View source for Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?

{{FairMormon}}
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==Question: How could Joseph and Fanny have been married in 1831 if the sealing power had not yet been restored?==
===There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored===

There is historical evidence that Joseph Smith knew as early as 1831 that plural marriage would be restored. Mosiah Hancock (a Mormon) reported a wedding ceremony in Kirtland, Ohio in 1833. 

Apostate Mormons Ann Eliza Webb Young and her father Chauncery both referred to Fanny's relationship as a "sealing." Ann Eliza also reported that Fanny's family was very proud of Fanny's relationship with Joseph, which makes little sense if it was simply a tawdry affair. Those closest to them saw the marriage as exactly that—a marriage.

===Joseph and Fanny's marriage was a plural marriage, not an eternal marriage===

Some have wondered how the first plural marriages (such as the Alger marriage) could have occurred before the 1836 restoration of the sealing keys in the Kirtland temple (see {{s||DC|110||}}).  This confusion occurs because we tend to conflate several ideas.  They were not all initially wrapped together in one doctrine:

# plural marriage - the idea that one could be married (in mortality) to more than one woman: being taught by 1831.
# eternal marriage - the idea that a man and spouse could be sealed and remain together beyond the grave: being taught by 1835.
# "celestial" marriage - the combination of the above two ideas, in which all marriages&mdash;plural and monogamous&mdash;could last beyond the grave via the sealing powers: implemented by 1840-41.

Thus, the marriage to Fanny would have occurred under the understanding #1 above.  The concept of sealing beyond the grave came later. Therefore, the marriage of Joseph and Fanny would have been a plural marriage, but it would not have been a marriage for eternity. Priesthood power already gave the ability to ratify certain ordinances as binding on heaven and earth (D&C 1:8). It is worth noting that the sealing power was given mention in earlier revelations such as Helaman 10:7 and the coming of Elijah and his turning of the hearts of children and fathers prophesied in 3 Nephi 25:5-6.



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{{endnotes sources}}
[[Category:Letter to a CES Director]]
[[Category:MormonThink]]

[[es:Pregunta: ¿Cómo podrían José y Fanny han estado casados en 1831 si el poder para sellar aún no había sido restaurado?]]
[[pt:Pergunta: Como poderia Joseph e Fanny terem sido casados em 1831 se o poder selador ainda não havia sido restaurado?]]