The Book of Ahkman

1Now because of these things which were spoken unto Kodal a great many things were made clear. And a law went forth among our people. And this law was that if man and a woman shall desire to be united in marriage they should go forth into the lower court of the temple. And they should take themselves before a priest. And the priest should determine the will of the Lord concerning their marriage. And if the Lord shall agree to their marriage they should be united together by the priest. But if the Lord shall not agree they should depart their separate ways. And also it was written that if a man and a woman should desire to be united in marriage, and the man was already united in marriage then they should take unto themselves into the lower court of the temple and submit themselves to the will of the Lord through the priest. And if the Lord shall approve of their marriage they will be united immediately; but if the Lord shall not approve their marriage they should depart their ways separately. And it came to pass that there also went forth a law that all those who were yet living and had been united in marriage previous to this law were to come forth with their husband or wife and stand before the priest. And the priest should seek the will of the Lord concerning their marriage. Now if the Lord shall approve their marriage they should depart knowing that the marriage they had previously entered into was according to the will of God. But if the Lord shall not approve it they were to depart separately, and no more be united in marriage, for their marriage, which they had previously entered into, was not done according to the will of the Lord. Now also there was a law that if a man desired a woman to be united in marriage with her that he should go before the priest and declare unto him that which he desired. And the priest should consult the will of the Lord. And if the Lord shall not approve of his desire he should depart and hold his peace. But if the Lord shall approve his desire then the priest should go forth and proclaim it unto the woman whom the man desired. And once within the house of the woman, he should again consult the will to the Lord and if the Lord shall not approve that thing then the priest shall depart and declare it unto the man. But if the Lord shall approve, then priest should take the woman unto the temple and unite the two in marriage. Now behold this law was also given for women; that a woman should make her declaration within the lower court of the temple into a priest. And if it should be the will of the Lord the priest would go unto the house of the man and consult again the will of the Lord; and if the Lord shall approve then the man should be taken unto the lower court of the temple and be united with the woman. Now behold there was also a law that a man and a woman should be united by declaration; meaning that if the voice of the Lord should come upon the high priest while he does administer in the temple, and shall declare unto him a man and a woman that were to be united in marriage; then he shall take himself out of the temple and into the lower court of the temple. And then he shall stand upon the eastward pedestal and loudly proclaim the names of the two who are to be united in marriage. And some of the priests of the temple shall depart out into the land of the man and the woman who were declared. And they shall go forth into their homes and inform them of what has been declared. Then they shall bring the man and woman into the lower court of the temple. And there they shall be bound one to another.