uch of a Gentile to lead
this people. Brigham said he had hopes that David, a brother of
young Joseph, when he became older, might occupy the place of his
father, but Joseph never would.

CHAPTER XIV - THE DOCTRINE OF SEALING

In the winter of 1845 meetings were held all over the city of
Nauvoo, and the spirit of Elijah was taught in the different
families as a foundation to the order of celestial marriage, as
well as the law of adoption. Many families entered into covenants
with each other - the man to stand by his wife and the woman to
cleave unto her husband, and the children to be adopted to the
parents. I was one of those who entered into covenants to stand
by my family, to cleave to them through time and eternity. I have
kept my obligations sacred and inviolate to this day.

Others refused to enter into these obligations, but separated
from each other, dividing their substance, and mutually
dissolving their former relations on friendly terms. Some agreed
to exchange wives by virtue and authority of the holy Priesthood.
One of Brigham's brothers, Lorenzo Young, now a bishop, made an
exchange of wives with Brother Decker.

All people are aliens to the commonwealth of Israel until adopted
into the Kingdom by baptism, and their children born unto them
before the baptism of the parents must be adopted to the parents,
and become heirs to the Kingdom only through the law of adoption.
The children that are born to parents after the baptism of the
parents are legal heirs to the Kingdom.

This doctrine extends further. All persons must be adopted by
some of the leading men of the Church. In this, however, they
have the right of choice, thus forming the links of the chain of
Priesthood back to the father, Adam, and to the second coming of
the Messiah. Time will not allow me to enter into the full
details of this subject.

The ordinance of celestial marriage was practiced by men and
women who had covenanted to live together, and plural marriages
are stepping-stones to celestial exaltation. Without plural
marriage a man cannot attain to the fullness of the holy
Priesthood and be made equal to our Saviour. Without it he can
only attain to the position of the angels, who are servants and
messengers to those who attain to the Godhead. These inducements
cause every true believer to exert himself to attain that exalted
position - both men and women. In many cases the women do the
"sparking," through the assistance of