The One Man

Those of my readers that do not have a Mormon background may not know about this tradition/doctrine, and may not know the cruelties and injustices committed in the name of this doctrine, but it is a doctrine that has been adulterated and used to justify the most abhorrent priestcraft from almost every Mormon group/church. 

The doctrine can be found in the 132^nd section of the current Doctrine and Covenants, published by the mainstream LDS church.  The reference reads:

Verse 7:

“And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that ate not made and entered into and sealed by him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made a unto this end have and end when men are dead.” 

I’m sure the reader can see the potential for evil men to twist this scripture to rule unrighteously over the hearts of the children of men.  But to the pure in heart, I say; have faith.  Those men do not hold the keys of Joseph.  Joseph still holds the keys to this day. 

The Section goes on to describe the use of those keys and also the use of other sealing keys that are conferred on others who receive the Patriarchal Priesthood.  And it is from the misreading of this section (not differentiating between the keys of Joseph and the keys of others holding the Patriarchal Priesthood) from which the false doctrine springs. 

The false doctrine is this:

That only one man at a time holds the keys of Joseph, and that when that man dies, or before he dies, the keys are passed to another man, and so on.  And by this, the person who holds those keys can wield all power over the hearts of their followers by claiming to be the one man, the only man, who has control over their condition in the afterlife. 

And of course if a follower does not do exactly what their leader wants them to do, then they are oppressed, held down, refused blessings, refused ordinations, refused endowments, refused second anointings, they could lose their wife/wives, lose their children, be excommunicated, and/or be cursed to Outer Darkness. 

The false belief that Joseph does not hold those keys to this day is ridiculous.  All the early Saints were well aware, and much was written on the subject, that Joseph continues to hold those keys, and that he is the only one who holds those keys. 

One of Joseph’s wives, Eliza R. Snow, the prophetess, wrote the doctrine into the hymn Praise To The Man. 

Brigham Young stated: “Are the keys of the kingdom taken from Joseph?  Oh no; well then he still lives.  He that believes in Jesus as Joseph did, they will never die. They may lay down their lives, but they still hold the keys.” 

~ DHC 7:287  

George Q. Cannon said that Brigham Young taught that the Prophet Joseph Smith stood at that head of this dispensation, that Joseph holds the keys, that although Joseph had gone behind the veil, Joseph stood at the head of this dispensation and that Brigham Young held the keys subordinate to Joseph.  President Cannon also said that John Taylor taught the same doctrine, “and you will never hear any other doctrine from any of the faithful Apostles or servants of God, who understand the order of the Holy Priesthood”

To Parley P. Pratt, the Lord said: 'Lift up your head and rejoice, for behold! it is well with my servants Joseph and Hyrum.  My servant Joseph still holds the keys of my kingdom in this dispensation, and he shall stand in due time on the earth, in the flesh, and fulfill that to which he is appointed'... [Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pg 333] 

Sidney Rigdon stated; "Joseph sustains the same relationship to this church as he has always done.  No man can be the successor of Joseph...  The martyred Prophet is still the head of this church; every quorum should stand as you stood in your washings and consecrations."

"the Prophet Joseph ... who still holds the keys of this last dispensation, and will hold them to all eternity, as a king and priest unto the Most High God, ministering in heaven, on earth, or among the spirits of the departed dead, as seemeth good to Him who sent him.
"Let no man presume for a moment that his place will be filled by another; for, remember he stands in his own place, and always will..." [HC 7:250] 

The Lord himself tells Joseph in Doctrine and Covenants 90:3

“Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;” 

Joseph still holds the keys of the last days. 

The one man referred to in D&C 132:7 is Joseph, who still holds the keys of this priesthood in the last days.  So read it in that context, and realize that it still says the same thing today, which certainly puts a stop to all the false claims of the various usurpers. 

I have talked to Joseph personally, and he is still the one who holds the keys. 

.