Replies

"BUT, I have questions:

1. Did Mormons, at one time, practice polygamy?"
There was a time where about 5% of Mormons practiced polygamy.

"2. Was it part of their religious tenets that they do so? "
It was part of their religion that they do so ONLY if specificly and individually called to do so by officers of the Church with the authority to extend such a calling on God's behalf.

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

SECTION 132

3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.

4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

I report: you decide.

"3. Was one of the conditions of statehood a disavowal of polygamy by the CLDS? "

That makes no difference either way. It was the will of God that determined the course of the Church. The president of the Church clearly stated his intention to follow God's will even if it would bring far worse consquences than a mere witholding of statehood.

(You'll note the question was not answered.)

Yes, the United States would NOT have allowed UTAH to enter the Union, if the official 'state' church continued polygamy. You may find out the data by searching the web: I do not have it archived on my computer.

"I report: you decide."

Actually, you distort. You've had it explained before that it is not required for a person to enter into a plural marriage to abide by the new and an everlasting covenant unless the person is commanded to do so. So God commanding an end to plural marriages doesn't stop anyone from abiding by that covenant.

To suggest otherwise is to promote the same reasoning used by abusive and child molesting nutcases. You don't want to do that, do you?

"(You'll note the question was not answered.)"

I did answer it. My answer was 'That makes no difference either way.' and I explained why as well. I don't really care if you like that answer or not.

I'm sure you would have loved for me to walk into the setup so you could put me on the defensive, but you will have to try much harder than that. They suffered a lot worse things than a lack of statehood for their beliefs, and were willing to suffer more too. It was only at God's command that the practice was stopped, and that is not a change in doctrine any more than taking the gospel to the gentiles was.