Comments on: Why don’t Mormons practice polygamy now? (LDS belief in living prophets)

By: Kathy

Kathy — Sun, 02 May 2021 14:57:09 +0000

God doesn’t change, but His methods do. Changing the “how” of something in no way changes the “what” or “who,” of that something. You may find a new and better way to clean your house, but your house doesn’t change. Or you may buy a new dress, but you’re still you. God Himself is unchanging, but His methods change all the time. Again, changing the “how,” in no way changes the “who.”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 07:04:40 +0000

4.5

By: beawesomeb

beawesomeb — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 09:30:24 +0000

Women in the church at the time of polygamy had to gain their own testimony just as we do now. Even if we aren’t practicing it now. You see The fullness of the gospel had to be restored in the latter days before Christ returns. So because polygamy was in ancient times of the Bible, we had to have it return for a restoration of the gospel in these latter days. That doesn’t mean that it has to be continued now but it was a principle that had to be restored and God knew that it needed to be restored before laws would change and before he could bring about the technology era. It also had to be restored through Joseph Smith who is the prophet of this dispensation. So he was told that if he didn’t restore it, a destroying angel would come for him. We also understand that to practice polygamy it was a calling and that one had to have the means to take care of more people. Also with more women then men at the time who needed looking after it was a means to fulfill that. God knows all things and has multiple purposes.
So when polygamy was proven to have been restored and the prophet asked what to do about those going to jail etc. it was no longer necessary to practice it.

{Editor’s note: Just a reminder that comments reflect the opinion of the commenter and don’t necessarily reflect the position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of the More Good Foundation.}

By: mormonwomen

mormonwomen — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:32:10 +0000

Al,
I removed the book recommendation you included for various reasons, but wanted your (very common) responses to be published. And, as you can imagine, I wanted to respond. 🙂

“not any more” and “not at this time.” and “reserves the right to reinstate polygamy if and should He so please.” Yes. These are fair points (although you make it sound as though that is something we should apologize for, and I don’t agree with that. This is exactly the point of my post. When you believe in living prophets, you understand that following them could include hard things. As Jacob 2 says in the Book of Mormon, if God were to will it again, He could and He would. It’s a freeing thing to know that God is in charge and that He will let His prophets know what needs to happen. But when you understand that monogamy is the rule in God’s teachings, you also understand that polygamy had a focused purpose and limited timeframe. This was true anciently and was true in our dispensation as well.

“Early polygamy as God-mandated” — Yes, we do believe that. Your comment sounds accusatory, but we simply beleive it had a purpose and a place for a time.

“Allows for multiple wives in the hereafter” — sealings to more than one person can and does happen (after a spouse has died and a person remarries, sometimes this happens). What the hereafter will look like is something we just don’t grasp, though. (Sealings and polygamy aren’t necessarily synonymous as well. There were many early marriages that were sealings only, not actual, marital, consummated relationships. The doctrine of sealings goes beyond marriage.)

“Suggests that God may be a polygamist” — I think some people speculate about this, but you’d be hard pressed to find any teachings from living prophets on this topic. Which means this isn’t mainstream Mormon doctrine.

Re: Section 132 — again, this is where living prophets come into play, why understanding continuous revelation is so important to understanding Mormon doctrine. Joseph received this revelation to get clarity about the commandment that had been given anciently and for his time. But living prophets have made it very clear that monogamy now is the rule. And they also have expounded on this section in really important ways. For those who want to understand Mormon doctrine on marriage, it’s essential to study current teachings of prophets and to see the clear patterns in what they teach.

By: Al Pratt

Al Pratt — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:25:45 +0000

When the mainstream Mormon church says they have nothing to do with polygamy, they would be more honest if they added, “not any more” and “not at this time.” Mainstream Mormon doctrine defends its early polygamy as God-mandated, allows for multiple wives in the hereafter, suggests that God may be a polygamist, and reserves God’s right to reinstate polygamy if and should He so please. …read the Doctrine and Covenants (which the Mormons regard as scripture), Section 132; it is the original “revelation” to Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith wherein God states that taking multiple wives is no less than a COMMANDMENT.

By: mormonwomen

mormonwomen — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:31:13 +0000

Stumbled on this scripture today and thought it was relevant and worth sharing:And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
9 Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
10 Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them—
11 Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
12 Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.