And so, today, I write a few thoughts with those who do struggle in mind.

I once had a friend say that we should be uncomfortable with polygamy. Monogamy is the rule in God’s law, and polygamy is the exception. In my view, the fact that people are uncomfortable with this practice that existed for several decades of early Church history, is understandable — if not right. (I say that with a caveat, which I share below.)

So I’d just say if you feel uncomfortable with polygamy, it’s ok to say and feel that. I personally don’t believe that someone needs to have a “testimony” of polygamy to have a testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or of the divine calling of Joseph Smith. One can be uncomfortable with polygamy and still have faith. 

I love what President Uchdorf and Elder Holland have said. We can act on what we do know and believe as we consider what we may struggle with or doubt. The invitation that our leaders extend is not to let struggle hijack faith. So my encouragement to you is not to abandon what you do know, whatever that may be.

And please, please don’t be afraid to take your doubts and fears and feelings to God.

I read a wonderful book by S. Michael Wilcox who talked about the power of pouring out our souls to God. I spent a lot of years thinking that God really didn’t want to hear me talk about how I was really feeling — that somehow He just wanted me to be happy and faithful and fine, regardless of what life threw at me. I’m so sad that I had that view of Him for so long. I truly believe, now, after many experiences of my own “pouring out” of my soul and sitting in my struggles enough to be honest about them, that He doesn’t expect us to pretend that we feel what we don’t. I believe He wants us to be honest with Him, to, as Brother Wilcox says, pour out what is inside.

And then we are invited to see what God will pour in, if we will let Him. I have found that when I open myself up to His answers, they often are not what I would have expected, or even thought I wanted. But they always, always nudge me forward and closer to Him. (They usually delight me, too, because they end up being more than I could have known to ask for.)

I read a recent post by a fellow blogger and I think she makes a good point. It’s not wise or kind to dismiss the experiences and feelings of those who feel shocked or betrayed or confused by this information. And so although I understand frustration with the headlines that claim that this is all new information (and again I share the frustration at the the drama of it all) I think we ought not dismiss the real pain some feel as they think about polygamy.

And I also think that the same courtesy of being kind and not dismissive needs to be extended to Joseph Smith himself. So this is my caveat to the above statement that discomfort with polygamy can be a good thing. It’s okay to not like the idea of polygamy, but that doesn’t mean Joseph Smith was wrong in practicing it. The nature of mortality means that we all see through a glass darkly. We in the 21st century do not have a perfect lens with which to judge others in the past. Joseph Smith lived in a time with a role and rules and inspiration that none of us can understand simply because we aren’t walking in his shoes. We also can’t receive revelation about what we might have done had we lived then because revelation comes for our lives in the present, and we aren’t being asked to live polygamy (credit becky). In fact, if someone does live in a polygamous relationship, they can’t be a member of the Church.

I personally believe that a key reason God invites us not to judge others is simply because it turns our attention away from Christ and His healing power for whatever it is that makes us want to cast judgment in the first place (which is usually pain, fear, or other such emotions).

I understand that the hinge point is that to have a testimony of the Church, we need to have a testimony of Joseph Smith’s divine calling. And for some, polygamy can feel like an insurmountable barrier to receiving a testimony of that calling that the prophet had.

My plea — not as anyone special, just as a sister in the gospel — is just to remember that God has ordained the process by which this testimony can be received. The process of gaining a testimony is something that won’t hit the headlines like these recent essays have, but it is nonetheless real, and has played out in the lives of millions of people around the world. Every person’s process will have its own twists and turns and will take the time that it takes. But even those twists and turns can be glorious, although difficult at times — because this process (this life, really) is about learning to engage directly with God for answers. Finding Him through the Fall and the messiness of mortality is why we are here.

And whew. Sometimes that process is really hard. Polygamy is not my wrestle, but I have my questions and struggles. We all do, I think, at some point or another. If it were all easy, what need would we have of faith or Jesus?

God bless you in your journey to find Him through and in your struggle.

The post For those who struggle with Mormon history of polygamy appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I wasn’t sure what photo to include with this post. I decided on one that includes an ancestor of mine who was incarcerated for practicing polygamy. Polygamy has not been part of our practice for over 100 years, and anyone who practices it now cannot be a member of our church.

Photo credit

Editor’s note: I wrote this post several years ago, when Mormon history issues were being discussed in traditional and social media channels quite a bit. Since the topic has been kicked up again as of late, with a recent New York Times article about people who struggle with facets of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (such as polygamy), I thought I’d repost my thoughts here (with minor edits to make the post more current].

The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a topic on which there is obviously a range of opinions. It’s one I have mulled over for years. Years ago, I decided to turn to the Book of Mormon to see if I could find some insight on this topic. It was a simple search — I just read scriptures that mentioned “history.” I was surprised to find only six occurrences of the word. Interestingly, all of them are found within the first three books. I studied those six verses in addition to other related verses, and discovered what I think is a powerful scriptural model for teaching our history.

Early on in the Book of Mormon, Nephi tells us that what we are reading is not all he has written.

And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people…. (1 Nephi 9:2).

… a more history part are written upon mine other plates (2 Nephi 4:14).

Nephi also lets us know why it is that he had two different records.

AND it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.

And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates [the small plates]; wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates.

And after I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord (1 Nephi 19:2-3; see also 1 Nephi 9:3; 2 Nephi 5:29-33).

Jacob said:

[Nephi gave] a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation (Jacob 1:2-3).

Nephi and Jacob explain more about their focused writing in several other places. Following are some examples, with emphasis added:

And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God. For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world. Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men (1 Nephi 6:6).

And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptureswhich are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard (2 Nephi 4:15-16).

For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them. And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come. Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest…. (Jacob 1:5-7)

…[B]ehold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken; and this I do that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people. Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself. (1 Nephi 19:5-6)

For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do….
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins (2 Nephi 25:23, 26).

We all know that history is not unimportant to the Lord. We see in scriptures quoted above that He commanded Nephi to make the first set of plates which had more information – more history – including wars and genealogies as well as prophecies. We know we are each encouraged to keep personal histories, and to seek to know information about our ancestors. We are also encouraged to learn “things which have been.” In a very real sense, much of what we discuss at church is dependent on the study of history at some level (Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; the life of ancient prophets; the apostasy; the First Vision…the list could go on).

That said, in reading these scriptures, it appears to me that not all information is of equal value to the Lord. Otherwise, He wouldn’t have given Nephi such specific instructions about limiting the amount of historical information that didn’t have spiritual value in the plates that would be handed down from generation to generation. Scriptures indicate that there are things which “matter…not, for God knoweth all these things.” In a sense, Nephi has shown an effective method for dealing with history. In obedience to the Lord, he focused on the most precious, saving truths, knowing that by so doing he was helping the Lord and His purposes.

It seems to me that, while some may find a more detailed study of Church history interesting, it’s not a necessity. I tend to favor Nephi’s approach, which does not ignore that there is more historical information out there, but does not choose to focus on all aspects of our history. It seems to me that our worship, church classes, and ministering to one another touches only lightly on those things that aren’t of spiritual import. Our main mission as members of the Church is to focus most attention on the Church’s divinely ordained mission to bring souls to Christ and to preach the gospel to all the world.

But note something that Nephi says: “And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates” (2 Nephi 5:33). Even though I find it interesting that we still don’t have his “other plates” (another resource) to search, I think his words could apply to us today. And I think we can find that the Church does provide access to some other resources.

For example, for those who want to know more of the history of the Church than what can be found in Church classes, missionary discussions, or the Gospel Library at lds.org [or Mormon.org — this post was written before Mormon.org had been created], there are various resources that can help one read more about LDS Church history. [This list has been edited slightly from the original to reflect some of the changes that have occurred since this post was written…but I am sure there are more resources out there that I have neglected to mention for want of getting this post up. If you would like to add to this list of resources, leave a comment below and we’ll consider it for publication in this post.]

-The Church has a website on Joseph Smith which includes links to various resources about the prophet.

-Seven volumes of  History of the Church

– The Joseph Smith Papers project

– A BYU Studies page that is part of a frequently asked questions site about the Church.

– The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship (formerly FARMS) and FAIR [and the FAIR Wiki], which, although not Church-sponsored per se, provide access to members’ exploration of various topics in a more extensive way than will be found at church.

– I have also appreciated the fact that our leaders have participated in various interviews [ e.g., the PBS interviews were recent when I wrote this piece]. The Church has a Newsroom that has up-to-date information on topics of interest in the press, including Church history.

I think Nephi’s inspired method of handling history is a good and wise one. I’m intrigued by how many times he repeated his purposes and focus in his writing. I can’t help but wonder if perhaps this was included in his small plates so we might learn a little from his example. We don’t need to know all of the detailed history of Nephi and his people to know that he was a prophet who taught (and teaches us) truth. Likewise, we don’t need to know all the details of our latter-day history to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s restored church on the earth that has consistently been led by prophets of God, beginning with Joseph Smith and continuing to the present day with President Gordon B. Hinckley. We don’t need to know all the particulars of our history to enjoy the blessings of the sacred teachings and ordinances of the Church and to know of their truth and reality. These teachings and ordinances can enable us to “come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that [we] might enter into his rest” (Jacob 1:7). I don’t fault those who want to know more about history, but I would hope that they would not lose faith in or focus on the plain and precious truths of the gospel that have power to save, heal, and change our hearts and lives.

The post Thoughts about Mormon history appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Maddie writes:

Do Mormons believe that God never changes? If so, I have a question: For a long time Mormons encouraged if not required polygamy. Why have you changed and now say that practice is not permissible? If God doesn’t change His mind, would you say that your early leaders were wrong? If so, couldn’t they have been wrong about many other things?

Maddie, this is a question that I think a lot of people have, so thanks for asking it.

I think the short answer to your question is that we believe in living prophets. But following is a longer response that I hope can explain a little about what that means to us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how that relates to your question.

I think what is on Mormon.org addresses your specific question about polygamy pretty well, so I’ll start there. This is from the page “Do Mormons practice polygamy?”

At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1). At other times the Lord has given other instructions. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord told the prophet Jacob “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none… 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 (Jacob 2:27-30).

In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage (Official Declaration 1).

Through a living prophet, polygamy (in limited practice) was commanded for a time. Through the same means (through a living prophet), polygamy was later revoked.

We believe changes in policy or commandments given to or through prophets do not negate or contradict the belief in an unchanging God. In fact, to me, the fact that God has consistently used this pattern of having living leaders to guide His people and do His work throughout the dispensations of time underscores the unchangeableness of God! Let me explain, or give a few examples.

Consider, for example, that God gave the law of Moses to the children of Israel. Before His death, Jesus and the family He grew up in lived and obeyed that law. But after Christ’s death and resurrection, the law was no longer practiced. It had been fulfilled; it had served its purpose in God’s big picture. After that time, it became, in fact, wrong for followers of Christ to practice the law of Moses.

But this change didn’t negate the divine role Moses had in God’s work or the role the law of Moses had during that time to bring people to God and point their souls to Christ. God had not changed, and His desire and love for His children had not changed, and His eternal plan to save His children through Christ had not changed (that was the plan from the beginning of time, even before the earth was formed, and still is the plan!). But the law had.

Another example is how, at first, Jesus Himself told the apostles to only teach the Jews, but after Christ’s death, to and through Peter (the authorized head/leader of the Church), the revelation was received to then take the gospel to the Gentiles. This didn’t negate Jesus’ commission to His leaders when He was alive. Again, God’s character and love for His children had not changed, but God had continued to reveal His will through His authorized servants, and His work continued to go forward.

Over time, the authority that had been given to Jesus’ apostles was taken from the earth, as those apostles died. Because of His big picture view and because of where people were at the time (speaking generally), there were centuries of time when that authority did not exist on the earth. God had not changed, but in His big picture view, that period of time had a purpose (and many people had important work to do to help prepare for the restoration of the gospel).

It was all still about God’s plan and His love and His purposes to bring people to Christ and this time, to prepare the earth for Jesus’ *second* coming.

Through the prophet of the restoration and the authority that was restored to and through him, Joseph Smith, the pattern of having living prophets was also restored. Continuing and unfolding authorized revelation for Christ’s Church became part of the pattern again. The unfolding work of the restoration of the Church took years and years, and continued after his death…and continues to this day.

Polygamy was commanded for some to live for a time in the early history of the Church. But through a living prophet (the fourth president of the Church), Wilford Woodruff, God revealed in 1890 that it was time for that to end. Leaders from that time forward upheld monogamy as the rule. As noted in the Mormon.org quote above, monogamy has, in fact, always been the rule. God has commanded polygamy at times, but it was never meant to be His unending, unchanging law.

Today, living prophets continue to receive inspiration about policy changes and specific things the Church and its members are to do and focus on.

But through all of the dispensations of time, through all of these types of changes and that process of God giving different instructions to different prophets depending on what His will and purposes were, the character of God has not changed. His love for His children has never changed. His plan, as mentioned before, never changed.

For me, although I don’t fully understand the purpose polygamy filled in its time, I am not bothered by it. This pattern of God working through living prophets to reveal His will and commands for specific times and seasons, in fact, only strengthens my faith in God and His character. It is the pattern found in scripture. I find great comfort in knowing that He will give the instructions that I need to know in my life through prophets, and that He is fully aware of what is needed now in our time given where we are in the earth’s history and in His big picture view. But my God is the same God who guided Moses and who sent Jesus and who inspired Peter and who called Joseph Smith and who speaks through living prophets today.

Answers to and thoughts about questions addressed at Mormon Women should not be considered official responses of the Church. For official material and/or to ask Mormon missionaries questions, see Mormon.org.

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We get versions of this question quite regularly at our site, and we’ve addressed the topic of polygamy here before, but between the recent Pew Forum survey results and the fact that Warren Jeffs and the FLDS polygamy/marriage lifestyle recently in the headlines, I figured it was worth addressing again.

As a recent Deseret News article notes (“Mormons say polygamy morally wrong, Pew poll shows“), Mormonism and polygamy are often linked together. Polygamy is, in fact, often the subject of jokes about Mormons, “as though Mormons and polygamy are synonymous in mainstream media.”

But, as the article points out,

Ironically, the practice that’s most linked to Mormons is a practice most Mormons oppose, according to a groundbreaking new study of Mormons in America released Thursday by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Over 1,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were recently polled in this Pew survey, and only 2% of the Mormons surveyed said that they felt polygamy was morally acceptable. 86% of them said they felt that polygamy was morally wrong, and 11% felt polygamy was not a moral issue.

But then why is Mormonism often tied to polygamy in the media or in casual conversation (or jokes) about Mormons? The article explains:

At one point 120 years ago, some Mormons practiced plural marriage, hence the association between Mormons and polygamy. The practice was discontinued in 1890, but the cultural association persists, perhaps in part because Mormons are sometimes confused with members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, a polygamist group not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The article notes that this cultural confusion and desire for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be differentiated from those of the FLDS church may have influenced people’s response in this Pew survey. But I think recent statements from Church leaders and from mormon.org also reinforce and support the moral stance reflected in the results.

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, polygamy is “against the law of God.” This is true “[e]ven in countries where civil or religious law allows [the practice of a man having more than one wife] (“What Are People Asking about Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 72).

From mormon.org:

In the Book of Mormon, the Lord told the prophet Jacob “for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife: and concubines he shall have none… 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 (Jacob 2:27-30). …

The Lord’s law of marriage is monogamy unless he commands otherwise to help establish the House of Israel (see Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 3, pp. 1091-1095).

In other words, even in our history, polygamy was the exception, not the rule. Anyone who practices polygamy now is excommunicated from the Church.

The post What do Mormons think about polygamy? appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

We continue to get this question on our website: “Are the people on the new reality TV show “Sister Wives” Mormon?”

No.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not practiced polygamy (sometimes called plural marriage) for over 100 years. When our church stopped practicing polygamy a century ago, several churches splintered off of the mainstream Mormon or LDS church to continue practicing polygamy. These splinter religions believed (and continue to believe) that practicing polygamy is living a higher law, similar in a way to how Catholic Priests practice celibacy. But practicing polygamists do not belong to the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that has over 13 million members worldwide.  If any members of our faith are found to be practicing polygamy they are excommunicated from our religion.

I believe that God’s current and most prevalent command is for marriage to be between one man and one woman. That being said, as I think about my polygamist ancestors, I do understand that God has asked faithful people at all times in human history to do hard things to fulfill His own purposes. The Bible is full of examples of faith-trying experiences: Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and sat in prison for avoiding adultery, Leah felt hated by her husband Jacob because of her father’s deception, Noah was asked to build an enormous ark and fill it to the brim with animals while people mocked him, and so on and so forth. I am glad that I have not been asked to build an ark or prove my faith in a lion’s den. I can feel gratitude for my polygamist ancestors for sacrificing so much without desiring the lifestyle for myself.

We as members of the mainstream Mormon church acknowledge that polygamy is part of our past. But our commitment to obey the laws of the land, our support of the definition of marriage to be between a man and a woman, the belief that a prophet of God ended polygamy more than a century ago, and our belief that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God today all draw a line in the sand between the mainstream Mormon church and any polygamist offshoots such as the family portrayed in “Sister Wives.”

The post Sister Wives: Are They Mormon? appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Television programs like “Big Love” or the newly-released reality show “Sister Wives” (as well as news stories on small polygamous groups that appear in the news on occasion) have likely contributed to the fact that this question remains on some people’s minds.

And because of the way some polygamous groups live (in compounds, separated from modern society, dressing in 19th-century attire, etc.), we also get questions such as: “Do all Mormon women have long hair?” “What do Mormon women wear?”

We wanted to share a few simple answers to the above questions in the hope that there would be less confusion about these issues.

The Church’s official site (lds.org) says the following under the index entry for “polygamy”:

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. At certain times and for His specific purposes, God, through His prophets, has directed the practice of plural marriage (sometimes called polygamy), which means one man having more than one living wife at the same time. In obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s.” The Church officially stopped sanctioning the practice of plural marriage in 1890. (You can find more about the history of polygamy at the above index link.)

Polygamy was a test of faith. It was not easy for either men and women who were asked to live this commandment. Nevertheless, those affected by this commandment sought personal inspiration about whether to accept it, and where applicable, live it.

If you were to ask different LDS Church members today what they think of polygamy, you’d probably get a range of answers. Some have struggled with the fact that plural marriage is a part of Mormon history. Others accept is as a part of our history. Some will give their personal ideas for why it existed, with opinions differing, even among historians. (Links above to lds.org and mormon.org’s FAQ explain some possible reasons.) Some people are personally descended from early LDS polygamists; their answers may have yet another slightly different flavor to them. (Read one such perspective in “Ask a Mormon Woman: “What do you think about polygamy?”)

Where discomfort does exist, it’s understandable to the degree that such discomfort acknowledges that monogamy is the rule in God’s commandments. “The Lord’s law of marriage is monogamy unless he commands otherwise….” (see Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 3, pp. 1091-1095, quoted in another official Church answer in the FAQ on polygamy at mormon.org). President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, polygamy is “against the law of God.” This is true “[e]ven in countries where civil or religious law allows [the practice of a man having more than one wife] (“What Are People Asking about Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 72). Any marriage must be monogamous in order for individuals to qualify for Church membership.

But we would hope that any such discomfort not be allowed to cloud the broader perspective and understanding about who we are, what we believe, and how we live as Mormons. Our faith as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the Savior and His role in God’s plan of happiness for His children. We try to follow the Savior and incorporate and live His teachings. We value marriage between a man and a woman as a critical part of that plan.

You likely cross paths with Mormons in your day-to-day life in your communities, places of employment, grocery stores, schools, and other places. We wear modest but very typical attire for the countries and cultures in which we live. Our hairstyles vary widely (short, long, curly, straight…). Our life circumstances vary as well.

And let us be clear that the only time you might see us in old-fashioned dresses is when we are re-enacting moments from early Church history. 🙂

A final note: When we study or celebrate our history, we usually don’t talk much about polygamy, because in reality, polygamy is not what defines (or at least shouldn’t define) what our history is all about. We study our history to understand more about how a deep faith in the Savior can help us face our trials and tests, and can fill our lives with joy as we seek to serve the Lord and those around us.

The post “Sister Wives” Polygamy is not Mormon Reality appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Hi, I’m currently doing an essay for school on religion. The Church of the Latter Day Saints is one that grabbed my attention. I was wondering what a typical Mormon woman thought of the aspect of polygamy, as it is incredibly difficult to find a comment on the internet which is reliable. There’s been a lot of speculation in the news about the subject and I feel as though it would be a great insight to ask someone who is actually affected by those comments. Thank you for taking the time to read this question.

~Response by Kathryn**

“Does your husband have several wives?”  The guide’s question didn’t surprise me;  I’d been asked it already that summer.

“No,  Mormon polygamy hasn’t been practiced for over one hundred years.”

He rolled his eyes as the eery glow of the bonfire captured the dubious look on his face. “That’s not true.  I KNOW some of your men have several wives.”

“No really–we don’t….”

He spoke perfect English;  I knew there wasn’t a language barrier.  He had been our guide as we wandered through the 100-year-old forest which saddles the Polish/Belorussian border. Our guide was charming and knowledgeable about royalty, trees, mushrooms, and birds; however, he had been misguided by the international media when it came to Mormons.

I was asked other questions about Mormon polygamy that summer; fortunately they were not quite as awkward. I studied at a Polish university and most of my friends were graduate students preparing to do research in the Polish archives. We had long conversations about the Mormon church.  They understood that groups who currently practice polygamy who may call themselves Mormons are not part of the thirteen million member Church headquartered in Salt Lake City.

In April of 2008, Elder Quentin L. Cook, an apostle for the Church, asked the news media to make a clear distinction in their reports between the Church and the polygamist FLDS sect in Texas that had made headlines throughout the world. But there is still much confusion. Perhaps it bears repeating here that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discontinued polygamy officially in 1890. Stories in the media about the FLDS polygamous lifestyle do not represent Mormon life. Photos of FLDS women are incorrectly labeled on the internet as Mormon women; they don’t look like me or any of my Mormon neighbors and friends. [Editor’s note: To see what Mormon women do look like, feel free to browse our Portraits of Mormon Women series. Each post in that series include a photo. Other content on our site contains images of Mormon women as well.]

While polygamy has not been part of Mormon life for a long time, some of us are descendants of men who did have several wives. In my family tree, I have several great-great-great-grandfathers who had three or four wives.

For several years I have been researching the lives of all my ancestors, because I’m compiling a book of family stories. Polygamy is part of some of those stories, but it is not what defines who these people are to me. What has impressed me is the courage and faith of my forebears in the challenging times in which they lived. I hope to continue their legacy of love for the Savior and a desire to follow Him and live the gospel through faith, diligence, humility, and service to others.

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**Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” reflect the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of individuals. Although here at Mormon Women: Who We Are, we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

Have a question you would like to ask? Send an email to us at gmail, with username ‘mormonwoman’

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You can watch Elder Nelson talking about the new website about the Savior here.

Watch Elder Ballard addressing the question, “Are Mormons Christian?”

Elder Cook talks about the need to make a clear distinction between our Church, and the FLDS group that practices polygamy here.

And here’s one about the Church’s recent efforts to help in Myanmar.

There are many others, under the username LDSPublicAffairs

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***Please note: The answers in “Ask a Mormon Woman” and (other content on this site) reflect the thoughts and perspectives of the administrators at Mormon Women. Although we strive to have our content consistent with the Church’s doctrine and teachings, we do not speak officially for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For official information about or from the Church, please visit www.mormon.org or www.lds.org.

For more information on our basic doctrines, click here.

What is a solemn assembly? (This was a question discussed at the time Pres. Monson was sustained as president of the Church.)

Why aren’t women in the Church ordained to the priesthood?

Question: I’ve heard a lot in the news about polygamy with all that is going on with the FLDS group in Texas. Some people are concerned about the fact that Mormons once practiced polygamy, and that somehow issues we see today reflect issues that existed then. What does your church say about this?
–For some thoughts on this topic, see what Marlin K. Jensen, LDS Church historian has to say.

Why are ordinances necessary?


Q: What is a solemn assembly?

Recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its semiannual general conference. Part of that conference included a solemn assembly, where the new prophet, Thomas S. Monson, was sustained. We have the opportunity to sustain our general church leaders every year in general, stake, and ward conferences, but a solemn assembly is different. Elder David B. Haight explained the various purposes of solemn assemblies. He said:

A solemn assembly, as the name implies, denotes a sacred, sober, and reverent occasion when the Saints assemble under the direction of the First Presidency. Solemn assemblies are used for three purposes: the dedication of temples, special instruction to priesthood leaders, and sustaining a new President of the Church. This conference session today [when Spencer W. Kimball was sustained as the new prophet, similar to the session recently held when President Monson was sustained] is a solemn assembly for the purpose of sustaining a newly called Church President and other officers of the Church.

There is a pattern to solemn assemblies that distinguishes them from other general Church meetings where we sustain officers of the Church. That pattern, which was established by the Prophet Joseph Smith, is that the priesthood quorums, commencing with the First Presidency, stand and manifest by the uplifted right hand their willingness to sustain the President of the Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator, and uphold him by their confidence, faith, and prayers. The priesthood quorums of the Church so manifest by their vote. Then the general body of all the Saints stand and signify their willingness to do the same. The other leaders of the Church are similarly sustained in their offices and callings.

Whenever sustainings take place, members are given the chance to raise their hands if they oppose an action or someone’s calling. However, such an expression does not change the results, particularly in the case of a sustaining. Callings are not made or carried out by popular vote. But giving members an opportunity to sustain their leaders serves a couple of purposes. One reason is often mentioned by President Boyd K. Packer. He says:

Every President of the Church…has been sustained in a solemn assembly…. And in similar manner, the sustaining procedure is repeated annually in general conference and duplicated in every stake and ward and branch as required by revelation.

The Lord said, “It shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church” (D&C 42:11).

In this way, no stranger can come among us and claim to have authority and attempt to lead the Church astray.

The sustaining process is also an opportunity for individuals to witness their support and promise to sustain the prophet. Elder Haight explained:

When we sustain the President of the Church by our uplifted hand, it not only signifies that we acknowledge before God that he is the rightful possessor of all the priesthood keys; it also means that we covenant with God that we will abide by the direction and the counsel that come through His prophet. It is a solemn covenant.

You can find links to some people’s thoughts about the recent solemn assembly, as well as other aspects of the April 2008 general conference, here.

Q: Why aren’t women in the Church ordained to the priesthood?

This is a question that is often asked about Mormonism and about Mormon womanhood. One of the keys of being able to understand the answer to this question is to understand first the doctrinal truth that men and women are equal in God’s eyes. The scriptures state that “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34) and that “all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33).

President Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth president of the Church, said: “We had full equality as [God’s] spirit children. We have equality as recipients of God’s perfected love for each of us” (Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 102). That perfected love can be experienced in its fullness through the saving ordinances of the gospel, which both women and men have the opportunity to receive. And the crowning ordinance of the gospel can only be received by a man and women together.

In the plan of God, however, equality does not mean sameness in roles and responsibilities as it often does in cultural vernacular. Carolyn J. Rasmus, a professor at Brigham Young University and a convert to the Church, said this:

Although men and women are equal in the sight of the Lord, their eternal roles and assignments differ. Men’s primary duties are associated with fatherhood and the priesthood; women have responsibilities relating to motherhood and sisterhood. By virtue of these assignments, men are directly responsible for Church governance and thus have organizational and administrative duties. Women, on the other hand, have specific responsibility to create and nurture.

Because men hold the priesthood and are therefore often more visible in the operations of the Church, some people assume men are more important and more competent than women. But Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve made it clear that the priesthood is not a reward for competency or excellence:

“Women of a congregation … may be wiser, far greater in mental powers, even greater in actual power of leadership than the men who preside over them. That signifies nothing. The Priesthood is not bestowed on the basis of mental power but is given to good men and they exercise it by right of divine gift, called upon by the leaders of the Church. Woman has her gift of equal magnitude” (Priesthood and Church Government, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954, p. 90).

On another occasion he said, “No man who understands the gospel believes that he is greater than his wife, or more beloved of the Lord, because he holds the priesthood” (Evidences and Reconciliations, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1960, p. 308).

God has designed the roles of men and women, both in the Church and in family life, to be complementary. He needs men and women to work together — to bring their roles, responsibilities, talents, and abilities together for His eternal purposes. The goal is not to have men and women be independent, but interdependent. This principle was explained beautifully by Sister Sheri Dew, when she was one of the leaders of the Relief Society for the Church:

Our Father knew exactly what He was doing when He created us. He made us [as men and women] enough alike to love each other, but enough different that we would need to unite our strengths and stewardships to create a whole. Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other. Thus, no marriage or family, no ward or stake is likely to reach its full potential until husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, men and women work together in unity of purpose, respecting and relying upon each other’s strengths.

Thus, while women don’t hold priesthood offices, they have a critical role in the plan of God, in both family life and in the Church.

Sister Julie B. Beck, now Relief Society General President of the Church, taught another important fact about priesthood when she said:

Priesthood blessings are the great equalizer. Those blessings are the same for men and women, for boys and girls; they are the same for married and single, rich and poor, for the intellectual and the illiterate, for the well-known and the obscure.

I am grateful that through the infinite fairness and love of God, all men and women were given equal partnership, gifts, blessings, and potential through priesthood ordinances and spiritual gifts. Because of the priesthood, which is woven in and around and through our lives, every power, every covenant we need to do our life’s work and walk back to our heavenly home has been poured out upon our heads.

Priesthood is thus designed to bring covenant blessings to all who desire them, through ordinances and gifts of the Spirit.

For more information on this topic, you can search our library or lds.org on the following topics: priesthood, womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood.

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Q: Why are ordinances necessary?

“Ordinances and Covenants” Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Liahona, Nov. 2001, 16–23; or Ensign, Aug. 2001, 20–26

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Our willingness to repent shows our gratitude for God’s gift and for the Savior’s love and sacrifice on our behalf. Commandments and priesthood covenants [which are a key part of ordinances] provide a test of faith, obedience, and love for God and Jesus Christ, but even more importantly, they offer an opportunity to experience love from God and to receive a full measure of joy both in this life and in the life to come.

“These commandments and covenants of God are like navigational instructions from celestial heights and will lead us safely to our eternal destination. It is one of beauty and glory beyond understanding. It is worth the effort. It is worth making decisive corrections now and then staying on course.”

“Receive the Temple Blessings” Richard G. Scott

“The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament”Dallin H. Oaks

Covenants and Ordinances” Jorge A. Rojas

“Life Is Eternal”

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Steve Young and Sharlene Hawkes address myths about the church, addressing topics such as polygamy, humanitarian aid, and whether Mormons are Christians. See this story or this video for more details.

Search a glossary of terms for more information on our basic beliefs.

The post Ask a Mormon Woman: Solemn assemblies, why women aren’t ordained to the priesthood in the Mormon church, polygamy in our past, why ordinances are necessary appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.