John Taylor – Revelation on Celestial Plural Marriage

Revelation given to President John Taylor on September 27, 1886, Centerville, Utah.  This revelation was received as a confirmation of the continued will of the Lord regarding the principle of Celestial Plural Marriage as a necessary part of the “New and Everlasting Covenant.”  This revelation was received by President Taylor during a time when he was mostly in hiding to evade arrest for practicing the principle of plural marriage himself.  Consequently, communication among the brethren and to the saints was often very difficult.  Immediately after President Taylor’s death about a year later, the original text of this revelation, written in the hand of President Taylor himself, was found on his desk by his son and future Apostle John W. Taylor.  It was Apostle John W. Taylor who transcribed this revelation and brought it to light.  See minutes of meeting of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, February 22, 1911—the Trial of Apostle John W. Taylor.

1    My son, John, you have asked Me concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant and how far it is binding upon my people;

2    Thus saith the Lord; all commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name, unless they are revoked by Me or by my authority; and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant; for I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with, but they stand forever.

3    Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject?  Yet, have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my laws and the keeping of my commandment, and yet, have I borne with them these many years, and this because of their weakness, because of the perilous times?

4    And furthermore, it is more pleasing to Me that men should use their free agency in regards to these matters.  Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change, and my word, my covenants, and my law do not.

5    As I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph, “All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law.”  (D&C 132:3-4)  And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham’s seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham?

6    I have not revoked this law, nor will I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof.  Even so.  Amen.