Summary of Did the church hide the 1886 John Taylor revelation? Is polygamy the new & everlasting covenant?

The video titled "Did the church hide the 1886 John Taylor revelation? Is polygamy the new & everlasting covenant?" explores the history, authenticity, theological implications, and controversies surrounding a lesser-known 1886 Revelation received by LDS Church President John Taylor. This revelation reportedly affirmed that plural marriage (polygamy) was an "everlasting covenant" that could not be revoked, yet just four years later, the LDS Church publicly ended the practice with the 1890 Manifesto under Wilford Woodruff. The video features a detailed discussion among Mormonism scholars and researchers who analyze the document’s provenance, its theological interpretation, and the church’s response to it.

Key Points:

  1. Historical Context of the 1886 Revelation:
    • John Taylor received the revelation while in hiding due to intense federal anti-polygamy laws (notably the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act 1862, Poland Act 1874, Edmunds Act 1882, and Edmunds-Tucker Act 1887).
    • The revelation was written in 1886, about four years before the 1890 Manifesto officially ended plural marriage practice.
    • The document was kept private, not canonized, and only surfaced publicly decades later, notably in 1933 when the First Presidency issued a statement denying its existence before receiving the original manuscript.
  2. Provenance and Authenticity:
    • The original revelation was found among John Taylor’s papers after his death and was first introduced publicly by his son John W. Taylor, who used it to justify continuing plural marriage and opposing the Manifesto.
    • Copies circulated among Mormon fundamentalist groups, but the original was only officially handed to the church in 1933.
    • The church initially denied having the document, likely due to only having copies and uncertainty about authenticity at the time.
    • Modern scholarship affirms the document’s authenticity but recognizes it was never canonized or made authoritative for the entire church.
  3. Theological Interpretation and Debate:
    • The revelation states that "everlasting covenants" cannot be revoked, which some interpret as meaning plural marriage is eternal and unchangeable.
    • However, scholars argue that the "new and everlasting covenant" primarily refers to celestial marriage (eternal monogamous marriage), as outlined in Doctrine and Covenants Section 132.
    • Polygamy is viewed as a commandment or principle that can be revoked, not the everlasting covenant itself.
    • The revelation’s ambiguous language allows for multiple interpretations, but the binding authority rests with the one man holding the priesthood keys (the church president).
    • Without authorization from this keyholder, plural marriages are not considered valid or binding, regardless of individual belief or fundamentalist claims.
  4. Church Authority and Canonization Process:
    • For a revelation to be binding on the entire church, it must be canonized through a formal process involving the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and sustained by the general membership.
    • The 1886 Revelation never underwent this process and thus holds no official doctrinal authority.
    • This process safeguards the church from fragmentation and unauthorized revelations, a key difference between mainstream LDS members and Mormon fundamentalists.
    • Mormon fundamentalists often claim secret ordinations and authority to continue plural marriage based on this revelation, but these claims lack contemporary documentation and contradict established church procedures.
  5. Post-Manifesto Polygamy and Leadership Responses:
    • Despite the 1890 Manifesto, some plural marriages continued unofficially until the 1904 Second Manifesto, which enforced stricter discipline.
    • Church leaders privately struggled with the tension between public policy and ongoing plural marriages.
    • The fundamentalist narrative that John Taylor secretly authorized a council to perpetuate plural marriage lacks strong historical evidence.
    • The keys to authorize marriages also include broader responsibilities such as missionary work and temple ordinances, which fundamentalist leaders have not fulfilled.
  6. The 1933 First Presidency Statement:
    • The church publicly denied the revelation’s existence before receiving the original manuscript, likely due to uncertainty and the sensitive nature of polygamy at the time.
    • Scholars interpret this denial charitably, considering the context and limited information available to church leaders then.
    • The revelation’s later transparency reflects the church’s evolving approach to historical openness.
  7. Contemporary Implications and Speculation:
    • The revelation’s release has reignited discussion about polygamy’s place in LDS doctrine.
    • Current LDS Church leadership, including President Russell M. Nelson, does not recognize the 1886 Revelation as authorizing plural marriage today.
    • The idea that polygamy will be reinstated is widely rejected; any eternal sealing arrangements will be made according to God’s will and individual choice in the afterlife.
    • The church continues to emphasize the importance of following authorized priesthood authority and established procedures.

Conclusion:

The 1886 John Taylor revelation is an authentic but

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