Modern Polygamy

Plural Marriage and Christian Polygamy

In the article “Polygamy does not equal Mormon Polygamy” at Christian Polygamy INFO the authors make some interesting assumptions about the law of Plural Marriage. It seems that they are under the impression that women were forced to live this law against their will. This was not the case. In the LDS church there is a concept known as ?obedience to the will of God?. In this concept God give us commandments and he expects us to obey them. Joseph Smith upon receiving the revelation that he should begin practicing polygyny was faced with a dilemma, on one hand his wife Emma was against the practice, on the other hand he had been commanded by God. Whether or not Joseph was truly a prophet is of importance here. If he was, then what he did was correct. If not, then 11+ million people have been subjected to the biggest hoax of all time.

Even though Joseph had received the revelation on Plural Marriage he was unable to bring himself to practice it. It was not until Joseph Smith received Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants that he began to teach and practice it. This is also why part of Section 132 appears as a rebuke. Women were not the only ones who had to be commanded to accept the law, many of the brethren had to be commanded as well. This brings up another important doctrine of the LDS faith. If anyone has doubts to the validity of a particular teaching of the church, all they have to do is follow the council of James; “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” In other words, if you have doubts about teaching of the church all you have to do is ask God about it, and if you are sincere in your asking you will receive an answer.

Christian Polygamy only claims to be different from the law of Plural Marriage in one respect. That is participants in Christian Polygamy are not compelled to practice it. If you compare this to the polygamy that is practiced in the FLDS church then they are correct. The FLDS preach a distorted version of the law of Plural Marriage. However, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints members are never compelled by force to live any commandment, instead they are encouraged to pray and ask God if the things that they are taught are not true, and having received a testimony of the truth live it willingly.

The law of Plural Marriage is not practiced in the LDS church today, but if it were it would be practiced with love and tolerance, not by force. Doctrine and Covenants 121:37 sums this up nicely;

“That [the keys of the priesthood] may be conferred on us is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”

--William Clyde