that had ten. \HistoricatRecord622\-222. My Emphases.]

According to these testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith, no man can have Celestial Glory unless he OBEYS and PRACTICES Ihe principle of PLURAL MARRIAGE. Other prophets have also testified to the seriousness and necessity of Plural Marriage: Brigham Young: "Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and itinue to do so, I promise you that you will be damned." [Contributor 5 56. iphases, mine.] John Taylor: "If it had been obeying the law, for us to have taken our wives we then had (in Nauvoo) and been sealed to them, for time and all eternity, we Id gladly have done that; but when we were told to take other wives IN 'ER TO OBEY THE LAW it was a hard task, but the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord required it of us" [New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, 8. Emphases, mine.] Apostle George Teasdak: " I hear ray solemn testimony that PLURAL MARRIAGE is as true as any principle that has been revealed from the heavens. |j*ear my testimony that it is a NECESSITY, and thai Ihe Church of Jesus Christ ' its FULNESS, never existed without it. Where you have the eternity of mamage are BOUND TO HAVE PLURAL MARRIAGE; BOUND TO; and il is one 'the marks of the Church of Jesus Christ in its scaling ordinances " [Journal of 'courses 25 21 Emphases, mine.]

Joseph F. Smith: ''Some of the people have supposed thai the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of superfluity or non-essential to the salvation of mankind. In other words, some Saints have said and believe that a man with one wife, sealed to him by the authority of the Priesthood for time and eternity, will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one I WISH HERE TO ENTER MY SOLEMN PROTEST \ AGAINST THIS IDEA FOR IT IS FALSE....The marriage of one woman to a man for time and eternity by the sealing power, according to the LAW of God is a fulfillment of the celestial law of marriage IN PART...But thisisonh \hc beginning of the law, not the whole of it. Therefore, WHOSOEVER HAS IMAGINED THAT THEY COULD OBTAIN THE FULNESS OF THE BLESSING PERTAINING TO THIS CELESTIAL LAW, BY COMPLYING WITH ONLY A PORTION OF ITS CONDITIONS, HAS DECEIVED HIMSELF. HE CANNOT DO IT....

Man cannot receive the fulness of the blessing unless he fulfills the law. any more than he can claim the gift of the Holy Ghost after he is baptized without the-laying on of hands by proper authority, or the remission of sins without baptism, though he may repent in sackcloth and ashes 1 understand the LAW OF CELESTIAL MARRIAGE to mean that EVERY MAN IN THIS CHURCH who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness, and will not, SHALL BE DAMNED. I mean this and nothing less. and I testify in the name of Jesus IT DOES MEAN THAT." [Journal of Discourses 20:28 Emphases, mine.] Amos M.Musser (Assistant Church Historian]: "If the 'Mormons1 were ever so unwilling to become polygamists, they have no choice in the mailer God has commanded and they must obey. If there was not a single word or example lo be found in the Bible in its favor, still they must observe its practice. It is in no sense optional with them. It is as much an integral pan of their faith as baptism for the remission of sins or the laying on of hands for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost. It holds precisely the same relation to the GOSPEL PLAN OF SALVATION, REDEMPTION, AND EXALTATION (which we know of a verity to be true, and for the testimony of which hundreds of our people have laid down their lives) as the arms and legs of the human body And with us il is absolutely NECESSARY TO the ETERNAL happiness and behoof of the Latter-day Saints, as the union of the head and trunk of the body is necessary to the perpetuity of mortal life " [Millennial Star 39 407 Emphases, mine.| WiKbrd Woodruff: "God our heavenly Father, knowing that this is the only law ordained by the God of eternity, that would exalt immortal beings to kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers, and dominions, and heirs of God and joint heirs of Jesus Christ lo a fullness of the celestial glory, I say- God, knowing the-.e things, commanded Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and all Latter-Day Saints to obey the law, or you shall be DAMNED \MiUenniatStar, 34 242, April 12, 1872. Emphases, mine.]

;JTY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 29 [Seealso Messages of die First Presidency 3 ;230: J.D 1:54; J.D. 17:224-225 Irson Pratl). J.D 3:125, 4: 108, 5:22, 203-204 (Hebcr C. Kimball); J.D. 3.266. 1:268-269, 16:166 (Brigham Young): J.D 3 291 (George Albert Smith); J.D 11:221 (John Taylor): J.D 21.10 (Joseph F Smith); J.D. 24'244 (Wilibrd Woodruff) I .ESTIAL MARRIAGE WITHOUT PLURAL MARRIAGE !the Lord's Anointed and Mouthpiece. John Taylor also testified that eternal marriage and eternal increase are obtained only through plural mamage. that the marriage of a man to one woman is only the beginning of this Law, and that the Law of Abraham, the subject of the entire revelation of D&C 1 32. is s\Tionymous with Plural Marriage, that it has nothing to do with monogamy. In response to a letter from a woman who thought there could be eternal marriage marriage, John Taylor wrote: &" John Taylor: "In the question which you have proposed pertaining to the plurality of wives you say: "According to my understanding of that revelation, I thought it was sealing, but some say il is plurality n Permit me to say THAT IT IS BOTH You will find that the revelation is on The Eternity of the Marriage Covenant, INCLUDING PLURALITY OF WIVES, and the first paragraph reads: "Verily thus saith the lx>rd, unto my servant Joseph, thai inasmuch as you have inquired at rny hand, lo know and understand wherein I justified my servants, Abraham , Isaac, and Jacob, as also my servants Moses David and Solomon, as touching THE PRINCIPLE and DOCTRINE of ihcir having MANY WIVES and CONCUBINES The question thai was asked was evidently in relation to those people, and especially in relation to THE PLURALITY OF WIVES. In the 4lh verse it is said: To: behold, I reveal unto vou a New and EVERLASTING COVENANT, and if ye ABIDE NOT the covenant, then YE ARE DAMNED, for NO ONE can reject THIS COVENANT and be permitted to ENTER into MY GLORY For all thai have a BLESSING at my hand SHALL ABIDE the LAW which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof as were instituted from BEFORE the foundation of the wo rid 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 (IDE MY LAW, or he shall be DAMNED, saith ihe Lord ' You ask Tfa man and woman go to Ihe HOUSE OF THE LORD and get (r tndowmenls and are SEALED for time and all eternity, and they TWO live together quietly and peaceably and teach ihcir ehildren the principles of life and salvation, and bring them up in the fear of the Lord, will they gain an exaltation in the CELESTIAL KINGDOM with a CONTINUATION OF THEIR SEEDS r not? I have been SEALED lo my husband, and my patriarchal blessing says 30 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST "I shall raise children m the millennium." and I would like to live to gain that blessing. I hear men say thai one cannot gain exaltation and a continuation of their seed in the eternal world unless they take MORE WIVES THAN ONE, and I am anxious to understand it.'

In fulfilling this, you have entered SO FAR in the everlasting covenant which is SO FAR acceptable before the Lord, but in regard to THE LAW, it is furthersaid,verse32. 'Go ye, THEREFORE anddothe works of Abraham. The question is: What is THE LAW'1 The 34th verse says: LGod commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this v. as THE LAW: and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, (he promises." In the 37th verse it is said. 'Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and HE ABODE MY LAW; a^ Isaac also, and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded. * David also received many wives and concubines, as also Solomon and Moses my servants, 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/ 38th verse You seem desirous to take part of the Law and reject the other part, but i( is plainly stated as above quoted, that they were 'to do the works of Abraham, anil that if ye enter nol into MY LAW, ye cannot receive the promise of my father which was made unto Abraham.' It is farther said: 'God commanded Abraham and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wile, and that the reason why she did it was because it was THE LAW.' It is evident therefore from the whole of the above thai other wives were included in THIS LAW as well as the one You further inquire: 'What is the difference in a man having dead wives scaled to him than living women, so that he has one living wife; will they gain as great an exaltation if they have dead women sealed to them as they would if the> had living women scaled to them?" THIS LAW pertains more particularly to Ihe living. and on this point I refer you to verse 52 wherein it is said "And let mine handmaid. Emma Smith, receive all those that have been gi\en 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 Cad. 'and in the 64th verse: 'And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man hate a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he leaches unto her this law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him. or she shall be destroyed, said [sic] the Lord your Clod, for I will destroy her, for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law ' This is the Law of Sarah, who administered unto Abraham according to THE LAW. when I commanded Abraham to take Hagar to wife." You seem to be desirous of having dead women sealed to your husband instead of living ones, where as THE LAW pertaining to these matters does NOT put things in that shape. We read that the Lord commanded and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife, and it is for wives as well as husbands to perform their part in "ESSITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 31 relation to these matters as explicitly stated in verse 64 wherein it is said; 'If he jteaches 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, sailh the iLordyour God." Circumstances do not always place it in the power of man to enter into (his Covenant and these matters are left with the Lord to adjust, but no man or woman has authority to point out any other way than that which the Lord has appointed. Respectfully your Brother in the Gospel Signed John Taylor.''[This letter is part of a private collection and on file at the Brigharn Young University. See also, The Most Hofy Principle, 1:3! 4-316 Emphases and paragraphing, mine.]

An examination of the context in which D&C 132 and the terms, 'The Law of Abraham', 'Celestial Marriage", "The Principle', "The Law', etc., were applied by John Taylor and other leading brethren and sisters as well as many lay members of the Church from the earliest times till even after the Manifesto verifies thai ONLY PLURAL MARRIAGE is referred to in D&C 132. It was only well after the Manifesto that other interpretations began to get a strong hold such as that temple marriage was nol necessarily plural marriage, elc. In the first place, the whole revelation from the Lord is in response lo the question, "'wherein I, the laid,justified my servants Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having MANYWIVES AND CONCUBINES [verse 1 Emphases, mine.] Hows in this entire revelation is the Lord's answer lo this question: "Behold, and lo, 1 am the Lord they God, and WILL ANSWER thee as CHING THIS MATTER Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey' ^instructions which I am about to give unto you. for all those who have THIS revealed unto them must obey the same." [verses 2-3 Emphases, mine.|

jusly. THE LAW the Lord is then going lo discuss constitutes the answfcto the question which was asked. The question was. How does the Lord marriage of the Prophets? The Lord then explains that THE LAW it to reveal is called THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT AGE "For behold, I reveal unto you a NEW AND AN EVERLASTING /ENANT. and if ye abide not THAT COVENANT, then are ye DAMNED, rno one can reject THIS COVENANT and be permitted to enter into my glory For all who will hu\e a blessing at m\ hands shall aliide THE LAW which was appointed tor that blessing, and the CONDITIONS thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world And as pertaining to the NEW AND /ERLASTTNG COVENANT, it was instituted for the FULNESS of my glory.

and he thai receiveth a FULNESS thereof must and shall abide THE LAW, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God " (verses 4-6 Emphases, mine.] By taking special note of the emphasized words in these verses, we may sec that the only ones who may receive the blessing of the FULNESS OF GOD'S GLORY must obey THE LAW of this NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which the Lord is going to describe here. The only alternative is DAMNATION. In verses 7 to 27. the Lord explains that an ABSOLUTE condition for the reception of the blessing, which is predicated upon obedience to THIS LAW, is that the marriage contract must be performed by one having authority from God [It must be under the direction of the ONE MAN ON EARTH AT A TIME who holds the KEYS OF THIS AUTHORITY] and this marriage must be sealed BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. |verses 7. 18, 19. 26| Otherwise, there is eternally, no marriage and thus no progeny after this mortality. There is only singleness and no begetting of spirit children, [verses 16-17, 25] This is part of the natural damnation that follows.

On the other hand, we see that the blessing for obedience to this LAW is "a continuation of the seeds forever" [verse 19], Godhood [verse 20] and to be one witii and live in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, [verses 4. 11.12. 19,20,24] Notice that everywhere in these verses where the Lord mentions THE LAW [verses?, II, 12, 15. 17, 18. 19. 21. 24,25, and 27], it is in connection with the subject at hand, the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT [verses 15,18. 19, 26, 27] which he is discussing in answer to the question about PLURAL MARRIAGE. Starting with verse 28 and on through the rest of this section, the Lord explains what THE LAW is which fulfills the CONDITIONS of THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE which is the ONLY pathway to Godhood and eternal increase and living in the presence of the Father and the Son or in other words being permitted to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom. The Lord says; "I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thce THE LAW of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordainod by me and my 1-aiher before the world was Abraham received ALL THINGS whatsoever he received. b> revelation and commandmeni. by m> word, sailh the Lord, and hath entered into his EXALTATION and SITTETH UPON HIS THRONE " [verses 2S-29 Emphases, mine.]

As indicated here and in the subsequent verses, the Lord is illustrating THIS LAW with its atiendant blessings by focusing on the life of Abraham. Abraham obeyed THE LAW in receiving all his plural wives from the Lord [verses 29,34, SITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 33 35, 3H-*pd he is thereby' rewarded with a continuation of the seeds of life forever. [versed 30, 31]. The Lord then continues to illustrate the obedience of THIS LAW in the lives of Isaac. Jacob, David, Solomon, and Moses [verses 37-39], In each case, THE LAW required is PLURAL MARRIAGE. This LAW, PLURAL MARRIAGE, is the same LAW required in the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which is the one and only subject of this entire revelation. All the verses in this section are tied together with such words and phrases as "Therefore" [verses 3, 15, 16, 32], "For. . ." [verses 4, 5, 14, 17. 22, etc.] etc. and by context. There is clearly and simply no loophole through which to escape into monogamy within the framework of the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage and its consequent blessings of godhood and eternal increase. The prophets who bore testimony by the Spirit regarding these conclusions are unanimous in their exhortations and defense of these conclusions. This has already been demonstrated in the testimonies of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, and others. As Joseph F. Smith [p.28] and John Taylor [pp.29-31] testified, the first marriage of a man to a wife in the everlasting covenant is only CONDITIONAL upon obeying the rest of the covenant, the other RITES AND LAWS pertaining to this covenant, which the married couple promises to obey at the time of the initial temple marriage. These inspired brethren then both testified that the Lord has made it clear in D&C 132, that these required conditions to be obeyed arc PLURAL MARRIAGE. They testify that unless a second wife is also married in this covenant, the conditions are not met and therefore the marriage will not be scaled by the HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE14 and therefore there is no extension of the marriage beyond the grave and in which case there will be no godhood and no continuation of the seeds of (AMNATION AND NO ETERNAL INCREASE WITHOUT PLURAL MARRIAGE ."is one thing for persons to feel that they would forego a blessing by not living the Law of Plural Marriage, but it is another to realize that failure to obtain a blessing is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is that failure to obey the Celestial Law of Mamagc, which is synonymous with Celestial Plural Marriage, results in damnation and misery. Of course, to live singly and separately throughout eternity, without being able to have children is not only an absence of blessings but is certainly damnation. But in addition, other penalties of damnation are imposed. With all die feeling of their hearts, Joseph Smith and others implored.

see D&C 132:7 Soppp.38-39, for a couple of very moving examples of this principle.

and he thai receiveth a FULNESS thereof must and shall abide THE LAW, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God " (verses 4-6 Emphases, mine.] By taking special note of the emphasized words in these verses, we may sec that the only ones who may receive the blessing of the FULNESS OF GOD'S GLORY must obey THE LAW of this NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which the Lord is going to describe here. The only alternative is DAMNATION. In verses 7 to 27. the Lord explains that an ABSOLUTE condition for the reception of the blessing, which is predicated upon obedience to THIS LAW, is that the marriage contract must be performed by one having authority from God [It must be under the direction of the ONE MAN ON EARTH AT A TIME who holds the KEYS OF THIS AUTHORITY] and this marriage must be sealed BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. |verses 7. 18, 19. 26| Otherwise, there is eternally, no marriage and thus no progeny after this mortality. There is only singleness and no begetting of spirit children, [verses 16-17, 25] This is part of the natural damnation that follows. On the other hand, we see that the blessing for obedience to this LAW is "a continuation of the seeds forever" [verse 19], Godhood [verse 20] and to be one witii and live in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, [verses 4. 11.12. 19,20,24] Notice that everywhere in these verses where the Lord mentions THE LAW [verses?, II, 12, 15. 17, 18. 19. 21. 24,25, and 27], it is in connection with the subject at hand, the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT [verses 15,18. 19, 26, 27] which he is discussing in answer to the question about PLURAL MARRIAGE. Starting with verse 28 and on through the rest of this section, the Lord explains what THE LAW is which fulfills the CONDITIONS of THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE which is the ONLY pathway to Godhood and eternal increase and living in the presence of the Father and the Son or in other words being permitted to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom. The Lord says; "I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thce THE LAW of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordainod by me and my 1-aiher before the world was Abraham received ALL THINGS whatsoever he received. b> revelation and commandmeni. by m> word, sailh the Lord, and hath entered into his EXALTATION and SITTETH UPON HIS THRONE " [verses 2S-29 Emphases, mine.]

As indicated here and in the subsequent verses, the Lord is illustrating THIS LAW with its atiendant blessings by focusing on the life of Abraham. Abraham obeyed THE LAW in receiving all his plural wives from the Lord [verses 2 35, 3H-*pd he is thereby' rewarded with a continuation of the seeds of life forever. [versed 30, 31]. The Lord then continues to illustrate the obedience of THIS LAW in the lives of Isaac. Jacob, David, Solomon, and Moses [verses 37-39], In each case, THE LAW required is PLURAL MARRIAGE. This LAW, PLURAL MARRIAGE, is the same LAW required in the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which is the one and only subject of this entire revelation. All the verses in this section are tied together with such words and phrases as "Therefore" [verses 3, 15, 16, 32], "For. . ." [verses 4, 5, 14, 17. 22, etc.] etc. and by context. There is clearly and simply no loophole through which to escape into monogamy within the framework of the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage and its consequent blessings of godhood and eternal increase. The prophets who bore testimony by the Spirit regarding these conclusions are unanimous in their exhortations and defense of these conclusions. This has already been demonstrated in the testimonies of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, and others. As Joseph F. Smith [p.28] and John Taylor [pp.29-31] testified, the first marriage of a man to a wife in the everlasting covenant is only CONDITIONAL upon obeying the rest of the covenant, the other RITES AND LAWS pertaining to this covenant, which the married couple promises to obey at the time of the initial temple marriage. These inspired brethren then both testified that the Lord has made it clear in D&C 132, that these required conditions to be obeyed arc PLURAL MARRIAGE. They testify that unless a second wife is also married in this covenant, the conditions are not met and therefore the marriage will not be scaled by the HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE14 and therefore there is no extension of the marriage beyond the grave and in which case there will be no godhood and no continuation of the seeds of (AMNATION AND NO ETERNAL INCREASE WITHOUT PLURAL MARRIAGE ."is one thing for persons to feel that they would forego a blessing by not living the Law of Plural Marriage, but it is another to realize that failure to obtain a blessing is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is that failure to obey the Celestial Law of Mamagc, which is synonymous with Celestial Plural Marriage, results in damnation and misery. Of course, to live singly and separately throughout eternity, without being able to have children is not only an absence of blessings but is certainly damnation. But in addition, other penalties of damnation are imposed. With all die feeling of their hearts, Joseph Smith and others implored. See D&C 132:7 Soppp.38-39, for a couple of very moving examples of this principle.

and he that receiveth a FULNESS thereof must and shall abide THE LAW, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God " (verses 4-6 Emphases, mine.] By taking special note of the emphasized words in these verses, we may sec that the only ones who may receive the blessing of the FULNESS OF GOD'S GLORY must obey THE LAW of this NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which the Lord is going to describe here. The only alternative is DAMNATION. In verses 7 to 27. the Lord explains that an ABSOLUTE condition for the reception of the blessing, which is predicated upon obedience to THIS LAW, is that the marriage contract must be performed by one having authority from God [It must be under the direction of the ONE MAN ON EARTH AT A TIME who holds the KEYS OF THIS AUTHORITY] and this marriage must be sealed BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. |verses 7. 18, 19. 26| Otherwise, there is eternally, no marriage and thus no progeny after this mortality. There is only singleness and no begetting of spirit children, [verses 16-17, 25] This is part of the natural damnation that follows. On the other hand, we see that the blessing for obedience to this LAW is "a continuation of the seeds forever" [verse 19], Godhood [verse 20] and to be one witii and live in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, [verses 4. 11.12. 19,20,24] Notice that everywhere in these verses where the Lord mentions THE LAW [verses?, II, 12, 15. 17, 18. 19. 21. 24,25, and 27], it is in connection with the subject at hand, the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT [verses 15,18. 19, 26, 27] which he is discussing in answer to the question about PLURAL MARRIAGE. Starting with verse 28 and on through the rest of this section, the Lord explains what THE LAW is which fulfills the CONDITIONS of THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE which is the ONLY pathway to Godhood and eternal increase and living in the presence of the Father and the Son or in other words being permitted to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom. The Lord says; "I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thce THE LAW of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordainod by me and my 1-aiher before the world was Abraham received ALL THINGS whatsoever he received. b> revelation and commandmeni. by m> word, sailh the Lord, and hath entered into his EXALTATION and SITTETH UPON HIS THRONE " [verses 2S-29 Emphases, mine.] As indicated here and in the subsequent verses, the Lord is illustrating THIS LAW with its atiendant blessings by focusing on the life of Abraham. Abraham obeyed THE LAW in receiving all his plural wives from the Lord [verses 29,34, SITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 33

35, 3H-*pd he is thereby' rewarded with a continuation of the seeds of life forever. [versed 30, 31]. The Lord then continues to illustrate the obedience of THIS LAW in the lives of Isaac. Jacob, David, Solomon, and Moses [verses 37-39], In each case, THE LAW required is PLURAL MARRIAGE. This LAW, PLURAL MARRIAGE, is the same LAW required in the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which is the one and only subject of this entire revelation. All the verses in this section are tied together with such words and phrases as "Therefore" [verses 3, 15, 16, 32], "For. . ." [verses 4, 5, 14, 17. 22, etc.] etc. and by context. There is clearly and simply no loophole through which to escape into monogamy within the framework of the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage and its consequent blessings of godhood and eternal increase. The prophets who bore testimony by the Spirit regarding these conclusions are unanimous in their exhortations and defense of these conclusions. This has already been demonstrated in the testimonies of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, and others. As Joseph F. Smith [p.28] and John Taylor [pp.29-31] testified, the first marriage of a man to a wife in the everlasting covenant is only CONDITIONAL upon obeying the rest of the covenant, the other RITES AND LAWS pertaining to this covenant, which the married couple promises to obey at the time of the initial temple marriage. These inspired brethren then both testified that the Lord has made it clear in D&C 132, that these required conditions to be obeyed arc PLURAL MARRIAGE. They testify that unless a second wife is also married in this covenant, the conditions are not met and therefore the marriage will not be scaled by the HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE14 and therefore there is no extension of the marriage beyond the grave and in which case there will be no godhood and no continuation of the seeds of (AMNATION AND NO ETERNAL INCREASE WITHOUT PLURAL MARRIAGE ."is one thing for persons to feel that they would forego a blessing by not living the Law of Plural Marriage, but it is another to realize that failure to obtain a blessing is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is that failure to obey the Celestial Law of Mamagc, which is synonymous with Celestial Plural Marriage, results in damnation and misery. Of course, to live singly and separately throughout eternity, without being able to have children is not only an absence of blessings but is certainly damnation. But in addition, other penalties of damnation are imposed. With all die feeling of their hearts, Joseph Smith and others implored. See D&C 132:7 Soppp.38-39, for a couple of very moving examples of this principle.

32 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST

and he thai receiveth a FULNESS thereof must and shall abide THE LAW, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God " (verses 4-6 Emphases, mine.] By taking special note of the emphasized words in these verses, we may sec that the only ones who may receive the blessing of the FULNESS OF GOD'S GLORY must obey THE LAW of this NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which the Lord is going to describe here. The only alternative is DAMNATION. In verses 7 to 27. the Lord explains that an ABSOLUTE condition for the reception of the blessing, which is predicated upon obedience to THIS LAW, is that the marriage contract must be performed by one having authority from God [It must be under the direction of the ONE MAN ON EARTH AT A TIME who holds the KEYS OF THIS AUTHORITY] and this marriage must be sealed BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. |verses 7. 18, 19. 26| Otherwise, there is eternally, no marriage and thus no progeny after this mortality. There is only singleness and no begetting of spirit children, [verses 16-17, 25] This is part of the natural damnation that follows. On the other hand, we see that the blessing for obedience to this LAW is "a continuation of the seeds forever" [verse 19], Godhood [verse 20] and to be one witii and live in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, [verses 4. 11.12. 19,20,24] Notice that everywhere in these verses where the Lord mentions THE LAW [verses?, II, 12, 15. 17, 18. 19. 21. 24,25, and 27], it is in connection with the subject at hand, the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT [verses 15,18. 19, 26, 27] which he is discussing in answer to the question about PLURAL MARRIAGE. Starting with verse 28 and on through the rest of this section, the Lord explains what THE LAW is which fulfills the CONDITIONS of THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE which is the ONLY pathway to Godhood and eternal increase and living in the presence of the Father and the Son or in other words being permitted to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom. The Lord says; "I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thce THE LAW of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordainod by me and my 1-aiher before the world was Abraham received ALL THINGS whatsoever he received. b> revelation and commandmeni. by m> word, sailh the Lord, and hath entered into his EXALTATION and SITTETH UPON HIS THRONE " [verses 2S-29 Emphases, mine.] As indicated here and in the subsequent verses, the Lord is illustrating THIS LAW with its atiendant blessings by focusing on the life of Abraham. Abraham obeyed THE LAW in receiving all his plural wives from the Lord [verses 29,34, SITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 33 35, 3H-*pd he is thereby' rewarded with a continuation of the seeds of life forever. [versed 30, 31]. The Lord then continues to illustrate the obedience of THIS LAW in the lives of Isaac. Jacob, David, Solomon, and Moses [verses 37-39], In each case, THE LAW required is PLURAL MARRIAGE. This LAW, PLURAL MARRIAGE, is the same LAW required in the NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT which is the one and only subject of this entire revelation. All the verses in this section are tied together with such words and phrases as "Therefore" [verses 3, 15, 16, 32], "For. . ." [verses 4, 5, 14, 17. 22, etc.] etc. and by context. There is clearly and simply no loophole through which to escape into monogamy within the framework of the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage and its consequent blessings of godhood and eternal increase. The prophets who bore testimony by the Spirit regarding these conclusions are unanimous in their exhortations and defense of these conclusions. This has already been demonstrated in the testimonies of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, and others. As Joseph F. Smith [p.28] and John Taylor [pp.29-31] testified, the first marriage of a man to a wife in the everlasting covenant is only CONDITIONAL upon obeying the rest of the covenant, the other RITES AND LAWS pertaining to this covenant, which the married couple promises to obey at the time of the initial temple marriage. These inspired brethren then both testified that the Lord has made it clear in D&C 132, that these required conditions to be obeyed arc PLURAL MARRIAGE. They testify that unless a second wife is also married in this covenant, the conditions are not met and therefore the marriage will not be scaled by the HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE14 and therefore there is no extension of the marriage beyond the grave and in which case there will be no godhood and no continuation of the seeds of (AMNATION AND NO ETERNAL INCREASE WITHOUT PLURAL MARRIAGE ."is one thing for persons to feel that they would forego a blessing by not living the Law of Plural Marriage, but it is another to realize that failure to obtain a blessing is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is that failure to obey the Celestial Law of Mamagc, which is synonymous with Celestial Plural Marriage, results in damnation and misery. Of course, to live singly and separately throughout eternity, without being able to have children is not only an absence of blessings but is certainly damnation. But in addition, other penalties of damnation are imposed. With all die feeling of their hearts, Joseph Smith and others implored. See D&C 132:7 Soppp.38-39, for a couple of very moving examples of this principle.

36 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Notice from this list, that there is no room in the Celestial Kingdom for anyone who is not a God and thus who does not have eternal increase. But boih the prophets and the Lord have testified directly [D&C 132| and declared that the only ones who become Gods, the only ones who have mates, the only ones who have eternal increase, the only ones who have children in the next world are those who are polygamists. who have practiced plural marriage in righteousness. From the scriplures and the testimonies of the prophets, we observe that all in the Celestial Kingdom are EQUAL. How can they be EQUAL if some ha\ c eternal increase and some do not? Recall, that the glory of (he Celestial Kingdom is ONE. not two and not three. Those who are quickened by a PORTION of Celestial Glory are quickened b\ a FULNESS of Celestial Glory [D&C 88 29) There is a vast difference, on the one hand, between GODS who have a FULNESS of joy and ETERNAL INCREASE, and on the other hand. SERVANTS who are SINGLE, without increase, without mates, without godhood. Such servants who are single must dwell OUTSIDE of the Celestial Kingdom. All within the Celestial Kingdom are Gods; all within it are polygamists All outside of the Celestial degree of glory must be single forever.

How is all this reconciled with D&C 131 which seems to be saying that in the Celestial division of heaven there are three degrees? The only reconciliation is that the word "Celestial" is being used two different ways. In one way, that is. in D&C 131, it is simply referring to (he whole of heaven as opposed to hell. This w as the common usage of the word Celestial in Joseph Smith's time. Celestial meant heavenly or of the heavens. In D&C 132 and D&C 76 and D&C 88. it is referring to the lop division oflhc three divisions of this general Celestial heaven.

Then the only conclusion one can consistenUy gel from the testimonies of our founding prophets is thai, contrary to what is believed and taught today singleness is only obtained outside of the Celestial Degree of Glory. The SERVANTS of Ihose who gam Godhood are all OUTSIDE of the Celestial Kingdom. This is the DAMNATION that will be given and experienced by all outside of the Celestial Kingdom. In hghl of ihe implications of this profound principle, consider the following applicalion from Ihe Prophet Joseph Smith Joseph Smith: "He remarked lhal ihe disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection, would be indescribably dreadfiil." [Times and Seasons 4.33 Ij [See also /TVS 320]

Recently I reviewed another reference in which Joseph Smith said that one oflhc saddest things he saw in vision was me great disappointment and shock thai many would have when they received a Terrestrial or Tclestial resurrection instead of the Celestial resurrection and glory they were absolutely certain they qualified for and would receive. Ncphi saw these conditions in our lime. He warned: ITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 37 "And others \\i11 he PACIFY, and LULL THEM A WAV into CARNAL URITV, that they will say. All is well in /ion. yea. /ion prospcrclh all is and thus THE DEVIL CHEATETH THEIR SOULS, and LEADETH M away CAREFULLY down to HELL \2 Nephi 28 21 My emphases.] Do we not see all around us ihe foundation for ihis fulurc sorrow and disappoinlmenl? Mosl active Laller Day Saints believe lhal Temple Marriage assures one of Godhood and eternal increase and that there are two lesser diusions of the Celestial Kingdom thai will consist of servants, angels who arc single and without mates But from what we have seen from the powerful testimonies of the prophets who have gone before us. there is no Godhood outside of ihe Celestial Kingdom and only those who live plural marriage correctly can enter this Kingdom, become Gods, and have eternal increase. Remember, that the conditions that must be fulfilled for eternal marriage, including temple mamage, are lhal one musl live plural marriage AND obtain the MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY Naturally, just as one might begin with one child and then add another and then another, etc., so also does eternal marriage begin with one wife. But unless there becomes a second wife as well, there will be no wives and no husband. There are numerous testimonies borne to this effect by early brethren. In addition lo ihosc quoted above, the following arc also lo the point: Benjamin f. Johnson: "It was Sunday morning, Apr. 3rd or 4th, 1843 . . at the prophet [Joseph Smith] was al my home in Ramus . He [Joseph Smith] aid lhal years ago in Kinland die Lord had revealed to him the ancient Order of lural marriage, and the NECESSITY for ils practice, . | Joseph said:] 'and 1 will today preaeh a sermon 10 you' . Ihe text of his sermon \\asouruse of the "one, five and ten lalents". and as God had no\v commanded plural mamage. and as exaltation and dominion depended upon die number of iheir righteous posterity', from him who was found but with the one talent, it would be taken and given him thai had ten n \HistoricalKecard622l-222 My Emphases.] Erastus Snow: "Joseph Smith said lhal the parable thai Jesus spoke of that man who had one laienl and hid it in the earth w as ihe man who had but one »ile d would no) take another, would ha\ e her laken from him and given to one who more " [Journal of Wilford Woodruff My emphases.]

Brigham Young: "Joseph received a revelation on CELESTIAL marriage. kflUwill recollect, brethren and sislers. thai it was m July 1843. lhat he received this lation concerning CELESTIAL mamage. ... As far as this pertains to our 1 lives here, there are some who say it is very hard 'I hey say, 'This is rather business: I don't like m\ husband to take a plurality of wives in the flesh.' •where a man in this Church savs, 1 don't want but ONE wife, I will live my religion with one. he will perhaps be saved in the Celestial Kingdom: BUT when he gets there he will NOT find himself in possession of ANY WIFE at all. He has had a talent that he has hid Up, but it will be taken and given to those who have improved the talents they received, and he will find himself without any wife, and will remain SINGLE for ever and ever. But if the woman is determined not to enter into a plural marriage, that woman when she comes forth will have the privilege of living in single blessedness through all eternity." [Journal of Discourses 16:166 Emphasis, mine.]

John Taylor: "If we do not embrace that principle soon, the keys will be turned against us If we do not keep the SAME LAW that our Heavenly Father has kept [celestial or plural marriage], we CANNOT GO WITH HIM. A man obeying a lower law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law." [Life ofWilford Woodruff, p.542. Emphases and brackets, mine.] John Taylor: "Unless you keep the CELESTIAL LAW [Plural Marriage] you cannot go into the CELESTIAL KINGDOM, any more than a Gentile can. Those Saints of God who do not wish to keep the CELESTIAL LAW had better quit today, the sooner the better." [Deseret News, October 27, 1883. Emphases, mine. |

Wilford Woodruff: 'Father Abraham obeyed the jaw of the Patriarchal order of marriage. His WIVES were sealed to him for time and all eternity, and so were the WIVES of ALL the PATRIARCHS and PROPHETS that OBEYED THAT LAW." [Journal of Discourses 24.244 Emphases, mine.|

Orson Spencer: ''When God sets up any portion of his kingdom upon the earth, it is patterned after his own order in the heavens. When He gives to man a pattern of family organization on earth, that pattern will be just like his own family organization m the heavens The family of Abraham was a transcript of a celestial pattern.. . .This family pattern was spread out before God, and met \\ ith His entire and full approbation. And why did God approve of it'? Because it is the OINLV ORDER PRACTICED IN THE CELESTIAL HEAVENS, and the only peaceful, united and prosperous order that will endure, while man invented orders and devices (monogamy, free love, elc.) will utterly deceive and perish with ihe using " {MillennialStar 5.15, Spencer's Letters, p 193. Emphases, mine.]

These uncompromising principles were deeply impressed on Byron Sessions, Stake President of the Bighorn Stake of Wyoming: Price Johnson: "He [President Byron Sessions] said that he had had a dream in which he and his wife were laken beyond ihc veil. A messenger, or guide met them there and gave them a view of the marvelous workings and conditions that pmvail ID ihe plaeeoi" departed and righteous spnts. Fhej finally came lo a stairway NEC Doui that led to the upper story of a large building A guard was standing here, and this is what he said, 'This is as far as you can go as man and wife, you can go in separately, but your status as man and wife ends at this place ' Brother Sessions asked why this was the case, as they had been SEALED in the Temple, and Hilly expected io remain together through eternity The guide said, 'You have NOT obeyed all ihe CONDITIONS of the law by which men and women are sealed for eternity. Because of this, your union must cease at death, and Hll not be allowed to proceed further as man and wife ' He began to weep, and eping when he awoke His wife, who was King beside him was also crying ; said, 'Ida, what is the matter'?' She answered. 'I have just had a dream and Jadit was only a dream.' Their dreams were identical.'' [An Open Letter to er Day Saints on Plural Marriage, by Price Johnson, pp 14-15. My •es-I 'odd, also a former Stake President, had a similar dream;

|iptDouglas Todd: "In this dream, I was standing in a large room It seemed like ranee was to the cast, and you passed through this larger room and then on to st side, where there was a door — as I recollect the dream. I even remember yotrstepped up one step to get into that room. And there was a man standing near the door and people were coming in from the outside of the house, and walking through to this door. Every time they'd open that door, the most BEAUTIFUL AND BRILLIANT LIGHT — came out and just enveloped you. You not only saw the light, but felt the SPIRIT of it — some way. I can't describe it. And then the door would close, and you could sec the LIGHT coming under the door The occasion there seemed to be some sort of a banquet, or something, with beautiful tables and you felt as if you'd give your life, almost, if you could be there with them. So I worked my way up to this man at the door, and inquired about how I might get in (here. And he said, 'Well, you can't tome in here Haven't you noticed the type of people that are entering01 That was the first time that it was forced on my mind that in those little groups that came, just one man. and different numbers of women — I don't remember — and they would go in there and become a par! of this And that was the extent of the dream. I wanted to know \vhat that meant, and Aunt Nellie [plural wife of Apostle John W. Taylor. son of President John Taylor 1 was the person that I felt could tell me the interpretation. So the next morning I tried to type up that dream on my little portable typewriter I wish I had that copy; I'm sure it would be much better than the way I'm telling it now. Hut I never had such a peculiar experience I didn't have to think of any words or anything — they just seemed to come right down to ihe ends of my fingers and on to the typewriter And tears \sere rolling down mv lace, and I felt this same spirit that I did when I would sec thai door open and see those people. So I sent the letter to Aunt Nellie, and she told me what it meant, and the meaning is very obvious to yon — and the only way that you got in it, was through the law of CELESTIAL MARRIAGE [Plural Marriagcf [Interview with Douglas M-Todd, Jr. p. 19. Emphases, mine.]

Another choice personal experience dovetailing with the foregoing is as follows: Abraham Hunsaker: "When the law of celestial marriage was first whispered to him. he opposed it exclaiming, "It is of the devil,'but God knew his heart and in open day a messenger from heaven with THREE women clothed in white raiment stood before him several feet from ihe ground, and addressed him thus1 'You NEVER can receive a ftill and complete salvation in MY kingdom unless your garments arc pure and while and \ou have THREE counselors like me.' Thus he was convinced that principle was right, and he subsequently married FIVE wives, two of whom survived him, and he became the father of 50 children." \LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 3 415-416. Emphases, mine.]

In light of these testimonies, that Celestial Marriage is synonymous with plural marriage, and that without il eternal celibacy is the only alternative, we may then properly understand the following: Joseph Smith: "Except a man and his wile enter mlo an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity, while in this probation, by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood, they will CEASE TO INCREASE when they die; that is. they will not have any children after the resurrection Rut those who are married while in [his life, will continue to increase and have children in the celestial glory." [Teachings of the Prvpket Joseph Smith p 30] Emphases, mine.] For the marriage to be eternal it must be scaled by the Holy Spirit of Promise [DC 132:7], and the Holy Spirit of Promise will not come unless the parties involved have lived plural marriage and have lived it in purity and holiness. This sacred promise will not happen unless plural marriage is obeyed in righteousness. Now we may see why Joseph Smith was told that unless both he and his people lived this law of plural marriage, they would be rejected by God and be damned. We see why Joseph Smith would speak of plural marriage in the following terms [previously quoted], according to his private secretary.

William Clayton: William Claylon: "From him (Joseph Smith) I learned that the doetnnc ol plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine EVER REVEALED TO MAN ON THE EARTH and without obedience lo that principle NO MAN CAN EVER ATTAIN TO THE CELESTIAL GLORY " IHistorifal Record 6 226 Emphases, mine.j So then, according to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Plural Marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on earth, because only those who obey it will enter the Celestial Kingdom, the only place where there is a fulness of joy —including godliood and eternal increase.

nt these valuable experiences of Plural Marriage which arc absolutely • in the great school for godhood must be practiced I IN MORTALITY: Samuel A. Woolley: "One afternoon in the month of October, A I") 1843 lijMff Mothers, including Patriarch Hyrum Smith, came in . Presently I saw him take *apaper out of his coat pocket, and I walked up to his left hand side, looked over his shoulder, and, as he opened the paper, i read "A Revelation on Internal Marriage and Plurality of Wives ' etc He then commenced to read what is now known as the revelation on plural marriage. I also read it myself as fast as he did He stopped and explained as he went along. It was there told me by the same power that informed me it was 2 o'clock that that revelation was of God and that no man could or would receive a fulness of the Celestial Glory and eternal life except he obeyed that law and had MORE THAN ONE LIVING WIFE AT THE SAME TIME. |.-;prom this time I commenced to get well, and did so very speedily," \Histvrical cord, 6:231. My emphases.) Orson Pratt: "Much micht he said in tlm connection with regard lo ihe fcL.4> .

[Doctrine of plurality of wives. If a man would obtain an eternal increase and eternal kingdoms without number for his posterity to inhabit, under ihe direction and control of I hm who is King of kings and Lord of lords, he must secure the right to these blessings IN THIS LIFE.'" [Journal of Discourses ]4'243-44. My emphases.]

As Alma says, whatever spirit possesses us in this life, will have power over i the next world: Alma: "For behold. THIS LIFE is (he time lo prepare to meet Cod; yea, the day of THIS LIFE is the day for men to perform their labors. ife And now, as 1 said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore. I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end, for AFTER this day of life, which is given us to prepare for ^ETERNITY, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh ! night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when yc are brought to that awfiil crisis, that I will repent, lhat I .will return to rny God Nay, ye cannot say this; for lhat same spirit which doth ess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have ver to possess your body m that eternal world For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal !,';; you his: therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no j<« place in you, and the devil hath all power over you, and this is the Una! state of the wicked." [Alma 34 32-35 Emphases, mine.] The necessity of Plural Marriage must be learned by revelation and obeyed lis life. Any opposing spirit contrary to Divine Plural Marriage will follow the individual from this world to the next, if we expect to live eternally with God. we must obe\ (his principle in this life. John Taylor and many other brethren and sisters knew these things. They had so testified abundantly for years,1'' both b\ precept and by practice.

PLURAL MARRIAGE PRACTICE NEVER TO BE STOPPED

Since plural marriage is an absolute requirement for Celestial glory and must be obeyed in mortality, and since the Lord restored the fulness of His gospel in this dispensation, never to be taken away or to be restored again, then the Lord provided that it would never be discontinued. Indeed, part of this provision occurred with the 1886 visitations of the Savior and Joseph Smith to John Taylor and with die meetings, covenants, and ordinances that followed. Our prophets had previously foreseen and testified that Piural Marriage would never stop: Joseph Smilh: "The same God thai has thus tar dictated me and directed me and strengthened me m this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on celestial and PLURAL MARRIAGE and the same God COMMANDED me to obey it. He said that unless 1 accepted it and introduced it, and PRACTICE it. 1. TOGETHER WITH M V PEOPLE, would he damned and cut off FROM THIS TIME HENCEFORTH. And they say if I do so, they will kill me. O. what shall I do'1 If I do not practice it, I shall be damned WITH MY PEOPLE. If I do teach it, and practice it, and urge it, they sav ihey will kill me, and I know they will. But WE have got to observe it. It is an ETERNAL PRINCIPLE and was GIVEN BY WAY OF COMMANDMENT and NOT BY WAY OF INSTRUCTION " [Contributor, Vol 5:259 Emphases, mine.]

Hebcr C. Kimball: "The principle of plurality of wives NEVER will BE DONE AWAY although some sisters have had revelations that, when this time passes aua> and they go through the veil, every woman will have a husband to herself [Journal of Discourses 3 125 Emphases, mine.]

Wilford Woodruff. " Hie LAW of [he patriarchal order of marriage belongs to THIS DISPENSATION, and after it was revealed to the Prophet Joseph, he w as COMMANDED to receive it If he AND THE PEOPLE had rejected it. the Church jnd Kingdom of God would have advanced NO FURTHER and COD WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT FROM THEM AND GIVEN IT TO ANOTHER PEOPLE' [Life of Wilford Woodruff ? 546 Emphases, mine.]

Wilford Woodruff: "llie reason why the Church and Kingdom of God could noi progress if we did not receive the patriarchal law of marriage is mat it belonged to THIS DISPENSATION as well as the baptism for the dead and any faw «r ordinance (hat belongs to this dispensation must be received by the members of the Church, or it CANNOT PROGRESS. The leading men of Israel who are 16 For instance, see pp.26 to 38. presiding over the stakes will have to obey the LAW OF ABRAHAM, or lhe\ will have to stop" [Wilford Woodruff Diary. Supplement to AW & Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, p. 55. Emphases, mine,]

Heber C. Kimball: "Many of this people have broken their covenants . by finding fault with the plurality of wives and trying to sink it out of existence But you CANNOT DO THAT, for God will cut >ou off AND RAISE UP ANOTHER PEOPLE that WILL carry out HIS PURPOSES in RIGHTEOUSNESS unless vou walk up 10 the line in your duty. On the one hand there is glory and exaltation. .and on the other no tongue can express the suffering and affliction THIS )PLE will pass through, if they do not repent." \Jourital of Discourses Emphases, mine.]

" In a revelation to Wilford Woodruff, the Lord explained that Plural Marriage was required for Celestial Glory and severely \\arned the Nation, or ANY HOUSE OR PEOPLE who might try to stop the practice of Plural Marriage: The Lord through Wilford Woodruff: Woe unto that nation or house. ople who seek to hinder m> people from obeying the PATRIARCHAL LAW 'ABRAHAM [plural marriage], which leadelh to a Celestial glor> which ''has been revealed unto my Saints through the mouth of my servant Josqih. for whosoever doeth these things shall he damned, saith the Lord of Hosts, and shall be broken up and washed away from under heaven b\ the judgements which I have sent forth, and which shall not return unto me void. ' [Life of Wilford Woodruff w 530-531 Revelation to Wilford Woodruff Jan. 25. 1880. Emphases and brackets, 'mine.] f Indeed, Heber C. Kimball and John Taylor both testified that the practice ral Marriage would never be slopped;

*"' Heber C. Kimball: "The plurality of »i\es will NEVER be done away." iscourses 3 : 1 25. Emphases, mine-l John Taylor: "One sure thing is that we will NOT surrender pokgamy." , Nov 12, 1880. Emphases, mine-]

£ 'Further. John Taylor said that though almost all Mormons were shot or I imrisoned, there would still be some left to continue keeping Plural Marriage John Tajlor: "there will always be somebody left to carry on the work." [Deseret News, Feb. 25, 18X5. Emphases, mote.] 44 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Finally, let is recall the Lord's words to the Prophet John Taylor in 1886: God thru John Tavlor (1886): THUS SAITH THE LORD: ALL commandments thai I give MUST BE OBEYED by those calling themselves by my name, unless Ihey are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant; for I the Lord arn everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated, nor done away with, but they stand forever I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not. And as I have heretofore said b\ my sen-ant Joseph' All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law And have 3 not commanded men that if they were Abraham's seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham'' I have NOT REVOKED THIS LAW, NOR WILL I, tor it is EVERLASTING, and THOSE WHO WILL ENTER INTO MY GLORY MUST OBEY THE CONDITIONS THEREOF, F.ven so. Amen." [Truth 14:148, Sept. 26-27. Emphases, mine. For the full revelation, see p 14, 44 |

In this revelation to John Taylor, the Lord said that He had not, could not, and would not revoke the Law of Abraham which is the practice of Plural Marriage. He said it was an eternal principle and that all those who desired the blessings of Abraham [eternal increase, etc.] must obey and do the works of Abraham [Plural Marriage and the Law of Sacrifice]. With respect to Abraham, the Lord, through Joseph Smith had previously said: "Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sittelh upon his throne. Abraham received promises concerning his seed and of the fruit of his loins . . . which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world (hey should continue; both m the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as (he stars; or, ifve were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.

Goye,thereti>rc, and do the works of Abraham enter ye into my law mid ye shall be saved. But if je enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promi.se 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 [D&C 132:29-34] SSITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 45 L GOD'S SERVANTS HAVE OBEYED PLURAL MARRIAGE

jfSince the experience and training in Plural Marriage must take place in mortality and cannot be postponed, and since the plan of salvation is eternal, then it may be expected that the Lord would require the practice of this principle by the righteous of every generation when the gospel has been upon the Earth. Therefore. it is expected that ALL prophets and true saints of God who made the Celestial 'grade" would have righteously practiced Plural Mamage. Brigham Young testified that this, indeed, was true: Brigham Young: "Why do we believe and practice polygamy? Because the introduced it to his servants in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, and the ard's servants have ALWAYS practiced it. And is thai religion popular in heaven? It is the ONLY popular religion there, for this is the religion of Abraham, land, unless we do the works of Abraham, we are not Abraham's seed and heir according to promise "r \Journal of Discourses 9:322. My emphases. | For our generation, {he Lord commanded that both the prophet and the saints y this principle: Joseph Smith: "The same God that has thus far dictated me and direcled me nd strengthened me in ihis work, gave me this revelation and commandment on elestial and PLURAL MARRIAGE and the same God COMMANDED me to obey it. He said that unless I accepted it and introduced it, and PRACTICE it, 1. TOGETHER WITH MY PEOPLE, would be damned and cut off FROM THIS IE HENCEFORTH. And they say if I do so, they will kill me. O, what shall I 3? If I do not practice it, I shall be damned WITH MY PEOPLE. If I do teach it, 1 practice it, and urge it, they say they will kill me, and I know they will. But WE have got to observe it. It is an ETERNAL PRINCIPLE and was GIVEN BY OF COMMANDMENT and NOT BY WAY OF INSTRUCTION [Contributor, Vol. 5 259 Emphases, mine.]

lost saints would likely agree that a true prophet who is completely faithful to his charge will ultimately gain Godhood. Brigham Young was quite adamant that, indeed, the onk ones who become Gods arc those who practice Plural Marriage: Brigham Young: "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of arc those who enter into polygamy." [Journal of Discourses 1 1 :269| •• Those opposers who argue against the testimony of Brigham Young wherein hejiiated that ALL GOD'S SERVANTS have practiced Plural Mamage. have Compare this testimony of Brigham Young's with D&C 132:32-35. 46 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST NE< ilTY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 47

attempted to justify their own failure to obey ihis holy law, by pointing to the prophets of the Book of Mormon as examples of God's servants not obeying Plural Marriage. It is our belief, however, that when we have the full record of the Nephites, we shall see that all the Nephite prophets practiced Plural Marriage PLURAL MARRIAGE IN THE BOOK OF MORMON In the last section we discussed Brigham Young's testimony that "the Lord's servants have ALWAYS practiced it (Plural Marriage)" In corroboration, uc presented the testimonies of other Mormon leaders as well- But some individuals will immediately object to these conclusions by arguing that we not only do not have any Book of Mormon examples of plural marriage condoned of God, but that the Lord specifically commanded these people not to practice plural marriage and that it was an abomination to Him. Today many use the argument that Plural Mamage was entirely done away with when the manifesto was issued, and that this was analogous to what happened in Jacob's time when God commanded the people not to live Plural Marriage, because they were living it in adultery. Therefore, is it correct to suppose lhat in our dispensation God may have commanded the Saints in Joseph's time to live that law for celestial glory, but that now we are exempt from obeying it. and that He no longer requires it at our hands? No.

The passage of scripture wherein Jacob admonishes the people for living plural marriage, has given many people the excuse they vv anted. Those who do not want to obey the Law of Plural Marriage, some of whom even think they hate this principle, are happy to discover this Book of Mormon reference lhat they think supports their desire to not obey this law. In support of their argument, Jacob's words are quoted as follows: "But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: Tins people begin (o wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse Ihcmselves m committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me. saith the Lord Wherefore, thus saith the Lord. 1 have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, bv the power of mine arm. that 1 might RAISE UP UNTO ME A RIGHTEOUS BRANCH from the fruit of the loins of Joseph Wherefore, 1 the Lord God will not suffer lhat this people shall do like until them of old. 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; For I. the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus sailh the Lord of Hosts. Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandmOTts. saith the Lord of Hosts, rsed be the land for their sakcs For if I will, saith the Lord ofllo^s. RAISE •SEED UNTO ME. I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken i these things. For behold. I. the Lord, have seen the. sorrow, and heard the mourning of the ^daughters of my people m the land of Jerusalem. >ea. and in all the lands of my jple, because of the w iekedness and abominations of their husbands And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the ones of the fair daughters |of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me (against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts For they shall not lead away saptive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, sa\e I shall visit •them with a sore curse, even unto destruction, for they shall not commit whoredoms, pike unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts And now behold, my brethren, V'c know that these commandments were given £10 our father. I.ehi. wherefore, ye have known them before: and ye have come unto tgreat condemnation, tor ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done. Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren Ye have broken the hearts of \our tender wives, and lost the eonfidence of your children, cause of your bad examples before them: and the sobbings of their hearts ascend ap to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God. which ycometh down against you. many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds." [Jacob >;23-35. My emphases.]

It should be observed here lhat the Lord restricts marriage to monogamy unless He commands otherwise and which He docs under certain conditions to RAISE UP A RIGHTEOUS SEED unto Him But notice all the emphasi/cd words in the passages quoted above. He says that the reason He brought Lehi and His family out of Jerusalem and into the promised land was lo RAISE UP A RIGHTEOUS BRANCH [through Plural Marriage0! unto Him. A careful reading of these early pages of the Book of Mormon, especially when one has much of the SPIRIT OF THE LORD, reveals lhat Lchi lived plural marriage Notice me emphasi/cd words in the following passage concerning agedy which occurred on the ship when Nephi was bound with cords "Now my father. I.ehi. had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons if Ishmael. but. behold, they did breathe out much thrcalemngs against am one that iould speak for me; and MY PARENTS BEING STRICKEN IN YEARS, and laving suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sickbeds Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the iniquity" ot my brethren, they AVere brought near even to be carried out of tins time to meet their God. yea, THEIR jjGREY HAIRS were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even ey were near to be east with sorrow into a waten graveTHE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of die afflictions of THEIR MOTHER; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me" [I Nephi 18:17-19. My emphases.]

Nephi says here that Laman and Lemuel were \ery unkind to HIS OWN mother, and that they were also very rude to Jacob and Joseph who [being very young] needed much nourishment from THEIR [young?] mother. Jacob and Joseph's mother was young enough to bear unto the elderly Lehi, two young boys in the wilderness, whereas Nephi's mother was gray-haired and aged. Nephi, her youngest son was probably in his mid-twenties, since he was a young man when they left Jerusalem and now they had been in the wilderness eight \ ears. Perhaps when Nephi and his brethren went back to Jerusalem to get Ishmacl's family, included among them was a woman who became Lehi's wife. Or, it is possible that a plural wife of Lehi came with him when he first left Jerusalem. Both in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon, women are seldom mentioned Nephi, for instance, had sisters and yet they are only mentioned after Lehi's family had arrived in America and at the time Nephi is told by the Lord to flee from Laman and Lemuel. [2 Nephi 5:6] One woman, Rhea A. Kunz, had gained a testimony of the importance of living plural marriage but was then troubled by Jacob's pronouncement against the abominable manner in which some of the Nephitcs were practicing plural marriage. She began fasting and earnestly praying about this, The Lord then showed her a vision of additional aspects of this event which significantly throw greater light on the experiences of Jacob: Rhea A. Kun/: "On a particular day, I was the only person in the house When the after-breakfast work was done, I began reading the Book of Mormon and meditating upon the I,aw of Celestial Marriage and the me ident recorded in the Hook of Mormon when Jacob had to forbid the practiec of plural marriage. I laving read and discussed this event times and times again, of a sudden the idea occurred to me that if the Lord stopped it then. He could have stoppoi it m our day. I thought upon my father's narration of the Savior's and Joseph Smith's visit to John Taylor on the night of September 26,1886 and the signal events of die following day. Yet, in spite of these testimonies which I had believed in the joy and buoyancy of the Spirit and with the total of my reasoning powers, I had this honest and unanswered question in my mind. I was greatly disturbed over this and fell upon my knees. There 1 prayed in the fervor of my soul. My tears flowed unrestrained. The prayer I offered was in subslance if not identically the following: "Oh' My f-'ather in Heaven, Thou who knowest the inmost thoughts of Thy children's minds, art aware of the question dial has arisen in my mind. Thou also knowest the feelings of my heart, that 1 have covenanted with Thee and with my NECESSITY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 49 husband to live that Great Law. Thou knowest the intent of my heart and the love and ijjjesires I have in this respect for dear Mary and Olive, my own treasured sisters." 1 .Sobbed in my agony of spirit "Oh, Father, as surely as Thou livest, Thou also Vnowest my great disappointment in the thought that You could have discontinued iVthat Law today, the same as You did in Nephite times, that there is a possibility that S'-jBt a later time than John Taylor's instructions. You may have given a command for '.the people to cease —perhaps due to Hfc«r un worthiness like theNephites of old. — s'.. Yet that wouldn't make sense with John Taylor's instructions for keeping Plural ... Marriage alive until the time our Savior comes." So I pleaded in thought mingled with spoken words, "Oh! Father help me. 1 do not fear persecution, -.excommunication, —any of these things, but I must know 1 am not going against Thee As I pleaded thus, a FEELING OF CALM AND OF PEACE gradually .came over my whole being, and with it the surety that my blessed and eternal ^. Father, who knew my heart and my desires to serve I lim above all others, was jf,( sweetly, oh! so sweetly, mindful of me —even little me, and that though many if not all humans might prove untrue, I could rely implicitly upon my tender and all-knowing Father Calm and assured, I was impressed to again turn to the account in Jacob, chapters 2 and 3. As I read the two chapters, I was shown clearly thallhe Lord in no .way condemned the living of that Law. It was the abominations of David and '.Solomon and others that he condemned, wherein they had taken wives who were not -;'&. given by the Lord, and had lived in lasciviousncss, adultery, and whoredom. These lil.were the things the Lord condemned, not the living of the Law of Celestial Marriage, but the breaking of this Law.

Such utter peace and assurance filled my soul (hat 1 rejoiced in the fact that all of the truths we had learned about John Taylor's provisions were still in force as a boon and a blessing to the humble and the contrite. Close upon these revelations ^•followed the assurance that we would not have to give up having dear, humble Olive and Mary [as plural wives], loo, if she proved willing.

As I rejoiced and thanked the Lord for such glad relief and utter joy, the Spirit instructed me to fast and pray for further light on this very subject of the Nephites, and that He who delights to bless and edify the humble and contrite would surely edify rne. Upon my husband's return, I told him the whole experience He agreed fully with all I had received and likewise instructed me to fast and pray. I did, and being big with child, and in need of nourishment I ate simply (no meat or fancy foods) alternating between meals and abstinence. Within about two days, I had a remarkable dream early in die morning as 1 slept. I was permitted to see Jacob as he stood before a large assemblage of Nephilc people gathered at the temple. I saw and heard him speak the very words that are recorded in the Book of Mormon. 1 also witnessed the horribly belligerent feelings of thiserowd who were for the most part guilty of the very things of which Jacob f••' accused them. Like all evildoers, they did not like to be told of their own sins. Their50 THE 1886 VISITATION OF JESUS CHRIST antipathy was so great and real thai one could feel it like a chilling poisonous vapor.

I feared for Jacob's safety, but he went on talking with such great love and earnestness that my heart was melted in love and admiration of him. Here, indeed, was a pure man of God who shunned and abhorred every semblance of evil, who stood and delivered his message under divine protection, exactly as the Lord had commanded, likely without any foreknowledge of the protection which certainly was his. Then 1 saw that both he and Nephi (who had but recently died) [Jacob 112. 15, 18] suffered martyrdom because they and other righteous saints continued to live that Holy Law of Plural Marriage and perpetuate it among the righteous after protesting the evils that were current These declarations, doubtless, had been made both in private and in public, as Jacob now did at this time under a special command At once 1 saw the analogy. It is this. The conditions in Nephitc times when the prophets continued the practice of that Holy Law in secret were comparable to conditions in this the last dispensation when the leading brethren secretly continued to personally live and to foster (among the more righteous sector) the living of Plural Marriage. In both cases the real saints, those who would serve God at all costs, had to practice this Holy I,aw and Commandment in secret because of the intense persecutions which often came from apostates within the fold.

Continuing now with my experiences in the dream, my feelings of love and admiration went out fully to these two great and pure men who, like many prophets of our dispensation, have championed an unpopular Principle and suffered martyrdom as a result.' \Voices of Women, Vol.2, pp 82-86 My emphases.] Lorin Woolley verifies this dream and relates more about the Nephites: Rhea A. Kunz: "Let me explain a bit further about this word "martyr." by first narrating another incident I was at the home of Leslie Hroadbent with other visitors and was talking with Lorin (J. Woolley, bodyguard of John Taylor and other prophets, and one of several special witnesses and emissaries, commissioned by John Taylor to keep Plural Marriage alive as long as they should live and lo commission others to follow in the symc work after their demise While talking, as slated, with Lorin C. Woolley. I nairated to him my dream about plural marriage This precious and holy man verified all that 1 received and then explained the meaning of the word "martyr." He said that some have sutured more by continuing to live and carry on than they would have done by giving their lives Moreover, he said that John Taylor was three times a martyr, first, when he shed his blood with the prophets Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage Jail and suffered worse than sudden death, second, when he suffered pain, cold and deprivation from family associations while on the "underground;" and third, when he died an earlier than natural death due to the hardships he had suffered. This definition agrees with the definition given in Webster's New World Dictionary: Mar-tyr ... 1. a person who chooses to suffer or die rather than give up his faith or ht5 principle; person tortured or killed because ol his beliefs. 2. a SFTY OF CELESTIAL PLURAL MARRIAGE 51 Ison who suffers great pain or misery for a long time v.t 1. to put to death or jure for adherence to a belief 2 to torture: make suffer greatly; persecute At the time of our discussion, when as stated. Brother Woolley verified ail I ,, received in that dream, he did it in such a natural, knowing way that I was constrained to remark, "Brother Woolley, you mast know more than what information we have in the Book of Mormon." He just smiled, but oh, the sweetness and the .spiritual knowing that his iression contained. I understood and loved him the more for not broadcasting •Is. Brother Woolley also explained to us that the Lord had said (Jacob 2:25-30) expressly thai he led the Nephites out of Jerusalem so He could raise up a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. When a part of the people sinned against this Holy Law, the Ixwd forbade their living Plural Marriage.

Brother Woolley also explained that in these Latter-days it (Celestial or Plural .iage) was a commandment again, for the same purpose — TO RAISE UP GHTEOUS SEED and that the I.ord had made provisions (Lorin himself ig a special witness and emissary, though he didn't say so expressly at that time), erpetuate that law without cessation, until the Savior comes. —It certainly will be stopped. The correct living of'fhat Law will be necessary to obtain immortal-and Godhood." [Ibid Emphases, mine.]

Why are these deep but very vital truths and principles generally hidden? Remember, that the Book of Mormon is a record which teaches the Milk of the Gospel to the world. It is the first record of the restoration lhat most new investigators obtain. Plural marriage mighl be termed the meat of the gospel. A babe in the gospel must first be fed on milk. He must first be weaned from the milk before he is to lake meat. Likely, the sealed part of the Book of Mormon contains the deeper things, including much about plural marriage. The Lord explained that he would first try the faith of the saints with the unsealed portion of itatiecord before allowing them access to the sealed portions: "And these things have I written which are a lesser part of the things which ght the people, and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought .in unto this people, from the gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath iken. And when they shall have received this, which is expedient thai they should •e first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if H so be that they :.,will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them. o their condemnation. Behold. 1 was about to write them, all which were .raven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying I will try the ith of my people. Therefore I. Mormon, do write the things which have been Inttnanded me of the Lord " [3 Nephi 26.8-12 Emphases, mine.]