In his journal entry for January 19, 1847, Horace K. Whitney recorded Heber C. Kimball using the term “Celestial Law” for something other than plural marriage (i.e., the law of consecration):
Bro. K. then arose and said,--That he had not called them together exactly
for the purpose of organization but to give them some instruction, and to let
them know by what rules they must abide, If they wished to go in his company.—he
then proceeded to state that those who wished to go with him, must prepare
themselves to obey the law of God, and forbear from stealing one from another,
also swearing, and other thing prohibited by the Celestial law—and that those
who could not make up their minds to abide by these precepts, had better never
start from this place, but go down into Missouri, where they belong--(Horace K.
Whitney, Journal, January 19, 1847, in The Journey West: The Mormon Pioneer
Journals of Horace K. Whitney with Insights by Helen Mar Kimball Whitney,
ed. Richard E. Bennett [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2018], 158)
In a footnote to the above, Richard E. Bennett wrote:
This mention of “Celestial Law” was in reference to the law of consecration.
First practiced in the early 1830s by the Saints in Ohio in obedience to divine
command (see section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants), the law of consecration
or celestial law called for a higher commitment to obedience. This law
included, at one time, the consecration or dedication or private properties to
the church, and the receiving back of property and means as part of one’s stewardship.
Although the business management or United Order element of the law was later replaced
in 1838 with the law of tithing, the law itself was still enjoined upon the
Saints. There was no private ownership of lands and properties at Garden Grove,
Mount Pisgah, or Winter Quarters—all belonged to “the Lord.” Brigham Young fervently
believed that only in living this higher law which they had covenanted to
follow in the Nauvoo Temple would their exodus succeed. Their present “errand
into the wilderness” was all a Puritan-like covenant exercise in obedience. (Ibid.,
158 n. 97)
