The Book of Mormon, first published in 1830, may contain the strongest denunciation of polygamy in all of religious literature. In its Book of Jacob there is lengthy condemnation of polygamy, from which I extract the following:
"... the people of Nephi under the reign of the second king began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old, desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon his son ..."
"... thus saith the Lord: 'This people beginneth 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, 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; wherefore, I, the Lord God, will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.' 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; for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women, and whoredoms are abominations before Me!' "
How the church that Joseph Smith Jr. founded moved from such plain statements to the sort of polygamy practiced by Mormons in Utah is strange. Due to false accusations by enemies of the church, the 1835 book Doctrine and Covenants, with the endorsement of Joseph Smith Jr. and other leaders, had included an official church statement on marriage. One sentence read: "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, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again."
Yet, Mormon harems in Utah became a reality. In the memoirs of Joseph Smith III (1832-1914), who, beginning in 1860, served as president of the Reorganized church, are poignant accounts of his encountering plural wives during his missionary trips through Utah.
"I was once invited to [cousin] Joseph F,'s. He received me kindly as I arrived, and we chatted for a little while before supper was announced. ... To me the situation in which I found myself seemed very strange. For the first time in my life I was permitted to see thus at close range the domestic relations of a polygamous family and the actual operation of a doctrine which had long been unspeakably repulsive to me. The very fibers of my being seemed to cry out in protest, and so strong was my prejudice and antipathy that I seemed to feel almost physically ill as I contemplated the scene. There, at one board sat a complacent man, surrounded by three wives and a large number of children ... The women did not take much part in our conversation. I thought I detected upon the countenances of two of them, evidence of some distress of mind, and possibly, regret, as if they were conscious that the opinions I would form of their family relations were not likely to be very complimentary to them."
Now that Mormons have a reputation for happy monogamous marriages, one might see in that a fulfillment of Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Typical anti-mormon propaganda. Isn't it funny that they never include verse 30 when they quote Jacob? You know, the one right after the last one you quote where the Lord basically says: If I want to raise up a righteous posterity, I will specifically command my people to enter into polygamy, otherwise they are to not do it.
Of course, that would put the Book of Mormon right in line with the Old Testament on polygamy (approved when specifically commanded for the purpose of having posterity -- see Jacob, Rachel and Leah for more information), and we can't tolerate that. So a little deception, all in the good cause of helping save people from the evil cult, and, oh, let's make a few bucks off it, too.