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 Continuation
of Study on "66"
Clues for Unraveling the Polygamy Puzzle
There are several clues in this present approach that address the controversy of
polygamy. By "controversy," I refer to the question that is raised as to whether
D&C 132 came as a revelation purely from God, or whether it was given because of the
desires of the hearts of the people, including Joseph Smith and others, that they might
stumble. (Consider Jacob 4:14c.)
The scriptural basis for questioning this is found in the writings of Paul in which
he compares Abraham and Sarah's taking of Hagar in order to have Ishmael as embodying the
fleshly commandments, whereas the son that was born of Sarah was of the original promise
and of heaven. (Gal. 4:19-31; 5:1; Rom. 9:8,9.) The issue is not so much the plurality of
wives as it is of taking things into one's own hands and begging the Lord's approval, such
as with the 116 manuscript pages. This does not deny the possibility of polygamy ever
being of God, but it does recast Abraham's having done this in a non-emulatory light,
which contradicts D&C 132:1,29-37, especially verse 34. In this day of proving all
things and holding fast to that which is true through the exacting process of
personal revelation , even Joseph and Abraham are subject to scrutiny if we are to inherit
what they have inherited.
See also: Word study/essay on Bondwoman.
- 66 x 2 = 132. D&C 133 was given as the "appendix," and section one as the
"preface," both being received just after section 66. Considering the
significance being shown with the number 66 in relation to the word of God, that the
"appendix" falls as section 133, not 132, indicates the possibility of an
extraneous section, the most likely candidate being 132, as it has that number and
therefore bumps the appendix to section 133. Both 66 and 133 talk about "receiving
mine everlasting covenant," and define it as "the fulness of my gospel, sent
forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the
glories which are to be revealed in the last days." (66:2; 133:57.) D&C 132
defines the "new and everlasting covenant" to necessarily include the practice
of polygamy.
- D&C 1 ends on page 4.5 of the 1981 LDS scriptures; and section 133 begins on page
273.5. Half way between these is page 134.5, which is the beginning of section 75. Just
before this, as 132 is just before 133, I have the following verse highlighted boldly:
"Wherefore, for this cause the apostle wrote unto the church, giving unto them a
commandment, not of the Lord, but of himself..." (D&C 74:5.) This verse makes it
clear that a messenger of God can claim words to be of the Lord when they are not. If it
was true of Paul, it can be true of Joseph Smith, and not take away from the overall
divine commission given him. As always, our responsibility is to take everything to the
Lord direct. If any man was perfect, we would trust in him rather than God, which is
idolatry. That this statement coincides with D&C 132 in this fashion should not be
ignored by us in answering the question about the source of D&C 132.
- There are 376 verses in all the scriptures (O.T., N.T., BofM, D&C, PGP) that have
any form of the word "six" in them. There are 376 chapters/sections in the Book
of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants. If the declarations are included, there are three
paragraphs found by the computer in Official Declaration 1 that contain forms of the word
"six," bringing the total to 379 in the Standard Works. The fact that these
numbers are identical is very powerful evidence of the Lord's hand in the minutest details
of the word of God. That the match-up requires the omission of the three paragraphs in
declaration one, which are not set forth as "verses" anyway, indicates that this
declaration is extraneous. What place in the word of God is there to revoke a commandment
that was not a commandment of God, and replace it by an edict to follow the prophet
unfalteringly, which is idolatry?
- On page 67, after definition 27, "beloved," is definition 28,
"Hagar." Somehow, this juxtaposition seems appropriate to the current treatise,
for whatever reason. See Galatians 4
-- The Choice.
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