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Slide 4 of 56
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints uses five "standard works" - New Testament,
Old Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great
Price. The use of the Bible is limited, since the church accepts only
parts that are "properly translated." Previous revelation,
including scripture, can be superceded by revelations of the current
prophet. One example is the everlasting covenant of eternal marriage and
plural wives given by Joseph Smith in 1843.1
The plural marriage part of the covenant was rescinded by president
Wilford Woodruff in 1890.2
References
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Revelation given through
Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843,
relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of
the marriage covenant, as also plurality of wives. HC 5:501-507. Although
the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical
records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had
been known by the Prophet since 1831. (D&C: Section 132:Heading)
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OFFICIAL DECLARATION--1
To Whom it may Concern:
Press dispatches having been sent for
political purposes, from Salt Lake City, which have been widely published,
to the effect that the Utah Commission, in their recent report to the
Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages are still being
solemnized and that forty or more such marriages have been contracted in
Utah since last June or during the past year, also that in public
discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the
continuance of the practice of polygamy--
I, therefore, as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges
are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting
any person to enter into its practice, and I deny that either forty or any
other number of plural marriages have during that period been solemnized
in our Temples or in any other place in the Territory.
One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage
was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the Spring of
1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony;
whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence
of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions,
taken down without delay.
Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural
marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of
last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to
use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to
have them do likewise.
There is nothing in my teachings to the Church or in those of my
associates, during the time specified, which can be reasonably construed
to inculcate or encourage polygamy; and when any Elder of the Church has
used language which appeared to convey any such teaching, he has been
promptly reproved. And I now publicly declare that my advice to the
Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by
the law of the land.
WILFORD WOODRUFF
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (D&C:
Official Declaration Heading-1:8)
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