Array

Purpose of plural marriage: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 22: Line 22:
|summary=Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes for instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to “raise up seed unto [the Lord]” (Jacob 2:30). Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful Latter-day Saint homes. It also shaped 19th-century Mormon society in other ways: marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; per-capita inequality of wealth was diminished as economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households; and ethnic intermarriages were increased, which helped to unite a diverse immigrant population. Plural marriage also helped create and strengthen a sense of cohesion and group identification among Latter-day Saints. Church members came to see themselves as a “peculiar people,” covenant-bound to carry out the commands of God despite outside opposition, willing to endure ostracism for their principles.
|summary=Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes for instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to “raise up seed unto [the Lord]” (Jacob 2:30). Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful Latter-day Saint homes. It also shaped 19th-century Mormon society in other ways: marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; per-capita inequality of wealth was diminished as economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households; and ethnic intermarriages were increased, which helped to unite a diverse immigrant population. Plural marriage also helped create and strengthen a sense of cohesion and group identification among Latter-day Saints. Church members came to see themselves as a “peculiar people,” covenant-bound to carry out the commands of God despite outside opposition, willing to endure ostracism for their principles.
}}
}}
== ==
{{Conclusion label}}
Plural marriage can be a difficult historical fact for people to understand, both members and nonmembers alike.  Trying to fully understand the purposes behind such a commandment in today's mindset can also make this subject difficult.  It is important to note that we do not have all the historical information surrounding the inception and implementation of the practice.  Rather than trying to understand the Lord's purposes in retrospect on a limited scope, one should remember the above scripture in Jacob.  Other benefits, although potentially advantageous, are not given as reasons by the Lord.


== ==
== ==

Revision as of 04:21, 16 April 2016

The purpose of plural marriage

Important introductory material on plural marriage available here

Answers portal
Plural marriage
    RESOURCES

Joseph Smith era:


Post-Joseph Smith:


Post-Manifesto–present

    PERSPECTIVES
    MEDIA
    OTHER PORTALS

Questions


  • Why would the Lord have commanded the 19th century Saints to implement plural marriage?
  • What purpose(s) did polygamy accomplish?

Note: Some provide their own reasons for plural marriage—they claim Joseph Smith and the Mormons implemented plural marriage because of lustful motives. That charge is addressed elsewhere:

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

Gospel Topics, "Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah"

Gospel Topics, (2013)

Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes for instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to “raise up seed unto [the Lord]” (Jacob 2:30). Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful Latter-day Saint homes. It also shaped 19th-century Mormon society in other ways: marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; per-capita inequality of wealth was diminished as economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households; and ethnic intermarriages were increased, which helped to unite a diverse immigrant population. Plural marriage also helped create and strengthen a sense of cohesion and group identification among Latter-day Saints. Church members came to see themselves as a “peculiar people,” covenant-bound to carry out the commands of God despite outside opposition, willing to endure ostracism for their principles.

Click here to view the complete article

The purpose of plural marriage

Important introductory material on plural marriage available here

Answers portal
Plural marriage
    RESOURCES

Joseph Smith era:


Post-Joseph Smith:


Post-Manifesto–present

    PERSPECTIVES
    MEDIA
    OTHER PORTALS

Questions


  • Why would the Lord have commanded the 19th century Saints to implement plural marriage?
  • What purpose(s) did polygamy accomplish?

Note: Some provide their own reasons for plural marriage—they claim Joseph Smith and the Mormons implemented plural marriage because of lustful motives. That charge is addressed elsewhere:

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

Gospel Topics, "Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah"

Gospel Topics, (2013)

Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes for instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to “raise up seed unto [the Lord]” (Jacob 2:30). Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful Latter-day Saint homes. It also shaped 19th-century Mormon society in other ways: marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; per-capita inequality of wealth was diminished as economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households; and ethnic intermarriages were increased, which helped to unite a diverse immigrant population. Plural marriage also helped create and strengthen a sense of cohesion and group identification among Latter-day Saints. Church members came to see themselves as a “peculiar people,” covenant-bound to carry out the commands of God despite outside opposition, willing to endure ostracism for their principles.

Click here to view the complete article

Template loop detected: Question: What do the scriptures say about plural marriage? Template loop detected: Question: If the only purpose of polygamy was to "raise up seed," then why did Joseph not have children by his plural wives? For a detailed response, see: Did Joseph have any children through polygamous marriages? Template loop detected: Question: What purposes could plural marriage possibly serve? For a detailed response, see: Possible benefits of plural marriage

Notes




Further reading and additional sources responding to these claims

The purpose of plural marriage

Important introductory material on plural marriage available here

Answers portal
Plural marriage
    RESOURCES

Joseph Smith era:


Post-Joseph Smith:


Post-Manifesto–present

    PERSPECTIVES
    MEDIA
    OTHER PORTALS

Questions


  • Why would the Lord have commanded the 19th century Saints to implement plural marriage?
  • What purpose(s) did polygamy accomplish?

Note: Some provide their own reasons for plural marriage—they claim Joseph Smith and the Mormons implemented plural marriage because of lustful motives. That charge is addressed elsewhere:

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

Gospel Topics, "Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah"

Gospel Topics, (2013)

Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes for instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to “raise up seed unto [the Lord]” (Jacob 2:30). Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful Latter-day Saint homes. It also shaped 19th-century Mormon society in other ways: marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; per-capita inequality of wealth was diminished as economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households; and ethnic intermarriages were increased, which helped to unite a diverse immigrant population. Plural marriage also helped create and strengthen a sense of cohesion and group identification among Latter-day Saints. Church members came to see themselves as a “peculiar people,” covenant-bound to carry out the commands of God despite outside opposition, willing to endure ostracism for their principles.

Click here to view the complete article

Template loop detected: Question: What do the scriptures say about plural marriage? Template loop detected: Question: If the only purpose of polygamy was to "raise up seed," then why did Joseph not have children by his plural wives? For a detailed response, see: Did Joseph have any children through polygamous marriages? Template loop detected: Question: What purposes could plural marriage possibly serve? For a detailed response, see: Possible benefits of plural marriage

Notes




Further reading and additional sources responding to these claims

For a detailed response, see: Did Joseph have any children through polygamous marriages?

The purpose of plural marriage

Important introductory material on plural marriage available here

Answers portal
Plural marriage
    RESOURCES

Joseph Smith era:


Post-Joseph Smith:


Post-Manifesto–present

    PERSPECTIVES
    MEDIA
    OTHER PORTALS

Questions


  • Why would the Lord have commanded the 19th century Saints to implement plural marriage?
  • What purpose(s) did polygamy accomplish?

Note: Some provide their own reasons for plural marriage—they claim Joseph Smith and the Mormons implemented plural marriage because of lustful motives. That charge is addressed elsewhere:

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

Gospel Topics, "Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah"

Gospel Topics, (2013)

Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes for instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage during the 19th century. The Book of Mormon identifies one reason for God to command it: to increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant in order to “raise up seed unto [the Lord]” (Jacob 2:30). Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful Latter-day Saint homes. It also shaped 19th-century Mormon society in other ways: marriage became available to virtually all who desired it; per-capita inequality of wealth was diminished as economically disadvantaged women married into more financially stable households; and ethnic intermarriages were increased, which helped to unite a diverse immigrant population. Plural marriage also helped create and strengthen a sense of cohesion and group identification among Latter-day Saints. Church members came to see themselves as a “peculiar people,” covenant-bound to carry out the commands of God despite outside opposition, willing to endure ostracism for their principles.

Click here to view the complete article

Template loop detected: Question: What do the scriptures say about plural marriage? Template loop detected: Question: If the only purpose of polygamy was to "raise up seed," then why did Joseph not have children by his plural wives? For a detailed response, see: Did Joseph have any children through polygamous marriages? Template loop detected: Question: What purposes could plural marriage possibly serve? For a detailed response, see: Possible benefits of plural marriage

Notes




Further reading and additional sources responding to these claims

For a detailed response, see: Possible benefits of plural marriage

Notes




Further reading and additional sources responding to these claims