Understanding more about plural marriage

Doctrine and Covenants 132 starts off with the Lord answering one of Joseph Smith's questions: how were the Old Testament prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David and Solomon justified in having many wives and concubines? This question was most likely asked by Joseph back in 1831 (see section 132 heading) while he was working on the translation of the bible and after he had just translated the Book of Mormon and received revelations (also in 1831) regarding the laws of marriage (Jacob 2:27, D&C 42:22, D&C 49:16). Joseph was obviously confused about how the Lord could approve of this practice with the Old Testament prophets while at the same time revealing to Joseph the laws of marriage.

In order to answer Joseph's question, the Lord begins by revealing more information regarding the law of celestial marriage (132: 4-33). This answer seems to be giving Joseph a "big picture" understanding of the law of celestial marriage before the Lord reveals the one exception to this law that only He is authorized to make (132:35).

Not only does God have to authorize the exception to the rule (because He is the author of the rule), but there are also some other guiding principles that need to be followed...

1. ideally, you will have your wife's consent (132:34, 61)
2. this is not a "free-for-all" (132:39)
3. this is an act of worthiness, virtue and chastity (132: 40-44)
4. you have to be invited by the prophet to participate (132:48)

And what are some the reasons that God would give this commandment?

1. there has to be a restoration of all things (v. 40, 45)
2. to give Joseph and the other saints an Abrahamic test (v. 50)
3. to multiply and replenish the earth (v. 63) 
4. to help fulfill the promise of exaltation for all of God's children (v. 63)

“Plural marriage was more about spirituality than sexuality and more about religion than romance” (Jared Halverson, Unshaken Podcast). It was about faith, family, and caring as well as making sure everyone was connected to the House of Israel. It was intended to raise a faithful population of Latter-day Saints. I am a descendent of one of these first faithful men who was asked by the prophet Joseph Smith to live the law of plural marriage.  His name was Thomas Grover and he was called to be in the first high council in Nauvoo (D&C 124:132). He married his first plural wife in Nauvoo in 1844, one year after Joseph received section 132.  Learning that the commandment to practice plural marriage was only extended to a few faithful men and women of the church makes me more fully appreciate my heritage and the part my ancestors played in fulfilling this difficult commandment of God.

To learn more about plural marriage I would highly recommended listening to Unshaken D&C 132 and reading Gospel Topic Essays on Plural Marriage. I found both of these resources extremely helpful in my study of D&C 132 this week.