The Official Petition to Remove Polygamous Section 132 from the Doctrine and Covenants and Reinstate Section 101 in its Original Form

The Petition – A Summary

D&C 132 is a deplorable and fabricated “revelation” that must be openly condemned and immediately removed from the Doctrine and Covenants. 

• D&C 132 was a false revelation that did not originate with Joseph Smith as claimed in Section 132, but with Brigham Young and his cohorts.  Brigham Young, with the help of William Clayton, fabricated Section 132, and made up a preposterous story of its origins, all in order to justify a vile and wicked practice.   In the process, Brigham Young maliciously defamed Emma Smith. 

• At the time D&C 132 was included in the Doctrine and Covenants (1876), Brigham Young removed the “rule of marriage” as contained in Section 101 without revelation or common consent.  The “rule of marriage,” confirmed by Joseph Smith, stated: 

“Inasmuch as this church has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband.”

– D&C 101 (1835 and 1844 editions) (revelation dated, December 16, 1833)

Brigham Young’s removal of the “rule of marriage” was a gross violation of God’s word and the policy of the church.  Thus, D&C 101 must be rectified and include the “rule of marriage” as originally contained in Section 101. 

• In addition to being a fraud, D&C 132 caused the widespread relegation of women to inferior status in the church and led to the treatment of women as almost property.  So long as D&C 132 remains in the Doctrine and Covenants, the LDS Church condones the unrighteous mistreatment of women.

NOW THEREFORE, in the spirt of common consent, as identified in D&C 26:2 (“And all things shall be done by common consent in the church”), 28:13 (“For all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith”), and 104:21 (“And let all things be done according to the counsel of the order, and united consent”), we do hereby affix our name to this petition in order to request that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to finally and unequivocally end all association of polygamy with our faith, or in the very least, to take this matter before the Lord.  We believe it is the right thing to do and necessary in order for the Church to repent and come closer to the Lord.

To affix your name to the petition, please include your name in the comments section and click on the following link:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/844/781/640/
 

Section 132 – The Most Wicked of Scriptures

Now here’s a “scripture” for you to discuss in Sunday School (it probably wasn't one of the scripture mastery in Seminary) - D&C 132:61-62: 

“And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood - if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that belongeth unto him and to no one else.  And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law; he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore he is justified.”

What if a young virgin refuses to become property of one of these revolting priesthood holders?

D&C 132:64 provides: 

“[I]f any man have a wife, who hold 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.”

This is the worst of abominations!!!  This is the type of wickedness that you would have seen in the halls of King Noah, the same King Noah that murdered the prophet Abinadi. 

Brigham Young and his cohorts lusted after young virgins and even claimed that the Lord would destroy them if they refused to accept their despicable and immoral advances. 

Without question, this proves how disgusting the Section 132 polygamous doctrine is and how polygamy is an affront to the status and sanctity of women.  Section 132 must be removed and condemned.

A Vile Fabrication – The Origins of Section 132

Few members of the LDS Church are familiar with the origins of Section 132 and do not know that the “revelation” wasn’t revealed until eight years after Joseph’s death and not in Joseph’s handwriting.  The official introduction to Section 132 states:

“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 and the principle of plural marriage.  Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence indicates that some of the principles involved in this revelation were known by the Prophet as early as 1831.”

However, the introduction is entirely false and does not adequately explain the alleged and laughable origins of the “revelation.”  Joseph Smith neither revealed Section 132 nor taught polygamous principles to anyone.  

• Joseph repeatedly and unequivocally denounced polygamy as a vile and wicked practice up until the date of his death.  Joseph even sued Chauncey Higbee in court for defamation related to Higbee’s claims that Joseph taught polygamy.  One of Joseph’s harshest sermons against polygamy occurred only one month and one day before his death (“I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made one proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives . . . I am innocent of all these charges . . . What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one.”  LDS History of the Church 6:410-11).

• Many other leaders of the Church, including the Presidents of the Seventies and the Relief Society, repeatedly, publicly, and unequivocally denounced polygamy up until the date of Joseph’s death and denied that Joseph Smith was preaching any such doctrine, secret or otherwise.  These Church leaders submitted affidavits and public statements attesting to Joseph’s innocence.  Either these Church leaders were liars, conspiring with Joseph in covering up polygamy as a "secret doctrine" as the LDS Church claims, or they were telling the truth and Joseph was innocent of polygamy.

• Emma Smith and Joseph Smith III (he was 11 1/2 years old at the time of Joseph's death) continually declared until the end of their lives that Joseph was innocent of polygamy.  Emma denied every seeing D&C Section 132 or burning the original document.   

What is the LDS Church’s Explanation as to the Origins of Section 132?

Here’s the official explanation found in the student manual (https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-132-138/section-132-marriage-an-eternal-covenant?lang=eng). 

It is clear that the Prophet Joseph Smith received section 132 before it was recorded but delayed making it known. The Prophet knew the Lord’s will on plural marriage within the new and everlasting covenant probably as early as 1831 (see History of the Church, 5:xxix). In March 1843 he spoke to William Clayton of eternal marriage. In July of that year, he was discussing the doctrine with his brother Hyrum in William Clayton’s presence when Hyrum said, “If you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace” (History of the Church, 5:xxxii).

The Prophet consented and told William Clayton to get some paper to write; but to his brother’s “urgent request” that the Prophet use the Urim and Thummim to recall the exact revelation, Joseph replied that he did not need it, “for he knew the revelation from beginning to end” (History of the Church, 5:xxxii). When he had finished dictating, William Clayton read it back slowly, and Joseph said that it was exact.

Bishop Newel K. Whitney heard the revelation read and asked permission of the Prophet Joseph Smith to have it copied.  With the Prophet’s approval, Bishop Whitney sent Joseph C. Kingsbury the next day to copy it.  Brothers Kingsbury and Clayton compared the copy line by line to the original and found it correct.

The revelation was not made public until Elder Orson Pratt, under the direction of President Brigham Young, announced it at a Church conference on 29 August 1852. The revelation was placed in the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876.

(Emphasis added).

From the above, the LDS Church claims that Hyrum (not Joseph) wanted to take the original copy of the revelation to Emma Smith so that Hyrum could convince Emma of the truth of polygamy.  Thus, Joseph fortuitously and inexplicably “dictated” Section 132 to William Clayton, who acted as a scribe.   

So what happened to the original copy of the revelation (in Clayton's handwriting)?

Already, the above story strains all credulity, but it gets even better.

Do you believe William Clayton? 

Clayton said that on July 12, 1843, when Joseph Smith fully revealed D&C Section 132, for the inane purpose of convincing Emma of the truth of polygamy, Joseph just happened to ask Clayton to act as Joseph’s scribe (no one has ever explained why Joseph needed a scribe) and create the original copy of the purported revelation, even though Joseph supposedly just said he was about to write the revelation down.   

According to Clayton:

“Joseph then said, ‘Well, I [i.e., Joseph] will write the revelation and we will see.’  He then requested me to get paper and prepare to write.  Hyrum very urgently requested Joseph to write the revelation by means of the Urim and Thummim, but Joseph, in reply, said he did not need to, for he knew the revelation perfectly from beginning to end.  Joseph and Hyrum then sat down, and Joseph commenced to dictate the Revelation on Celestial Marriage, and I wrote it, sentence by sentence, as he dictated.” 

Before Hyrum (and Joseph apparently) took the “revelation” (in Clayton's handwriting) to Emma, Clayton (or Bishop Whitney) conveniently caused Joseph C. Kingsbury, the store clerk for Bishop Whitney, to make a second copy of the revelation (of course, this never happened at any other time).  It is the supposed Kingsbury copy that exists today.

Once it was shown to her, Emma supposedly became so upset about the doctrine, in Clayton's handwriting, that she seized it from Hyrum and tossed it into a fire.  It was just so fortunate that Kingsbury had created a second copy – I guess some would claim that it was a miracle.  The more reasonable of us would call it hogwash.

Now here’s the really crazy part.  The revelation was so unimportant that Brigham put the Kingsbury copy into his desk drawer and forgot about it.  Strangely, Joseph and Hyrum both never mentioned the Section 132 revelation or Emma’s destruction of the original copy. 

Even though Joseph and Hyrum both knew the original bearing Clayton's handwriting had been burnt by Emma, Joseph and Hyrum were simply unconcerned with making the revelation known to everyone else (think about it . . . they lived for almost another year – and yet never mentioned it anywhere).  Then eight years after Joseph’s death, Brigham happened to find the Kingsbury copy (of Clayton's dictation) in Brigham’s long forgotten desk drawer and finally but dutifully released it to the members.  Of course, Brigham had to also simultaneously but quietly amend Section 101's prohibition of polygamy as the "rule of marriage" (since that was such an unimportant matter – it didn’t require any formal revelation to amend it). 

Or do you believe Emma Smith? 

Emma vehemently denied until her death, even under oath, ever seeing Section 132.  Emma said she never saw or burned a copy of the document as claimed by Brigham Young and William Clayton.  Emma loved and defended Hyrum until the day that she died (even naming her son Hyrum as well). 

Conclusion

As is evident, the origins of Section 132 are a complete hoax.  William Clayton’s story (at the behest of Brigham Young) has every telltale sign of being a forgery.  Section 132 was fabricated and falsely attributed to Joseph Smith in order to justify the wicked practices of Brigham Young and his followers.  In addition to fabricating the Lord’s revelation in order to engage in abominable acts, Brigham Young repeatedly defamed Emma Smith.   

A False Polygamous Scriptural Foundation

Proving that the LDS Church Has Grossly Misinterpreted Jacob 2:30 in order to Justify Past and Present Whoredoms

 

In Part 9 of “A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy” (http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2298.html), I included in the footnotes a small reference to Jacob 2:30 that I now believe needs more contextualization and elaboration.  Jacob 2:30 reads: 

“For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.” 

In short, the LDS Church wrongfully interprets Jacob 2:30 as follows:

Interpretation 1: “For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people [to practice polygamy]; otherwise [if the Lord does not give the commandment to practice polygamy], they shall hearken unto these things [i.e., Jacob’s instruction to not practice polygamy].”

In contrast, the following is the logical and harmonious interpretation of Jacob 2:30:

Interpretation 2: “For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people [the Lord will command his people]; otherwise [if the Lord is not their commander; or His people do not obey the Lord’s commandments], they shall hearken unto these [wicked] things [they shall practice the sins of polygamy].” 

This thesis is written to prove that Interpretation 2 (as originally pointed out by Richard and Pamela Price) above is true.  Interpretation 1, as believed by the LDS Church, is a gross distortion of the word of God.

****************************

As will be proven below, the LDS Church has grossly misinterpreted Jacob 2:30 to justify the grievous “grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28) of Brigham Young and his followers, which not only violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28), but also perpetually relegated women as lower class citizens in the Kingdom of God as practiced and described by the LDS faith. 

Why does it matter? 

First, many LDS men and women today believe that polygamy will once again be practiced, in this life or the next.  My own sister-in-law said that it was the “higher law” or the “new and an everlasting covenant” quoting the infamous and 100% fabricated D&C Section 132.  For example, see http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-william-clayton-deception.html.

My sister-in-law, who is doctrinally correct as understood by the LDS Church, has mentally prepared herself to accept sharing her husband with other women in the next life.  What does that mentally do to a familial relationship when the wife relegates herself as a lower class citizen in the Kingdom of God?

Second, by definition, the Section 132 polygamous law debases women and treats women secondarily to men.  This lower ranking status of women has permeated all aspects of the LDS Church, which more resembles the Brighamite faith, not the church created by Joseph Smith.  Many male authorities in the LDS Church may deny that women are treated with lesser regard, but I know that many women fully recognize, as is the doctrine of Section 132, that they are indeed lower-ranking members of the LDS Church. 

Don't believe me?  D&C 132:61-62 proves how disgusting the polygamous doctrine is and how polygamy is an affront to the status and sanctity of women: 

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

And what if a woman refuses (D&C 132:64):  "[I]f any man have a wife, who hold 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."

What fraudulent wickedness of the highest magnitude!!! 

Third, if the Lord is correct (which the LDS Church refuses embrace), then polygamy is a major sin and violates the “chastity of women.”  Brigham Young (an unrepentant immoral man) and his co-conspirators institutionalized a VERY immoral practice that caused the split between the LDS Church and their fellow church members in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ). 

Although the LDS Church is now correct (although hypocritically) in excommunicating those persons who practice polygamy with living spouses, the Church cannot escape its own FALSE “new and an everlasting covenant” doctrine that is foully detailed in Section 132 ("and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory"); further, polygamy is still performed in LDS Church sealing ceremonies, i.e., a man can be sealed to more than one woman once his first wife has passed away.

Fourth, 3 Nephi 16:10 provided the following warning:

“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.”  (Emphasis added).

If you read my 10-part series on the true origins of LDS polygamy (http://confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html), you would be familiar with "all manner of lyings, and of deceits," "secret abominations," and adultery surrounding the polygamy issue, which originated with the Cochranites, William Bennett, and Brigham Young.  Consequently, I believe the Lord has removed the fullness of the gospel from the LDS Church due to the Church’s (not Joseph Smith's) sordid past and “secret abominations” (compare Jacob 2:28) and “whoredoms” (compare Jacob 2:23 and 3:5).  The only way that the fullness of the Lord's gospel will be restored, is if the church as a whole repents of its vile lying past and wicked doctrines. 

The LDS Church must repent.  In order to repent, the Church must (a) correct and release its true history, (b) openly remove Section 132 and reveal it as a fabrication of Brigham Young, (c) issue public apologies to Emma Smith and Joseph Smith’s children for defaming Joseph and Emma Smith for so many years, (d) issue apologies to the women of the Church, (e) correct the current doctrine of the Church and stop all polygamous sealings, (f) remove all doctrines instituted by Brigham Young (temple, ceremonial, or otherwise), (g) apologize to the world for perpetuating a VERY false doctrine, and (h) change the name of Brigham Young University to Emma Smith University.  Hiding the Church’s polygamous abominable past and present (the current LDS position) is certainly not enough. 

I could go on, but I fear that I have drifted from my primary thesis.

The Book of Mormon and Polygamy

To fully understand Jacob 2:30, it is vital that we read all of the other relevant scriptures in the Book of Mormon related to polygamy (if I have missed any, please let me know). 

Mosiah 11:1-2: 

“1. And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.

2. For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart.  And he had many wives and concubines.  And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord.  Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.”  (Emphasis added).

[Note:  For those of you, who don’t know or remember, king Noah was a very wicked king who, along with his priests, burned to death the brave prophet named Abinadi.] 

Jacob 1:15:

“And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.”  (Emphasis added).

[Note:  Importantly, Jacob referred to polygamy as “wicked practices” and included King David (of the Old Testament) and Solomon in his condemnation of polygamy.  Notice that Jacob does not equivocate in his condemnation of King David and Solomon.

Compare Jacob 1:15 (and the other BOM scriptures below) with fraudulent D&C Section 132:1 that reads:  “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 . . . .”  (Emphasis added). 

After reading Jacob 1:15, do you think Jacob “justified” David’s and Solomon's "wicked practices" in any manner?  Why did Section 132:1 justify their wickedness?]

Jacob 2:23-30:

“23. But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes.  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.

[Note:  As will become apparent, Jacob was referring to polygamy as one of the “grosser crimes” of the Nephites.  Jacob recognized that the Nephites had also “excuse[d] themselves in committing whoredoms” because King David and Solomon had practiced polygamy.  Again, did the Lord justify “David and Solomon, my servants . . . having many wives and concubines” as fraudulently written in D&C Section 132?  Why the patent contradiction? 

Furthermore, the parallel between Jacob’s statement in verse 23 ("for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.") and the LDS Church’s self-serving excuses surrounding the wicked practice of polygamy, as justified in Section 132 ("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  . . ."), is both shocking and prophetic.] 

24. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. 

[Note:  Jacob referred to the polygamy of David and Solomon as “abominable.”  Compare with fabricated D&C 132:1.] 

25. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. 

[Note:  verse 25 is important in understanding verse 30.  The Lord delivered the Nephites from Jerusalem so that the Lord could “raise” up a “righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph” or “raise up seed unto me” as stated in verse 30.]

26. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.

27. 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;

[Note:  the Lord said that no man should have more than “one wife.”  Do you think the Lord meant to exclude his so-called prophets?]

28. For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.  And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. 

[Note:  “Grosser crimes,” “whoredoms,” “wicked practices” – did Jacob equivocate in condemning polygamy in any manner?  In addition, Jacob referred to polygamy as a violation of the “chastity of women.”  So the “chastity of women” may be violated sometimes for other righteous purposes?]

29. Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.

30. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”

                [Note:  Verse 30 is addressed below.]

Jacob 3:5:

“Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.”

[Note:  Did Jacob include any equivocation language in the next chapter?  Not in the least – Jacob again refers to polygamy as “whoredoms.” Compare 3 Nephi 16:10.   Why would Jacob leave out the exclusionary provision for the supposed purpose of raising up a righteous seed if that was indeed his purpose of verse 30 above?  Clearly, there was no exclusionary provision to the commandement.]

Understanding Jacob 2:30

The LDS Church says that notwithstanding all of Jacob’s SEVERE and REPEATED condemnations of polygamy, Jacob really meant to say that polygamy is okay sometimes when the Lord commands His people to raise up a “righteous seed.”  In other words, the falsely claimed exclusionary provision of “raise up seed unto me” (Jacob 2:30) transformed polygamy from among the “grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23, 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28), into the “new and an everlasting covenant” of D&C Section 132 and is necessary for exaltation (“if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.”) 

Nonsense!

Proof 1:  Jacob 2:30 – Examining the Language

Admittedly, Jacob 2:30 is hard to understand, but let’s apply some simple logic and grammatical principles. Here is the actual scripture again:

“30. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”

First, the Lord says that He will “raise up seed unto [Him]” and “will command [His] people.”  Would the Lord ever not want to “raise up seed” unto the Lord?  Would the Lord ever not want to “command [His] people”?  If polygamous relationships were the key to a righteous people and following God’s commandments, why would it not be proclaimed as necessary throughout humanity or at least in the scriptures? 

Second, the word “otherwise” immediately follows the first half or independent clause of verse 30.  The word “otherwise,” when used as a conjunction as it is used here, means “or else” or “if not” (e.g., Button up your coat, otherwise you’ll catch a cold.)  Let’s try it out.

“For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; [or else] they shall hearken unto these things.”

It becomes clearer that when the Lord said that “they shall hearken unto these things,” he referred to the wicked practices of the Nephites.  This becomes even clearer when examining verse 25 (as discussed in the following section – Proof 2).

Third, and more importantly, Jacob condemned polygamy among the “grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23, 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28).  Does it make any logical sense whatsoever that God would trump all of those vehement denunciations with the following:  “For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things"?  Does it make any logical sense that Jacob 3:5, where polygamy was again identified as “whoredoms,” would also be trumped by Jacob 2:30?   Not in the least.  The LDS Church’s interpretation of verse 30 is certainly not in harmony with the remainder of the relevant scriptures in the Book of Mormon.

Proof 2:   Verse 25 – What does the Lord Mean in “rais[ing] up seed” unto the Lord? 

Verse 25 identifies what the Lord was referring to when He said “raise up seed unto me” in verse 30, and it did not include polygamous offspring.  Verse 25 reads:

“25. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.” 

The Lord referred to leading the Nephites out of Jerusalem so that He “might raise up unto [the Lord] a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.”  So, when the Lord said that He will “raise up seed unto me,” He was referring to His “righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph,” or something similar.  There is nothing in verse 25 that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that that raising up a “righteous branch” necessitates engaging in abominable polygamous practices which were just previously condemned in the strongest terms by the Lord.  That same meaning is clear in verse 30.  There is nothing, in verse 30 (“For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people.”) that means the Lord commands his people to engage in polygamy to “raise up seed” unto the Lord.  It is a gross misinterpretation that contradicts the Lord's previous commandment as stated in Jacob 2.

Proof 3:  Verse 30 Parallels Verse 29

It seems that by separating Verse 30 from verse 29, most people have missed the parallelism often found in the chiasmi and poetry of the Book of Mormon (e.g., Alma 36).

“29. [a] Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or [b] cursed be the land for their sakes.

30. [a] For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; [b] otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”

                [a] Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts

                [a] For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people

                [b] cursed be the land for their sakes

                [b] otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

Although not conclusive, I believe that the “otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” refers to the land being cursed for their wickedness, or the word “these” could thus be replaced by the word “wicked.”

Proof 4:  Polygamy Does Not Equal a Righteous Seed

There is no evidence that polygamy produces more children or creates a righteous seed.  There is no reason why polygamy would create more children unless there were many women without spouses.  Furthermore, there is no evidence that at the time of Brigham Young that there were not enough righteous men as there were women.  In fact, there were consistently more males than females in Utah during the time of Brigham Young.

Here are the population statistics for Utah from 1850 to 1950:

Year	Male	Female
1850	6,020	5,310
1860	20,178	19,947
1870	43,451	42,503
1880	73,477	68,946
1890	108,943	96,982
1900	138,923	133,542
1910	192,118	174,465
1920	227,232	214,669
1930	255,284	244,683
1940	274,587	268,333
1950	341,007	335,902

Proof 5:  Creating a Righteous Seed by Violating the Chastity of Women?

Verse 30 states that the Lord will "raise up seed unto [the Lord]" and that the Lord "will command His people."  

However, in the same (and subsequent) chapter, the Lord previously referred to polygamy as among the “grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23, also Jacob 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28). 

How can the Lord "raise up seed" unto Him when his people are also engaged in systematic "abominations," "whoredoms," and violating the "chastity of women"?  I would like to hear an LDS Church official publicly state that is sometimes okay to violate the "chastity of women."  Why won't you ever hear that?  Again, it makes no sense unless Interpretation 2 above is correct and verse 30 was without an exclusionary clause.

Some in the LDS Church would counter that Nephi was commanded to slay a drunk Laban, and so the Lord does command abominable acts.  However, in 1 Nephi 4:11-13, the Lord justified the slaying of Laban because (1) Laban had sought to murder Nephi, (2) Laban would "not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord," (3) Laban had tried to steal Lehi's property, and (4) the Lord slays the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes, i.e., "It is better that one man should perish than a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."

The Lord articulated very specific and justifiable reasons for the death of Laban.  Furthermore, the Lord never commanded the systematic murder of the Laminates. 

In short, the Lord cannot "raise up seed unto [the Lord]" and "will command His people" while commanding his people to engage in systematic “grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23, also Jacob 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28). 

Proof 6:  What about the polygamy of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, et al.?

A key objection I often read is that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Old Testament) all had more than one wife and so polygamy was instituted as part of the "restitution of all things" and the Abrahamic Covenant.

Before we take a closer look at the Patriarchs  nd others of the Old Testament, it is important to note that, in the Old Testament, no one, including King Solomon, King David, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Old Testament), was ever commanded by God to take more than one wife.  In the Old Testament, polygamy is mentioned by way of fact, not by way of commandment. 

In contrast, fabricated D&C Section 132 states that Solomon (vs. 1, 38), David (vs. 1, 38-39), Abraham (vs. 1, 34-35, 37, 65), Isaac (vs. 1, 37), Jacob (Old Testament) (vs. 1, 37), Moses (vs. 1, 38), and "many others of my servants" (vs. 38) were all commanded to engage in polygamy.  This is a total fabrication!

Indeed, it seems that those who engaged in polygamy committed abominable acts in the sight of the Lord.   

Abraham

First, Abraham had at most only three wives (more likely one wife and two concubines):  Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah.  Sarah was Abraham's wife.  Importantly, Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian handmaid given to Abraham by Sarah as a concubine or wife in order for Abraham to have a child (10 years without a child living in Canaan).  Hagar was literally Sarah's property. 

Abraham married Keturah (probably a concubine) only after Sarah died and Hagar had been forced away and was no longer with Abraham.  Although immoral in other ways, the Keturah matter does not rise to any moral offense of the law of marriage as contained in the original D&C.  Of course, modern morality would certainly denounce Sarah's gift of Hagar to Abraham in order for Abraham to have a child and the driving away of Hagar, but a concubine was unfortunately considered a lesser wife comparable to property.  The fact that Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham evinces that Abraham could not just take any woman as his polygamous wife.  The issue surrounding Hagar is more a matter of the morality of slavery and property than it is of polygamy.   

Second, the Book of Mormon is entirely silent with respect to Abraham and his purported wives (and with respect to Jacob of the Old Testament as described below).  Only Sarah is mentioned while Jacob (Book of Mormon - the same Prophet who just denounced polygamy and concubines) is quoting Isaiah.  See 2 Nephi 8:2.  In other words, the issue of Abraham and polygamy was never mentioned in the Book of Mormon.  Why wasn't Hagar or Keturah mentioned by Jacob (Book of Mormon) after Jacob just denounced the polygamous relationships of King Solomon and King David?  That's an interesting question which I don't have the answer for.  I suspect that Jacob in the Book of Mormon simply had no record of Hagar or Keturah or of Abraham's alleged polygamy.

Jacob (Old Testament)

Jacob (Old Testament) had two wives, Rachel and Leah, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah.  Again, the Book of Mormon never mentions Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah or Jacob's.  We all remember the story of Rachel and Leah.  Jacob fell in love with Rachel, reached an agreement with her father, to work seven years for her.  Jacob fulfilled his obligation but then Laban swapped Leah for Rachel on the night of the wedding.  Having been fooled, Jacob had to work another seven years for Rachel.   Bilhah and Zilpah were the property of Rachel and Leah respectively and immorally given to Jacob.  The story of Rachel and Leah is very peculiar story that does not justify polygamy but may somewhat mitigate Jacob's offense.  The slavery issue is another matter.

Isaac and Moses

The fact that Section 132 identifies Isaac and Moses as polygamists is completely wrong.  Despite the false statements of Brigham Young, Isaac and Moses each had only one wife.  It appears as though Brigham Young arbitrarily decided to transform several Old Testament Prophets into polygamists that had no association with the wicked practice, including "many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time" (vs. 38), when Brigham Young decided to fabricate Section 132 and claim that Joseph received the revelation. 

Further, the story of Isaac seems to indicate that polygamy was a sin.  According to one writer (http://www.washingtonubf.org/BibleMaterials/Genesis/MSG12a.html): 

"Isaac's family had a problem similar to that of Abraham and Sarah.  Rebekah was barren.  But Isaac did not even consider taking a concubine.  He simply prayed and waited on God.  He had learned a great spiritual lesson first hand:  The Lord will Provide.  Abraham had waited only 10 years before taking Hagar and giving birth to Ishmael.  Isaac waited and prayed for his wife from 20 years.  How many families could be spared the tragedy of divorce of the sorrow of becoming a battlefield of frustrated expectations if men could pray for their wives instead of trying to use some human method to solve their family problems.  Isaac's patient faith was rewarded.  Rebekah conceived twin sons."

The Final Word - the Book of Mormon

Finally, and more importantly, the Book of Mormon is not silent with respect to denouncing the practice of polygamy as it occurred in the Old Testament.   

Jacob 2:26-28 reads: 

"Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto 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 saith the Lord of Hosts."

How clearer can you get?  The Lord denounced polygamy as a sin even though the practice was somewhat widespread in the Old Testament (but not nearly as widespread as claimed by Brigham Young).  The Lord was simply not going to let the sin continue "like unto them of old."  Jacob 2:26.  The Lord considered any polygamous relationship in the Old Testament an abomination in His sight and made the condemnation and commandment known in the Book of Mormon. 

God unequivocally condemned the polygamy of Solomon and David (Jacob 2:24:  "Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.").  Notwithstanding, the Lord's severe condemnation in the Book of Mormon, Section 132 falsely stated that Solomon (vs. 1, 38) and David (vs. 1, 38-39) not only did not sin but were commanded to engage in the "abominable" practice. 

What rubbish!

Any person who believes in the Book of Mormon must vehemently condemn polygamy at all times and in any manner.  Any person who believes in the Book of Mormon must severely denounce D&C Section 132 as a patent and most sinful fabrication of Brigham Young.  It is time for the LDS Church to eradicate its evil polygamous doctrines without equivocation.

For further investigation, please see Richard and Pamela Price’s book:

http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-vol1/chp18.htm