A revelation upon the eternity of the marriage covenant was given to the Prophet long before the year 1843, as he asserted, and I am pleased to be able to testify to his son that on a certain Sabbath morning, previous to the return of the Apostles from Europe, in 1841, he astonished his hearers by preaching on the restoration of all things, and said that as it was anciently with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so it would be again, etc. He spoke so plainly that his wife, Emma, as well as others were quite excited over it.

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It seems that the revelation received by him in 1843, was given in answer to an inquiry to know wherein the Lord justified certain ones anciently in having so many wives and concubines. This is his testimony, and he further affirms that he was commanded to teach and enter upon the practice of it. In the revelation he was told that he was of the loins of Abra-ham, who received great promises concerning the continuation of his seed and the fruit of his loins forever.

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We might upon the same principle, and with quite as much propriety say that the first simple rudiments of learning are all that is necessary to complete our education. When we have understood and thoroughly digested one lesson or principle we are to go on unto perfection. But how can we receive light from those who show such palpable ignorance of the Prophet and the principles which I testify before God and His angels that I heard him teach! I know, as well as I know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, that he commanded my father and other men to enter into this order of matrimony, and that he bestowed the holy Priesthood with all its keys and ordinances upon the Twelve Apostles, and told them to stand in their place and "bear off the kingdom of God." He frequently declared that he was rolling off the kingdom from his own shoulders to those of the Twelve, and I know that he maintained this feeling to the day of his death.