Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Forty-Nine

Official Declarations 1 and 2

The Lord’s Reason for Plural Marriage – Official Declaration 1

The law of the Lord concerning marriage is taught in the Book of Mormon – “Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord:  For there shall not be any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none….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” (Jacob 2:27, 30).  It is clear that the law of the Lord is one man, one wife, and that plural marriage is an exception that the Lord may command in order to “raise up seed unto me.”

At the Lord’s command plural marriage was practiced in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for about two generations – The Lord introduced plural marriage to Joseph Smith as early as 1831 and a specific revelation concerning plural marriage was recorded in 1843 as D&C 132.  Plural marriage continued through the administration of Brigham Young and John Taylor.  It was terminated by revelation given to Wilford Woodruff as recorded in Official Declaration 1.

Henry Lunt, my great grandfather, had four wives – Henry was born in England on July 20, 1824 and died in Mexico in the mountain town of Pacheco on January 22, 1902.  Henry was the first mayor of Cedar City, Utah and a prominent member of the Church.  When the United States government began to prosecute polygamists. Henry and many others, rather than abandon wives and children, took their families to Mexico or Canada. Henry arrived in Pacheco when he was 65 years old and going blind.  He lived there 13 years.  These years are when many people look forward to a comfortable retirement.  For Henry these years were the final test of a life that was tested many times.  While in Pacheco Henry served as a Patriarch.  He foresaw that a temple would be built in the Colonies.  This was fulfilled when a  temple was built in Colonia Juarez.  Henry was always faithful and truly a remarkable man.

The descendants of polygamists, like Henry Lunt, provide great strength to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the Lord’s latter day kingdom on earth – In this way the Lord raised up seed unto Himself. (See Jacob 2:27, 30) Henry has well over 1,000 descendants and the number is growing rapidly. Most of these are devoted members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The same can be said of many other families where there is a history of plural marriage. These families continue to provide enormous strength and leadership in every way to the work of the Lord.

A Revelation of Tremendous Import and Eternal Significance - Official Declaration 2

People on both sides of the veil rejoiced when the Revelation on the Priesthood was announced – On June 8, 1978 the First Presidency published a letter announcing that the Lord gave a revelation confirming that every man, regardless of race or color, may receive the priesthood and all worthy members may receive the blessings of the temple.  When I heard this, with many others, I rejoiced.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles was present when the revelation was given, and he described it as follows:  “On this occasion, because of the importuning and the faith, and because the hour and the time had arrived, the Lord in his providences poured out the Holy Ghost upon the First Presidency and the Twelve in a miraculous and marvelous manner, beyond anything that any then present had ever experienced” (Sermon entitled, All Are Alike Unto God).

Elder McConkie explained why this revelation was of tremendous import and of eternal significance –  It is because it “affects our missionary work and all of our preaching to the world.  This affects our genealogical research and all of our temple ordinances.  This affects what is going on in the spirit world because the gospel is preached in the spirit world preparatory to men’s receiving the vicarious ordinances which make them heirs to salvation and exaltation….We correlate and combine our activities and do certain things for the salvation of men while we are in mortality, and then certain things are done for the salvation of men while they are in the spirit world awaiting the day of the resurrection” (Ibid).

Testimony – The Lord has described His Church as “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1:30). For faithful members Official Declarations 1 and 2 are prime examples that the Lord truly does lead His Church. Furthermore, these Official Declarations are wonderful examples of one of our fundamental beliefs: “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Articles of Faith 1:9).