The revelation on celestial marriage was written in 1843, as dictated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. The date the Prophet received the revelation from the Lord was much earlier, however, perhaps as early as 1831.
In notes to the introduction of volume 5, History of the Church, Elder B.H. Roberts wrote: "In [1831T, and thence intermittently up to 1833, the Prophet was engaged in a revision of the English Bible text under the inspiration of God, Sidney Rigdon in the main acting as his scribe. As he began his revision with the Old Testament, he would be dealing with the age of the Patriarchs in 1831. He was doubtless struck with the favor in which the Lord held the several Bible Patriarchs of that period, notwithstanding they had a plurality of wives. What more natural than that he should inquire of the Lord at that time, when his mind must have been impressed with the fact - Why, Oh Lord, didst Thou justify Thy servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; as also Moses, David, and Solomon, in the matter of their having many wives and concubines? In answer to that inquiry came the revelation, though not then committed to writing." (History of the Church, 5:xxix-xxx.)In Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants, vol. 2, Leaun G. Otten and C. Max Caldwell wrote: Anyone who accepts the Bible as a depository of revealed truth, acknowledges that, on occasion, plural marriage has been sanctioned by the Lord. At various times in certain dispensations, the Lord has commanded that this principle should be put into practice. (See D&C 132:34-49; Gen. 25:1-6; Genesis chapters 29 and 30; 2 Sam. 12:7-8.) On other occasions, He has forbidden this practice. (See Jacob 2:27-30.)
"In this dispensation of the fulness of times, the Lord has revealed that He would . . . `gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; . . . ' (Eph. 1:10; Acts 3:20-21.) The practice of plural marriage is part of the restoration of all things spoken of by the Lord.
"It is clear that the principle of plural marriage, as taught and practiced in this dispensation, was revealed and commanded by the Lord. Those who righteously obeyed this law did so by divine decree. (D&C 132:3-14, 58-66.)
"One of the fundamental truths that is evident in the functioning and operation of the kingdom of God is that the Lord commands and revokes as He sees fit. (See D&C 56:4; 58:30-33; 124:49.) Any commandment or revocation of a commandment given by the Lord for His people will be revealed through the mouth of His living prophet. (See D&C 21:1-6; 28:2; 43:1-7; 90:1-4; 107:91; 124:45-46, 125-126.)
"The Lord revealed to the Prophet Wilford Woodruff that the practice of plural marriage should cease in that no additional plural marriages would be sanctioned by the Lord. An official statement was issued by the church in 1890 entitled the Manifesto that announced the revocation of the practice of solemnizing plural marriages. Based upon the divine principle of common consent (see D&C 26:2), this manifesto was presented to and sustained by the membership of the church. (See D&C, Official Declaration - 1; see also Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff regarding the Manifesto which follow Official Declaration - 1.)
"Just as the implementation of the practice of plural marriage was of divine origin, even so certainly was the revocation of the practice given by the Lord. Just as those who obeyed His command to practice plural marriage stood approved by the Lord, even so do those who violate His revocation stand condemned before Him."
