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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Chapter 2
Response to claims made in "Chapter 2: Change, Censorship and Suppression"
| Chapter 1 | A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Jerald and Sandra Tanner
|
Chapter 3 |
29
Claim
- John Taylor said that we are not ashamed of polygamy.
Author's source(s) - Life of John Taylor p. 255
- Prejudicial or loaded language
- The authors fail to provide Elder Taylor's reasons; they imply that he should be ashamed:
- We are not ashamed to proclaim to this great nation, to rulers and people, to the president, senators, legislators, judges; to high and low, rich and poor, priests and people, that we are firm, conscientious believers in polygamy, and that it is part and parcel of our religious creed. We do this calmly, seriously and understandingly, after due deliberation, careful examination and close investigation of its principles and bearings religiously, socially, morally, physically and politically! We unhesitatingly pronounce our full and implicit faith in the principle as emanating from God, and that under His direction it would be a blessing to the human family.
29
The author(s) make(s) the following claim:
Brigham Young said that the only men who become gods are those who enter into polygamy.Not content to let a good quote mine go to waste, the authors repeat this one later on p. 258.
Author's sources: *Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:269.
FAIR's Response
See Quote mining—Journal of Discourses 11:269 to see how this quote was mined.
Question: Is plural marriage required in order to achieve exaltation?
Critics quote Brigham Young saying that "[t]he only men who become Gods, even the sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy"
Critics of the Church point to a statement made by Brigham Young to make the claim that Latter-day Saints believe that one must practice plural marriage in order to achieve exaltation (i.e. become like God not just be saved).[1]
The relevant text is as follows:
The only men who become Gods, even the sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:269.)
This quotation is often used in anti-Mormon sources. They do not include the surrounding text which explains what Brigham Young had in mind on this occasion:
We wish to obtain all that father Abraham obtained. I wish here to say to the Elders of Israel, and to all the members of this Church and kingdom, that it is in the hearts of many of them to wish that the doctrine of polygamy was not taught and practiced by us...It is the word of the Lord, and I wish to say to you, and all the world, that if you desire with all your hearts to obtain the blessings which Abraham obtained, you will be polygamists at least in your faith, or you will come short of enjoying the salvation and the glory which Abraham has obtained. This is as true as that God lives. You who wish that there were no such thing in existence, if you have in your hearts to say: "We will pass along in the Church without obeying or submitting to it in our faith or believing this order, because, for aught that we know, this community may be broken up yet, and we may have lucrative offices offered to us; we will not, therefore, be polygamists lest we should fail in obtaining some earthly honor, character and office, etc,"—the man that has that in his heart, and will continue to persist in pursuing that policy, will come short of dwelling in the presence of the Father and the Son, in celestial glory. The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them.[2]
Brigham was stating that the command to practice plural marriage was from God, and it is wrong to seek to abolish a command from God.
It is clear from the quote that Brigham was making several points which the critics ignore:
- The command to practice plural marriage is from God, and it is wrong to seek to abolish a command from God.
- To obtain the blessings of Abraham, the Saints were required to be "polygamists at least in your faith": i.e., it was not necessary that each enter into plural marriage in practice, but that they accept that God spoke to His prophets.
- It was wrong to avoid plural marriage for worldly, selfish reasons, such as believing the Church would fail, and hoping to have political or monetary rewards afterward.
- Faithful Saints cannot expect to receive "all that the Father has" if they willfully disobey God. When the people have "had blessings offered unto them," and if they refuse to obey, God will withhold blessings later because of that disobedience now.
Finally, it must be remembered that Brigham Young is speaking to a group who had been commanded to live the law of polygamy. There is no basis for speculating about what he would have said to a group who did not have that commandment given to them, as present-day members do not.
Question: Did Brigham Young believe that one could not enter the Celestial Kingdom unless they were a polygamist?
Jump to details:
- Question: Did Brigham Young believe that one could not enter the Celestial Kingdom unless they were a polygamist?
- Wilford Woodruff: "President Young said there would be men saved in the Celestial Kingdom of God with one wife with Many wives & with No wife at all"
- Wilford Woodruff: President Young...said a Man may Embrace the Law of Celestial Marriage in his heart & not take the Second wife & be justified before the Lord
Seminary Teacher Resource Manual: "We have no knowledge that plural marriage will be a requirement for exaltation"
"Doctrine and Covenants 132," Seminary Teacher Resource Manual on LDS.org:
Note: Avoid sensationalism and speculation when talking about plural marriage. Sometimes teachers speculate that plural marriage will be a requirement for all who enter the celestial kingdom. We have no knowledge that plural marriage will be a requirement for exaltation.[3]
29
Claim
- Bruce R. McConkie said that plural marriage is not essential to salvation or exaltation.
Author's source(s) - Mormon Doctrine (1958) p. 523.
31
Claim
- Joseph Smith drank beer despite having received the Word of Wisdom.
Author's source(s) - Millennial Star 23:720
- Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 6:424. Volume 6 link (Reference to beer mentioned in the Millennial Star removed from this reference.)
- Presentism or anachronism: Beer was not forbidden by the Word of Wisdom in Joseph Smith's day, but the Tanners count on their readers not knowing this.
- Word of Wisdom
33
Claim
- Joseph encouraged others to break the Word of Wisdom by drinking whiskey.
Author's source(s) - Millennial Star 21:283
- Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 5:450. Volume 5 link
- The citation reads: "It was reported to me that some of the brethren had been drinking whisky that day in violation of the Word of Wisdom. I called the brethren in and investigated the case, and was satisfied that no evil had been done[, and gave them a couple of dollars, with directions to replenish the bottle to stimulate them in the fatigues of their sleepless journey]." (Material in square brackets is only found in the Millennial Star account.)
- Presentism or anachronism: The Tanners here exploit their readers' potential lack of familiarity with how liquor was seen under the Word of Wisdom in Joseph's day. Liquor in judicious amounts was used as a medicinal substance, and seen as a stimulant or restorative against fatigue. This is why Joseph "investigated the case"--he wished to know if the use had been acceptable or to excess. (In a similar way, a modern-day Church leader who heard that a member was using morphine might investigate to discover if such use is appropriate--e.g., under a doctor's supervision in proper prescribed amounts for a legitimate ailment--or whether they were abusing it to get "high".)
- History unclear or in error: The Tanners also do not inform readers that the complete prohibition on alcohol was a gradual matter, and so Joseph's judgment on the issue was possible (which explains why no one at the time was shocked or outraged by it). Later nineteenth century Mormons, such as Brigham Young, understood the matter in the same way, and also distinguished between the excessive and judicious use of spirits.
- Word of Wisdom
33
Claim
- Joseph asked for a pipe and tobacco to settle Willard Richards' stomach.
Author's source(s) - Millennial Star 24:471
- Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 6:614. Volume 6 link
- Presentism or anachronism: Tobacco (and wine) were considered by some to be a medication in Joseph's day.
- Joseph had sent Stephen Markham out, as previous text unquoted by the Tanners tells us: "Brother Markham...go get the doctor [i.e., Richards] something to settle his stomach," and Markham went out for medicine. When he got the remedies desired...[the] Carthage Greys gathered round him, put him on his horse, and forced him out of the town at the point of the bayonet." So, Markham could not return, and nothing from him reached the jail (p. 616).
- History unclear or in error: Richards was a Thompsonian herbalist physician—one of the medications advocated by these doctors was lobelia, or wild Indian tobacco.
- See also p. 471 for the Tanner's further exploitation of this presentism.
- Joseph and the use of tobacco
34
Claim
- Brigham Young ordered the destruction of Lucy Mack Smith's history Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith published by Orson Pratt in 1853.
Author's source(s) - Millennial Star 27:657-58
- The original manuscript was not destroyed. Brigham objected to errors in the book and had it reprinted. Most the changes had the effect of reducing the focus on the Smith family, and focusing more on the Church itself. (Brigham was likely unwilling to let those he regarded as apostates, such as William Smith, get any 'reflected glory' in Lucy's telling.)
- Lucy Mack Smith/Biography
- Church history/Censorship and revision
- ↑ The following critical works use this quote from Brigham to claim that Latter-day Saints must accept polygamy as a requirement to enter heaven. Contender Ministries, Questions All Mormons Should Ask Themselves. Answers; Richard Abanes, Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism (Harvest House Publishers: 2005). 233, 422 n. 48-49. ( Index of claims ); George D. Smith, Nauvoo Polygamy: "...but we called it celestial marriage" (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2008), xiv, 6, 55, , 356. ( Index of claims , (Detailed book review)); Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Moody Press, 1979), 29, 258.( Index of claims )
- ↑ Brigham Young, "Remarks by President Brigham Young, in the Bowery, in G.S.L. City," (19 August 1866) Journal of Discourses 11:268-269. (emphasis added) See Quote mining—Journal of Discourses 11:269 to see how this quote was mined.
- ↑ "Doctrine and Covenants 132," Seminary Teacher Resource Manual on LDS.org (2001, [updated 2005])