The 1886 Revelation


1886 was a hard time to be a Faithful Latter Day Saint. U.S. Laws such as the Edmund Tucker act basically made it illegal to be a Mormon, with the government taking Church buildings and making many church leaders being wanted criminals. John Taylor, the author of this revelation, was no exception. While on the run, he wrote this letter to his son, also called John. 

Sept 27, 1886, My son John. You have asked me concerning the New & eve<r>lasting covenant how far it is binding upon my people. Thus, saith the Lord all commandments that I give must <be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name> unless they are revoked by my or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant; for I the Lord am everlasting my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with; but they stand for ever. & have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject? Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my law & the keeping of my commandment and yet have I borne with them these many years & this because of their weakness because of the perilous times & furthermore, it is more pleasing to <me> that men should use their free agency in regard to these matters. Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change & my word & my covenants & my law do not. & as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph all those who would enter into my glory must & shall obey my law & have I not commandment men that if they were Abraham's seed & would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham. I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting & those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof, even so amen.

This revelation was given to the Church in 1933 by Frank Y Taylor, another son of John Taylor. There it sat until only a few days ago, on the 14th of June, when it was officially released to the public by the Church.  

The revelation is very controversial, as it seems to state that polygamy is a covenant that will never go away, a sentiment that is in conflict with the modern church's teachings on polygamy. It can be debated if polygamy is what he is talking about per se, or just the covenant of marriage. And even then, it was never canonized, as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles never got to vote on it.

With the revelation now open to the public, debates over its subject matter and what that means today will be thoroughly discussed. From fundamentalists to polygamy deniers, the conversations will become heated fast. But to truly know what this revelation means, take it up to the Lord, and he will tell you. Through the Holy Spirit you will know the truth of all things.

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