Official Declaration 1 הַצְהָרוֹת רִשְׁמִיּוֹת הַצְהָרָה א׳

Hebrew translation, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Official Declaration 1 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1
הַתַּנַ״ךְThe Bibleוְסֵפֶרand the Book ofמוֹרְמוֹןMormonמְלַמְּדִיםteachשֶׁהַמּוֹנוֹגַמְיָהthat monogamyהִיאisאַמַּתthe standard ofהַמִּדָּהmeasureשֶׁלofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodלְנִשּׂוּאִיןfor marriage,אֶלָּאunlessאִםifכֵּןsoהוּאHeמַצְהִירdeclaresאַחֶרֶתotherwiseרְאוּseeשְׁמוּאֵלSamuelב2וְיַעֲקֹבand Jacobב׳2.בְּעִקְבוֹתFollowingהִתְגַּלּוּתa revelationשֶׁנִּתְּנָהgivenלְיוֹסֵףto Josephסְמִית׳Smith,הֻנְהַגwas institutedנֹהַגthe practice ofהַנִּשּׂוּאִיןmarriageהַמְּרֻבִּיםpluralבְּקֶרֶבamongחַבְרֵיthe members ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Churchבִּתְחִלַּתat the beginning ofשְׁנוֹתthe yearsהָ־40the 40sשֶׁלofהַמֵּאָהthe centuryהָ־19the 19thרְאוּseeפֶּרֶק132sectionמִשְּׁנוֹתFrom the yearsהָ־60the 60sוְעַדtoשְׁנוֹתthe yearsהָ־80the 80sשֶׁלofהַמֵּאָהthe centuryהָ־19the 19th,הֶעֱבִירָהpassedמֶמְשֶׁלֶתthe government ofאַרְצוֹתthe UnitedהַבְּרִיתStatesחֻקִּיםlawsאֲשֶׁרwhichהָפְכוּmadeנֹהַגpracticeדָּתִיreligiousזֶהthisלְבִלְתִּיun-חֻקִּיlawful.חֻקִּיםlawsאֵלֶּהTheseאֻשְּׁרוּwere upheldבְּסוֹפוֹeventuallyשֶׁלofדָּבָרthe matterעַלbyיְדֵיthe hands ofבֵּיתthe Courtהַמִּשְׁפָּטof JusticeהָעֶלְיוֹןSupremeשֶׁלofאַרְצוֹתthe UnitedהַבְּרִיתStates.לְאַחַרAfterקַבָּלַתreceivingהִתְגַּלּוּתrevelation,פִּרְסֵםissuedהַנָּשִׂיאPresidentוִילְפוֹרְדWilfordוּוּדְרוּףWoodruffאֶת־הַמָּנִיפֶסְטthe Manifestoהַבָּאfollowing,שֶׁהִתְקַבֵּלwhich was acceptedעַלbyיְדֵיthe hands ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Churchכְּסַמְכוּתִיas authoritativeוּמְחַיֵּבand bindingבְּ־6on the 6thבְּאוֹקְטוֹבֶּר1890of OctoberדָּבָרthingזֶהThisהוֹבִילledלְסִיּוּמוֹto the endשֶׁלofנֹהַגthe practice ofהַנִּשּׂוּאִיןmarriageהַמְּרֻבִּיםpluralבַּכְּנֵסִיָּה׃in the Church.
The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise (see 2 Samuel 12:7–8 and Jacob 2:27, 30). Following a revelation to Joseph Smith, the practice of plural marriage was instituted among Church members in the early 1840s (see section 132). From the 1860s to the 1880s, the United States government passed laws to make this religious practice illegal. These laws were eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. After receiving revelation, President Wilford Woodruff issued the following Manifesto, which was accepted by the Church as authoritative and binding on October 6, 1890. This led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church.
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לְכׇלTo allמִיwhomשֶׁהַדָּבָרthat the matterנוֹגֵעַconcernsלוֹ:them:
To Whom It May Concern:
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הוֹאִילWhereasוְנִשְׁלְחוּhaving been sentיְדִיעוֹתdispatchesעִתּוֹנוּתpressלְמַטְּרוֹתfor purposes,מְדִינִיּוֹתpoliticalמֵעִירfrom the City ofאֲגַםLakeהַמֶּלַחSalt,אֲשֶׁרwhichפֻּרְסְמוּhave been publishedבָּרַבִּיםwidely,לֵאמֹרto the effectכִּיthatוַעֲדַתthe Commission ofיוּטָאUtah,בְּדִין־וְחֶשְׁבּוֹנָהּin their reportהָאַחֲרוֹןrecentלְשַׂרto the Secretary ofהַפְּנִיםthe Interior,טוֹעֶנֶתallegeכִּיthatעוֹדָםare stillנֶעֱרָכִיםbeing solemnizedנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriagesרַבִּיםpluralוְכִיand thatאַרְבָּעִיםfortyאוֹorיוֹתֵרmoreנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriagesכָּאֵלֶּהsuchנַעֲשׂוּhave been contractedבְּיוּטָאin UtahמֵאָזsinceיוּנִיJuneהָאַחֲרוֹןlastאוֹorבְּמֶשֶׁךְduringהַשָּׁנָהthe yearהָאַחֲרוֹנָהpast,וְגַםalsoכִּיthatבִּדְרָשׁוֹתin discoursesפֻּמְבִּיּוֹתpublicלִמְּדוּhave taught,מַנְהִיגֵיthe leaders ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Churchוְעוֹדְדוּencouragedוְדָחֲקוּand urgedאֶת־הֶמְשֵׁךְthe continuance ofנֹהַגthe practice ofרִבּוּיthe plurality ofהַנָּשִׁים—wives—
Press dispatches having been sent for political purposes, from Salt Lake City, which have been widely published, to the effect that the Utah Commission, in their recent report to the Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages are still being solemnized and that forty or more such marriages have been contracted in Utah since last June or during the past year, also that in public discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy—
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לָכֵןtherefore,אֲנִיI,כְּנָשִׂיאas President ofכְּנֵסִיַּתthe Church ofיֵשׁוּעַJesusהַמָּשִׁיחַChristשֶׁלofקְדוֹשֵׁיthe Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִיםthe days,מַכְרִיזdo declareבָּזֶהhereby,בְּאֹפֶןin the mannerהָרְצִינִיsolemnבְּיוֹתֵרmost,כִּיthatהַהַאֲשָׁמוֹתthe chargesהָאֵלֶּהtheseשֶׁקֶרfalseהֵן׃are.אֵיןnotאָנוּWe areמְלַמְּדִיםteachingרִבּוּיthe plurality ofנָשִׁיםwives,וְאֵיןnor areאָנוּweמַרְשִׁיםpermittingלְאִישׁany personלְהִכָּנֵסto enterלְנֹהַגinto practiceזֶהits,וּמַכְחִישׁand denyאֲנִיIכִּיthatאַרְבָּעִיםfortyאוֹorכׇּלanyמִסְפָּרnumberאַחֵרotherשֶׁלofנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriagesרַבִּיםpluralנַעֲשׂוּhave been solemnizedבַּתְּקוּפָהduring the periodהַהִיאthatבְּהֵיכָלֵינוּin our Templesאוֹorבְּכׇלin anyמָקוֹםplaceאַחֵרotherבַּטֶּרִיטוֹרְיָה׃in the Territory.
I, therefore, as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice, and I deny that either forty or any other number of plural marriages have during that period been solemnized in our Temples or in any other place in the Territory.
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מִקְרֶהcaseאֶחָדOneדֻּוַּחhas been reported,אֲשֶׁרin whichבּוֹthereinטָעֲנוּallegeהַצְּדָדִיםthe partiesכִּיthatהַנִּשּׂוּאִיןthe marriageנֶעֶרְכוּwas performedבְּבֵיתin the House ofהַמַּתָּנָהthe Endowment,בְּעִירin the City ofאֲגַםLakeהַמֶּלַחSalt,בְּאָבִיבin the Spring ofשְׁנַתthe yearאֶלֶףone thousandוּשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredוּשְׁמוֹנִיםand eightyוְתֵשַׁע-nine,אַךְbutלֹאnotיָכֹלְתִּיhave I been ableלְבָרֵרto learnמִיwhoעָרַךְperformedאֶת־הַטֶּקֶס׃the ceremony;וְכׇלand allמַהthatשֶּׁנַּעֲשָׂהwas doneבָּעִנְיָןin matterהַזֶּהthisנַעֲשָׂהwas doneבְּלֹאwithoutדַּעְתִּי׃my knowledge.בְּעִקְבוֹתIn consequence ofהָאֵרוּעַoccurrenceהַנִּטְעָןallegedהַזֶּהthis,הֻרַסwas taken downבֵּיתthe House ofהַמַּתָּנָהthe Endowment,לְפִיbyהוֹרָאוֹתַיmy instructions,לְלֹאwithoutדִּחוּי׃delay.
One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the Spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay.
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הוֹאִילInasmuchוְנֶחְקְקוּas have been enactedחֻקִּיםlawsעַלbyיְדֵיthe hands ofהַקּוֹנְגְּרֶסCongressהָאוֹסְרִיםforbiddingנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriages,רַבִּיםpluralאֲשֶׁרwhichהֻכְרְזוּhave been pronouncedכְּחֻקָּתִיִּיםconstitutionalעַלbyיְדֵיthe hands ofבֵּיתthe court ofהַמִּשְׁפָּטresort,הָאַחֲרוֹןlastמַכְרִיזdeclareאֲנִיIבָּזֶהherebyאֶת־כַּוָּנָתִיmy intentionלְהִכָּנַעto submitלַחֻקִּיםto lawsהָאֵלֶּהthose,וּלְהַשְׁתַּמֵּשׁand to useבְּהַשְׁפָּעָתִיmy influenceעַלwithחַבְרֵיthe members ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe ChurchאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנִיIעוֹמֵדpresideבְּרֹאשָׁהּover,שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּto have them doכֵּן׃likewise.
Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise.
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אֵיןThere is nothingבְּהוֹרָאוֹתַיin my teachingsלַכְּנֵסִיָּהto the Churchאוֹorבְּהוֹרָאוֹתin those ofחֲבֵרַיmy associates,בַּתְּקוּפָהduring the timeהַנִּזְכֶּרֶתspecified,דָּבָרa thingשֶׁאֶפְשָׁרwhich canלְפָרְשׁוֹbe construedבַּהֲגָיוֹןreasonablyכְּמַטִּיףto inculcateאוֹorמְעוֹדֵדencourageרִבּוּיthe plurality ofנָשִׁיםwives;וְכַאֲשֶׁרand whenזָקֵןElderכָּלְשֶׁהוּanyמִןofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Churchהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁhas usedבְּלָשׁוֹןlanguageשֶׁנִּרְאֲתָהwhich appearedכְּמַעֲבֶרֶתto conveyהוֹרָאָהteaching,כָּזוֹany suchהוּכַחhe has been reprovedמִיָּד׃promptly.וְעַתָּהAnd nowאֲנִיIמַכְרִיזdeclareבָּרַבִּיםpubliclyכִּיthatעֲצָתִיmy adviceלִקְדוֹשֵׁיto the Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִיםthe daysהִיאisלְהִמָּנַעto refrainמֵהִתְקַשֵּׁרfrom contractingבְּכׇלin anyנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriageהָאֲסוּרִיםforbiddenבְּחֹקby the law ofהָאָרֶץ׃the land.
There is nothing in my teachings to the Church or in those of my associates, during the time specified, which can be reasonably construed to inculcate or encourage polygamy; and when any Elder of the Church has used language which appeared to convey any such teaching, he has been promptly reproved. And I now publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land.
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וִילְפוֹרְדWilfordוּוּדְרוּףWoodruff
Wilford Woodruff
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נְשִׂיאPresident ofכְּנֵסִיַּתthe Church ofיֵשׁוּעַJesusהַמָּשִׁיחַChrist
President of The Church of Jesus Christ
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שֶׁלofקְדוֹשֵׁיthe Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִים׃the days.
of Latter-day Saints.
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הַנָּשִׂיאPresidentלוֹרֶנְזוֹLorenzoסְנוֹSnowהֵצִיעַofferedכָּךְ:the following:
President Lorenzo Snow offered the following:
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אֲנִיIמַצִּיעַmoveכִּיthat,בְּהַכִּירֵנוּrecognizingאֶת־וִילְפוֹרְדWilfordוּוּדְרוּףWoodruffכְּנָשִׂיאas the President ofכְּנֵסִיַּתthe Church ofיֵשׁוּעַJesusהַמָּשִׁיחַChristשֶׁלofקְדוֹשֵׁיthe Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִיםthe days,וְכָאָדָםand as the manהַיָּחִידonlyעַלonפְּנֵיthe face ofהָאֲדָמָהthe earthבָּעֵתat the timeהַזֹּאתpresentהַמַּחֲזִיקwho holdsבְּמַפְתְּחוֹתthe keys ofמַעֲשֵׂיthe ordinances ofהַחֲתִימָהthe sealing,נַחְשֹׁבwe considerאוֹתוֹhimכְּמֻסְמָךְauthorizedבִּמְלֹאוֹfullyמִכֹּחַby virtue ofמִשְׂרָתוֹhis positionלְהוֹצִיאto issueאֶת־הַהַכְרָזָהthe Manifestoאֲשֶׁרwhichנִקְרְאָהhas been readבְּאׇזְנֵינוּin our hearing,וְהִיאand which isלְיוֹםdated the dayהָעֶשְׂרִיםthe twentyוְאַרְבָּעָה-fourthלְסֶפְּטֶמְבֶּרof September,שְׁנַתin the yearאֶלֶףone thousandוּשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredוְתִשְׁעִיםand ninety,וְכִיand thatכִּכְנֵסִיָּהas a Churchמְכֻנֶּסֶתassembledבְּכִנּוּסin ConferenceכְּלָלִיGeneral,נְקַבֵּלwe acceptאֶת־הַכְרָזָתוֹhis declarationבְּעִנְיַןconcerningנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriagesרַבִּיםpluralכְּסַמְכוּתִיתas authoritativeוּמְחַיֶּבֶת׃and binding.
“I move that, recognizing Wilford Woodruff as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only man on the earth at the present time who holds the keys of the sealing ordinances, we consider him fully authorized by virtue of his position to issue the Manifesto which has been read in our hearing, and which is dated September 24th, 1890, and that as a Church in General Conference assembled, we accept his declaration concerning plural marriages as authoritative and binding.”
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עִירCity ofאֲגַםLakeהַמֶּלַחSalt,יוּטָאUtah,הַיּוֹםthe dayהַשִּׁשִּׁיsixthלְאוֹקְטוֹבֶּרof October,שְׁנַתin the yearאֶלֶףone thousandוּשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredוְתִשְׁעִים׃and ninety.
Salt Lake City, Utah, October 6, 1890.
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קְטָעִיםExcerptsמִשְּׁלֹשָׁהfrom ThreeנְאוּמִיםAddressesשֶׁלbyהַנָּשִׂיאPresidentוִילְפוֹרְדWilfordוּוּדְרוּףWoodruffעַלRegardingהַהַכְרָזָהthe Manifesto
Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff Regarding the Manifesto
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לֹאneverיִתֵּןwill permitיְהוָהThe Lordלְעוֹלָםeverלִיmeאוֹorלְכׇלanyאִישׁmanאַחֵרotherהָעוֹמֵדwho standsכְּנָשִׂיאas President ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Churchהַזֹּאתthisלְהַתְעוֹתto lead astrayאֶתְכֶם׃you.אֵיןis notזֶהItבַּתׇּכְנִית׃in the programme.אֵיןis notזֶהItבְּדַעַתin the mind ofאֱלֹהִים׃God.לוּIfנִסֵּיתִיI were to attemptלַעֲשׂוֹתto doכֵּןthat,הָיָהwouldיְהוָהthe Lordמֵסִירremoveאוֹתִיmeמִמְּקוֹמִיout of my place,וְכֵןand soיַעֲשֶׂהHe willלְכׇלanyאִישׁmanאַחֵרotherהַמְנַסֶּהwho attemptsלְהַתְעוֹתto lead astrayאֶת־בְּנֵיthe children ofהָאָדָםmenמִדִּבְרֵיfrom the oracles ofאֱלֹהִיםGodוּמֵחוֹבָתָם׃and from their duty.כִּנּוּסConferenceהַכְּנֵסִיָּהof the Church,הַכְּלָלִיGeneralהַחֲצִי־שְׁנָתִיSemiannualהָאֶחָד־וְהַשִּׁשִּׁיםSixty-firstיוֹםdayשֵׁנִיMonday,הַשִּׁשִּׁיthe sixthלְאוֹקְטוֹבֶּרof October,שְׁנַתin the yearאֶלֶףone thousandוּשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredוְתִשְׁעִיםand ninety,עִירCity ofאֲגַםLakeהַמֶּלַחSalt,יוּטָא׃Utah.
The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)
16
אֵיןnotזֶהIt mattersחָשׁוּבimportantמִיwhoחַיlivesאוֹorמִיwhoמֵתdies,אוֹorמִיwhoנִקְרָאis calledלַעֲמֹדto standבְּרֹאשׁat the head ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Churchהַזֹּאתthis,עֲלֵיהֶםthey have gotלְהַנְהִיגָהּto lead itבְּהַשְׁרָאַתby the inspiration ofאֱלֹהִיםGodשַׁדַּי׃Almighty.אִםIfלֹאnotיַעֲשׂוּthey do itכֵןthat way,לֹאnotיוּכְלוּthey can do itכְּלָל׃…at all.
It matters not who lives or who dies, or who is called to lead this Church, they have got to lead it by the inspiration of Almighty God. If they do not do it that way, they cannot do it at all. …
17
קִבַּלְתִּיI have hadהִתְגַּלּוּיוֹתrevelationsאֲחָדוֹתsomeלָאַחֲרוֹנָהof late,וַחֲשׁוּבוֹתand important onesמְאֹדveryבִּשְׁבִילִיto me,וְאַגִּידand I will tellלָכֶםyouמָהwhatאָמַרhas saidלִיto meיְהוָה׃the Lord.הָבִיאוּLet me bringלְלִבְּכֶםyour mindsאֶת־מַהto whatשֶּׁנִּקְרָאis termedהַהַכְרָזָה׃…the manifesto.
I have had some revelations of late, and very important ones to me, and I will tell you what the Lord has said to me. Let me bring your minds to what is termed the manifesto. …
18
אָמַרhas toldלִיmeיְהוָהThe Lordלִשְׁאֹלto askאֶת־קְדוֹשֵׁיthe Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִיםthe daysשְׁאֵלָהa question,וְגַםand alsoאָמַרHe toldלִיmeכִּיthatאִםifיַקְשִׁיבוּthey would listenלְמַהto whatשֶּׁאֲנִיIאוֹמֵרsaidלָהֶםto themוְיַעֲנוּand answerעַלuponהַשְּׁאֵלָהthe questionהַנִּשְׁאֶלֶתputמֵהֶםto them,בְּרוּחַby the Spiritוּבְכֹחַand power ofאֱלֹהִיםGod,יַעֲנוּthey would answerכֻּלָּםallתְּשׁוּבָהan answerאַחַתalike,וְיַאֲמִינוּand would believeכֻּלָּםallאֱמוּנָהa beliefאַחַתalikeבָּעִנְיָןwith regard to the matterהַזֶּה׃this.
The Lord has told me to ask the Latter-day Saints a question, and He also told me that if they would listen to what I said to them and answer the question put to them, by the Spirit and power of God, they would all answer alike, and they would all believe alike with regard to this matter.
19
הַשְּׁאֵלָהThe questionהִיאisזוֹ:this:מָהWhich isדֶּרֶךְthe course ofהַחׇכְמָהwisdomלִקְדוֹשֵׁיfor the Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִיםthe daysלְהַמְשִׁיךְto continueלְנַסּוֹתto attemptלְקַיֵּםto practiceנִשּׂוּאִיןmarriage,רַבִּיםpluralכְּנֶגֶדwith against itחֻקֵּיthe laws ofהַמְּדִינָהthe nationוּכְנֶגֶדand againstהִתְנַגְּדוּתthe opposition ofשִׁשִּׁיםsixtyמִילְיוֹןmillions ofאִישׁpeople,וּבִמְחִירand at the cost ofחִלּוּטthe confiscationכׇּלof allהַהֵיכָלוֹתthe Templesוְאִבּוּדָםand their loss,וּבִטּוּלand the stopping ofכׇּלallהַמַּעֲשִׂיםthe ordinancesהַקְּדוֹשִׁיםholyבָּהֶםtherein,הֵןbothלַחַיִּיםfor the livingוְהֵןandלַמֵּתִיםfor the dead,וְכִלּוּאand the imprisonment ofהַנְּשִׂיאוּתthe PresidencyהָרִאשׁוֹנָהFirstוּשְׁנֵים־הֶעָשָׂרand Twelveוְרָאשֵׁיand the heads ofהַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹתfamiliesבַּכְּנֵסִיָּהin the Church,וְחִלּוּטand the confiscation ofרְכוּשׁproperty ofהָעָםthe peopleהַפְּרָטִיpersonalשֶׁכׇּלall of whichאֵלֶּהtheseמֵעַצְמָםof themselvesהָיוּwouldעוֹצְרִיםstopאֶת־הַנֹּהַגthe practice;אוֹor,אַחֲרֵיafterשֶׁעָשִׂינוּdoingוְסָבַלְנוּand sufferingמַהwhatשֶּׁסָּבַלְנוּwe haveבִּדְבֵקוּתֵנוּthrough our adherenceבָּעִקָּרוֹןto principleהַזֶּהthis,לַחְדֹּלto ceaseמִןfromהַנֹּהַגthe practiceוּלְהִכָּנַעand submitלַחֹקto the law,וּבְכָךְand through doing soלְהַשְׁאִירleaveאֶת־הַנְּבִיאִיםthe Prophetsוְהַשְּׁלִיחִיםand Apostlesוְהָאָבוֹתand fathersבְּבָתֵּיהֶםat their homes,לְמַעַןso thatיוּכְלוּthey canלְהוֹרוֹתinstructאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleוְלַעֲסֹקand attendבְּחוֹבוֹתto the duties ofהַכְּנֵסִיָּהthe Church,וְגַםand alsoלְהַשְׁאִירleaveאֶת־הַהֵיכָלוֹתthe Templesבִּידֵיin the hands ofהַקְּדוֹשִׁיםthe Saints,לְמַעַןso thatיוּכְלוּthey canלַעֲסֹקattendבְּמַעֲשֵׂיto the ordinances ofהַבְּשׂוֹרָהthe Gospel,הֵןbothלַחַיִּיםfor the livingוְהֵןandלַמֵּתִים?for the dead?
The question is this: Which is the wisest course for the Latter-day Saints to pursue—to continue to attempt to practice plural marriage, with the laws of the nation against it and the opposition of sixty millions of people, and at the cost of the confiscation and loss of all the Temples, and the stopping of all the ordinances therein, both for the living and the dead, and the imprisonment of the First Presidency and Twelve and the heads of families in the Church, and the confiscation of personal property of the people (all of which of themselves would stop the practice); or, after doing and suffering what we have through our adherence to this principle to cease the practice and submit to the law, and through doing so leave the Prophets, Apostles and fathers at home, so that they can instruct the people and attend to the duties of the Church, and also leave the Temples in the hands of the Saints, so that they can attend to the ordinances of the Gospel, both for the living and the dead?
20
הֶרְאַנִיshowed meיְהוָהThe Lordבְּחָזוֹןby visionוּבְהִתְגַּלּוּתand revelationבְּדִיּוּקexactlyמָהwhatיִקְרֶהwould take placeאִםifלֹאnotנַעֲצֹרwe did stopאֶת־הַנֹּהַגpracticeהַזֶּה׃this.לוּIfלֹאnotעָצַרְנוּwe had stoppedאוֹתוֹit,לֹאnoהָיָהwould have hadלָכֶםyouצֹרֶךְuseבְּאַףfor anyאֶחָדoneמִןofהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menבַּהֵיכׇלin templeהַזֶּהthisבְּלוֹגַןat Logan;כִּיforכׇלallהַמַּעֲשִׂיםthe ordinancesהַקְּדוֹשִׁיםholyהָיוּwould beנִפְסָקִיםstoppedבְּכׇלthroughoutאֶרֶץthe land ofצִיּוֹן׃Zion.מְבוּכָהConfusionהָיְתָהwouldשׂוֹרֶרֶתreignבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלthroughout Israel,וַאֲנָשִׁיםand menרַבִּיםmanyהָיוּwould beנַעֲשִׂיםmadeאֲסִירִים׃prisoners.הַצָּרָהtroubleהַזֹּאתThisהָיְתָהwould haveבָּאָהcomeעַלuponכׇּלthe wholeהַכְּנֵסִיָּהChurch,וְהָיִינוּand we should have beenנֶאֱנָסִיםcompelledלַחְדֹּלto stopמִןfromהַנֹּהַג׃the practice.וְעַתָּהNow,הַשְּׁאֵלָהthe questionהִיאis,אִםwhetherצָרִיךְshouldהָיָהitלַחְדֹּלbe stoppedבְּדֶרֶךְin mannerזוֹthis,אוֹorבַּדֶּרֶךְin the wayשֶׁהֶרְאָהthat has manifestedלָנוּto usיְהוָהthe Lord,וּלְהַשְׁאִירand leaveאֶת־נְבִיאֵינוּour Prophetsוּשְׁלִיחֵינוּand Apostlesוַאֲבוֹתֵינוּand fathersבְּנֵיmenחוֹרִיןfree,וְאֶתandהַהֵיכָלוֹתthe templesבִּידֵיin the hands ofהָעָםthe people,לְמַעַןso thatיִגָּאֲלוּmay be redeemedהַמֵּתִים׃the dead.מִסְפָּרnumberגָּדוֹלA largeכְּבָרalreadyשֻׁחְרַרhas been deliveredמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofהַכֶּלֶאthe prisonבְּעוֹלַםin the world ofהָרוּחוֹתthe spiritsעַלbyיְדֵיthe hands ofהָעָםpeopleהַזֶּהthis,וְהַאִםand shallהַמִּפְעָלthe workיִמָּשֵׁךְgo onאוֹorיֵעָצֵר?stop?זוֹThis isהַשְּׁאֵלָהthe questionשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iמַנִּיחַlayלִפְנֵיbeforeקְדוֹשֵׁיthe Saints ofאַחֲרִיתthe latter part ofהַיָּמִים׃the days.עֲלֵיכֶםYou haveלִשְׁפֹּטto judgeבְּעַצְמְכֶם׃for yourselves.אֲנִיIרוֹצֶהwantשֶׁתַּעֲנוּthat you answer itבְּעַצְמְכֶם׃for yourselves.לֹאnotאֶעֱנֶהshall answer itאֲנִיI;אַךְbutאוֹמֵרI sayלָכֶםto youשֶׁזֶּהthat this isבְּדִיּוּקexactlyהַמַּצָּבthe conditionשֶׁהָיִינוּthat we would have beenבּוֹinכְּעָםas a peopleלוּhadלֹאnotהָלַכְנוּwe takenבַּדֶּרֶךְthe courseשֶׁהָלַכְנוּ׃we have.
The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice. If we had not stopped it, you would have had no use for … any of the men in this temple at Logan; for all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. Confusion would reign throughout Israel, and many men would be made prisoners. This trouble would have come upon the whole Church, and we should have been compelled to stop the practice. Now, the question is, whether it should be stopped in this manner, or in the way the Lord has manifested to us, and leave our Prophets and Apostles and fathers free men, and the temples in the hands of the people, so that the dead may be redeemed. A large number has already been delivered from the prison house in the spirit world by this people, and shall the work go on or stop? This is the question I lay before the Latter-day Saints. You have to judge for yourselves. I want you to answer it for yourselves. I shall not answer it; but I say to you that that is exactly the condition we as a people would have been in had we not taken the course we have.
21
רָאִיתִיI sawבְּדִיּוּקexactlyמָהwhatיִקְרֶהwould come to passאִםifלֹאnotיֵעָשֶׂהthere was doneדָבָר׃something.הָיְתָהhas beenעָלַיupon meהָרוּחַspiritהַזֹּאתthisזְמַןa timeרַב׃long.אַךְButרוֹצֶהwantאֲנִיIלוֹמַרto sayזֹאת:this:הָיִיתִיI should haveמַנִּיחַletלְכׇלallהַהֵיכָלוֹתthe templesלָצֵאתgo outמִיָּדֵינוּof our hands;הָיִיתִיI should haveהוֹלֵךְgoneלְבֵיתto the house ofהַסֹּהַרthe prisonבְּעַצְמִיmyself,וְנוֹתֵןand letלְכׇלeveryאִישׁmanאַחֵרotherלָלֶכֶתgoלְשָׁםthere,לוּלֵיhad notצִוָּהcommandedאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofהַשָּׁמַיִםheavenאוֹתִיmeלַעֲשׂוֹתto doמַהwhatשֶּׁעָשִׂיתִיI did do;וּכְשֶׁבָּאָהand when cameהַשָּׁעָהthe hourשֶׁצֻּוֵּיתִיthat I was commandedלַעֲשׂוֹתto doזֹאתthat,הָיָהwasהַכֹּלit allבָּרוּרclearלִי׃to me.הָלַכְתִּיI wentלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהthe Lord,וְכָתַבְתִּיand I wroteמַהwhatשֶּׁאָמַרtoldלִיmeיְהוָהthe Lordלִכְתֹּב׃…to write.
… I saw exactly what would come to pass if there was not something done. I have had this spirit upon me for a long time. But I want to say this: I should have let all the temples go out of our hands; I should have gone to prison myself, and let every other man go there, had not the God of heaven commanded me to do what I did do; and when the hour came that I was commanded to do that, it was all clear to me. I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write. …
22
מַנִּיחַleaveאֲנִיIאֶת־הַדָּבָרthingהַזֶּהthisלִפְנֵיכֶםwith you,לְהִתְבּוֹנֵןfor you to contemplateוּלְשָׁקוֹל׃and consider.יְהוָהThe Lordפּוֹעֵלis at workעִמָּנוּ׃with us.כִּנּוּסConference,יְתַדStakeקַאשׁCacheבְּלוֹגַןLogan,יוּטָאUtah,יוֹםdayרִאשׁוֹןSunday,הָאֶחָדthe firstלְנוֹבֶמְבֶּרof November,שְׁנַתin the yearאֶלֶףone thousandוּשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredוְתִשְׁעִיםand ninetyוְאַחַת׃-one.
I leave this with you, for you to contemplate and consider. The Lord is at work with us. (Cache Stake Conference, Logan, Utah, Sunday, November 1, 1891. Reported in Deseret Weekly, November 14, 1891.)
23
עַתָּהNowאַגִּידI will tellלָכֶםyouמָהwhatנִגְלָהwas manifestedאֵלַיto meוּמָהand whatפָּעַלperformedבֶּןthe Son ofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodבָּעִנְיָןin thingהַזֶּה׃…this.כׇּלAllהַדְּבָרִיםthingsהָאֵלֶּהtheseהָיוּwould haveבָּאִיםcome to pass,חַיas livesאֱלֹהִיםGodשַׁדַּיAlmighty,לוּלֵיhad notנִתְּנָהbeen givenהַהַכְרָזָהManifestoהַהִיא׃that.לָכֵןTherefore,רָצָהfelt disposedבֶןthe Son ofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodלְהַצִּיגto have presentedאֶת־הַדָּבָרthingהַזֶּהthatלַכְּנֵסִיָּהto the Churchוְלָעוֹלָםand to the worldלְמַטְּרוֹתfor purposesשֶׁבְּדַעְתּוֹ׃in his own mind.גָּזַרhad decreedיְהוָהThe Lordאֶת־הֲקָמַתthe establishment ofצִיּוֹן׃Zion.גָּזַרHe had decreedאֶת־הַשְׁלָמַתthe finishing ofהַהֵיכׇלtempleהַזֶּה׃this.גָּזַרHe had decreedכִּיthatיְשׁוּעַתthe salvation ofהַחַיִּיםthe livingוְהַמֵּתִיםand the deadתִּנָּתֵןshould be givenבַּבְּקָעוֹתin the valleys ofהָהָרִיםthe mountainsהָאֵלֶּה׃these.וְגָזַרAnd decreedאֱלֹהִיםGodשַׁדַּיAlmightyשֶׁלֹּאthat notיָפֵרshould thwartהַשָּׂטָןthe Devilאֶת־הַדָּבָר׃it.אִםIfתּוּכְלוּyou canלְהָבִיןunderstandזֹאתthat,הֲרֵיthenזֶהthis isמַפְתֵּחַa keyלַדָּבָר׃to it.מִנְּאוּםFrom a discourseבַּמּוֹשָׁבat the sessionהַשִּׁשִּׁיsixthשֶׁלofחֲנֻכַּתthe dedication ofהֵיכַלthe Temple ofאֲגַםLakeהַמֶּלַחSalt,אַפְּרִילAprilשְׁנַתin the yearאֶלֶףone thousandוּשְׁמֹנֶהeightמֵאוֹתhundredוְתִשְׁעִיםand ninetyוְשָׁלֹשׁ׃-three.
Now I will tell you what was manifested to me and what the Son of God performed in this thing. … All these things would have come to pass, as God Almighty lives, had not that Manifesto been given. Therefore, the Son of God felt disposed to have that thing presented to the Church and to the world for purposes in his own mind. The Lord had decreed the establishment of Zion. He had decreed the finishing of this temple. He had decreed that the salvation of the living and the dead should be given in these valleys of the mountains. And Almighty God decreed that the Devil should not thwart it. If you can understand that, that is a key to it. (From a discourse at the sixth session of the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, April 1893. Typescript of Dedicatory Services, Archives, Church Historical Department, Salt Lake City, Utah.)