When the Lord says that all associations will be thrown down in D&C 132, what does he mean?

Gramps,

Please share with me some comments about Doctrine & Covenants Section 132, For example, when the Lord says that all associations will be thrown down, does He include all non-LDS associations? Why does he use the word “destroy”? Thank you.

Douglas, from Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Douglas,

Let’s review D&C 132:7, which is the subject of your question, to see if we can determine what it actually says–

And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law–

[see verse 6. “This law” refers to the new and everlasting covenant, which is the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.} are these:”

All— associations,— that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise,

[The Holy Ghost must seal all associations that are to endure into the eternities. He will do that only if the participants in those associations fulfill all the requirements of the covenants upon which those associations are based.]

through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power— and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred,

[The President of the Church is the only one on the earth who has the authority and power from God to exercise the power of the priesthood to seal wives to husbands and children to their parents in the eternities. However, the President of the Church gives this sealing power to all the general authorities, and also to others by authorizing them to exercise it in specific temples.]

for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.

[In other words there is no other authority on the earth that can make binding contracts that extend beyond mortality.]

With respect to the use of the word “destroy,” it has different connotations depending on where it is used in Section 132.

Verse 14, shall be- destroyed [terminated]

Verse 26, they shall be destroyed in the flesh [their lives shall be cut short]

Verse 41, if a man receiveth a wife in the new and everlasting covenant, and if she be with another man, and I have not appointed unto her by the holy anointing, she hath committed adultery and shall be destroyed [the sealing for time and eternity to her husband shall be completely invalidated, and she will not inherit the celestial kingdom.]

Verse 52, And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God. [If any of the prophet’s wives have misrepresented themselves concerning their purity their sealings will also be invalidated.]

Verse 54, And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. 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. [Same interpretation as in the previous two quotes.]

Verse 57, And again, I say, let not my servant Joseph put his property out of his hands, lest an enemy come and destroy him; for Satan seeketh to destroy. [This destruction would be both physical and spiritual, which is the aim of the adversary.]

Verse 63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed [Same as verses 41 and 52.]

Verse 64, And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law. [Same as verses 41 and 52.]

Gramps