Difference between revisions of "Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?"

(→‎There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored)
m
 
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{FairMormon}}
+
{{Main Page}}
 
<onlyinclude>
 
<onlyinclude>
 +
{{H2
 +
|L=Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?
 +
|H=Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?
 +
|S=
 +
|L1=Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?
 +
|L2=There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored
 +
|L3=Joseph and Fanny's marriage was a plural marriage, not an eternal marriage
 +
}}
 +
</onlyinclude>
 +
 +
 
==Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?==
 
==Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?==
 
===There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored===
 
===There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored===
Line 10: Line 21:
 
===Joseph and Fanny's marriage was a plural marriage, not an eternal marriage===
 
===Joseph and Fanny's marriage was a plural marriage, not an eternal marriage===
  
−
Some have wondered how the first plural marriages (such as the Alger marriage) could have occurred before the 1836 restoration of the sealing keys in the Kirtland temple (see {{s||DC|110||}}).  This confusion occurs because we tend to conflate several ideas.  They were not all initially wrapped together in one doctrine:
+
Some have wondered how the first plural marriages (such as the Alger marriage) could have occurred before the 1836 restoration of the sealing keys in the Kirtland temple (see {{s||D&C|110||}}).  This confusion occurs because we tend to conflate several ideas.  They were not all initially wrapped together in one doctrine:
  
 
# plural marriage - the idea that one could be married (in mortality) to more than one woman: being taught by 1831.
 
# plural marriage - the idea that one could be married (in mortality) to more than one woman: being taught by 1831.
Line 21: Line 32:
  
  
−
 
−
</onlyinclude>
 
 
{{endnotes sources}}
 
{{endnotes sources}}
 
[[Category:Letter to a CES Director]]
 
[[Category:Letter to a CES Director]]
Line 29: Line 38:
 
[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo podrían José y Fanny han estado casados en 1831 si el poder para sellar aún no había sido restaurado?]]
 
[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo podrían José y Fanny han estado casados en 1831 si el poder para sellar aún no había sido restaurado?]]
 
[[pt:Pergunta: Como poderia Joseph e Fanny terem sido casados em 1831 se o poder selador ainda não havia sido restaurado?]]
 
[[pt:Pergunta: Como poderia Joseph e Fanny terem sido casados em 1831 se o poder selador ainda não havia sido restaurado?]]
 +
[[Category:Questions]]

Latest revision as of 17:46, 5 May 2024

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?


Jump to details:


Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?

There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored

There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored. Mosiah Hancock (a Mormon) reported a wedding ceremony in Kirtland, Ohio in 1833.

Apostate Mormons Ann Eliza Webb Young and her father Chauncery both referred to Fanny's relationship as a "sealing." Ann Eliza also reported that Fanny's family was very proud of Fanny's relationship with Joseph, which makes little sense if it was simply a tawdry affair. Those closest to them saw the marriage as exactly that—a marriage.

Joseph and Fanny's marriage was a plural marriage, not an eternal marriage

Some have wondered how the first plural marriages (such as the Alger marriage) could have occurred before the 1836 restoration of the sealing keys in the Kirtland temple (see D&C 110). This confusion occurs because we tend to conflate several ideas. They were not all initially wrapped together in one doctrine:

  1. plural marriage - the idea that one could be married (in mortality) to more than one woman: being taught by 1831.
  2. eternal marriage - the idea that a man and spouse could be sealed and remain together beyond the grave: being taught by 1835.
  3. "celestial" marriage - the combination of the above two ideas, in which all marriages—plural and monogamous—could last beyond the grave via the sealing powers: implemented by 1840-41.

Thus, the marriage to Fanny would have occurred under the understanding #1 above. The concept of sealing beyond the grave came later. Therefore, the marriage of Joseph and Fanny would have been a plural marriage, but it would not have been a marriage for eternity.

Perhaps it is worth mentioning that priesthood power already gave the ability to ratify certain ordinances as binding on heaven and earth (D&C 1:8), that the sealing power was given mention in earlier revelations such as Helaman 10:7, and that the coming of Elijah and his turning of the hearts of children and fathers was prophesied in 3 Nephi 25:5-6. This supports the view that it is unlikely that Joseph was just making up the sealing power and priesthood power extemporaneously to justify getting married to Fanny and having sexual relations with her.


Notes


Retrieved from "https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/index.php?title=Question:_How_could_Joseph_and_Fanny_have_been_married_in_1831_if_the_sealing_power_had_not_yet_been_restored%3F&oldid=256080"