We cannot presume that the Lord ever gave women to these men under any title, except for the noble purpose of parentage. Concubinage is unknown among the Latter-day Saints. Wifehood, in the fullest sense of the word, is conferred by the marriage covenant. All a man's children are his legitimate heirs, both by law and custom.
FOREORDINATION—ELECTION.
"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world;" Acts 15. 18.
The knowledge that we have of the beginning of the world is principally derived from the history of its creation in the Bible Genesis, and in the writings of Moses and of Abraham, as given in P. of G. P., pages 4-7, and 32-36.
Abraham says, "Now the Lord had shewn unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; and God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said, These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me, Abraham, thou art one of them, thou wast chosen before thou wast born;" P. of G. P., page 32.
These writings make it plain that man existed in a spiritual condition prior to coming here, and also quite as evident that in that pre-existence he exercised his free agency. These facts throw much light on the following passages: "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and Slain;" Acts 2. 23. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son;" Rom. 8. 29.
"Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called;" verse 30. "God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew;" 11. 2. "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance;" verse 29.
The last passage explains the previous ones. God may have called and chosen men in their first estate, or spiritual existence, but whether they will accept that call and fill it, by repentance and good works in this life, is a matter in which it is their privilege to exercise their free agency.
This idea is illustrated in the case of the Roman centurion, who had faith that his sick servant would be healed if Jesus would only speak the word. Jesus said to those around him, "That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness;" Matt. 8. 11, 12.