Plural Matrimony and you can Eternal Wedding
An identical revelation you to trained from plural matrimony is part of a more impressive disclosure provided to Joseph Smith-one relationships could past past dying which eternal marriage is necessary to inheriting new fulness that Goodness wishes having Their youngsters. Pratt the “beautiful purchase” welcome Pratt and his awesome wife to be to one another “getting time and every ligado por aqui eternity.” eleven Joseph and instructed one to men eg Pratt-who’d remarried pursuing the death of his first spouse-would be married (otherwise closed) on the wives to possess eternity, under the right requirements. twelve
The newest sealing out of wife and husband getting eternity was developed you’ll by maintenance off priesthood secrets and you can ordinances. On the ent prophet Elijah did actually Joseph Smith and you may Oliver Cowdery on Kirtland Forehead and restored brand new priesthood tips needed seriously to manage ordinances on the way of living and inactive, including sealing family together. 13 Marriage ceremonies performed of the priesthood authority you are going to hook family relations so you can each other having eternity, towards standing out-of righteousness; marriages did in place of this expert perform stop from the demise. 14
Wedding performed by priesthood power intended that the procreation out-of people and you will perpetuation regarding family carry out remain to the eternities. Joseph Smith’s disclosure to your matrimony declared the “extension of the seeds permanently and you will actually ever” helped to meet God’s purposes for Their youngsters. fifteen Which pledge gotten to any or all lovers who have been partnered from the priesthood authority and you can were loyal to their covenants.
Plural Relationship inside the Nauvoo
To own a lot of West history, family relations “interest”-financial, governmental, and you may public considerations-ruled the choice of partner. Moms and dads met with the ability to arrange marriages or forestall unions regarding which they disapproved. By later 1700s, relationship and personal solutions started to opponent these old-fashioned intentions and you may practices. 16 From the Joseph Smith’s go out, of a lot people insisted with the marrying having love, as he and you can Emma did after they eloped against their parents’ wants.
Latter-date Saints’ aim to own plural relationships was usually more spiritual than simply financial otherwise close. Aside from the wish to be obedient, a powerful added bonus was the fresh pledge away from residing God’s visibility with relatives. Regarding revelation towards the wedding, the father guaranteed participants “crowns off eternal lifestyle” and you can “exaltation regarding eternal worlds.” 17 Individuals, parents and students, ancestors and you will progeny was to be “sealed” to one another-its commitment lasting into the eternities, in line with Jesus’s promise one priesthood ordinances performed on earth you will definitely become “likely in the heaven.” 18
The original plural a plus Joseph Smith was basically shut when you look at the April 1841. 19 Joseph hitched of many additional spouses and you will subscribed most other Second-go out New orleans saints to train plural matrimony. The fresh behavior give more sluggish in the beginning. Because of the June 1844, when Joseph passed away, around 30 dudes and you may 50 feminine had registered with the plural wedding, and additionally Joseph and his awesome wives. If New orleans saints entered the fresh Salt Lake Valley inside 1847, at the least 196 guys and you may 521 feminine had joined to your plural marriages. 20 Participants in these early plural marriages pledged to keep their wedding confidential, even if they anticipated a time when new practice might be in public areas accepted.
Still, gossip bequeath. A few men unscrupulously utilized these gossip so you can seduce female to signup all of them when you look at the an unauthorized habit both described as “religious wifery.” When this try receive, this new guys were take off from the Chapel. 21 The newest rumors caused participants and management so you’re able to procedure very carefully worded denials one denounced religious wifery and you can polygamy however, was indeed hushed on the what Joseph Smith while some noticed while the divinely mandated “celestial” plural relationships. twenty-two The latest comments emphasized that the Chapel experienced no y if you are implicitly making open the chance that some body, not as much as recommendations away from God’s way of life prophet, you will do so. 23