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>>So Joseph Smith could have been, and in a likelihood was wrong about polygamy, and it took God 50 years to correct it?<<

In my experience and from reading of history, God does not seem to prevent his churches from doing wrong.

When did the Inquisition start -1260, I think and not end until the time of the American war between the states. 600 years this was allowed to go on.

We are expected to go back to principles and correct what our churches are doing wrong - God does not seem to choose to stop us from doing wrong in his name, at least not on earth.

You forget that Mormonism believes it is the one and only true church of God based upon the fact that it is headed by a Prophet of God...a mouthpiece and spokesman for God on earth. If the Prophet can be fooled about a salamander letter, that leads to bombings and death, then Houston - se have a problem. Either the Prophet is fallible (which nowandlater admits) or God is fallible (which is impossible.) Now if the Prophet is fallible, then how do we know when he is acting as God's spokesman and when he is just a man.

You cannot compare this example to that of history or God preventing his Churches from doing wrong. Other Churches do NOT claim that they are infallible - - only God is perfect - - eveyone else is fallible.

Good post, it’s called free agency, man must have the right to choose good over bad. But that said, we believe he has given us servants to help guide us into truth.

BTW, polygamy was mentioned in the Book of Mormon looong before Joseph ever instituted it, and it was not mentioned in a good way. This is a prime example I think of what you mentioned in your post, how we are expected to go back to principles and correct what our Churches are doing wrong.

Here’s the reference from the Book of Morom. The key to this is to pay CAREFUL attention to verse 30: This is a prophet correcting his people of a gross sin.

Jacob 2:
23 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.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
27 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;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit awhoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.