Analysis of Section 132

Analysis of section 132

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”;  2 Tim. 4: 3

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1: 8-9

In previous posts I have pointed to historical documentation that indicates that originally, the revelation now known as Section 132 was much shorter and only about restoring the biblical principle of patriarchal polygamy. It was apparently some time later that the theological portions pertaining to the spiritual wife doctrine were added.

I have already put my two cents worth about how I feel about the spiritual wife doctrine in another post. If you have not read it, you may view it here.

I have, however, felt for a long time that since section 132 claims that after a person becomes aware of the doctrine contained therein, that they need to live it and have multiple wives  in order to receive the highest glory of the Lord, and since it is included in the four standard works and is presented by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints as a true revelation containing true doctrine, that I am compelled to take it very seriously and weigh it in the balance, against the other revelations contained in the four standard works.

So I finally took the time the other night to read the entire section through again, and to scrutinize each and every verse to see just how congruent this revelation is with the rest of Gods revealed word. As usual, I was not able to take as much time as I desired and this article, like most of the ones I have written, will remain a work in progress.

Joseph Smith has informed us that true revelations never contradict previous ones. That one key should raise a big red flag when one reads section 132.

The prophet Joseph Smith one made the following comment,

“There have also been ministering angels in the Church which were of Satan appearing as an angel of light. (Gives an example).. Many true things were spoken by this personage, and many things that were false. How, it may be asked, was this known to be a bad angel? By the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation.” (Joseph Smith, TPJS, pp. 214-215)

There are doctrinal sophists that will look at you with a strait face and tell you that the spiritual wife doctrine contained in section 132 does not contradict celestial law contained in section 42, or the command to limit yourself to one wife in section 49. But each of us need to determine the truthfulness of that teaching for ourselves.l

One of the truly disturbing things about the so-called “revelation” contained in section 132 is how it redefines so many of the plain and simple doctrines and phrases of the gospel that are contained in the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenant.

Here are some of the terms and doctrines that seem to be redefined in this section;

·    New and Everlasting Covenant
·    Oath and covenant
·    Strait gate

My concern is that redefining terms and doctrines previously defined by God and his holy prophets constitutes the preaching of a different gospel. This is something else we need to keep in mind as we review this section.

Here is my analysis of how the doctrines in section 132 measures up to the holy and infallible word of God. Section 132 is in black, my comments and observations are in Red,

SECTION 132

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—

Verse one is a big red flag in my opinion.

It would have us believe that the revelation came as a result of Joseph Smith asking (or Joseph Smith asking on behalf of one of the Elders of Israel,) the Lord to explain why he had justified, among others, David and Solomon in having multiple wives.

The Book of Mormon had already revealed that David and Solomon were NOT justified in having many wives and concubines!

Did Joseph Smith believe the Book of Mormon that he had brought forth by the gift and power of God? Of course he did!

Why would Joseph Smith, as the Seer of the Lord who translated the Book of Mormon be asking why God justified David and Solomon in taking multiple wives when in fact it was through his efforts in translating the Book of Mormon that he was able to reveal to the world that David and Solomon WERE NOT JUSTIFIED in having multiple wives;

“For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in 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.”

Not only does the Book of Mormon clarify that David and Solomon were not justified, it declares that what they did was an abomination. It reveals that those who used the scriptures to justify their actions in practicing polygamy DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES!

It is almost inconceivable that the Lords anointed would ask such an unsound question of the Lord, when he had already been an instrument in the hands of God to shed light on this issue.

If the question would have been limited to asking why Abraham and Jacob and the righteous patriarchs that lived the principle were justified, there would have been no inconsistency and it would have been a sound and valid question.

I have a little more to say about the ramifications pertaining to this most disturbing opening verse, but I am going to come back to this later in the article after we review more of this section.

2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.

3 Therefore, ^aprepare thy heart to receive and ^bobey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.

Common sense and a literal rendering of these verses up to the word YOU, would indicate that if this really was a true revelation, the commandment to live this law is being given directly to Joseph Smith exclusively at this point, and that others would need to have a direct revelation from God or a tap on the shoulder from Gods anointed in order to be justified in practicing it.

And that appears to be what it is saying until you get to the last sentence which actually makes the living of the law binding on everyone that reads the revelation or has it explained to them.

“for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same”

Would God really do that? Would he take a so-called “higher law” and make it binding on virtually everyone who becomes aware of it?

This brings up a very important issue. If God really did reveal this revelation to Joseph Smith and if it was a valid accurate revelation, why didn’t God instruct Joseph to canonize it into the D&C?

Did you realize that Joseph was getting ready to publish a new version of the D&C just before his death that contained about 6 or 8 new additional revelations but he did not intend to include this one?

Why?

When the new version of the scriptures that Joseph had prepared came out, they contained section 124 which warned the Saints that anything more or less than what was in the Book of Mormon and the published revelations up to section 124 (and any others that Joseph had published and made public), “cometh of evil and shall be attended with cursings”.(see 124:119,120)

According to that ominous warning, section 132 must be considered evil and is attended with cursings.

One only needs to read the diaries of the Saints who struggled to live polygamy to get a glimpse of the cursings God warned the saints about.

So if God did not commission Joseph or Hyrum (who was actually the sole prophet of the church at the time of the martyrdom) to legitimize and canonize the current version of section 132 even though it had supposedly been given by then, who gave Brigham Young the authority to replace the Article on Marriage (which forbids the practice of polygamy) and replace it with 132?

If Brigham really was authorized by God to insert it, why did he have Brigham wait nearly 30 years to do it instead of having him do it when the Saints reached Utah?

Brigham openly stated numerous times that he had never seen God nor did he claim to be a prophet, so where did he get the authority to canonize a revelation that binds the Saints to the strange and contradictory doctrines found in this section?

The insertion of section 132 without authority from God and without the law of common consent is not very consistent with previous protocol. It contradicts previous revelations and it neglects some kind of requirement of righteousness or justification through grace with regard to the promises of eternal life that it makes… those promises of eternal life are soley predicated upon the acceptance of a strange and unnatural marital law.

It neglects the law of common consent, it opens up the practicing of this law to everyone, not just the church membership. According the William Law, the original revelation limited the practice of this law to High Priests.

4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting ^acovenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye ^bdamned; for no one can ^creject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

This is the first of several sacred gospel terms that this revelation redefines.

Prior to this revelation the phrase “New and Everlasting Covenant” ALWAYS had specific reference to the saving ordinance of the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost which is the sacred covenant that gets us through the gate and onto the strait path. It sometimes also includes the messenger holding the keys to the saving ordinance of water, fire and Holy Ghost..

Now, for the first time in the four standard works, the phrase is redefined to refer to a commandment to have multiple wives.

Frankly it seems blasphemous to me to redefine the New and Everlasting Covenant of Baptism and the power of the atonement, as referring a mandatory requirement to have multiple wives sealed to you. I wonder how God feels about diverting the attention from the sacrifice and atonement of his Son to the principle of polygamy.

Would God really confuse us this way? Especially since the Law of the Gospel contained in section 42 requires monogamy?

This is not only redefining a term, it is reversing the meaning of a term!

I don’t think so!

Section 42 and section 132 cannot both be true because they contradict each other.

The law of the Gospel in section 42 is sacred to me. The spirit bears witness that it is true. I am forced to accept one revelation or the other. They can’t contradict each other and both be true.

5 For all who will have a ^ablessing at my hands shall abide the ^blaw which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.

6 And as pertaining to the new and ^aeverlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my ^bglory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.

Ok, this revelation is now revealing that the only people who can receive a fullness of Gods glory are those that enter into this new definition of the New and Everlasting Covenant, requiring multiple wives.

The fullness of Gods glory was addressed long before section 132 was crafted. Those crafting it should have studied section 76 a little closer because it addresses this issue.

Apparently Joseph and Sidney were not aware of this new doctrine in section 132 when they experienced the vision now known as section 76 because they actually received a fullness of the Glory of God while living monogamy in the flesh. Please notice the following verses;

“We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the Spirit on the sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two—

By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God—

Even those things which were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, even from the beginning;

Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.

And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.

And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and RECEIVED OF HIS FULNESS;

21 And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever.

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

Not only did these two monogamists experience the fulness of the glory of God in the flesh, they revealed that all of those who receive the testimony of Jesus and are baptized and keep the commandments (which are detailed in the law of the gospel) and overcome by faith and are sealed up by the Holy Spirit of Promise, will be made kings and priests and will RECEIVE OF HIS FULNESS AND GLORY!

Clearly Joseph and Sidney received of his fulness as monogamists.

Furthermore, Section 76 explains exactly what the Gospel of Christ is that enables us to enter into the fulness of his glory for eternity. Please note the following passages;

“And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—

They are they who received the  testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;

And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.

They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—

They are they who are priest and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;

I didn’t notice anything in there about multiple wives being a requirement to receive the fullness of Gods glory.. did you?

Is it possible that section 132 is preaching ANOTHER Gospel?

7 And verily I say unto you, that the ^aconditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, ^boaths, ^cvows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and ^dsealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is ^eanointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by ^frevelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this ^gpower (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this ^hpower in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the ⁱkeys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.

8 Behold, mine house is a house of ^aorder, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.

I’m glad to know that God’s house is a house of order and not a house of confusion however, now I am really confused. This revelation is stating that the priesthood power to seal someone up according to the Holy Spirit of Promise is never held by more than one person on the earth at a time. First of all, the Holy Spirit of Promise can seal anyone up that the Father chooses, the Holy Spirit of Promise does not function under the direction of mortal man. We will get more into this in a minute but for right now, let talk about priesthood keys.

Apparently the people who crafted this revelation neglected to read section 68 and 124. Lets review them;

Speaking to several brethren who had been ordained to the office of High Priest, the Lord gives this promise,

“And of as many as the Father shall bear record, to you shall be given power to seal them up unto eternal life. Amen.” (section 68:12)

In addition to the incredible promise given above, which was given to several high priests (and undoubtedly applies to the 144,000 High Priests when they begin their ministry), section 124 makes it abundantly clear that in 1841 Joseph and Hyrum both held the power to seal people up in conjunction with the Holy Spirit of Promise (based on providing the ordinances of salvation).

Furthermore, section 81 tells us that the three people that compose the first presidency of the High Priesthood jointly hold the keys of the kingdom!

Do I now have to throw out sections 45, 68, 76, 81 and 124 in order to embrace this new gospel that is being preached in section 132?

The problem with verse 7 however is much deeper than that. In verse 5 and again in verse 7, section 132 introduces the LAW of CONDITIONS pertaining to salvation in the highest kingdom, or in other words, it lays the foundation for what the “conditions” of the gospel  and the “conditions” of salvation are.

At this point in my critique of this section I am going to submit the glorious discourse that King Benjamin gave regarding the “CONDITIONS” of the gospel. I challenge you to read Mosiah 4:8 and ponder the fact that this righteous king had just delivered a message to his people that he had received from an angel. Then in verse 8 he then outlines what the conditions of salvation really are.

I challenge you to read Mosiah chapters 2,3 and 4 and make bullet points of what the conditions of salvation are (and what they are not) and then make bullet points based on what section 132 claims the conditions of salvation are.

You will be shocked.

Section 132 gives entirely different and contrary conditions than King Benjamin gives.

Section 132 preaches quite a different gospel than the Book of Mormon preaches.

The Book of Mormon tells us to put our faith and trust in God and the atonement, section 132 teaches us to put our faith and trust in human priesthood authority.

The Book of Mormon has God bestowing the Holy Spirit of Promise on his children, section 132 emphasizes that God only has one man on the earth at a time that has the authority to seal you up by the Holy Spirit of Promise.

The four standard works teach that the Holy Spirit of Promise works under the direction of the Father and the Son and independent of Man, yet section 132 claims that you can only recieve the Holy Spirit of Promise through the special person who is anointed to give it.

The Book of Mormon states in no uncertain terms, “the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel and he employeth no servant there; and there is no other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name..”

Do a key word search in the four standard works to see what Paul and others taught about the Holy Spirit of Promise and see if the associated doctrines point you to putting your trust in God or Human Priesthood authority… after doing so and after comparing the words of King Benjamin to the strange new doctrine found in section 132, you will get incredible clarity on how section 132 differs from the gospel taught in the true Word of God

9 Will I ^aaccept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name?

10 Or will I receive at your hands that which I have not ^aappointed?

11 And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ^aordained unto you, before the world was?

12 I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall ^acome unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord.

Why is the Lord making specific reference to his new LAW contained in this proposed revelation as the conflicting law contained in section 42 had never been given? Why didn’t he mention his LAW which he had already given, which this new law contradicts?

Has it been done away with? If so, why doesn’t the Lord notify Joseph Smith that a higher or lower law is being instituted, just as the lord notified Moses when the lesser law containing “carnal commandments” was being instituted instead of the higher law? (See JST Ex. 34: 1-2, 14)

This is very confusing and not congruent with previous revelations and commandments.

13 And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by ^athrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall ^bnot remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God.

14 For whatsoever things remain are by me; and whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed.

15 Therefore, if a ^aman marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.

16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in ^amarriage; but are appointed angels in ^bheaven, which angels are ministering ^cservants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

I don’t see any major discrepancies in those passages. Perhaps they were taken from a valid revelation? Or perhaps those that crafted this revelation just got lucky? Or perhaps old Scratch throws in a little truth to give credibility to the lies he is perpetuating?

17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are ^aangels of God forever and ever.

I’m not positive, because I have not taken the time to do an extensive key word search, but I believe this is the first time in the four standard works that the word “exaltation” is used in this context. Prior to this, when used in a positive context, it simply means raised up.”

I think that possibly the word “saved” categorically meant saved in the highest kingdom of God in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. The word salvation also categorically referred to being saved in the celestial kingdom in the D&C UNTIL section 76 was received. It was then, for the first time that the word saved was used to refer to a “saved condition” in any kingdom of glory, but the broader use of the word was clearly spelled out in that revelation.

I believe section 132 introduces “exaltation” theology for the first time.

Why is this important? It may not be.

I don’t necessarily see a problem with using the word exaltation in place of salvation, however it is curious that God would never introduce this term until now. Particularly when it would have been so appropriate in section 76 if in fact it is an accurate descriptive.

The exaltation doctrine in 132 possibly creates a necessity for multiple kingdoms within the celestial Kingdom based on number of wives, etc. Hence the misinterpretation of section 131:1-4 by many people.

Yet the scriptures are so clear about the fact that there are three kingdoms of glory and that all of the elect that go to the highest kingdom are equal, having received the fulness of the Father.

It is interesting how the Lord warns leaders of the restoration movement to not “exalt” themselves.

Notice also how the Lord uses the word “exalt” when telling Satan what he was thinking in his heart;

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isa. 14: 13

18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that ^acovenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.

19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man ^amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ^beverlasting covenant, and it is ^csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of ^dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the ^ekeys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit ^fthrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s ^gBook of Life, that he shall commit no ^hmurder whereby to shed innocent ⁱblood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their ^jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the ^kseeds forever and ever.

20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from ^aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be ^bgods, because they have ^call power, and the angels are subject unto them.

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my ^alaw ye cannot attain to this glory.

22 For ^astrait is the gate, and narrow the ^bway that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the ^clives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.

Now section 132 is redefining the phrase “strait is the gate and narrow the way”.

Lets do a key word search to see if the new definition squares with the original definition given by Christ.

“Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat;

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Mat 7:13)

It is interesting that Christ first introduces the term strait gate in the sermon on the mount after telling his followers to treat people the same way they would want to be treated. The implication is that his followers already knew what the phrase “strait gate” had reference to.

Now lets see what the prophets understood about the phrase Christ was using

“Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive” 2 Ne. 31: 17

Modern Revelation confirms what the Bible and Book of Mormon tell us about the strait gate, it also reiterates what the new and everlasting covenant really is and reminds us that the carnal commandments of the law of Moses (like polygamy) are done away with-

1  BEHOLD, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning.
2  Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works.
3  For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old.
4  Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God.  Amen.

Section 132 is telling us that we get into the strait gate by multiple wives instead of by the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost. Are you willing to bet your salvation on this “other gospel”?

25 ^aBroad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the ^bdeaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they ^creceive me not, neither do they abide in my law.

Again, this is the second part of a phrase we have already researched.. it just doesn’t square with God’s holy and infallible word in the scriptures.

26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.

What an interesting doctrine! We talk about the insidious doctrine of works that overrides the grace of God through the atonement pursuant to the saving ordinances of the Gospel, but this really takes the cake.

According to this “enlightened” bit of legislation, if a man is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, as long as he does not shed innocent blood, he can commit any sin or transgression and all manner of blasphemies and still be guaranteed exaltation in the highest kingdom after he gets his hands slapped for a while.

The above doctrine in section 132 reminds me of the prophetic warning in the Book of Mormon that says in the last days men will be saying,

“… God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark. … O the wise and the learned and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them sayeth the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!” 2nd Nephi 28:8-

Are you buying what section 132 is selling? Or are you sticking with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Are the above passages in section 132 preaching the simple and pure doctrine of Christ or is it teaching a vain and foolish doctrine that justifies people in committing whordoms?

Try reconciling the above passages in 132 with the gospel of Jesus Christ that is taught in section 42 and the rest of the scriptures.

Try reconciling it with section 76!

(of course, in the passage above,  in 132, we don’t know which “New and Everlasting Covenant” it is speaking about, but it doesn’t make any sense either way)

Having gotten that little rant out of the way, let me suggest that verse 26 is perhaps one of the most blatant doctrinal slip-ups from those that crafted this revelation.

If you will do a key phrase search for “delivered unto the buffetings of Satan, you will find that this phrase only shows up in modern revelation. It showed up in three separate revelations before section 132 was crafted. EVERYONE of the other three passages reveals that it is breaking the law of consecration that turns a person over to the buffetings of Satan!

Furthermore, and perhaps even more telling, the scriptures are clear about the fact that everyone that dies is ether sealed up to go to the spirit paradise because of their faith and righteousness OR they are sealed up to go to the spirit prison to await the wrath of God because they died in their sins without repenting during probation.

Never do the scriptures speak of those that come forth out of prison as being the elect of God.

Those that go to the spirit prison because they died in their sins are not caught up in the cloud to meet Jesus during the first resurrection… period, end of story.

We therefore know beyond question that the above passage and associated doctrine is out of harmony with the gospel that is revealed in the true revelations.

It is after they have all suffered for their own sins, in the flesh that the terrestrial and telestial spirits will receive their final resurrected bodies and eternal inheritances.

27 The ^ablasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall ^bnot be ^cforgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit ^dmurder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be ^edamned, saith the Lord.

We’ve already discussed the absurdity of the doctrine that you are damned from entering into the glory of the Lord if you haven’t enslaved a bunch of wives. We shan’t belabor it.

28 I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thee the ^alaw of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordained by me and my Father before the world was.

As subtle as it is, this of course is the redefining of the “oath and covenant of the Father” as mentioned in section 84, which is commonly referred to in the Church as the “oath and covenant of the priesthood”.

In a previous article I have shown beyond dispute that the oath and covenant of the Father pertains to the New and Everlasting Covenant of Baptism. It is the baptismal covenant that enabled Father Adam and all of the great prophets and patriarchs to enter into the highest priesthood.

Of course, now that this revelation of questionable origin has redefined the term New and Everlasting Covenant to mean multiple wives, everything has changed, and we now have “another gospel”. We can now focus on obtaining additional wives instead focusing on the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost!

In JST Luke 11:53 the Savior makes an astonishing accusation towards the religious “lawyers” that were largely responsible for teaching doctrine in the corrupt Jewish church,

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, the fulness of the scriptures; ye enter not in yourselves into the kingdom; and those who were entering in, ye hindered.”

Is it possible that the other gospel contained in section 132 hinders people from entering into the kingdom by obscuring and redefining the true doctrines and ordinances contained in the four standard works?

Perhaps when the fulness of the scriptures are made available when the first laborers of the last kingdom return, it will be much clearer to us that the first gospel that was revealed through the prophet Joseph Smith was true.

29 ^aAbraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.

30 ^aAbraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose ^bloins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph—which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the ^cstars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.

31 This promise is yours also, because ye are of ^aAbraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself.

32 Go ye, therefore, and do the ^aworks of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved.

I agree that we need to do the works of Abraham.

What exactly did Abraham do that will enable us to become save?

He paid tithes to Melchizedek. That means he entered into the Law of the Gospel and consecration. In order to do that, he had to do what Melchizedek, Enoch and Adam all did, he had to enter into the everlasting covenant of Baptism… even the baptism of water, fire and the Holy Ghost.

After being baptized, he kept his oath to serve God which is to be willing to sacrifice all things.

Those are the works of Abraham that we are supposed to follow.

If this is a true revelation, how could God have overlooked including this information under the topic of “do the works of Abraham”?

33 But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promise of my Father, which he made unto Abraham.

Here we have another redefining of what God’s law is.

In sections 37, 38 and 39 the Lord had commanded the Saints to go to the Ohio where he would give them his law. Once they got to the Ohio, he gave them is law as contained in section 42. That is the “law of the gospel”

In that section the Lord said,

“Again I say unto you, hearken and hear and obey the law which I shall give unto you…” He then made specific mention of several laws including the law of having only one wife. Eventually the revelation stated that,

“Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church;”

Of course the four standard works up to that period of time had all taught that the Saints should only have one wife.

Now, however, this revelation is redefining the law of the Gospel that was given in section 42. This is a huge contradiction and itappears to be redefining previous definitions of sacred laws that the Lord had already given to the Saints.

Is this not preaching “another gospel” than that found in the New Testament, Book of Mormon and D&C?

34 God ^acommanded Abraham, and Sarah gave ^bHagar 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.

The scriptures support the proposition that Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham and that God tolerated the patriarchal law of plural wives as practiced in Old Testament times. However, they don’t ever indicate that God gave Hagar to Abraham by revelation and they certainly don’t indicate that the biblical law of polygamy was an celestial principle that would continue on into eternity.

We need to remember that the children of Israel who rejected the higher law and were living the law of carnal commandments were living polygamy.

Many pro-polygamists will tell you that the children of polygamist wives are of a higher spiritual realm, however, the scriptures don’t confirm this, Isaiah informs so that the righteous only come from Sarah, not Hagar! check out Isaiah 51!

Furthermore, we Paul informs us in Galations 4 that Abraham had two sons, one from a bondwoman (Hagar) and one from a freewoman (Sarah). He then informs us that those children from the freewoman are the children of the PROMISE while those of the bondwoman are born after the flesh and are born unto BONDAGE!

The offspring of a polygamous union from Abraham appear to be terrestrial spirits at best!

35 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, ^acommanded it.

36 Abraham was ^acommanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not ^bkill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for ^crighteousness.

37 Abraham received ^aconcubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and ^bJacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their ^cexaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.

Stating that Abraham, Issac and Jacob have received their exaltation and are now Gods sitting on their thrones is simply not congruent with the scriptures and is a false doctrine.

Paraphrasing a scripture in Hebrews, the prophet Joseph Smith made the following comment found in section 128,

“… as Paul says concerning the fathers- that they without us cannot be made perfect– neither can we without our dead be made perfect” D&C 128:15

Abraham has been redeemed from this telestial world but he has not been made perfect. He can’t be made perfect until the righteous from our dispensation have been made perfect.

Father Abraham and others have been redeemed from the powers of this world but they have not received their final salvation (exaltation?) and been made perfect yet.

In fact, God hasn’t even completed his covenant with Abraham and Jacob and the other patriarchal fathers yet. Please note the following passages,

“.. your dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers..” 3 Nephi 10:7

“And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.” 1st Nephi 14:17

“Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” 1st Nephi 15:18

“Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.” 1 Ne 19:15

Why don’t we wait until the covenant between God and Abraham has been fulfilled before we try to exalt Abraham and send him off to create other worlds?

38 David also received ^amany wives and concubines, and 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.

39 ^aDavid’s wives and concubines were ^bgiven unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the ^ckeys of this power; and in none of these things did he ^dsin against me save in the case of ^eUriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath ^ffallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I ^ggave them unto another, saith the Lord.

As pointed out after the very first passage of this revelation, the prophet Joseph Smith revealed to the world through the Book of Mormon that David was not justified in the taking of many wives and concubines. The case of Uriah was not the only case in which he sinned.

Additionally, one could assume from the above passage that David did not sin in any other way than in the case of Uriah. That of course would not be accurate either as David was prevented from building the temple because of the wars he had been involved in,

“ And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house unto the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars; thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.” Jst 1 Chron 22:7

40 I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an ^aappointment, and restore all things. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my word.

41 And as ye have asked concerning adultery, verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man ^areceiveth a wife in the new and everlasting covenant, and if she be with another man, and I have not appointed unto her by the holy ^banointing, she hath committed ^cadultery and shall be destroyed.

42 If she be not in the new and everlasting covenant, and she be with another man, she has ^acommitted adultery.

43 And if her husband be with another woman, and he was under a ^avow, he hath broken his vow and hath committed adultery.

44 And if she hath not committed adultery, but is innocent and hath not broken her vow, and she knoweth it, and I reveal it unto you, my servant Joseph, then shall you have power, by the power of my Holy Priesthood, to take her and ^agive her unto him that hath not committed ^badultery but hath been ^cfaithful; for he shall be made ruler over many.

45 For I have conferred upon you the ^akeys and power of the priesthood, wherein I ^brestore all things, and make known unto you all things in due time.

46 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you ^aseal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever you ^bbind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you ^cremit on earth shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; and whosesoever sins you retain on earth shall be retained in heaven.

47 And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless I will bless, and whomsoever you curse I will ^acurse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God.

48 And again, verily I say unto you, my servant Joseph, that whatsoever you give on earth, and to whomsoever you ^agive any one on earth, by my word and according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings and not cursings, and with my power, saith the Lord, and shall be without condemnation on earth and in heaven.

49 For I am the Lord thy God, and will be ^awith thee even unto the ^bend of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I ^cseal upon you your ^dexaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your ^efather.

The implication from this verse is that even after exaltation, the patriarchal order within this mortality continues on…. Abraham continues to be Joseph Smiths patriarchal Father in the celestial kingdom. This seems inconsistent with previous scriptures that indicate that after the Saints are redeemed. All are equal with each other… even with Christ,

“And again, another angel shall sound his trump, which is the seventh angel, saying: It is finished; it is finished! The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.

And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the ^asaints shall be filled with his ^bglory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him.”(section 88)

50 Behold, I have seen your ^asacrifices, and will forgive all your sins; I have seen your ^bsacrifices in obedience to that which I have told you. Go, therefore, and I make a way for your escape, as I ^caccepted the offering of Abraham of his son Isaac.

51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to ^aprove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.

It seems like a poor analogy to compare a commandment from the Lord offering other husbands to Emma to the commandment of the Lord for Abraham to sacrifice his only son.

The historicity behind this very strange verse appears to be the situation where Joseph was trying to pacify the jealousy of Emma towards her sister wives by offering to let her have other husbands… pretty sick. But even if Emma wanted other husbands and would be pacified by having them, I hardly see that as something that could be compared to the sacrifice of Abrahams only son!

Further, the terms “covenant and sacrifice” are foundational terms pertaining to the great sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit that we are commanded to offer up when we enter into the true New and Everlasting Covenant.

Again, this revelation is redefining existing gospel terms and preaching another gospel. Please note the following verses which are all unified in revealing the true sacrifice and covenant that the Lord requires of us;

8 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.

9 For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.

10 Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that a house should be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I have given you.

11 Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people.

12 Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion—

Clearly, the sacrifice and covenant spoken of in the scriptures is different from what section 132 is referring to.

52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, ^areceive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.

53 For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been ^afaithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him.

54 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and ^acleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be ^bdestroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law.

I find it very interesting that the Lord is threatening to destroy Emma if she doesn’t follow this commandment. In other parts of this revelation being destroyed in the flesh corresponds with being turned over to the  “buffetings of satan”.

That phrase shows up four times in modern revelation. The first three times it always has to do with those who break the law of consecration that they have entered into… yet this revelation would have us believe that it pertains to rejecting polygamy… again, we are redefining the use of this term from the sacred law of consecration to pertain to a different law of multiple wives, which is a carnal commandment!

Please notice the following verses,

D&C 78: 12

12 And he who breaketh it shall lose his office and standing in the church, and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.

D&C 82: 21

21 And the soul that sins against this covenant, and hardeneth his heart against it, shall be dealt with according to the laws of my church, and shall be delivered over to the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.

D&C 104: 9-10

9 Inasmuch as ye are cut off for transgression, ye cannot escape the buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.

10 And I now give unto you power from this very hour, that if any man among you, of the order, is found a transgressor and repenteth not of the evil, that ye shall deliver him over unto the buffetings of Satan; and he shall not have power to bring evil upon you.

BTW

Do you find it just a little strange how the Lord pummels us with warnings about living consecration all throughout the D&C until this revelation.. then it is not even mentioned. Very strange.

55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an ^ahundredfold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of ^beternal lives in the eternal worlds.

56 And again, verily I say, let mine handmaid ^aforgive my servant Joseph his trespasses; and then shall she be forgiven her trespasses, wherein she has trespassed against me; and I, the Lord thy God, will bless her, and multiply her, and make her heart to ^brejoice.

57 And again, I say, let not my servant Joseph put his property out of his hands, lest an enemy come and destroy him; for ^aSatan ^bseeketh to destroy; for I am the Lord thy God, and he is my servant; and behold, and lo, I am with him, as I was with Abraham, thy father, even unto his ^cexaltation and glory.

58 Now, as touching the law of the ^apriesthood, there are many things pertaining thereunto.

59 Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was ^aAaron, by mine own voice, and by the voice of him that ^bsent me, and I have endowed him with the ^ckeys of the power of this priesthood, if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit ^dsin, and I will justify him.

60 Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph; for I will justify him; for he shall do the sacrifice which I require at his hands for his transgressions, saith the Lord your God.

61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse ^aanother, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.

62 And if he have ^aten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.

63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to ^amultiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be ^bglorified.

This spiritual wife law contained in this revelation appears to apply only to virgins.

This of course is totally inconsistent with the actions of Joseph smith according to the claim of multiple historians who claim to have provided significant documentation showing that the majority of women that Joseph Smith took as wives had been or currently were married to other men. One of the biggest problems with the credibility of this revelation is that Joseph Smith did not seem to honor the terms and conditions laid out in this revelation.

Additionally, according to the testimony of William Law, the original version of this revelation limited the living of this law to High Priests. Yet that limitation appears to have been removed by those who crafted it.

64 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law.

65 Therefore, it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord his God, will give unto him, because she did not believe and administer unto him according to my word; and she then becomes the transgressor; and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto Abraham according to the law when I commanded Abraham to take ^aHagar to wife.

66 And now, as pertaining to this law, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will reveal more unto you, hereafter; therefore, let this suffice for the present. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega. Amen.

Ok, before I wrap things up here, I want to go back to the beginning verse of section 132 and go into a little more detail. What I have to say about it needed to be at the end of this article, not at the beginning. Please forgive the repetition of the few things I have previously stated. Please keep reading, there is information you need to read!

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—

Verse one is a big red flag in my opinion.

It would have us believe that the revelation came as a result of Joseph Smith asking (or Joseph Smith asking on behalf of one of the Elders of Israel,) the Lord to explain why he had justified, among others, David and Solomon in having multiple wives.

The Book of Mormon had already revealed that David and Solomon were NOT justified in having many wives and concubines!

Did Joseph Smith believe the Book of Mormon that he had brought forth by the gift and power of God? Of course he did!

Why would Joseph Smith, as the Seer of the Lord who translated the Book of Mormon be asking why God justified David and Solomon in taking multiple wives when in fact it was through his efforts in translating the Book of Mormon that he was able to reveal to the world that David and Solomon WERE NOT JUSTIFIED in having multiple wives;

“For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in 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.”

Not only does the Book of Mormon clarify that David and Solomon were not justified, it declares that what they did was an abomination. It reveals that those who used the scriptures to justify their actions in practicing polygamy DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES!

It is almost inconceivable that the Lords anointed would ask such an unsound question of the Lord, when he had already been an instrument in the hands of God to shed light on this issue.

If the question would have been limited to asking why Abraham and Jacob and the righteous patriarchs that lived the principle were justified, there would have been no inconsistency and it would have been a sound and valid question.

It may seem a little odd that the Lord would play along, as if the question was a valid one.

There is actually a biblical principle that is invoked here having to do with asking idolatrous questions to the Lord. We will cover that in a minute..

However, we need to remember that God had warned the Saints in the original version of what is now known as section 5  that he would deliver them up to Satan if they harden their hearts against his word. Is it not hardening our hearts against His word in the Book of Mormon if we reject what it teaches about David and Solomon?

In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith we are informed that Joseph Smith taught the Relief Society that the church was in a state of darkness because they were blindly following the prophet instead of being responsible for their own salvation.

“President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel–said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church–that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls–applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall–that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds…” TPJS p.237

This is an incredibly insightful and ominous declaration made by the Prophet Joseph Smith. He is telling the relief society that the current state of the restored church in Nauvoo, in 1842 is in the same condition as the corrupt Jewish Church!

What an appropriate time for the Spiritual Wife Doctrine to raise its ugly head!

It seems to me he is telling them that they are in as state of darkness because they are blindly following him instead of searching the scriptures for themselves and taking the Holy Ghost as their guide.

Putting this declaration from the prophet Joseph Smith in historical context;

• It is after the church rejected the full implications and greater light that was offered them at the special conference at the Morley Farm in 1831.

• It was after the failure of the Saints to redeem Zion in 1836.

• It is after the defiling of the Kirtland Temple.

• It is after the declaration of the Lord in section 112 that all flesh has become corrupt.

• It is after section 124 in 1841 when the Lord revealed that the fullness of the priesthood has been lost and that the Saints were currently practicing abominations before him.

• And it was after he had declared that baptisms for the dead were no longer allowed in the river… indicating, according to Lyman Wight, that the sufficient time to complete the temple had lapsed, causing the Lord to reject the church with their dead.

I guess the state of the church was pretty grim at that time. To think that the Lord is now going to reveal some glorious higher law, when the Saints had rejected the last higher law, as contained in section 42, is ludicrous. Especially since the new higher law contradicted the last higher law!

And if we believe the research that has been done by those who have studied Joseph Smith’s involvement in polygamy in Nauvoo, he was allegedly taking some of the married Relief Society women in the audience as wives, yet he was chastising them for blindly following his teachings!

But most people miss the “rest of the story” by only noting the summary of Joseph’s remarks that he made to these ladies.

The deeper story is found in analyzing the biblical text upon which he built his sermon to them.

Have you ever studied Ezekiel 14?

Note the first four verses… I hope you are sitting down because your paradigm about how God responds to his apostate people may be challenged a little,

“Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at all by them?

Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh, according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.”

When an Elder of Israel inquires of God with a pure heart he will get a pure answer from the Lord, usually through His anointed servant. If an Elder inquires of the Lord based on the idolatry in his heart, his answer that he gets will be based on that idolatrous spirit that is in him.

It is possible that Joseph Smith may very possibly have been originally inquiring in behalf of another elder of Israel rather than directly for himself, but at this point, it doesn’t really matter because I want to stay on topic and even if Joseph was asking on behalf of himself, it is all covered by the atonement statute and associated scapegoat doctrine, anyway.

We know that the sins of Israel were artificially placed upon Joseph, Sidney and others at some point in time and they acted them out.

The point is that section 132 begins with an unsound inquiry, it is initiated by an idolatrous question, one that appears to have been based on the idolatry in a persons heart. If those inquiring had believed what the Lord had taught about David and Solomon in the Book of Mormon the inquiry would never have been made because they would have known that David and Solomon were NOT justified.

Hence, the first verse of this revelation is extremely problematic.

According to Ezekiel 14, the Lord may mirror the response based on the idolatry that is in the heart of the person inquiring.

Sometime we will do a much more in-depth analysis of Ezekiel 14 to show that the message gets much deeper. It addresses the scapegoat doctrine and it is actually a prophecy of the very event we are discussing, but it covers it at a deeper level that I don’t want to get into right now.

Nevertheless, it is referring to a very specific event that was to take place in the last days.

After teaching us that God can send a strong delusion upon an apostate people (see also 2nd Thess) based on the idolatry in their hearts in Ezekiel 14, the Lord continues to build upon that doctrine in chapter 20.

He explains that when a people fail to exercise his true judgments and statutes, such as failing to live the true law of the Gospel which includes consecration and monogamy, he will then give them false judgments and statutes,

“Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;  And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord” Ezek 20:24-26

Now I suspect you are saying to yourself, that you don’t believe the Lord would ever lie to anyone… I agree.

The Lord never personally lies directly to anyone, it is against his nature and it is against eternal law.

He uses Satan and other lying spirits to deceive people and hand them over to their delusions.

Please read the following text from 1st Chronicles very carefully and don’t bother digging out your Inspired Version because this IS the Inspired Version,

“And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.

And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also; go forth, and do so.

Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.” (1st Kings 22:22-23 you can see the exact same account in 2nd Chronicles 18:22-23)

God can and does turn his apostate people over to Satan and lying spirits.

He does send strong delusion.

He does use lying spirits to answer people according to the idolatry in their hearts.

As the Old Testament informs us he creates both the good and the evil. He uses evil people as his pawns to accomplish his purposes.

Nebuchadrezzar the king was an evil tyrant, however the Lord refers to him as “his servant”, because the Lord used him to accomplish his purposes,

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.”  ·  Jer. 43: 10

Before leaving this portion of the critique, let me briefly show you an amazing prophecy in Deuteronomy that is probably related to the prophecy Ezekiel was speaking of in chapter 14. More importantly, it is probably a prophecy about a great test that God puts the Latter day Saints through.

Please understand, the following verses contain a prophesy of a future event that takes place in the latter days after God cuts off the nations of a land that Israel inhabits  (read chapter 12 for context);

“When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt  in the fire to their gods.

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor nor diminish from it.

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Ye shall walk  after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.” (see Deut 12 & 13)

As you can see, this prophecy is about a great test that God is going to put his people through in the last days. He is going to have a true prophet lead those people astray that are not able to discern truth from error for themselves.

The warning God gave to his people was “thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from” the word of God… even if his prophet tells you to!

How ironic it is that the prevailing arm of flesh teaching among Gods people is that the “prophet will never lead you astray!”

There is no credible scriptural documentation for that false doctrine. As illustrated in Ezekiel 14 and Deut 12-13, God does use his prophets to test his people and lead his rebellious people into further darkness. Another incredible story about how God uses true prophets to test people by delivering false messages, is contained in 1 kings 13.

When God’s true prophet tells us to go contrary to the word of God, we are to “not hearken to the words of that prophet… for the Lord your God proveth you to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”

Do you idolize Joseph Smith so much that you are going to believe anything that he taught without proving it against the holy and infallible word of God?

If so, you have failed the test.

Do you love the Lord more than Joseph Smith?

If you worship God and love HIM with all your heart, then you will be able to stand firm in the word of God and cast aside anything that adds to or diminishes from it regardless of who introduces it… even if it is our beloved Joseph Smith.. even if Joseph was very convincing… even if he showed signs and wonders.

Even if Joseph gave parables about polygamy as signs of its truthfulness. Even if Joseph produced wonders such as angels threatening to destroy him and take away his free agency, etc.

I feel that those who have searched the scriptures and have taken the Holy Spirit as their guide, and that believe the Book of Mormon, would acknowledge that the assumption and associated question upon which section 132 is predicated is a false premise..

that’s problematic….

We would probably be justified in rejecting this revelation after the first verse, but I continued on evaluating this section anyway… because there is a lot at stake here.

It would certainly be a grave mistake for me to reject this revelation if in fact it was a true revelation from God. However, I would be forced to reject several other revelations by accepting this one.

Based on the myriad of doctrinal inconsistencies that I have found in this revelation, I have no choice but to reject the other gospel that is taught in this revelation.

I have decided to stay true to all of the passages in the four standard works that this revelation mocks.

As with all of the articles that I write, I encourage the reader to discount my own interpretations and to study for yourselves the scriptures presented above.

May the Holy Spirit Guide you as you discern truth from error.