New & Everlasting Covenant… of Marriage?

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Explore the documentation behind the claim that marriage for eternity is a requirement for the celestial kingdom. What is the new and everlasting covenant? How has the new and everlasting covenant evolved in LDS church history, and was marriage part of that covenant initially? How did the saints break the covenant 12 years before it was revealed? At what point did eternal marriage become the focal point of the everlasting covenant and who was responsible for this “new” covenant?

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YouTube video about the New & Everlasting Covenant of Marriage

Background of the New & Everlasting Covenant of Marriage

  • LDS official narrative – May 16, 1843 Joseph Smith taught that entering into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage is required for exaltation (source 1, 0:22)
  • D&C 131’s origins (1:56)
  • D&C 131 in our scriptures: added in 1876 under the direction of Brigham Young, with “meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage” added into the text. (3:30)
  • Where did the requirement of eternal marriage as a pathway to celestial glory come from? (5:22)
  • William Clayton‘s journal entry for May 16, 1843 (source 2, 6:02)
  • 7:30 Who gave these instructions in Ramus? Analysis of the alternative handwriting style that credits Joseph as the speaker. (source 2)
  • 10:48 Benjamin F. Johnson‘s (possibly Joseph Smith’s) summary of the everlasting covenant (source 2)
  • 12:25 Thomas Bullock‘s church history “draft” showing additions, corrections & marginal notes for Brigham Young to later inspect this segment on marriage. (source 3)
  • 14:26 Comparison of all 3 original source documents: Clayton Journal (2), Thomas Bullock’s church history draft (3) and final manuscript (source 4)
  • 15:33 Changing the everlasting covenant, timeline of its evolution and scriptural analysis (sources 5,6,7,8,9)
Sources:
  1. “Lesson 24: Doctrinal Developments in Nauvoo” Latter-day Saint History 1815-1846 Teacher’s Manual
  2. “Instruction, 16 May 1843, as Reported by William Clayton” [JSP #1068 p. 13-14]
  3. “History Draft [1 March–31 December 1843]“ [JSP #8470 p.31] – Handwriting of Thomas Bullock (not Willard Richards, as accidentally mentioned at 13:16 and 14:11)
  4. “History, 1838–1856, volume D-1” [JSP #7624 p.1551] – Handwriting of Thomas Bullock
  5. 2 Nephi 31:17 (Book of Mormon) – estimated 559-545 BC
  6. Doctrine & Covenants 22:1-4 – April 1830
  7. Doctrine & Covenants 45:9 – March 1831
  8. Doctrine & Covenants 49:9 – May 1831
  9. Doctrine & Covenants 131:1-2 – April 1876