Salvation by Sex

         

          

"Saved by Sex" is an expression an elderly lady, Thelma (Granny) Geer, often used when defining her Mormon heritage.  What did she mean by saying this?  "Exaltation is eternal life,..." according to the Gospel Principles Sunday School manual (pg. 275).  Page 278 tells us that "we must be married for eternity" to be exalted.  The focus of Doctrine and Covenants 132 is stated in the first verse: "...the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines-"  In verse four, it is stated that those who reject this doctrine are damned. "...an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned: for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."  Verse 6 again says, "...he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God."  In verse 54, the commandment of polygamy was aimed at Joseph Smith's wife, "...But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law."  This turned out to be a false prophesy.  Joseph Smith received the law of plural marriage and was assassinated.  Emma Smith, his wife, rejected the law and lived a long life.

      In his Book call Mormon Doctrine, Apostle Bruce R. McConkie said polygamy will return when Christ returns.  Under the a section titled Plural Marriage on page 578, he wrote, "...the holy practice will commence again after the Second Coming of the Son of Man and the ushering in of the millennium."

      Heber C. Kimball spoke of having many wives:  "In the spirit world there is an increase of males and females, there are millions of them, and if I am faithful all the time, and continue right along with brother Brigham, we will go to brother Joseph and say, 'Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not, with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state, not even the rings on our fingers?'  He will say to us, 'Come along, my boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes.  Where are your wives?'  'They are back yonder; they would not follow us.'  'Never mind,' says Joseph, 'here are thousands, have all you want.'  Perhaps some do not believe that, but I am just simple enough to believe it" (Journal of Discourses 4:209).

      Today Doctrine and Covenants 132 is still considered scripture by the LDS church.  This chapter states that plural marriage is an everlasting covenant.  Polygamy is deemed necessary for salvation.  It is supposed to continue forever.
      On the contrary, Ephesians 2:8&9 states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."  That statement ends with a period!