DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 129-132
Doctrinal Focus
- Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
Divine Revelation Clarifies Eternal Truths
God reveals truth line upon line to prepare His people for exaltation.
- Doctrine and Covenants 132 is a powerful example of continuing revelation, as the Lord gives further understanding about eternal marriage and exaltation. These truths were revealed gradually as the Saints were spiritually prepared to receive them. Joseph Smith’s revelations helped establish eternal perspectives necessary for building Zion and families that last beyond this life.
Personal revelation is necessary to understand and apply gospel doctrines.
Section 129 teaches how to discern spirits through divine revelation, reminding us that not all spiritual experiences come from God. This underscores the need for personal revelation, guided by the Holy Ghost, to interpret spiritual truths accurately and apply them with wisdom and faith in our daily lives.
Eternal Marriage Is Central to God’s Plan
Eternal marriage is ordained of God and necessary for exaltation.
Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 teaches that a man and woman sealed by proper authority and living righteously will inherit exaltation. This covenantal marriage reflects God’s eternal plan, which centers on families being sealed and continuing beyond death. It invites us to view marriage not only as a mortal union but as a divine, eternal relationship.
Faith in God’s timing is required when living eternal marriage principles.
As noted in “Our Relationship with God,” the Saints struggled with the commandment of plural marriage, highlighting how trusting God’s will—even when it’s difficult—is a sign of spiritual maturity. Obedience to eternal laws, especially when they are hard to understand or accept, strengthens our relationship with God and shows our willingness to place His plan above our own.
God Judges Righteously According to Our Hearts and Obedience
Sacrifices offered in obedience are seen and honored by the Lord.
- The Lord says in D&C 132:50, “I have seen your sacrifices in obedience.” This assurance reminds us that God is aware of our efforts and intentions, even when others may not be. Our quiet, faithful obedience—especially when misunderstood or unrecognized by the world—is precious to the Lord.
Righteous judgment requires divine perspective.
D&C 131–132 includes strong doctrines that can be misjudged without a spiritual lens. “A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells” teaches that when our homes are filled with the Spirit, we are more capable of understanding others and making decisions through God’s perspective, not our limited, earthly lens.
Historical & Contextual Insights
- Insights in this week’s study
Setting
- In the early 1840s, Nauvoo, Illinois was a center of spiritual and doctrinal development for the Saints under Joseph Smith’s leadership. Amid both persecution and growth, Joseph received and taught profound revelations concerning eternal family relationships and spiritual discernment.
Context
- Doctrine and Covenants 129–132 includes revelations on discerning spirits (129), the nature of eternal progression (130), the requirements for celestial glory (131), and the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (132), including plural marriage. These revelations were privately known to a few before being publicly shared and were met with varying degrees of understanding and acceptance—even within the Church.
Significance
- These sections introduced some of the most theologically complex and emotionally challenging doctrines of the Restoration. They illustrate the expanding vision of the gospel’s eternal scope and the deep trust required to follow divine instruction amid opposition and personal sacrifice.
Takeaway
- Understanding the historical context of these revelations helps us better appreciate the faith and obedience required of early Saints—and invites us to seek our own spiritual confirmation when learning or teaching difficult doctrines today.
Joseph Smith taught doctrines that challenged prevailing norms and required deep spiritual maturity.
- Doctrine and Covenants 132 presented the principle of eternal marriage and introduced plural marriage—a teaching that many Saints initially struggled to accept. The principle was not widely taught at first because of the spiritual and cultural maturity it required. Joseph’s obedience in teaching it, despite the personal and public costs, demonstrates his commitment to God’s revelations over popularity or safety.
- As highlighted in “Our Relationship with God,” Joseph faced ridicule, loss of trust, and even betrayal from close associates for obeying and teaching this principle. Yet, he did so out of obedience to divine command.
- For us today, while plural marriage is no longer practiced, the underlying principle remains: some truths require patience, humility, and the Spirit to fully understand. Obedience to divine direction, even when it’s unpopular, remains a hallmark of discipleship.
The Saints were being prepared for exaltation by learning how to discern between heavenly messengers and false spirits.
- In the backdrop of spiritual enthusiasm in Nauvoo, many Church members were eager to receive visions and revelations. However, not all spiritual manifestations were divine. Section 129 offers specific instructions on how to distinguish angels from deceiving spirits, emphasizing the reality of spiritual opposition and the need for discernment through priesthood knowledge and revelation.
- The early Saints were being spiritually prepared for temple ordinances and heavenly communication, and this instruction safeguarded them against deception as they sought deeper spiritual experiences.
- In our day, where spiritual confusion abounds and many voices claim divine authority, we must also seek the Spirit and the word of God to discern truth. The Lord still offers guidance, but He requires us to test the spirits and hold to revealed truth.
If you have questions on this week’s reading, please email your questions to us here.
Apologetic Application
Criticism 1: “Plural marriage was immoral and unjustified.”
- Claim: “Joseph Smith used religion to justify immoral behavior through polygamy.”
- Response:
- Historical Evidence: Plural marriage was introduced to Joseph Smith privately as early as the 1830s and practiced quietly among select Church members under divine instruction. The official revelation (D&C 132) wasn’t publicly shared until later to avoid further persecution and internal disruption.
- Eyewitness Support: Several contemporaries, including Eliza R. Snow and Helen Mar Kimball, recorded their testimonies of participating in plural marriage as a matter of faith, not coercion. Many testified that Joseph taught the principle reluctantly and only in obedience to God.
- Spiritual Confirmation: While plural marriage is difficult to understand, many faithful Saints received personal witnesses through the Spirit that it was divinely commanded for a time. This mirrors how God has at times given challenging commandments (e.g., Abraham and Isaac).
- Logical Analysis: Accusations of abuse overlook the theological and sacrificial context: Joseph faced intense opposition, loss of reputation, and personal anguish over this commandment. That he persisted indicates sincere belief in its divine origin rather than self-serving motives.
Criticism 2: “Doctrine and Covenants 132 is inconsistent with biblical teachings on marriage.”
- Claim: “The LDS doctrine of eternal and plural marriage contradicts the Bible.”
- Response:
- Historical Evidence: Biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Jacob, and others practiced plural marriage under God’s direction. D&C 132 explicitly references these examples as precedents.
- Eyewitness Support: Early Saints reported that Joseph Smith directly tied these teachings to scripture and received revelation to help them understand ancient practices in a restored gospel context.
- Spiritual Confirmation: The principle of eternal marriage aligns with the broader plan of salvation: God’s intent is for families to continue beyond death. This understanding resonates deeply with many Latter-day Saints through the confirming power of the Spirit.
- Logical Analysis: Rather than contradicting the Bible, D&C 132 expands on biblical precedent by restoring a principle practiced anciently. The eternal nature of marriage clarifies God’s long-term plan for His children’s exaltation.
Criticism 3: “Joseph Smith invented revelations to maintain control.”
- Claim: “He fabricated revelations like D&C 132 to justify personal desires and consolidate power.”
- Response:
- Historical Evidence: Joseph delayed teaching and practicing plural marriage for years, despite knowing it would cause significant distress. His delay and reluctance suggest he did not use revelation to serve selfish aims.
- Eyewitness Support: Accounts from close associates like Hyrum Smith and Brigham Young emphasize Joseph’s anguish over plural marriage and his persistent testimony that it came from God.
- Spiritual Confirmation: Many members, including women who practiced plural marriage, received personal spiritual witnesses of the doctrine’s truth, independent of Joseph’s authority.
- Logical Analysis: Creating such controversial revelations brought Joseph significant suffering, not benefit. A manipulative leader would not introduce a doctrine likely to fracture his following and invite public outrage.
Practical Applications
Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:
Strengthen your commitment to eternal marriage.
Action Step: Talk with your spouse or future spouse about making your relationship more eternal in focus.
Why it helps:
D&C 132 teaches that eternal marriage, sealed by proper authority and lived in righteousness, leads to exaltation. Strengthening that covenant daily helps couples build a spiritual foundation for joy in this life and in the life to come.
How to do it:
- – Pray together daily and invite the Spirit into your relationship.
- – Study scriptures and General Conference talks about eternal marriage.
- – Set goals for improving love, unity, and forgiveness in your relationship.
- – Make or review your temple sealing plans or covenants.
Encouraging Thought:
“Happiness in marriage and parenthood can exceed a thousand times any other happiness.” —President James E. Faust
Learn to discern truth through the Spirit.
Action Step: Practice spiritual discernment by asking the Lord for guidance when faced with confusing or conflicting information.
Why it helps:
Section 129 teaches that not every spirit is from God. In today’s world of information overload and spiritual counterfeits, discernment is essential to avoid deception and stay anchored in truth.
How to do it:
- – Study D&C 129 and related scriptures about discernment (e.g., Moroni 7:12–17).
- – When you feel prompted or influenced, pause and ask: “Is this from God?”
- – Record your impressions and experiences to learn how the Spirit speaks to you.
- – Follow up with confirmation through prayer, scriptures, and wise counsel.
Encouraging Thought:
“The gift of the Holy Ghost… quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections.” —Parley P. Pratt
Trust God’s plan, even when it’s hard to understand.
- Action Step: Submit your will to God in an area of life where you’re struggling to understand His purpose.
Why it helps:
The Saints’ initial resistance to plural marriage reminds us that not all divine commandments are easy or immediately clear. Faithful obedience invites peace and deeper understanding over time.
How to do it:
- – Identify an area where you’re questioning or resisting God’s will.
- – Study examples of faithful submission (e.g., Abraham, Joseph Smith).
- – Pray for strength to act in faith, even without full understanding.
- – Write down any spiritual impressions or growth that follows.
Encouraging Thought:
“We don’t need to understand everything right now. We just need to trust and keep moving forward in faith.” —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Ideas for Teaching
Spiritual Signal or Static?
Objective: Help learners understand how to discern between truth and deception through the Spirit.
Materials Needed:
Activity Steps:
Activity Steps:
- Introduction (5 min): Play one clear radio station and one filled with static. Ask: “How do you feel listening to each?” Relate to spiritual influences.
- Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 129:4–7 and Moroni 7:16–17. Discuss how God teaches us to discern spirits and truth.
- Application (5 min): Give groups spiritual scenarios (e.g., a confusing thought, a dream, a strong emotion). Ask: “How would you apply what we’ve learned to discern if this is from God?”
Follow-Up Question: How can we improve our ability to hear spiritual signals clearly through daily choices?
Marriage That Lasts Forever
Objective: Teach the eternal significance of temple marriage and how to build eternal relationships.
Materials Needed:
Paper hearts, pens, poster titled “Building an Eternal Marriage,” D&C 132:19.
Activity Steps:
Activity Steps:
Introduction (5 min): Ask: Show a broken paper heart, then one whole and sealed. Ask, “Which marriage do you want and why?”
Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 132:19 and highlight words related to eternal promises. Discuss what God’s plan for marriage includes.
Application (5 min): Have each person write one thing that strengthens eternal relationships on a heart and place it on the poster.
Follow-Up Question: What choices can we make now to prepare for or strengthen an eternal marriage?
Following God When It’s Hard
Objective: Encourage learners to trust and obey God, even when His will is difficult to understand.
Materials Needed:
Blindfolds, small obstacle course (or taped path), quote from President Uchtdorf, D&C 132:50.
Activity Steps:
Activity Steps:
Introduction (5 min): Have one student wear a blindfold and be led through a simple obstacle path by another. Ask afterward: “Was it hard to trust?”
Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 132:50. Discuss how the Lord acknowledged the sacrifices of Joseph and others who obeyed difficult commandments.
Application (5 min): Share personal or scriptural examples of obedience during trials. Invite learners to reflect on one area where they need to trust God more.
Follow-Up Question: When has trusting God led to unexpected blessings in your life?
QUICK REFERENCE
Key Points
- God reveals truth “line upon line,” and some truths require spiritual maturity to receive (D&C 132:8).
- Eternal marriage, performed by proper priesthood authority, is essential for exaltation (D&C 132:19–20).
- Discerning between true and false spiritual influences is a necessary skill for disciples (D&C 129).
- Obedience, even when the commandment is difficult, is a test of faith and trust in God (D&C 132:50).
- Early Saints sacrificed much to obey divine revelations, showing deep commitment to eternal truths.
Core Apologetic Answers
- Why trust modern prophets?
- Modern prophets are essential for receiving continuing revelation (Amos 3:7). Joseph Smith’s teachings—though sometimes difficult—restored eternal truths lost over time. His revelations were consistent with ancient patterns and confirmed by spiritual witnesses and historical integrity.
- Why does God allow mistakes?
- God allows prophets to learn line upon line, just like all of us. Imperfections in prophets (Moses, Peter, Joseph Smith) demonstrate that God works through weak things to accomplish His purposes (Ether 12:27). This invites us to seek the Spirit for personal confirmation rather than expect flawless leaders.
Key Resources
Scriptures
- Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 – Eternal marriage and exaltation.
- Doctrine and Covenants 129:4–9 – Discerning spirits.
Church Documents
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World – Eternal marriage and divine gender roles.
Gospel Topics Essay: “Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo” – Historical context and clarification.
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World – Eternal marriage and divine gender roles.
