Polygamy [Everything you might want to possibly know about historical Mormon polygamy]

MormonThink.com ^ | 2008

[Colofornian]

• What most LDS have been taught in church and believe as truth
• Polygamy was illegal
• Polygamy contradicts 12th Article of Faith
• Were there more women than men?
• LDS scriptures condemn polygamy
• Polygamy was started by Joseph Smith not Brigham Young
• Joseph married other men's wives while they were still married to their husbands
• Did Joseph have sex with his wives?
• Joseph married girls as young as 14 years old
• Joseph lied about practicing polygamy
• The Church condemned polygamy when Joseph practiced it
• The Church continued to practice polygamy after 1890
• The Reed Smoot Hearings
• Quotes from the prophets
• Is polygamy a doctrine of the LDS Church?
• How many people in the Church practiced polygamy?
• Will polygamy be practiced in the next life?
• Is polygamy essential for salvation?
• Parley P. Pratt and polygamy
• Were the polygamous wives happy?
• What about the children?
• Circumstances surrounding Joseph's death
• Did Joseph say that polygamy was a mistake?
• What about the Fundamentalist Mormon Polygamists?/li>
• Does Heavenly Father practice polygamy also?
• Some Faithful LDS adopt a different view of polygamy
• Why didn't an angel come to Emma?
• Mitt Romney and Polygamy
• Polygamy stories
• Responses to these issues by the LDS church
• Ending summary by critics
• Our thoughts
• Links

[Elsie]

They thought like the Jews.

because the gentiles knew nothing of jesus or of the history

Make up your mind.

[Elsie]

I wear these comments as a badge of honor coming from anti Mormons who are obsessed with trashing me and my faith.

Sandy; you CANNOT have it both ways.

You either SUPPORT the following statements or you REPUDIATE them.

Which do you choose?

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Questions put to Joseph Smith: "'Do you believe the Bible?' [Smith:]'If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do'. When asked 'Will everybody be damned, but Mormons'? [Smith replied] 'Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).

Joseph Smith: "for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible" (from Pearl of Great Price 1:12). "What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).

 

 

 

Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: "When the light came to me I saw that all the so-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness" (Journal of Discourses 5:73); "The Christian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God" (Journal of Discourses 8:171); "With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world" (Journal of Discourses 8:199); "And who is there that acknowledges [God's] hand? ...You may wander east, west, north, and south, and you cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.24); "Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).

 

 

 

Orson Pratt proclaimed: "Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).

 

 

 

Orson Pratt also said: "This great apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now" (Journal of Discourses

, vol.18, p.44) and: "But as there has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be ...But there has been a long apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance" (Journal of Discourses , 18:172).

 

 

President John Taylor stated: "Christianity...is a perfect pack of nonsense...the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century." (Journal of Discourses , vol. 6, p.167); "Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God? It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom." (Journal of Discourses , 10:127).

 

 

 

James Talmage said: "A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, a universal apostasy from the Church of Christ". (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).

 

 

 

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: "Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and a false order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness." (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). "For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil of spiritual darkness, until there was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation ...Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the 'Christian' churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).

 

 

 

More recent statements by apostle Bruce McConkie are also very clear: "Apostasy was universal...And this darkness still prevails except among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel" (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); "Thus the signs of the times include the prevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general" (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); "a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom" (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); "virtually all the millions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit" (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); "Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to form the apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era." (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).

 

 

 

President George Q. Cannon said: "After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The various organizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin. They all belong to Babylon" (Gospel Truth, p.324).

 

 

President Wilford Woodruff stated: "the Gospel of modern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stops all communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called" (Journal of Discourses , vol. 2, p.196).

[Elsie]

I wear these comments as a badge of honor coming from anti Mormons who are obsessed with trashing me and my faith.

Sandy; we want to take you OUT of the 'trash'.

Now...

About those QUOTES from MORMON leaders above: What say ye?

[Elsie]

Girls: OBEY your Scripture!!

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The

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 71

Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, December 1, 1831. HC 1: 238–239. The Prophet had continued to translate the Bible with Sidney Rigdon as his scribe until this revelation was received, at which time it was temporarily laid aside so as to enable them to fulfill the instruction given herein. The brethren were to go forth to preach in order to allay the unfriendly feelings that had developed against the Church as a result of the publication of some newspaper articles by Ezra Booth, who had apostatized.

1–4, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are sent forth to proclaim the gospel; 5–11, Enemies of the saints shall be confounded.

1 Behold, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will.

2 Verily I say unto you, proclaim unto the world in the regions round about, and in the church also, for the space of a season, even until it shall be made known unto you.

3 Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you.

4 Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come.

5 Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also;

6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.

7 Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private; and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.

8 Wherefore, let them bring forth their strong reasons against the Lord.

9 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;

10 And if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.

11 Wherefore, keep my commandments; they are true and faithful. Even so. Amen.

 

The Official Scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
© 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rights and use information. Privacy policy.

[Elsie]

 

I guess the Bushes were lucky that the MORMONs didn't get 'em in all those years!

 

 

 

 

 

                 … on from House to H shook off the dust against some and blest others [in the Kennebunkport, Maine area].

 

http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/n/feet.phtml

 

 

 

 

[ravenwolf]

because the gentiles knew nothing of jesus or of the history

Make up your mind.

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I did not stutter, They probably knew about the religion of the Jews but not about Jesus, maybe after they realized their Savior was a Jew they started thinking about salvation in a different way, but they most likely had help., that is just speculation but Paul makes it pretty clear that they were following some of the Jews beliefs.

Please tell me why people make fun of the Mormons because of polygamy? that is the people who do not believe we are living under Gods commandments, if we are not to live under Gods laws, what is wrong with polygamy? Please explain this to me.

based on what you wrote

True, the 10 ARE GOD’s law; but to WHOM were the 10 given?

That’s right - His CHOSEN people.

NOT to the Gentiles.

[Tennessee Nana]

LOL

[SZonian]

"I wear these comments as a badge of honor..."

So it's true. Lying, mormon taqiya is condoned and endorsed by the mormons.

Thanks for confirming what many of us already knew. It's refreshing to see the truth come out.

As a point of correction to your petulant ad hominem about being "obsessed", I'm more concerned with exposing the sordid, heretical and blasphemous tenets of Mormon INC.

The blind obedience or in this case, obsession in defending the indefensible demonstrates a clear case of cognitive dissonance or even brainwashing.

I pity the mormons who are incapable of seeing what is right in front of them.

[SZonian]

She’s just confirmed that mormon taqiya is endorsed if it’s used in attempt to discredit Christians and Christianity.

[Colofornian]

In the male Mormon bordello universe...

Actually, Mark this is a good summary of the male Mormon worldview going back to the 19th century.

Some contend that polygamy had "nothing to do with sexual debauchery"; yet why did Benjamin F. Johnson recall that Joseph Smith taught him that plural marriage was the only means by which prostitution could be eliminated. (B. Carmon Hardy, Solemn Covenant, p. 16) So--not from necessarily a personal perspective necessarily (between Mormon couples)...
...but from a Joseph Smith policy perspective...
--Johnson's remembrance shows that a true purpose of plurality -- not the only one...
...was in effect to have an "in-house" prostitute.

How base is that for 19th LDS to have embraced that vantage point? B. Carmon Hardy cited in his "Solemn Covenant" book other LDS who thought that mass polygamy would "eliminate sexual wickedness"...
...and LDS general authority/legislator, William Gibson, who after-the-fact claimed to have voted against the Manifesto, called it "the best antidote to sexual sin." (Solemn Covenant, p. 145, citing William Gibson, who was quoted in "Polygamous Issues," DN, March 28, 1896.)

"The need for prostitution...was seized on by Mormons as evidence that monogamy was manifestly an incorrect system of marriage...From the 1850s until the end of the century, Mormon writers and speakers struck at what they considered their detractors' hypocrisy for criticizing Mormon marriage when, as the First Presidency affirmed in 1886, adultery and prostitution were the consequences of the monogamic arrangement...." (Solemn Covenant, p. 89, citing "An Epistle of the First Presidency..." March 1886, Messages 3:68...Hardy cites in the same footnote about 8 other sources from Heber C. Kimball to Brigham Young to John Taylor to George Q. Cannon to apostle Erasmus Snow).

So there ya go! The embracing of polygamy naturally led to an elitist Mormon position where polygamists looked down upon, frowned upon, and even openly dismissed or criticized "monogamy!" When you have an LDS "prophet" in 1886 claiming that adultery and prostitution were the consequences of monogamy itself, that's a major, major problem!!!

[Elsie]

Please tell me why people make fun of the Mormons because of polygamy?

I'd have to know what was on the minds of those people, and I don't.

Now I 'make fun' of MORMONs who try to JUSTIFY polygamy, and use a MixMaster approach to the Scriptures to prove their point.

I do it because I want to show how BAD their scripture 'knowledge' really is; no matter how well they've been indoctrinated by their chosen religion.

[Elsie]

[ravenwolf]

That sounds like an honest answer, i have a nephew who was raised a Mormom from birth, he denounced the church 25 or 30 years ago, but when he was in his late teens or early twenty’s he was a missionary for a while, i guess he started reading the Bible, but what ever it was that caused him to change his mind he changed it all the way.

I have been to many Churches and spent quite some time in some of them and one of them i love,and learned to love the people in some of them but i am not and never will be a member of any of them.

I believe in doing unto others as i would have others do unto me, but i believe i have a right to live the way i want, i have Christian friends who are members, they have to hide their ashtrays when they have visitors who are members, i can not live that way.

I believe to be a Christian one has to be willing to die for Christ if necessary, yet in so many cases the clergy pay more attention to the knit picking than they do the real issues, it is like Jesus told the religious leaders (you strain on a knat and swallow a camel.

And honestly i do not judge every one by myself because i realize there are people out there who ran their life better than i have, but i have made so many stupid mistakes that i do not have a right to talk about any one, but i find myself doing just that.

P,S.we have no argument, just a discussion, that is what this is.

[MarkBsnr]

In the male Mormon bordello universe...

Actually, Mark this is a good summary of the male Mormon worldview going back to the 19th century.

It certainly seems that way.

So there ya go! The embracing of polygamy naturally led to an elitist Mormon position where polygamists looked down upon, frowned upon, and even openly dismissed or criticized "monogamy!" When you have an LDS "prophet" in 1886 claiming that adultery and prostitution were the consequences of monogamy itself, that's a major, major problem!!!

Not for the Profit in charge of the whole deal.

[MarkBsnr]

Now I 'make fun' of MORMONs who try to JUSTIFY polygamy, and use a MixMaster approach to the Scriptures to prove their point.

Think of what would happen if you created a universe like:

[Osage Orange]

I wear these comments as a badge of honor coming from anti Mormons who are obsessed with trashing me and my faith.

S.D. you continue to "trash" yourself...over and over.

You don't need my help.

I've got an "I'm a victim" badge around here somewhere.......

[reaganaut]

Sandy just posted an “LDS caucus” thread titled (get this):

The Condescension of Jesus Christ

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2824664/posts?page=8

At least they admit they are condescending about Jesus.

[humblegunner]

It’s been pulled for “review”.

I don’t know what there is to review about it, Jim was pretty clear.

Hell, I even provided a link.

[reaganaut]

I know it was clear, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Look at Romney, Mormons are trained that rules by gentiles apply to everyone but them (no I’m not kidding).

[reaganaut]

Note to all. Resty is full of Joy for the LDS CHURCH. Christ isn’t mentioned.

Now, Christians would say “BTW I am so full of Joy for Jesus Christ”

BTW, Resty, Mormonism IS the traditions of men...