Introduction
In this episode, the discussion turns to one of the most frequently quoted and most misunderstood statements attributed to Joseph Smith—his declaration that an adulterer “cannot receive the Celestial Kingdom of God.” The hosts explore how this statement originated, what Joseph actually meant in context, how early revelations treated the sin of adultery, and how real historical cases illustrate the doctrine of repentance in practice.
Joseph Smith’s 1843 Statement on Adultery
The words often cited today—“If a man commit adultery he cannot receive the Celestial Kingdom of God”—come from the journal of Wilford Woodruff, written on November 25, 1843. On that day Joseph Smith met with the Nauvoo High Council to address moral accusations circulating among both members and outsiders.
The Prophet forcefully rejected the idea that he had ever condoned adultery or any kind of improper sexual behavior. These rumors stemmed in part from the earlier scandals involving John C. Bennett, who had promoted a counterfeit system he called “spiritual wifery”—a fraudulent justification for immoral relationships that Bennett claimed Joseph had authorized. Joseph publicly exposed Bennett’s deception in 1842, but echoes of the allegations continued into the following year.
Against this background, Joseph’s statement emphasized a simple and clear principle: a person who commits adultery and refuses to repent cannot be exalted. His point was not that adultery is unforgivable, but that unrepented sin closes the path to the Celestial Kingdom. Willard Richards later incorporated Woodruff’s journal entry into the official History of the Church, preserving Joseph’s warning for later generations.
Adultery in the Law of the Church: Doctrine and Covenants 42
More than a decade before the Nauvoo statement, the Lord revealed the “Law of the Church” to Joseph Smith in February 1831. Part of that revelation, now found in Doctrine and Covenants 42, deals directly with adultery.
In the revelation, the Lord commands that those who commit adultery and refuse to repent must be cast out of the Church. But the revelation also contains a crucial promise—that anyone who repents “with all their heart” and forsakes the sin “shall be forgiven.” Early Saints understood from this revelation that adultery was a grave violation of God’s law, but not an unpardonable one. Forgiveness remained possible through sincere repentance, exactly as taught by Christ in the New Testament.
A Nauvoo Example: The Case of George J. Adams
One of the clearest historical examples of how the Saints treated adultery comes from the story of George J. Adams. Adams was a gifted orator and a respected missionary, but during his service in England he committed adultery and fathered a child. When he later returned to Nauvoo, Adams confessed privately to Joseph Smith.
A surviving letter written by Adams in October 1842 records his remorse, shame, and desire to make things right. His case came before Church leaders in May 1843. Joseph Smith explained that Adams had acknowledged his wrongdoing and had made “perfect satisfaction.” Joseph announced that Adams had begun anew, though his church standing was adjusted—his elder’s license was revoked temporarily, and he functioned only as a priest for a time.
The case illustrates multiple principles at once: adultery was treated seriously, discipline was applied, and full fellowship was possible again through repentance. It mirrors the scriptural pattern from D&C 42—justice, followed by mercy where there is genuine change of heart.
Repentance and Early Latter-day Saint Doctrine
When all of Joseph Smith’s teachings are considered together, a consistent doctrine emerges. Adultery is among the most serious moral sins, but it is not listed among the few sins that cannot be forgiven. Joseph’s 1843 warning was directed specifically at unrepentant adultery, not at those who fall, confess, forsake their sin, and seek reconciliation with God. Throughout his ministry, Joseph taught that the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes forgiveness possible for all who repent sincerely.
The early Saints understood exaltation not as a reward for perfection but as a covenantal relationship requiring loyalty, faithfulness, and the willingness to repent repeatedly across a lifetime. In that context, the Prophet’s statement becomes a reaffirmation of an essential truth: no one enters the Celestial Kingdom without repentance, regardless of the sin.
Conclusion
The historical record shows that Joseph Smith’s strong language in 1843 was aimed at false accusations and at unrepentant wrongdoing—not at those striving to change. Both scripture and history confirm that adultery, though deeply serious, is not beyond the reach of Christ’s forgiveness. This episode reminds listeners that the Restoration consistently teaches accountability, repentance, mercy, and the transformative power of the Savior’s Atonement.
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Season 4, Episode 26 – Can Adulterers Go to the Celestial Kingdom?