It is the policy and practice for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to excommunicate anyone involved in polygamy or who are in any polygamous organization.
while that is true Dan, the revelation from 'god' to smith - D & C section 132 is still mormon scripture and doctrine.
The LDS Church still says that polygamy stopped with the 1890 Manifesto. That's certainly not true. I assume you know that.
I also assume you know there are many peer-reviewed scholarly papers written even at Brigham Young, as well as award-winning history books about how the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve ignored the 1890 Manifesto. I can provide cites if you would like.
And you know about the Reed Smoot hearings, the institutional deception involved in that, and the 1904 "this time we sort of really mean it" Manifesto?
Now, at this point, if you want to tell me that the LDS Church excommunicated everyone involved in polygamy, I'd be quite disappointed in the LDS Church (but I know it didn't happen). Those families living in polygamy weren't excommunicated. (That would have been cruel) They continued to live in polygamy into the 1960s.
You're aware of that, right? That while saying it was the practice and policy to excommunicate those who practiced polygamy, only those who publicly protested the abandonment of polygamy were punished by the Church? The thousands and thousands of polygamous families living in 1904 continued to live in polygamy.
Do you have some in your history? I certainly know many LDS who do.
So, when did the LDS Church put this policy in place? Before or after they didn't enforce the 1890 Manifesto? Or before or after they didn't enforce the 1904 Manifesto? Or did they keep track of the last polygamous family and spouse who died in the 1960s?
The LDS Church wasn't heartless enough to cut them all loose in 1904 . . . and they didn't. They just said they did.
And every time some nutcase like Jeffs is in the news for polygamy, the history of polygamy in the LDS church is in the news. The LDS church and its members are required to tell people that they don't practice polygamy. The LDS Church has to issue statements that according to its style guide, nobody should use the words "Mormon" or "Mormonism" except with respect to The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Polygamy is a big pain in the rear for good people like you, isn't it?
And every time some compound is breached, some guy is put on trial (particularly if he's taking child brides), and some cameras catch fleeting glances of girls in prairie dresses, it's bad public relations for the LDS church - even if it's not the LDS church involved.
What's the solution? Exactly what the Attorneys General of Arizona and Utah have stated on that website. Don't arrest people for polygamy unless things like child abuse are involved. Arresting people for polygamy is worse pubic relations for the LDS church than it is for the sect that gets raided.
And who calls the political shots in Utah? Not those small sects - but the people who get embarrassed by those polygamy arrests: the LDS, and good people like you.
So there's pressure not to arrest people for polygamy.
As a result, a lot of these people are permitted to practice as they may:
Short Creek Community
Latter Day Church of Christ
Apostolic United Brethren
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness [sic] of Times
Church of the Lamb of God
Church of the New Covenant in Christ
Confederate Nations of Israel
Righteous Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
School of the Prophets
Centennial Park
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kingdom of God
True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days
The Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven
Blackmore/Bountiful Community
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ
Order of Enoch
Aaronic Order
Zion's Order, Inc.
Perfected Church of Jesus Christ of Immaculate Latter-day Saints
Church of Jesus Christ (Bullaite)
Community of Christ
Church of Jesus Christ (Toneyite)
Independent RLDS / Restoration Branches
Church of Jesus Christ Restored 1830
Church of Christ (Lion of God Ministry/Clarkite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch)
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Church of Christ (Temple Lot) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Fettingite) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ at Halley's Bluff (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Restored) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ "With the Elijah Message" (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Hancock) (Hedrickite)
Church of Christ (Burtite) (Hendrickite)
Church of Israel (Hendrickite)
Church of Christ with the Elijah Message (The Assured Way of the Lord) (Hendrickite)
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
True Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
Restored Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
Holy Church of Jesus Christ (Strangite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Drewite) (Strangite)
True Church of Jesus Christ Restored (Strangite)
Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Whitmerite)
It may be CURRENT policy (although I know at least 2 mainstream LDS polygamous families - one is a Bishop), but they STILL haven’t repudiated D&C 132 (the revelation giving polygamy).
Even OD 1 doesn’t mention recinding the doctrine, it is just a statement that WW would follow federal law.
It's still canon that polygamy is essential to one's eternal salvation and exaltation.
But the question I have about it is this;
...since it was taught to be essential for not only one's salvation and an essential qualifier for one to be granted entry into the celestial kingdom, why did God change His mind to suit man?
Why?
All they are doing is following SCRIPTURE!!! and the Voice of the PROPHET!!!
"Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned;
and I will go still further and say, take this revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has given,
and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned.
Brigham Young - JoD 3:266 (July 14, 1855)
Excommunicated??
Beats the HELL out of being DAMNED!