The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days

Official Statement on Marriage

and Family Government

We declare that marriage between man and woman is ordained of God, and that the union of the sexes in the proper marriage relation is righteous and that the marriage bed is undefiled; also, that children and families are part of the plan of a loving God.

We declare, as was taught by Joseph Smith and the former prophets of this dispensation, that plural marriage is the marriage order of the heavens. This order of marriage was given to us by the prophet of this dispensation, Joseph Smith, to be a necessary principle of the fullness of the gospel. We believe as Joseph and his contemporaries taught, that a man or a woman cannot attain the highest degree of exaltation without living this high and refining principle.

We do not believe that the principle of plural marriage should be entered into or considered for purposes of fleshly gratification. If such purposes are at the forefront of the motivation for a plural relationship, it will bring about unhappiness and failure. If lived righteously and properly, this principle will teach men righteous leadership and sensitivity; wives learn to overcome jealousies and to live in unity and cooperation; all will learn patience-and thus this principle can lead to great happiness. This principle, coupled with other principles of the fullness of the gospel, are to enable righteous members of the latter-day House of Israel to truly build and redeem Zion, to welcome the Savior and the City of Enoch back to the earth and to usher in the Millennium.

We declare that a marital union between a woman and a man must be done by religious covenant, with the full consent and mutual agreement of both parties, and also with mutual feelings of affection. We do not "arrange" any marriages, and we decry and abhor the idea of a woman of any age being forced into a marital union against her wishes. Plural marriages are performed openly among us and with the knowledge and consent of a first wife or previous wives.

We believe that a man has the responsibility to lead righteously and in kindness in his family. While we stress the necessity of a man learning to lead in righteousness, we do not condone nor tolerate abuse of any form, sexual, physical, or emotional, either towards wife or child. We believe that any abuse occurring in any family anywhere, polygamous or monogamous, should be punished according to the provisions of law, and we are always prepared to cooperate in the prosecution of such should the need arise. We testify that those who are guilty of the abuse of those under their stewardship will be accountable to God, and will receive of his judgments.

We believe that one of the essentials of righteous leadership for a man is to learn sensitivity and kindness. A man cannot be truly happy in his home with a wife or a child suffering from unhappiness because of his unrighteous dominion or unreasonable or arbitrary treatment. We treasure our wives and children, and seek their emotional, spiritual, and physical welfare and comfort. We do not demean either woman or child, and seek opportunity for all to study and learn as well as to make valuable and fulfilling contribution to families and community.

We stress that the Manifesto document signed by LDS President Wilford Woodruff on September 24, 1890 was not a true revelation from God, but rather an instrument of weakness for political ends, and that neither Wilford Woodruff nor his brethren lived by the "counsel" of the Manifesto for many years afterward. The Manifesto was not issued in response to the "Reynolds" Supreme Court Decision (eleven and one half years before) which upheld the anti-polygamy laws. Many of President Woodruff's associates among the leadership of the LDS church at the time declared that the Manifesto was no revelation of the Lord. In fact, Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto in opposition to a revelation he himself received from the Lord not one year before the Manifesto.

We stress that the LDS church, while proclaiming their love for the family, has continued to pervert the true order of the family, and to confuse the role of women. A righteous man must lead and preside in his family according to kindness as well as justice and the principles of D&C section 121. His wife or wives are under covenant to obey his law. This is according to both the teachings in the scriptures, as well as the former teachings of the LDS church. However, the LDS church has whittled these teachings down more and more over the years, until at the present time a man is often greatly hampered by the LDS church and by his wife to truly lead in the home; nor is he taught to really take the reigns and lead. No longer also are LDS women put under covenant to obey the law of their husbands in the endowment as formerly done. This confuses greatly the proper way to administer righteous family government, and is contrary to the order of God. The LDS "Proclamation on the Family" declares in the same paragraph that men "preside" in the family, but also that men and women are "equal partners." We solemnly testify that this "double-speak" to appease the worldly opinions of the day creates confusion in the minds of men and women, and destroys true leadership ability in an increasing number of LDS homes.

These sad and unfortunate occurrences were nonetheless prophesied by the prophet Isaiah:

"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." (Isaiah 3:12)

We again affirm the divine purpose for the family and the marriage union. But it must be done the Lord's way, and not according to the popular worldly philosophies of the day.