2025 Come Follow Me Manual on Polygamy and Priesthood Ban
My “ministering brother” recently gave me a copy of the Come Follow Me manual for 2025 on the Doctrine & Covenants. He knows I no longer believe, but he also knows I have a keen interest is church history. Of course, it is that very history, once fully revealed, that caused me to leave the church a couple years ago. Anyway, I wanted to see how they addressed Section 132 on plural marriage and also Official Declaration 1 and 2. Here’s what the manual says. It’s like they’re saying “Move along, nothing to see here!”
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 132:1-2, 29-40 Plural marriage is acceptable to God only when He commands it.
Many people who read the Old Testament wonder about Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and others marrying multiple wives. Were these servants of the Lord committing adultery? Did God approve of their marriages? Joseph Smith had similar questions. Look for the answers God gave in Doctrine and Covenants 132:1-2, 29-40.
Marriage between one man and one woman is God's standard of marriage (see the section heading to Official Declaration 1; Jacob 2:27, 30). However, there have been times when God has commanded His children to practice plural marriage.
The early years of the restored Church were one of those periods of exception. If you want to learn more about plural marriage among the early Saints, see "Merey Thompson and the Revelation on Marriage" (in Revelations in Context, 281-93); Saints, 1:290-92, 482-35, 482-92, 502-4; Topics
OFFICIAL DECLARATION 1 The work of God must move forward.
In the "Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff regarding the Manifesto" (at the end of Official Declaration 1), what reasons did the prophet give for the Lord ending the practice of plural marriage? What does this teach you about God's work? For more information about the historical background of Official Declaration 1, see Saints, 2:602-15; "The Messenger and the Manifesto," in Revelations in Context, 323-31; Topics and Questions, “Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah," Gospel Library
OFFICIAL DECLARATION 2 I can trust in the Lord, even when I do not have a perfect understanding.
We don't know why priesthood ordination and temple ordinances were not available to Church members of African descent for a time. Even when facing difficult unanswered questions about that policy, many Black Latter-day Saints trusted the Lord (see Proverbs 3:5) and stayed faithful to Him throughout their lives. Learning about their faith and experiences could be inspiring to you. Here are some of their accounts, found at history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org:
- "Jane Elizabeth Manning James"
- "In My Father's House Are Many Mansions” (story of Green Flake)
- "You Have Come at Last" (story of Anthony Obinna)
- "Break the Soil of Bitterness" (story of Julia Mavimbela)"I Will Take It in Faith" (story of George Rickford)
- "Long-Promised Day" (story of Joseph W. B. Johnson)
As you read Official Declaration 2, what do you learn about the Lord's process for guiding the policies of His Church? Ponder how you have learned to trust the Lord even when you don't have a perfect understanding.
See also 2 Nephi 26:33; "Witnessing the Faithfulness” in Revelations in Context, 332-41; Topics and Questions, "Race and the Priesthood,"
Special Note: It's OK to say "I don't know." While you should try your best to help the people you teach to answer their questions about the gospel, the Lord doesn't expect you to know everything. When you don't know how to answer something, admit it. Then point learners to revealed doctrine, and bear sincere testimony of what you do know.
My “ministering brother” recently gave me a copy of the Come Follow Me manual for 2025 on the Doctrine & Covenants. He knows I no longer believe, but he also knows I have a keen interest is church history. Of course, it is that very history, once fully revealed, that caused me to leave the church a couple years ago. Anyway, I wanted to see how they addressed Section 132 on plural marriage and also Official Declaration 1 and 2. Here’s what the manual says. It’s like they’re saying “Move along, nothing to see here!”
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 132:1-2, 29-40 Plural marriage is acceptable to God only when He commands it.
Many people who read the Old Testament wonder about Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and others marrying multiple wives. Were these servants of the Lord committing adultery? Did God approve of their marriages? Joseph Smith had similar questions. Look for the answers God gave in Doctrine and Covenants 132:1-2, 29-40.
Marriage between one man and one woman is God's standard of marriage (see the section heading to Official Declaration 1; Jacob 2:27, 30). However, there have been times when God has commanded His children to practice plural marriage.
The early years of the restored Church were one of those periods of exception. If you want to learn more about plural marriage among the early Saints, see "Merey Thompson and the Revelation on Marriage" (in Revelations in Context, 281-93); Saints, 1:290-92, 482-35, 482-92, 502-4; Topics
OFFICIAL DECLARATION 1 The work of God must move forward.
In the "Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff regarding the Manifesto" (at the end of Official Declaration 1), what reasons did the prophet give for the Lord ending the practice of plural marriage? What does this teach you about God's work? For more information about the historical background of Official Declaration 1, see Saints, 2:602-15; "The Messenger and the Manifesto," in Revelations in Context, 323-31; Topics and Questions, “Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah," Gospel Library
OFFICIAL DECLARATION 2 I can trust in the Lord, even when I do not have a perfect understanding.
We don't know why priesthood ordination and temple ordinances were not available to Church members of African descent for a time. Even when facing difficult unanswered questions about that policy, many Black Latter-day Saints trusted the Lord (see Proverbs 3:5) and stayed faithful to Him throughout their lives. Learning about their faith and experiences could be inspiring to you. Here are some of their accounts, found at history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org:
- "Jane Elizabeth Manning James"
- "In My Father's House Are Many Mansions” (story of Green Flake)
- "You Have Come at Last" (story of Anthony Obinna)
- "Break the Soil of Bitterness" (story of Julia Mavimbela)"I Will Take It in Faith" (story of George Rickford)
- "Long-Promised Day" (story of Joseph W. B. Johnson)
As you read Official Declaration 2, what do you learn about the Lord's process for guiding the policies of His Church? Ponder how you have learned to trust the Lord even when you don't have a perfect understanding.
See also 2 Nephi 26:33; "Witnessing the Faithfulness” in Revelations in Context, 332-41; Topics and Questions, "Race and the Priesthood,"
Special Note: It's OK to say "I don't know." While you should try your best to help the people you teach to answer their questions about the gospel, the Lord doesn't expect you to know everything. When you don't know how to answer something, admit it. Then point learners to revealed doctrine, and bear sincere testimony of what you do know.