Plural marriage

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Mormonism and polygamy

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Questions

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• Question: Do Mormons currently practice polygamy?

Answer: No! A good reference for this point is the FAQ for mormon.org which quotes President Gordon B. Hinckley as stating the Church’s position on plural marriage:

“This Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church.... If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church.”

• Question: Is it true that God has commanded certain individuals to live in plural marriage?

Answer: Yes. Continuing with the mormon.org commentary:

At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1)... In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage... Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage (Official Declaration 1).

• Question: If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, why would he command polygamy then take it away?

Answer: To quote the Book fo Mormon directly:

For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none... for if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things

Which is to say polygamy or anything like unto it should never be allowed except in the specific instances where the Lord directly commands it (as in the case of Abraham) to "raise up seed unto me".

• Critics claim that "Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, was the first Mormon prophet to practice polygamy. He took as many as 48 wives. Many were teenagers, as young as 13 years old. Many were already married to other men and continued in polyandry: having more than one husband. He married pairs of sisters, and even took a mother and her daughter for wives."

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

Polygamy in Latter-day Saint scripture

1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy

Summary: The 1835 edition of the D&C contained a statement of marriage which denied the practice of polygamy. Since this was published during Joseph Smith's lifetime, why might the prophet have allowed it to be published if he was actually practicing polygamy at that time?

Book of Mormon condemns the practice

Summary: Critics of Mormonism use the Book of Jacob to show that the Book of Mormon condemns the practice of polygamy. Critics go on to claim that Joseph Smith ignored this restriction by introducing the doctrine of plural marriage.

Polygamy in the 19th Century

Deseret News 7 Nov 1855 - Polygamy never to go away

Summary: Critics claim that some Church leaders taught that plural marriage was a practice that would persist forever. Jerald and Sandra Tanner wrote that "Brigham Young" said that polygamy would never go away in Deseret News of 7 November 1855.

Divorce in the 19th century

Summary: Some members of the Church remarried without obtaining a formal legal divorce. Critics of the Church try to make this seem dishonest and adulterous, when it was in fact the norm for the period, especially on the frontier and among the poor. Critics are not honest about the legal realities faced by nineteenth century Americans.

Did early Church leaders speak of plural marriage difficulties?

Summary: Critics claim that early Church leaders "admitted" that there were many difficulties with plural marriage that caused "problems" and "great sorrow."

Divine manifestations to plural wives and families

Summary: Did those who entered into plural marriage do so simply because Joseph Smith (or another Church leader) "told them to"? Is this an example of "blind obedience"? No, they bore witness that only powerful revelatory experiences convinced them that the command was from God.

Lamanites to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage

Summary: Critics claim that the Church “suppressed” a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 which encouraged the implementation of polygamy by intermarriage with the Indians in order to make them a “white and delightsome” people.

Practiced after the Manifesto

Summary: limited number of plural marriages were solemnized after Wilford Woodruff's Manifesto of 1890 (Official Declaration 1). Some of these marriages were apparently sanctioned by some in positions of Church leadership. Critics claim that this demonstrates that the Manifesto was merely a political tactic, and that the "revelation" of the Manifesto was merely a cynical ploy. They also claim that Post-Manifesto marriages demonstrate the LDS Church's contempt for the civil law of the land.

Prevalence of in Utah

Summary: What was the prevalence of polygamy in Utah? How many wives did most polygamist males have?

Purpose of plural marriage

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

Requirement for exaltation

Summary: Some Church leaders taught that plural marriage was a requirement for those wishing to enter the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Because the Church does not currently practice plural marriage, critics claim this means that either the leaders were wrong, or that current members are not destined for exaltation.

The Law of Adoption

Summary: Critics point to the early practice of sealing men and women as children to prominent LDS leaders as an example of changes in LDS belief.

Brigham Young and polygamy

Brigham Young said that the only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy

Summary: Since Brigham Young said "The only men who become Gods, even the sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy" (Journal of Discourses 11:269), does this mean plural marriage is required for exaltation?

Remarrying without civil divorce

Summary: Some critics like to emphasize that some LDS members did not receive civil divorces before remarrying—either monogamously or polygamously. They either state or imply that this shows the Saints' cavalier attitude toward the law.

Parley P. Pratt's marriage and murder

Summary: Some critics claim that Parley P. Pratt's practice of polygamy was responsible for his murder, partly because he married a woman who hadn't been divorced from her first husband. What can you tell me about this?

Leaders worried missionaries take best plural wives

Summary: Critics claim that nineteenth century Church leaders worried that missionaries would "take all the best" convert women as plural wives before they got to Salt Lake.

Polygamy in the 20th Century

Relationship to the modern Church

Summary: Critics or ill-informed commentators often try to make it appear as if modern polygamist groups continue to have Church connections. Some often call upon the Church to "stop" the polygamist activities of such groups.

Polygamy as practiced anciently

Early Christians on plural marriage

Summary: There is extensive, unequivocal evidence that polygamous relationships were condoned under various circumstances by biblical prophets, despite how uncomfortable this might make a modern Christian. Elder Orson Pratt was widely viewed as the victor in a three-day debate on this very point with Reverend John P. Newman, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, in 1870.

Mormonism and polygamy

Polygamy in Latter-day Saint scripture

1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy

Summary: The 1835 edition of the D&C contained a statement of marriage which denied the practice of polygamy. Since this was published during Joseph Smith's lifetime, why might the prophet have allowed it to be published if he was actually practicing polygamy at that time?

Book of Mormon condemns the practice

Summary: Critics of Mormonism use the Book of Jacob to show that the Book of Mormon condemns the practice of polygamy. Critics go on to claim that Joseph Smith ignored this restriction by introducing the doctrine of plural marriage.

Polygamy in the 19th Century

Deseret News 7 Nov 1855 - Polygamy never to go away

Summary: Critics claim that some Church leaders taught that plural marriage was a practice that would persist forever. Jerald and Sandra Tanner wrote that "Brigham Young" said that polygamy would never go away in Deseret News of 7 November 1855.

Divorce in the 19th century

Summary: Some members of the Church remarried without obtaining a formal legal divorce. Critics of the Church try to make this seem dishonest and adulterous, when it was in fact the norm for the period, especially on the frontier and among the poor. Critics are not honest about the legal realities faced by nineteenth century Americans.

Did early Church leaders speak of plural marriage difficulties?

Summary: Critics claim that early Church leaders "admitted" that there were many difficulties with plural marriage that caused "problems" and "great sorrow."

Divine manifestations to plural wives and families

Summary: Did those who entered into plural marriage do so simply because Joseph Smith (or another Church leader) "told them to"? Is this an example of "blind obedience"? No, they bore witness that only powerful revelatory experiences convinced them that the command was from God.

Lamanites to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage

Summary: Critics claim that the Church “suppressed” a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 which encouraged the implementation of polygamy by intermarriage with the Indians in order to make them a “white and delightsome” people.

Practiced after the Manifesto

Summary: limited number of plural marriages were solemnized after Wilford Woodruff's Manifesto of 1890 (Official Declaration 1). Some of these marriages were apparently sanctioned by some in positions of Church leadership. Critics claim that this demonstrates that the Manifesto was merely a political tactic, and that the "revelation" of the Manifesto was merely a cynical ploy. They also claim that Post-Manifesto marriages demonstrate the LDS Church's contempt for the civil law of the land.

Prevalence of in Utah

Summary: What was the prevalence of polygamy in Utah? How many wives did most polygamist males have?

Purpose of plural marriage

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

Requirement for exaltation

Summary: Some Church leaders taught that plural marriage was a requirement for those wishing to enter the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Because the Church does not currently practice plural marriage, critics claim this means that either the leaders were wrong, or that current members are not destined for exaltation.

The Law of Adoption

Summary: Critics point to the early practice of sealing men and women as children to prominent LDS leaders as an example of changes in LDS belief.

Brigham Young and polygamy

Brigham Young said that the only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy

Summary: Since Brigham Young said "The only men who become Gods, even the sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy" (Journal of Discourses 11:269), does this mean plural marriage is required for exaltation?

Remarrying without civil divorce

Summary: Some critics like to emphasize that some LDS members did not receive civil divorces before remarrying—either monogamously or polygamously. They either state or imply that this shows the Saints' cavalier attitude toward the law.

Parley P. Pratt's marriage and murder

Summary: Some critics claim that Parley P. Pratt's practice of polygamy was responsible for his murder, partly because he married a woman who hadn't been divorced from her first husband. What can you tell me about this?

Leaders worried missionaries take best plural wives

Summary: Critics claim that nineteenth century Church leaders worried that missionaries would "take all the best" convert women as plural wives before they got to Salt Lake.

Polygamy in the 20th Century

Relationship to the modern Church

Summary: Critics or ill-informed commentators often try to make it appear as if modern polygamist groups continue to have Church connections. Some often call upon the Church to "stop" the polygamist activities of such groups.

Polygamy as practiced anciently

Early Christians on plural marriage

Summary: There is extensive, unequivocal evidence that polygamous relationships were condoned under various circumstances by biblical prophets, despite how uncomfortable this might make a modern Christian. Elder Orson Pratt was widely viewed as the victor in a three-day debate on this very point with Reverend John P. Newman, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, in 1870.

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Essays on various topics in Joseph Smith's plural marriages

When did plural marriage start?

Joseph Smith and plural marriage

• Beginnings of plural marriage
• Fanny Alger: Joseph's first plural wife
• Early womanizer?
• Illegal marriages in Ohio?
• Age of wives
• Children of polygamous unions
• Marrying other men's wives?
• Polyandry
• John C. Bennett

John C. Bennett and plural marriage

• John C. Bennett prior to Nauvoo
• Bennett's brothel in Nauvoo
• Rise and Fall of Bennett
• Sarah Pratt
• Bennett and Prostitution
• Nancy Rigdon
• Sidney Rigdon and Bennett's charges
• Stealing missionary wives?