170 years ago today - July 12th 1843

D&C 132 repeatedly conferred divine immunity upon Joseph Smith for any "sin" or "transgression" he had committed in the past regarding other women. The document simply mentioned them as "all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph" (D&C 132: 52), but repeatedly introduced these unnamed women within the context of "wives and concubines" (D&C 132: 1, 37, 38, 39). The revelation also conferred divine immunity from sin, transgression, or earthly condemnation for anything Joseph Smith might do with other women after July 12th 1843. God's words specifically stated that there were no earthly limits to this immunity.

--Verses 19-20: " ... if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law ... and commit no murder ... then shall they be gods ..."

NOTE: because the only exception was murder, these verses included adultery in their provision for spiritual immunity

--Verse 26: "... if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment ... [they can] commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever ... yet they shall enter into their exaltation"

NOTE: because the only exceptions in this verse were "murder" and "blasphemy against the holy ghost," adultery is once more included in its provision for immunity from "any sin or transgression"

--Verse 40: "... I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and [to] restore all things. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my word."

NOTE: the above verse was the revelatory basis upon which joseph smith answered his private secretary's inquiry about marrying plural wives a month later: "you have a right to get all you can." likewise, brigham young told the apostles: "My opinion is [--] any thing that you do in righteousness, there is no harm in it. if a man is faithful & can get a wife without injuring the cause[,] all is right.Â"

--Verse 41: "And as ye have asked concerning adultery, verily I say unto you, if a man receiveth a wife in the new and everlasting covenant, and if she be with another man, and I have not appointed [this other man] unto her by the holy anointing, she hath committed adultery ..."

NOTE: the revelation did not discuss the circumstance this verse only implied--when god appoints another man unto a woman who is already married. Consistent with the above verse, there would be no adultery on the part of the woman or on the part of this other man whom god has "appointed" to be with her sexually

--Verse 46: "... and whosesoever sins you remit on earth shall be remitted in the heavens ..."

NOTE: the above verse allowed joseph smith to "remit" his own sins

--Verse 48: "... whatever you give on earth, and to whomsoever you give any one [i.e., any wife] on earth, by my word and according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings and not cursings ..."

NOTE: after the revelation absolved joseph smith of adultery (particularly in his previous marriages to already-married women), the above verse authorized joseph smith to perform such marriages for anyone he might choose. Thus, soon after july 1843, joseph smith performed more ceremonies to unite already-married women as polygamous wives of trusted men (such as undivorced julia hills johnson to john smith--his uncle, undivorced augusta adams cobb to apostle brigham young, and undivorced louisa gordon rising to rank-and-file edwin d. Woolley).

--Verse 50: "Behold, I have seen all your sacrifice and will forgive all your sins: I have seen your sacrifices in obedience to that which I have told you ..."

NOTE--the above verse absolved joseph smith of any mistakes ("sins") he may have already committed concerning the revelation's main topic of "plural wives and concubines"

--Verse 59: "Verily, if a man be called of my Father ... if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit sin and I will justify him.Â"

NOTE--the above verse absolved joseph smith of any mistake or "sin" he might commit in future concerning the revelation's main topic of "plural wives and concubines"

[Source: "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]