God commanded some of the prophets of old in the bible to practice polygamy. Joseph knew the practice of plural marriage would stir up public ire. Nov 07, 2016 probably the single most controversial passage from the book of mormon is the section from 2 nephi chapter 5, which details how the evil lamanites were cursed with dark skin while the good nephites had white skin. Thereafter, for more than half a century, plural marriage was practiced by some latterday saints. In early mormon history, it was a minority practice, with only about onethird of adult women involved in polygamous marriages. For more detailed information on joseph smiths wives, get in sacred loneliness by lds historian todd compton. Modern polygamist groups are not part of the church and the church has no control over them. The lord covenanted with enos to bring forth the book of mormon to the lamanites, enos 1. In social anthropology, polygamy is the practice of marriage to more than one spouse simultaneously. Since mormons are the only group of christians who consider the book of mormon a book of scripture, many use the book name mormon to distinguish members of the lds church from other christian faiths like catholic or protestant. Mormon prophets who lived from 600 bc to ad 400 wrote the book. For example, a book of mormon reference to horses suggests that they may have been relatively uncommon, being limited only to certain regions during specific periods of book of mormon history. How then could it be retroactively applied to solomon and david. The name mormons is derived from the book of mormon, an ancient book of scripture translated by joseph smith, and used by mormons in addition to the bible and other modern works.
Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the latter day saint movement of restorationist christianity started by joseph smith in western new york in the 1820s and 30s. The doctrine and covenants, by contrast, wishes to explain how and when polygamy can be acceptable to god. The polygamy was taught almost more than 12 of the 19th century by the leaders of the lds church church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The mormons are the only mainstream church to engage in retroactive, posthumous baptisms, in order that ancestors may ascend to heaven. The term polygamy literally many marriages in late greek is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology and sociology. Although the lds church no longer practices polygamy, some wonder whether doctrine indicates polygamy in heaven. These verses make it sound like the book of mormon condemns the practice of polygamy, but verse 30 denotes otherwise. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism.
New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept silent. This ultimately is the pointjacob was defending the new party line on polygamy from the scriptures. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace. Nov 14, 2014 mormon historian todd compton, whos written a book on smiths polygamy, says theres good evidence smith married at least 33 women by the time he was murdered by a mob in 1844. Why were afraid of mormons bu today boston university. Next to the bible, the lds church believes in the book of mormon. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife. They primarily belong to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, or lds, which is headquartered in salt lake city, utah, and has more.
The book of mormon, translated in 1829, makes mention of polygamy and, while it seems to forbid polygamy, it recognizes that sometimes god commands men to practice polygamy. Mormons members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints do not practice polygamy. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy. In the case of plural marriage, the bible and the book of mormon teach that monogamy is gods standard for marriage unless he declares otherwise official declaration 1 heading, or, in jacobs language, if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people to practice plural marriage. Mormon historians are cheering the newly released english edition of lds scriptures, pointing to new wording about race and polygamy that provides a more accurate and complexview of the utahbased church and its sometimescontroversial past. In an attempt to justify early mormon polygamy, many mormons point to the bible. From the churchs beginnings in 1820 with the first vision of joseph smith its founder to a present day membership of over 15 million, the church has faced countless obstacles and controversies. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.
Smith plagiarized 478 verses from the book of isaiah, and 201 are identical to the king james bible. The doctrine and covenants according to mormons is the record of divine revelations given to joseph smith during his labors as the head of the mormon church. Second, in the book of mormon, polygamy is prohibited unless the lord needs to raise up seed unto me jacob 2. Lds doctrine leaves potential for eternal polygamy the spectrum. There are specific quotes in the book of mormon that are found in the king james bible and other modern works that joseph smith had access to. The book of mormon account is basing its statements on an interpretation of mosaic law to defend a new to them negative position on polygamy.
Joseph smith, founder of the mormon church, approved polygamy in the 1840s. Verses within it have been altered by leaders over the years to avoid mormon embarrassment. But church authorities have traditionally been hesitant to discuss controversial parts of mormon history. Mormon essays publishes links to the recent essays written by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, or the mormon church. The book of mormon is a religious and secular history of the inhabitants of the western hemisphere from about 2200 bc to about 421 ad. The four standard works, which contains the holy bible, the book of mormon, doctrine and covenants and the pearl of great price, are the holy scriptures of the mormon church. The lds church addresses joseph smiths polygamy mormons. Also, the only men who become gods, even the sons of god, are those who enter into polygamy, journal of discourses, vol. Gospel topics, plural marriage and families in early utah gospel topics, 20in accordance with a revelation to joseph smith, the practice of plural marriagethe marriage of one man to two or more womenwas instituted among members of the church of jesus christ of.
Only the church president held the keys authorizing the. In 1831 joseph smith made a prayerful inquiry to the lord regarding the ancient old. Historically, polygamy has been practiced as polygyny one man having more than one. Polygamy as practiced in the 1800s was very different than the polygamy often practiced by modern fundamentalist groups. But a problem arises when one compares the book of mormon with the. Interesting quotes from brigham young, the second prophet of. Mormon church opens up delicate topic of early polygamy. The church made the disclosure about joseph smith to show transparency about its history at a time when some members have been feeling. Mormonism and christianity have a complex theological, historical, and sociological relationship. There is a very interesting section on the politics involved in ending polygamy in the mainstream church. It suffered great persecution for this practice, and mormons continue to be associated with polygamy to this day, despite ending the practice more than one hundred years ago.
Latterday saints believe that monogamythe marriage of one man and one womanis the lords standing law of marriage. The book modern polygamy in the united states oxford university press, edited by cardell k. The practice began during the lifetime of founder and prophet joseph smith but became publicly and widely known during the time of 2nd prophet, brigham young. Top ten biggest controversies of the mormon lds church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons is a religion mired in controversy. The translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon, now revered by mormons as scripture, along with the bible. Joseph smith, founder of mormonism, taught that a righteous man could help numerous women and children go to heaven by being sealed in. But in 1896, leaders in utah, where the mormon faith was born, were forced to abandon such practice in exchange for statehood. Polygamy had been permitted for millennia in many cultures and religions, but, with few exceptions, was rejected in western cultures. Mormon polygamy mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, i promise that you will be damned, journal of discourses, vol. This is a perfect example of a logical contradiction. The book of mormon and the bible will grow together, 2 ne. New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references the salt.
The book of mormon disagrees with the bible, historical fact, and archeological findings. To find these teachings one needs to consult doctrine and covenants, not the book of mormon. Top ten biggest controversies of the mormon lds church. Brigham young said you are damned if you deny polygamy. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. Bennetts spiritual wife system and warned 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. The book of mormon is the second sacred text of mormons.
The churches that have been practicing polygamy were and they will always be controversial at both the western society and the. And, in fact, the descendents of polygamous families sustained the church for years. Carmon hardy, mormon historian, truth and mistruth in mormon history, in lavina fielding anderson and janice merrill allred, eds. The people jacob was teaching were under condemnation for their adulterous lifestyle. Mormons express the doctrines of mormonism using standard biblical terminology and have similar views about the nature of jesus atonement, bodily resurrection, and second coming as traditional christianity.
Doctrine and covenants, section 101 removed in 1876. Wellwritten and concisely summarized, it is one of the first books you should read if you want to track the principles history throughout mormonism. Since joseph did not take plural wives to raise up seed he had just two or three children by his thirty to forty plural wives, his polygamy was contrary to the book of mormon. During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives.
Explaining polygamy and its history in the mormon church. If you want to find books supporting his character, those too are easily found. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace polygamy. And even though the church of jesus christ of latterday saints renounced polygamy in the 1890s with the exception of a militant sliver, some. The mormon church has opened up about the historical practice of polygamy within its ranks in its early years, acknowledging that founder joseph. However, during a fiftyyear period of mormon history, the practice of polygamy was commanded by the lord through his prophets. It tells the reader that three groups of immigrants settled the uninhabited americas.
Mormon historian todd compton, whos written a book on smiths polygamy, says theres good evidence smith married at least 33 women by the time he. It marks the first time in more than 30 years that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has updated its four books of scripture the bible. Jan 26, 2017 how the women of the mormon church came to embrace polygamy. Jacobson with lara burton, is itself a product of the new scholarly attention that mormon fundamentalism has attracted since the 2008 raid. Polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly. Today, any mormons a nickname for members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who enter into polygamy are excommunicated. The book of mormon identifies one reason for god to command it. The lords words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 ne. Wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain. Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the latter day saint movement of restorationist christianity started by joseph smith in western new york in the 1820s and 30s the word mormon originally derived from the book of mormon, a religious text published by smith, which he said he translated from golden plates with divine assistance. Plural marriage did result in the birth of large numbers of children within faithful latterday saint homes. The edited volume brings together a wide range of scholars to argue that the popular portrait of mormon polygamy given by the media and law.
Polygamy called plural marriage by mormons in the 19th century or the principle by modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by between 20 and 30 percent of latterday saint families. In april 1844, joseph smith referred to polygamy as john c. Mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. As we touched on above, the prophet joseph smith translated the. Polygamy, or plural marriage, would increase the descendents of faithful mormon families.
In getting there, smith had to have done something pretty big, which for all intents and purposes was publishing the book of mormon, a religious text smith translated from gilded plates and which describes the history of hebrews who came to north america thousands. Many mormons did not know the details of smiths polygamy. The 1833 lds scripture book of commandments stated that marriage is ordained of god unto man. The essays seek to explain the events in an easy to understand format for both members of the church and other individuals that may be interested in mormon history. The practice of polygamy was a crucible of testing for the latterday saints.
Johnson meeting house in colorado city, arizona, at about 6 p. Jun 01, 2016 by the time of his death in 1844, joseph smith is believed to have married at least 33 women, with some as young as 14 years old. A great book for a general knowledge of mormon polygamy, and a quick read. Interesting quotes from brigham young, the second prophet. Many of the essays address controversial issues from the churchs history. The issue of polygamy has always been a sensitive one. Plural marriage in kirtland and nauvoo church of jesus christ. What is the most controversial thing in the book of mormon.
Smith first dictated the revelation about plural marriage on july 12, 1843, though he always denied it outside the mormon community, and the polygamy doctrine was not publicly acknowledged until 1852. What the book of mormon says about polygamy jacob 1. Probably the single most controversial passage from the book of mormon is the section from 2 nephi chapter 5, which details how the evil lamanites were cursed with dark skin while the good nephites had white skin. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. A careful study of genesis 16 shows that it was sarais idea for abram to have sexual relations with hagar in order to produce a child. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. And everything was practiced publicly from 1852 up until the year 1890. The mormon church practiced polygamy for just under fifty years. After all, abraham and jacob and david and solomon had more than one wife. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people.
Furthermore, whichever supreme being wrote the book of mormons pseudokjv verses possessed an inadequate understanding of how to use jacobean noun cases. Mormonism and polygamypurpose of plural marriage fairmormon. Mormon polygamy, however, was an important part of the teachings of the church for fifty years. From 1830 to 1876, lds scripture was consistent in prohibited polygamy. Plural marriage in kirtland and nauvoo church of jesus. Apr 16, 2020 however, polygamy became controversial in america, specifically the among the mormon fundamentalists. The word mormon originally derived from the book of mormon, a religious text published by smith, which he said he translated from golden plates with divine. For more detailed information on joseph smiths wives, get in. Within a half hour the line extends out the front doors, down the side of the. Numerous passages from the scriptures teach that there will be a time when we will be called before god to be judged. The book of mormon never claims that the horse was universally known or used in the new world.
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