Revelation through John Taylor, received Sunday and Monday, June 25th and 26th, 1882 at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, containing questions concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, as also Celestial Marriage and Plural Marriage, which the Church was currently practicing. (John Taylor Papers, LDS Archives). Holzapfel and Jones wrote that this revelation was given "just three months after U.S. president Chester Arthur signed the Edmunds
Act into law on March 22, 1882. The act began a new phase of the
federal prosecution against the Church" (Holzapfel and Jones, "'John the Revelator': The Written Revelations of John Taylor", BYU Religious Studies Center, http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/champion-liberty-john-taylor/11-%E2%80%9Cjohn-revelator%E2%80%9D-written-revelations-john-taylor#_edn1). The practice of Plural Marriage was abandoned between the years 1890 and 1904:
Question: Is the law of Celestial Marriage a law
given to this nation or to the world?
2 Answer: No-- in no other sense than as the
gospel is given and in accordance with the laws
thereof. So far as it is made known unto men, it
is made know unto them as the gospel is made
known unto them, and is part of the New and
Everlasting Covenant.
3 And it is only those who receive the gospel that
are able to, or capable of, entering into this
covenant.
4 Have I not said through My servant Joseph
Smith that all kingdoms are governed by law?
And if they receive not the law of the gospel, they
cannot participate in the blessings of Celestial
marriage, which pertains to Mine elect.
5 No person or people or nation can enter into
the principle of Celestial marriage unless they
come in by Me, saith the LORD, and obey the law
of My gospel through the medium of him who is
appointed unto this power as made known unto
My people through My servant Joseph in a
Revelation on the eternity of the marriage
covenant, including the plurality of wives.
6 I have therein stated that , "all those who have
this law revealed unto them must obey the same;
for behold I reveal unto you a New and an
Everlasting Covenant; 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."
7 Furthermore, "And as pertaining to the New
and Everlasting Covenant, it was instituted for the
fullness of My glory; and he that receiveth a
fullness thereof must and shall abide the law, or
he shall be damned, saith the Lord God."
8 It is again written that, "all kingdoms have a
law given."
9 The Celestial kingdom, including the promise
of Eternal Life, pertains to, "the church of the
Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through
Jesus Christ, His Son."
10 Therefore, such must be sanctified from all
unrighteousness, that they may be prepared for
the Celestial glory.
11 "For he who cannot abide the law of a
Celestial kingdom, cannot abide a Celestial glory;"
12 "And he who cannot abide the law of a
terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial
glory;"
13 "And he who cannot abide the law of a
telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory;
therefore, he is not meet for a kingdom of glory.
Therefore, he must abide a kingdom which is not
a kingdom of glory."
14 Each of the persons inhabiting these several
kingdoms shall be quickened by the same power
that pertains to the kingdom that they are
destined to inherit, whether Celestial, terrestrial,
or telestial; and shall receive of their respective
glories.
15 And again it is written, "And again, verily I
say unto you, that which is governed by law is
also preserved by law, and perfected and
sanctified by the same."
16 "That which breaketh a law, and abideth not
by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself,
and willeth to abide in sin, cannot be sanctified
by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment."
17 It is further written, speaking of Celestial
marriage, "And verily I say unto you, that the
conditions of this law are these: All covenants,
contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows,
performances, connections, associations, or
expectations that are not made and entered into,
and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, of him
who is anointed, both as well for time and for all
eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and
commandment, through the medium of Mine
anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to
hold this power (and I have appointed unto My
servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days,
and there is never but one on the earth at a time
on whom this power and the keys 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."
18 This law is a Celestial law, and pertains to a
Celestial kingdom. It is a New and Everlasting
Covenant, and appertains to thrones, principalities,
powers, dominions, and eternal increase in
the Celestial kingdom of God.
19 You are not now sent to proclaim this
principle to the United States, nor to the world,
nor to urge it upon them. It is not for them as a
nation or nations, only as many as accept the law
of My gospel, and are governed thereby.
20 Behold, if you were to preach this principle
unto them, and they said, we accept it, could you
then administer it unto them? Verily I say unto
you, nay.
21 Have I not said, "Behold, Mine house is a
house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a
house of confusion."
22 "Will I accept of an offering, saith the LORD,
that is not made in My name?"
23 "Or will I receive at your hands that which I
have not appointed?"
24 "And will I appointed unto you, saith the
LORD, except it be by law, even as I and My
Father ordained unto you, before the world was?"
25 "I am the LORD thy God, and I give unto you
this commandment: that no man shall come unto
the Father but by Me or by My word, which is
My law, saith the LORD."
26 "And everything that is in the world, whether
it be ordained of men, by thrones, or
principalities, or powers, or things of name,
whatsoever that may be, that are not by Me, saith
the LORD, shall be thrown down, and shall not
remain after men are dead, neither in nor after
the resurrection saith the LORD your God."
27 "For whatsoever things remain are by Me,
and whatsoever things are not by Me shall be
shaken and destroyed."
28 " Therefore, if a man 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."
29 You ask, what shall we do? Thus saith the
LORD, obey My law and seek not to become a
law unto yourselves, nor trust to outside
influences; but seek in the way appointed to the
Lord your God.
30 Ye are My spokesmen, I am your God; and as
I have before said, I now again say: Henceforth
do as I shall command you.
31 Concerning the course taken by the United
States, they have a right to reject this law
themselves, as they have a right to reject the
gospel; but it is contrary to the provisions of the
Constitution, which is the supreme law of the
land, for them to prohibit you from obeying it.
32 Therefore, abide in My law which I have
revealed unto you, saith the Lord God, and
contend for your rights by every legal and
constitutional method and in accordance with the
institutions, laws, and Constitution of the United
States.
33 Be humble, be faithful, be diligent; seek unto
Me and it shall be made know unto you from
time to time what My will is pertaining to this
matter.
34 I am the Lord your God, hearken to Me, and
obey My law, and your enemies shall be
confounded, and My kingdoms shall be
victorious.
Even so, Amen.
Question: Is the law of Celestial Marriage a law
given to this nation or to the world?
2 Answer: No-- in no other sense than as the
gospel is given and in accordance with the laws
thereof. So far as it is made known unto men, it
is made know unto them as the gospel is made
known unto them, and is part of the New and
Everlasting Covenant.
3 And it is only those who receive the gospel that
are able to, or capable of, entering into this
covenant.
4 Have I not said through My servant Joseph
Smith that all kingdoms are governed by law?
And if they receive not the law of the gospel, they
cannot participate in the blessings of Celestial
marriage, which pertains to Mine elect.
5 No person or people or nation can enter into
the principle of Celestial marriage unless they
come in by Me, saith the LORD, and obey the law
of My gospel through the medium of him who is
appointed unto this power as made known unto
My people through My servant Joseph in a
Revelation on the eternity of the marriage
covenant, including the plurality of wives.
6 I have therein stated that , "all those who have
this law revealed unto them must obey the same;
for behold I reveal unto you a New and an
Everlasting Covenant; 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."
7 Furthermore, "And as pertaining to the New
and Everlasting Covenant, it was instituted for the
fullness of My glory; and he that receiveth a
fullness thereof must and shall abide the law, or
he shall be damned, saith the Lord God."
8 It is again written that, "all kingdoms have a
law given."
9 The Celestial kingdom, including the promise
of Eternal Life, pertains to, "the church of the
Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through
Jesus Christ, His Son."
10 Therefore, such must be sanctified from all
unrighteousness, that they may be prepared for
the Celestial glory.
11 "For he who cannot abide the law of a
Celestial kingdom, cannot abide a Celestial glory;"
12 "And he who cannot abide the law of a
terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial
glory;"
13 "And he who cannot abide the law of a
telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory;
therefore, he is not meet for a kingdom of glory.
Therefore, he must abide a kingdom which is not
a kingdom of glory."
14 Each of the persons inhabiting these several
kingdoms shall be quickened by the same power
that pertains to the kingdom that they are
destined to inherit, whether Celestial, terrestrial,
or telestial; and shall receive of their respective
glories.
15 And again it is written, "And again, verily I
say unto you, that which is governed by law is
also preserved by law, and perfected and
sanctified by the same."
16 "That which breaketh a law, and abideth not
by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself,
and willeth to abide in sin, cannot be sanctified
by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment."
17 It is further written, speaking of Celestial
marriage, "And verily I say unto you, that the
conditions of this law are these: All covenants,
contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows,
performances, connections, associations, or
expectations that are not made and entered into,
and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, of him
who is anointed, both as well for time and for all
eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and
commandment, through the medium of Mine
anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to
hold this power (and I have appointed unto My
servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days,
and there is never but one on the earth at a time
on whom this power and the keys 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."
18 This law is a Celestial law, and pertains to a
Celestial kingdom. It is a New and Everlasting
Covenant, and appertains to thrones, principalities,
powers, dominions, and eternal increase in
the Celestial kingdom of God.
19 You are not now sent to proclaim this
principle to the United States, nor to the world,
nor to urge it upon them. It is not for them as a
nation or nations, only as many as accept the law
of My gospel, and are governed thereby.
20 Behold, if you were to preach this principle
unto them, and they said, we accept it, could you
then administer it unto them? Verily I say unto
you, nay.
21 Have I not said, "Behold, Mine house is a
house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a
house of confusion."
22 "Will I accept of an offering, saith the LORD,
that is not made in My name?"
23 "Or will I receive at your hands that which I
have not appointed?"
24 "And will I appointed unto you, saith the
LORD, except it be by law, even as I and My
Father ordained unto you, before the world was?"
25 "I am the LORD thy God, and I give unto you
this commandment: that no man shall come unto
the Father but by Me or by My word, which is
My law, saith the LORD."
26 "And everything that is in the world, whether
it be ordained of men, by thrones, or
principalities, or powers, or things of name,
whatsoever that may be, that are not by Me, saith
the LORD, shall be thrown down, and shall not
remain after men are dead, neither in nor after
the resurrection saith the LORD your God."
27 "For whatsoever things remain are by Me,
and whatsoever things are not by Me shall be
shaken and destroyed."
28 " Therefore, if a man 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."
29 You ask, what shall we do? Thus saith the
LORD, obey My law and seek not to become a
law unto yourselves, nor trust to outside
influences; but seek in the way appointed to the
Lord your God.
30 Ye are My spokesmen, I am your God; and as
I have before said, I now again say: Henceforth
do as I shall command you.
31 Concerning the course taken by the United
States, they have a right to reject this law
themselves, as they have a right to reject the
gospel; but it is contrary to the provisions of the
Constitution, which is the supreme law of the
land, for them to prohibit you from obeying it.
32 Therefore, abide in My law which I have
revealed unto you, saith the Lord God, and
contend for your rights by every legal and
constitutional method and in accordance with the
institutions, laws, and Constitution of the United
States.
33 Be humble, be faithful, be diligent; seek unto
Me and it shall be made know unto you from
time to time what My will is pertaining to this
matter.
34 I am the Lord your God, hearken to Me, and
obey My law, and your enemies shall be
confounded, and My kingdoms shall be
victorious.
Even so, Amen.
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