[At the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple] He [i.e., Joseph F. Smith] then explained how the law of consecration had been revealed and afterwards suspended, because the people were not prepared for it. So with the principle of celestial marriage. The Lord had revealed that, but only about two per cent. of the members of the Church had practiced it; and some of those who did practice it, abused it, while others had entered into it unworthily. 'I am not surprised that the Lord spoke through His servant Wilford Woodruff, and said this principle shall be suspended. The Lord permitted our government to put its heavy hand upon us, and made it apparent to us that the wisest thing we could do, in the sight of God and world, was to stop plural marriage among the Latter-day Saints. And it has been stopped. Now, I want to say to you, Elders of Israel, who have plural families, if you take advantage of these circumstances to cast off your wives and your children, and to leave them homeless and friendless, breaking the hearts of your wives, and filling the souls of your children with bitterness and hatred' if you do this, in the name of Israel's God, the curse of the Almighty will rest upon you, that you shall wither and die.'
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
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