Polygamy: Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, was the first Mormon prophet to practice polygamy.

Mormon Handbook.com ^ | 2010-2011

[Colofornian]

• He took as many as 48 wives. Sources: [Official LDS website: FamilySearch.org] [A comprehensive PDF] [Wikipedia]
• 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.

The wives of the prophets

The first seven Mormon prophets had at least 135 wives.

Mormon prophet	Number of wives
Joseph Smith	48
Brigham Young	55
John Taylor	7
Wilford Woodruff	5
Lorenzo Snow	11
Joseph F. Smith	6
Heber J. Grant	3

Summary of Events

• From 1830 to 1876, LDS scripture was consistent in prohibited polygamy: Book of Mormon: Jacob, chapter 2; Doctrine and Covenants, Section 101 (removed in 1876).
• During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives.
• In 1852 Brigham Young, the second Mormon prophet, publicly admitted the practice of polygamy.
• In 1876, Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which allows polygamy, was added to the Doctrine and Covenants. Section 101 which condemns it was removed. Section 132 remains part of the LDS canon today.
• Under pressure from the federal government to end polygamy, which passed law to disincorporate the church and seize its assets, Wilford Woodruff, the fourth Mormon prophet, announced he had received a "revelation" to officially end the practice. This announcement is knows as the 1890 Manifesto or Official Declaration—1.
• 14 years later, congressional hearings uncover church authorities still taking plural wives in secret, in disregard to the 1890 revelation. In response, Joseph F. Smith, the sixth Mormon prophet, issued what is known as the "Second Manifesto" condemning polygamy.
• As late as 1943 it was uncovered that Mormon apostle Richard Lyman was secretly practicing polygamy.

Timeline

1827	Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale
1830	Book of Mormon published: condemns polygamy But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord... Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none. Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:23-24,27
1833	Joseph Smith marries Fanny Alger
August, 1835	Official LDS publication denies polygamy charges. Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband. Messenger and Advocate 1:163 and see also History of the Church 2:247
1835-1876	ON MARRIAGE. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband... We have given the above rule of marriage as the only one practiced in this church...We the undersigned members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and residents of the city of Nauvoo, persons of families do hereby certify and declare that we know of no other rule or system of marriage than the one published from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants...We the undersigned members of the ladies' relief society, and married females do certify and declare that we know of no system of marriage being practiced in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints save the one contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants... Doctrine and Covenants, Section 101 (1835-1876)
April, 1837	General Authorities issue statement condemning polygamy. 1st-That we will have no fellowship whatever with any Elder belonging to the quorums of the Seventies who is guilty of polygamy or any offense of the kind, and who does not in all things conform to the laws of the church contained in the Bible and in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. Quorum of the Seventies Resolution #1 Messenger and Advocate 3:511
1838	Joseph Smith marries Lucinda Harris, who was at the time married to George Harris.
January, 1838	Oliver Cowdery confronts Joseph Smith about his polygamy. When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself. Oliver Cowdery - Assistant President and Book of Mormon witness Letter recorded by his brother Warren Cowdery. Photograph available in The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, p.27
April, 1838	Oliver Cowdery is excommunicated.
July, 1838	Question 7th. Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one? Answer. No, not at the same time. Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder Elder's Journal, p.43
December, 1838	Joseph Smith denies polygamy. We have heard that it is reported by some, that some of us should have said, that we not only dedicated our property, but our families also to the Lord; and Satan, taking advantage of this, has perverted it into licentiousness, such as a community of wives, which is an abomination in the sight of God. Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.127 See also History of the Church 3:230
April, 1841	Joseph Smith marries Louise Beaman
October, 1841	Joseph Smith marries Zina Jacobs, who at the time was married to Henry Jacobs.
December, 1841	Joseph Smith marries Presendia Buell
1842	Joseph Smith marries Sally Fuller and Sarah Bapson.
January 6, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Agnes Coolbrith, who was the widow of Don Carlos (Joseph's brother).
January 17, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Mary Lightner, who at the time was married to Adam Lightner.
February, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Sylvia Lyon, who at the time was married to Windsor Lyon. Joseph would also marry Sylvia's mother Patty the next month.
March 1, 1842	12th Article of Faith Joseph Smith pens the 12th Article of Faith. Polygamy was a violation of the law. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder Wentworth Letter
March 9, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Patty Sessions, who at the time was married to David Sessions. Joseph married Patty's daughter Sylvia the previous month.
April, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Marinda Hyde, who at the time was married to Orson Hyde.
June, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Sarah Cleveland, Eliza Snow, and Elizabeth Durfee, who at the time was married to Jabez Durfee.
July, 1842	Joseph Smith marries Delcena Sherman and Sarah Whitney.
August, 1842	Official LDS church publication denies polygamy. But, for the information of those who might be assailed by those foolish tales about two wives, we would say that no such principle ever existed among the Latter-Day Saints, and ever will; this is well known to all who are acquainted with our books and actions. Millennial Star, Vol. 3, No. 4, p.73 Joseph Smith marries Martha McBride.
September, 1842	Official LDS publication denies polygamy. Inasmuch as the public mind has been unjustly abused... we make an extract on the subject of marriage, showing the rule of the church on this important matter. The extract is from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and is the only rule allowed by the church. "All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman." Times and Seasons 4:909
October, 1842	Office LDS publication reprints D&C 101 prohibiting polygamy. ... Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband ... Times and Seasons 3:939-940
1843	Joseph marries Hanna Ells and 14 year old Nancy Winchester.
February, 1843	Joseph Smith marries Ruth Sayers.
March, 1843	Joseph Smith marries Emily Partridge.
April, 1843	Joseph Smith marries Almera Johnson.
May, 1843	Joseph Smith marries Lucy Walker, 14 year old Helen Kimball, and sisters Sarah and Maria Lawrence.
Spring, 1843	Joseph Smith marries 16 year old Flora Woodworth.
June, 1843	Joseph Smith marries Elvira Holmes and Rhoda Richards.
July, 1843	"Revelation" on Plurality of Wives (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132) Joseph Smith dictates a "revelation" requiring the practice of polygamy to obtain exaltation: becoming gods (v.1-6, 20). This revelation would not be canonized until 1876 as Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It remains part of the LDS canon today. Up until now Joseph hid his marital trysts from his first wife Emma. Joseph's brother Hyrum attempted to present this "divine revelation" to win Emma's approval of her husband's behavior. Emma rejected it. The revelation specifically states that if Emma rejects it she would be destroyed (v.54,64). That did not happen. However it was Joseph who died within a year from now. Emma, who was 39 years at this time lived to be 75. Note that additional wives were to be virgins (v.61-62). By taking wives who were already married Joseph did not even follow his own revelation. For additional information see: History of the Church 5:501-508
January, 1844	Despite the July revelation requiring polygamy, the Mormon church continued to deny it: Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe, that one man should have but one wife, and one woman but one husband... We wish these doctrines to be taught by all that are in the ministry, that the people may know our faith respecting them, and also to correct the public mind in respect to the church. Millennial Star, Vol. 4, No. 9, p.144
February, 1844	Joseph Smith denies polygamy. As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hyram Brown, has been preaching polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan. This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity. Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder Mormonism founder Times and Seasons 5:423
March, 1844	Under the direction of Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith officiated a polygamous wedding for Mormon apostle Erastus Snow. Testimony of Erastus Snow - Mormon apostle The Historical Record 6:232
March 15, 1844	Joseph's brother Hyrum denies polygamy. Whereas brother Richard Hewitt has called on me to-day, to know my views concerning some doctrines that are preached in your place, and states to me that some of your elders say, that a man having a certain priesthood, may have as many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here: I say unto you that that man teaches false doctrine, for there is no such doctrine taught here. And any man that is found teaching privately or publicly any such doctrine, is culpable, and will stand a chance to be brought before the High Council, and loose his license and membership also: therefore he had better beware what he is about. Hyrum Smith - Assistant President Times and Seasons 5:474
April, 1844	Joseph Smith denies polygamy. We very frequently receive letters from elders and individuals abroad, inquiring of us whether certain statements that they hear, and have written to them, are true: some pertaining to John C. Bennet's spiritual wife system; others in regard to immoral conduct, practiced by individuals, and sanctioned by the church; and as it is impossible for us to answer all of them, we take this opportunity of answering them all, once for all. In the first place, we cannot but express our surprise that any elder or priest who has been in Nauvoo, and has had an opportunity of hearing the principles of truth advanced, should for one moment give credence to the idea that anything like iniquity is practiced, much less taught or sanctioned, by the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter. Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder Times and Seasons, Vol.5, No.7, p.491
April, 1844	Fallout: Presidency Counselors After Jane Law rebuffs Joseph Smith's proposal to marry him, her husband William Law, who was Joseph's Second Counselor of the First Presidency is excommunicated. Austin Cowles, the First Counselor, quits the church in protest.
May, 1844	Joseph Smith denies polygamy. Joseph Smith I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made on proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives. This new holy prophet [William Law] has gone to Carthage and swore that I had told him that I was guilty of adultery. This spiritual wifeism! Why, a man dares not speak or wink, for fear of being accused of this... What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago. Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder History of the Church 6:410-411
June 7, 1844	Excommunicated Second Counselor William Law publishes a newspaper (the Nauvoo Expositor) containing testimony condemning Joseph's polygamy. It included testimony from former First Counselor Austin Coles. Forasmuch as the public mind hath been much agitated by a course of procedure in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... In the latter part of the summer, 1843, the Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, did in the High Council, of which I was a member, introduce what he said was a revelation given through the Prophet... according to his reading there was contained the following doctrines... the doctrine of a plurality of wives, or marrying virgins; that "David and Solomon had many wives, yet in this they sinned not save in the matter of Uriah. This revelation with other evidence, that the aforesaid heresies were taught and practiced in the Church; determined me to leave the office of first counselor to the president of the Church at Nauvoo. Austin Cowles - former First Counselor Nauvoo Expositor, Vol. 1, No. 1, p.2
June 10, 1844	Joseph Smith, who is also the mayor of Nauvoo, orders the printing press of the Nauvoo Expositor destroyed. The Governor of Illinois has Joseph put in jail.
June 27, 1844	Joseph Smith's death An angry mob storms Joseph's cell and murders him.
October, 1844	Sidney Rigdon admits church authorities practice polygamy. It is a fact, so well known, that the Twelve and their adherents have endeavored to carry this spiritual wife business in secret... and have gone to the most shameful and desperate lengths, to keep it from the public... I could bring facts which can be established in any court of justice, in relation to these vile abominations practiced under the garb of religion that would make humanity blush. Sidney Rigdon - First Presidency Counselor Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 1, No. 1
November, 1844	Official LDS publication denies polygamy. The law of the land and the rules of the church do not allow one man to have more than one wife alive at once. Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 21, p.715
May, 1845	Official LDS publication denies polygamy. The Latter-day Saints are charged by their enemies, with the blackest crimes. Treason, murder, theft, polygamy, and adultery, are among the many crimes laid to their charge... As to the charge of polygamy, I will quote from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which is the subscribed faith of the church and is strictly enforced. Article Marriage, sec. 91, par. 4, says, "Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have BUT ONE WIFE, and one woman but one husband." Times and Seasons 6:894
1850	Mormon apostle John Taylor (the third Mormon prophet) publicly denies polygamy while at the time married to 7-12 wives. John Taylor We are accused here of polygamy, and actions the most indelicate, obscene, and disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have contrived. These things are too outrageous to admit of belief... I shall content myself by reading our views of chastity and marriage, from a work published by us, containing some of the articles of our Faith. "Doctrine and Covenants," [Cites D&C 101]. John Taylor - Mormon prophet Three Nights' Public Discussion, p.8
September 14, 1852	Public Acknowledgement of Polygamy In a special conference, the LDS church publicly acknowledges the practice of polygamy. Deseret News Extra, September 14, 1852 [Note: File not found @ this link]
February, 1854	Mormon authority encourages polyandry. Jedediah M. Grant When the family organization was revealed from heaven - the patriarchal order of God, and Joseph began, on the right and on the left, to add to his family, what a quaking there was in Israel. Says one brother to another, 'Joseph says all covenants are done away, and none are binding but the new covenants: now suppose Joseph should come and say he wanted your wife, what would you say to that?' 'I would tell him to go to hell.' This was the spirit of many in the early days of this Church... What would a man of God say, who felt aright, when Joseph asked him for his money? He would say, "Yes, and I wish I had more to help to build up the kingdom of God." Or if he came and said, "I want your wife?" "O yes," he would say, "here she is, there are plenty more"... Did the Prophet Joseph want every man's wife he asked for?... If such a man of God should come to me and say, "I want your gold and silver, or your wives," I should say, "Here they are, I wish I had more to give you, take all I have got." Jedediah M. Grant - First Presidency Counselor Journal of Discourses 2:13-14
July, 1857	Official LDS publication condemns polygamy before 1843. The Latter-day Saints, from the rise of the Church in 1830, till the year 1843, had no authority to marry more than one wife each. To have done otherwise, would have been a great transgression. Millennial Star, Vol. 19, No. 30, p.475
1862	Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act United States President Abraham Lincoln signs the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act targeting the LDS church.
August, 1866	Mormon prophet Brigham Young declares polygamy a priority over obtaining statehood for Utah. "Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as a State into the Union without denying the principle of polygamy?" If we are not admitted until, we shall never be admitted. Brigham Young - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 11:269
1876	Doctrine and Covenants: Section 101 removed - Section 132 inserted After 41 years as part of the LDS canon, Section 101 condemning polygamy is removed from the Doctrine and Covenants. Section 132 requiring polygamy for exaltation is canonized. Section 132 remains part of the canon today.
October, 1879	Mormon prophet John Taylor declares polygamy superior than obeying federal law. John Taylor I was asked, “Do you believe in obeying the laws of the United States?” Yes I do, in all except one—in fact I had not broken that. “What law is that?” The law in relation to polygamy. John Taylor - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 20:317
February 19, 1887	Edmunds-Tucker Act The United States Congress passes the Edmunds-Tucker Act which permits the government to seize assets and disincorporate the LDS church for continuing to practice polygamy against the law. The bill is enacted into law March 3.
May, 1887	Andrew Jenson, assistant LDS church historian, compiles what is considered the first list of wives of Joseph Smith. He documented 28 not including Emma. The Historical Record 6:233-234
October, 1890	The 1890 Manifesto: Official Declaration—1 Under increasing pressure from the federal government, including being disincorporated, the sitting Mormon prophet, Wilford Woodruff, issued a statement denying that the Mormon church was practicing polygamy. The Utah Commission, in their recent report to the Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages are still being solemnized... also that in public discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy—I, therefore, as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice. Wilford Woodruff - Mormon prophet Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration—1 Note: About a year later Wilford began referring to the statement as a "revelation". It was canonized in 1908.
1892	Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow condemns the practice of polygamy before 1843. Lorenzo Snow Up to the time of the presentation of that revelation to the church and its acceptance by the church, the law of the church on marriage was the same as you have read, and which I referred to in the 1835 edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Exhibit E [D&C 101]. That was the law of the church up to the time of the purported revelation and its acceptance by the church; yes, sir, that is true. And a man that violated this law in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 edition, until the acceptance of that revelation by the church, violated the law of the church if he practiced plural marriage. Yes, sir, he would have been cut off from the church. I think I should have been if I had. Before the giving of that revelation in 1843 if a man married more wives than one who were living at the same time, he would have been cut off from the church. It would have been adultery under the laws of the church and under the laws of the State, too. Lorenzo Snow - Mormon prophet The Temple Lot Case, pp.320-322
1904	Reed Smoot Hearings Hearings held by the United States Congress reveal that polygamy was still being practiced secretly among LDS church general authorities.
April, 1904	Second Manifesto In response to the Reed Smoot Hearings, Mormon prophet Joseph F. Smith issued yet another statement denying polygamy. Inasmuch as there are numerous reports in circulation that plural marriages have been entered into, contrary to the official declaration of President Woodruff of September 24, 1890, commonly called the manifesto, which was issued by President Woodruff, and adopted by the Church at its general conference, October 6, 1890, which forbade any marriages violative of the law of the land, I, Joseph F. Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hereby affirm and declare that no such marriages have been solemnized with the sanction, consent, or knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I hereby announce that all such marriages are prohibited, and if any officer or member of the Church shall assume to solemnize or enter into any such marriage, he will be deemed in transgression against the Church, and will be liable to be dealt with according to the rules and regulations thereof and excommunicated therefrom. Joseph F. Smith - Mormon prophet Conference Report, p.97
October, 1905	In protest, two Mormon apostles, John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley resign from the Quorum of Twelve, as both continued to take plural wives.
November, 1943	Mormon apostle Richard R. Lyman is excommunicated for secretly practicing polygamy.
1958	Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie anticipates polygamy to resume. Obviously the holy practice [plural marriage] will commence again after the Second Coming of the Son of Man and the ushering in of the millennium. Bruce R. McConkie - Mormon apostle Mormon Doctrine, p.578

Doctrinal Teachings on Polygamy

When polygamy was openly practiced, Mormon authorities taught that:

• Those who reject it would be damned.

The Lord has said, that those who reject this principle reject their salvation, they shall be damned, saith the Lord; those to whom I reveal this law and they do not receive it, shall be damned. [p.224] I want to prophesy that all men and women who oppose the revelation which God has given in relation to polygamy will find themselves in darkness; the Spirit of God will withdraw from them from the very moment of their opposition to that principle, until they will finally go down to hell and be damned, if they do not repent. [p.225] Orson Pratt - Mormon apostle Journal of Discourses 17:224-225
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord... as touching the principle and doctrine of... having many wives and concubines— 2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter. 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. 5 For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. 6 And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God. — Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132

• It is a requirement to obtain the highest exaltation: becoming gods.

The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Brigham Young - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 11:269 Some people have supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of superfluity, or nonessential to the salvation or exaltation of mankind. In other words, some of the Saints have said, and believe, that a man with one wife, sealed to him by the authority of the Priesthood for time and eternity, will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one. I want here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for I know it is false ... [p.28] ... it is useless to tell me that there is no blessing attached to obedience to the law, or that a man with only one wife can obtain as great a reward, glory or kingdom as he can with more than one, being equally faithful. [p.29-30] Joseph F. Smith - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 20:28-30

• If polygamy is not true then neither is celestial marriage:

If plurality of marriage is not true or in other words, if a man has no divine right to marry two wives or more in this world, then marriage for eternity is not true, and your faith is all vain, and all the sealing ordinances and powers, pertaining to marriages for eternity are vain, worthless, good for nothing; for as sure as one is true the other also must be true. Amen. Orson Pratt - Mormon apostle Journal of Discourses 21:296

• That polygamy will exist in the afterlife.

I bear my solemn testimony that plural marriage is as true as any principle that has been revealed from the heavens. I bear my testimony that it is a necessity, and that the Church of Christ in its fullness never existed without it. Where you have the eternity of marriage you are bound to have plural marriage; bound to; and it is one of the marks of the Church of Jesus Christ in its sealing ordinances. George Teasdale - Mormon apostle Journal of Discourses 25:21

• That God the Father is a polygamist.

When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives with him. Brigham Young - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 1:50 The Scripture says that He, the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with His train; I do no know who they were, unless His wives and children... Brigham Young - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 13:309

[NorthernCrunchyCon]

The question is not whether it was persecution - it was! - but whether the persecution was unjust. Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria right now for no other reason than they worship Jesus as the Son of God. This is unjust persecution.

On the other hand, Texas happens to be persecuting the FLDS right now by incarcerating their “prophet” Warren Jeffs and several of his key henchmen. This is a perfectly just persecution given Warren Jeff’s given the immoral and illegal trafficking and prostitution of women and children under the guise of “plural marriage”.

[NorthernCrunchyCon]

“But, the issue that concerns many of us is how the weirdness of Mormonism will be used against Romney as our candidate. When people find out what Mormon’s believe (not just historically but NOW) it will destroy Romney’ credibility. We can’t take that risk in this crucial election.”

To put things into perspective. There is one area along the Utah/Arizona border considered the most lawless area in the United States. This is the twin towns of Colorado City and Hillsdale. Local law enforcement on both sides of the border are controlled by the FLDS - that is, Mormon fundamentalists who are more loyal to their convicted and incarcerated prophet Warren Jeffs than to the courts or the Constitution. In fact, one teenaged girl attempting to flee polygamy (read statuatory rape) was reportedly returned to the sect by local police and threatened with blood atonement (honor killing) if she attempted another escape. If do a little googling, you will discover that the area is even more lawless and politically corrupt than many of the ghetto areas of New York or Chicago, even under Democrat mayors and state governors.

Having said that, Arizona is now moving to disband the local police and replace it with non polygamists. Utah, on the other hand, keeps dragging its feet on its side of the border.

One would think that in a state that is something like 70 percent Mormon and which is controlled politically by the Republican Party, Utah would want to act quickly to re-establish law and order. Especially when Mormon fundamentalists in the area are on the verge of gaining national media attention through their antics and those of their incarcerated leader Warren Jeffs.

Utah, on the other hand, keeps dragging its feet.

[Elsie]

No; it is merely PROSECUTION: enforcement of law.

‘persecution’ implies an action outSIDE of the law.

[Colofornian]

even took a mother and her daughter for wives. Is that considered incest?

Marrying a stepdaughter?

Well, I guess Mormons overlook that "little" offense, eh? Anything in the "name" of "love"-lust

[Colofornian]

Look, Mormonism is weird, but ALL theology is weird to someone else.

ALL theology is weird???

That's a very weird, strange, & peculiar notion to export.

[Tennessee Nana]

FR used to have a pretty good LDS caucus.
____________________________________________

Are you referring to the anti-Christian articles that the Mormons used to post and then bar Christians from commenting on the heresies mentioned as thought they were tenets ???

[Colofornian]

•Many were teenagers, as young as 13 years old. •He married pairs of sisters, and even took a mother and her daughter for wives.** If any Catholic staff member or any Protestant minister were to do this we would all call it sexual abuse, correct?

Yes...But, hey, Mormons get a special pass, doncha know?

What goes with Mormons being able to get away with this in this day and age?

Having Mormon polygamists in my own family line, I can tell you that contemporary Mormons are extremely ambiguous when it comes to polygamy.

Public relations wise, they find that they MUST find ways to both separate themselves from the fLDS and their own polygamists ancestors.

Yet, the ambiguity enters in 'cause...
(1) They don't want to throw out the polygamy baby with the dirty bathwater...given that not only their very own relatives but many of their "prophets" & "apostles" were also "eternal polygamists..."
(2) They are taught serial monogamists who sequentially marry become eternal polygamists...so how can they judge polygamy overly harshly? I mean, come on...they think polygamy is practiced widely this very second in the Kolob district!
(3) They were told by "apostle" McConkie that the Mormon jesus would usher in polygamy again when he returned...
(4) If the Mormon "prophet" declared polygamy tomorrow, they would be under the commandment to begin practicing it again!

Hence, yet another reason why Mormon law enforcement officials & grassroots Mormons have been so lax on enforcing bigamy laws in Utah.

[Colofornian]

Wasn’t this over 100 years ago?

No.

The Mormon "prophets" were all polygamists until 1945. George Lyman was a Mormon "apostle" thru most of 1943...and he was a polygamist.

The Mormons solemnized about 250 more plural unions 'tween 1890-1910...the last of these unions were intact thru the early 1960s before the last of them died off.

[magritte]

Look, Mormonism is weird, but ALL theology is weird to someone else.
ALL theology is weird???

---

Of course all theology is weird to someone else. It all depends on which religion you just happen to belong to, or more likely where in the world you happened to be born, which is the most likely indicator of what you happen to believe in.

1. Hindus believe that avatars of Vishnu show up at critical moments in history, except when the check arrives.

2. Snake handling Christians. That’s what happens when you can’t get decent TV reception in Appalachia.

3. Kaporot. Yep, it includes a live chicken. Those wacky Jews.

4. Digambar monks wear no clothes. They say they aren’t nude, but are wearing the environment.

5. Ritual cannibalism anyone? Virgin births? St. Fiacre?

6. Mormons believe in Kolob, which is close to God, which explains the outrageous rental rates there.

Weird or not?

[Colofornian]

Of course all theology is weird to someone else

So. God is love.

That's weird?

Designed things indicate a Master Designer. That's weird?

[magritte]

Of course. An equal argument could be made that God is indifferent. Or that God is cruel. Or that God is Easily Amused by Our Terror. Or God has no feelings one way or the other, being the Eternal Clockmaker.

Things are designed? Could be. Of course, things could just be As Things Have Always Been. And there’s always Last Thursdayism, my personal favorite, which is equally possible.

Do you find Last Thursdayism to be weird? You say God is love, which makes you feel good, but couldn’t he just as easily be a Big Liar?

Your mileage may vary.

[nickcarraway]

How about Christians- the idea that God would become you and be killed by humans? Surely, that is a shocking idea.

[nickcarraway]

Okay, so there was some lingering remains of what was going on 100 years ago. Does the LDS support that today?

[Colofornian]

Okay, so there was some lingering remains of what was going on 100 years ago. Does the LDS support that today?

Yes.

Allow me to use a parallel historical situation.

The United Kingdom -- led by the efforts of evangelical William Wilberforce and the evangelical Clapham sect...finally began to put slavery "to bed" by outlawing it early in the 19th century.

But we all know that the British owned a lot of colonies...and it took a little bit of time for what the Parliament passed to work its way into their extended lands.

So, let's say you were a British citizen circa 1810 & lived in a then-British portion of India, & owned slaves there.

If you were only to look @ British law, you might conclude that the British owned no slaves. But the colonies still had to implement what the Parliament wrought.

I'm sure some of those British slave owners in the colonies simply re-referenced their "slaves" as "servants" and went on with business-as-usual. Otherwise, things didn't change.

Well, how does that compare to modern Mormonism?

Well, Mormonism frowns on polygamy in ModernLand...yet smiles upon it as long as it's properly "colonized" in the Kolob beltway. IOW...
...(1) Mormons believe "marriage is forever"...
...(2) Mormons believe a widower can be "sealed" to a 2nd, 3rd, 4th wife in their temple FOREVER...
...(3) Which means, if Mormon mythology is true, these spouses become eternal polygamists upon death.

Bottom line? When Mormons tell you they condemn polygamy, they actually wink at it when their brothers and sisters gear up for it eternally in their sacred temples!

IOW, Mormons are deceiving you when they claim they outright absolutely condemn polygamy...because they don't...
...they don't condemn it as it's supposedly being practiced right now on the colony of Kolob...
...they don't condemn it as it was practiced historically in 19th and 20th century America...
...and they don't condemn Lds "apostle" McConkie for saying less than 50 years ago that polygamy would be restored on earth when the Mormon jesus returns.

They are ambiguous at best; and hypocritical at worst.

[Godzilla]

Okay, so there was some lingering remains of what was going on 100 years ago. Does the LDS support that today?

mormonism maintains Doctrines and Covernants Section 132 as scripture to this day. It was this "revelation" that smith based his command to practice polygamy upon. This passage is intact and unaltered by later prophets. Mormon's now choose to interpret it differently from how smith interpreted it - yet it is there and there are some within ldsdom that are ready to resume the practice if it becomes legal again.

[Ronin]

I said it's all weird to someone else, just like everyone is somebody else's weirdo.

In my original post I mentioned the Catholic belief in the miracle of transubstantiation, something that to non Christians must seem bizarre on the face of it. "God eating" is not a universally admired practice, you see. And try explaining the concept of the Trinity to a Buddhist and see how baffled they become. Actually, I'm still baffled myself, and I have been in, out and around Christian churches all my life.

As for other religions? Well, I personally find Islam to be absolutely repugnant in the way it treats women, its intolerance for other faiths, and it's willingness to use any means to advance its interests, but I cannot fault the (misguided) piety, sincerity or commitment of individual Muslims who are only doing what they have been taught and what they honestly in-their-hearts believe God wants them to do.

There's a lot of Hindus in the world, aren't there? I have no idea what their beliefs are, but I'm pretty sure they think Christians, Muslims and Jews are all a bit weird.

Arguments about religion baffle me.

EVERY committed believer in any religion naturally assumes that their religion is THE ONE TRUE FAITH. If they didn't, they'd leave and go join one that was.

In my life I have met a lot of Mormons, and while I have also met some real dickheads (the last JOC at CNFJ before I got out is one I will never forget), I have found them to be (for the most part) hardworking, patriotic, honest to a fault, and extremely generous to those in real need.

Beating up on Romney because of Mormonism is easy, but it's not necessary. There are plenty of things about him to dislike without going that direction.

[Elsie]

Does the LDS support that today?

Well; it's STILL 'scripture!

And there has been NOTHING from GOD to COMMAND them to STOP doing it.

[Elsie]

Beating up on Romney because of Mormonism is easy, but it's not necessary. There are plenty of things about him to dislike without going that direction.

Yup; it's just icing on the cake.

But; since we ARE doing it; we may as well expose the WORLD to the HERESY that is MORMONism while we have a bully pulpit to do it from!

[NorthernCrunchyCon]

Is Mormonism really heresy? From the classical Christian perspective, I see it as being more of an apostasy. Mormonism is not so much an erroneous form of Christianity as it is a complete renunciation thereof.

[Salvation]

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