Understanding Plural Marriage
Note: This is not all doctrine taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but does not go contrary to any of the teachings therein.
This all starts with an understanding of our eternal nature, and the ability we have of becoming like God our Heavenly Father some day. An applicable quote here from Lorenzo Snow, the 5th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, says, “As man is, God once was, as God is, man may become.”
We have our Heavenly Father, who is the Most High God, and Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings. By this we know that all the faithful sons will be Kings, but Jesus Christ will be our King, thus, He is the King of Kings, for the Father and The Son are both of the Most High God line.
Sons are to be Kings, and will eventually become like God our Father, when they reach their full potential in the post/after life, or third estate, as it is called in scripture, according to their faithfulness. Then, after having fulfilled their very role as an eternal God, having had all their children, and having lived out their unique experiences as a God and Father, and growing through raising their children, finishing their work and glory, [to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.] See Moses 1:39 (In The Pearl of Great Price), they will continue to progress.
What will be next? We will then be called forth, up, and into another eternal life, of another pre-earth, earth, and post-earth life, where things will then be even bigger, better, more refined, more eternally specific, and even more prolific and powerful.
In all of our eternal lives, we will each take on roles within the perfect plan of our Father in Heaven, in which all things are perfectly curated to us, and needed, in the grand, mighty, and perfect plan of our Father in Heaven. The most important of these roles are those of Savior, and the adversary, but that’s for another time.
Yes, our lives are held in the Hands of our God, but not by force (worldly control), as some might think or say, but by the constant, Godly involvement in our lives, of a loving Heavenly Father, in which He seeks to bring all beings home, under His divine, loving, and perfect order.
We will all eventually have the role of being a Savior, but taking on that role earlier, or later, as a Lord, or as a Most high Lord, is no qualifier as to the importance of our being a soul, for we are all created perfectly equal. All will play out their planned and curated roles, throughout all the eternities of eternal lives, the best we can, relying on the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It will obviously be very difficult for a male to be a Savior, in the extent and sphere in which they take their place, but nonetheless, all sacrifices will be infinite, and in the place and timing of the Father, equal in their effect and strength. Each sacrifice, both before and beyond, holding hands with the previous, and later sacrifices given, to afford eternal lives of ultimate righteous redemption.
As men are to be Saviors, and then Gods, in furthering eternal lives, then women also will have their trials and tests too. That of having to share in the godly high council, which consists of the husband, and each other (of the other wives), to share in all things with their Husband, thus enacting the plurality of wives.
In the Doctrine & Covenants, it outlines this sealing (marriage) arrangement, as the New and Everlasting Covenant, and on earth, it is only to be instituted by God, only to certain people, and only at certain times, and only in certain places, one of which was in the early history of the Saints of His Church in these Latter-Days.
Food for thought:
Q. Why do you think we have different looking ethnicities of children of God?
A. Because we have different looking Heavenly Mothers.
Shane



