And here is the quote from the mormon church about why they can practice polygamy. The doctrine and covenants, by contrast, wishes to explain how and when polygamy can be acceptable to god. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. The book of mormon identifies one reason for god to command it. Gospel cougar has posted a list of book of mormon word counts. Mormonism and polygamy the complete guide this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a. From the fraction that we have, skousen identified 256 more corrections that are necessary to bring the current edition of the book of mormon into alignment with the text found in the original manuscript. 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 latterday saints in the early 1840s. For more detailed information on joseph smiths wives, get in sacred loneliness by lds historian todd compton. It may be well to read the three preceding verses, commencing with the 7th. The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one.
Polygamy, or plural marriage, would increase the descendents of faithful mormon families. New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the holy bible history of the church, vol. Plural marriage in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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.
Polygamy mosaic law respecting the firstborn in deuteronomy 21. The mormon church was founded by joseph smith in the 19 th century in the united states. Its mortal probation is cut short and its godgiven agency compromised. 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. Paul uses this same analogy in the preceding verses in ephesians. Growing up mormon in the 80s, i remember everything book of mormon was literally related to the mayans or the native americans. The people jacob was teaching were under condemnation for their adulterous lifestyle. After all, abraham and jacob and david and solomon had more than one wife. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace polygamy. Saints has updated its four books of scripture the bible, book of mormon.
A great book for a general knowledge of mormon polygamy, and a quick read. 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. There is not a single book in history that can compare to gods word. Mormon polygamy, however, was an important part of the teachings of the church for fifty years. Why do mormons have more scriptures than the bible. This article provides an introduction to chiasmus, explaining what it is and why mormons think it is evidence for the book of mormon, giving examples from the bible, and discussing whether the book of mormon contains clear instances of chiasmus. Small changes such as these can be momentous in their impact on the lives of. The bible and the practice of polygamy mormonism research. Husbands, love your wives, just as christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant. Carmon hardy, mormon historian, truth and mistruth in mormon history, in lavina fielding anderson and janice merrill allred, eds. Top 40 inspirational book of mormon scriptures the lifey app. 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. A prochoice mormon perspective on abortion, from a nonofficial mormon website.
Jan 26, 2017 the historian laurel ulrich uses the diaries of 19thcentury mormon women to tell the story of polygamy in a house full of females. Feb 29, 2016 polygamy in the book of mormon the book of mormon is more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. 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 more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. The qurans allowance of multiple wives thus poses a challenge for the contemporary apologist, who wants his western audience to believe that islam encourages gender equality. The two biggest additions to the new edition of mormon scripture can be found in the book of doctrine and covenants, says givens, a professor of literature and religion at the university of richmond, and they deal specifically with the churchs original ban on black priesthood ordination and polygamy. Book of mormon artwork was also depicted this way, heck even singing the book of mormon song we made the. Explaining polygamy and its history in the mormon church. In april 1844, joseph smith referred to polygamy as john c.
The verses say, and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy referring specifically to the book of revelation. The project gutenberg etext of the bible and polygamy. 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. In an attempt to justify early mormon polygamy, many mormons point to the bible. Modern polygamist groups are not part of the church and the church has no control over them. Neither the mormon bible, nor the book of covenants, nor the revelations of. Mormons then point to this verse, which is only a few verses after the 1st verse above. The mormon church uses the king james translation of the bible and the book of revelation, and has made no changes to the text. However, the first identifiable polygamist in the bible was lamech. It is the word of god and, like the bible, gives us guidance and inspiration in our daily lives. What the book of mormon says about polygamy jacob 1. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy. Bible verses related to polygamy from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order exodus 21.
Sep 05, 2017 had the book of mormon been heeded instead of ignored, none of this would have happened. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. Common bible passages used by mormons the following are difficult bible passages that mormons may use to support their case. Jacob 2 describes how the prophet jacob condemned materialism and sexual immorality, including unauthorized plural marriage.
The first is the shocking teaching that a man may commit any sin whatsoever short of murder after having his marriage sealed by the holy spirit of promise. The word yea in the bible and in the book of mormon. Nov 21, 2008 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. 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. Chiasmus is one of the most frequently cited evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon. Nov 20, 2017 among other beliefs written in the book of mormon is the belief that any mormon has the capacity to become god if he follows the teachings of jesus christ. The short answer is no mainstream mormons do not practice polygamy they used to over a century ago but have now stopped the practice entirely and those engaging in it are excommunicated however, there are off shoots from the church that do still practice polygamy, and by association only, many people wrongfully assume all mormons do.
In a very short time there would not have been a house of illfame in existence. The historian laurel ulrich uses the diaries of 19thcentury mormon women to tell the story of polygamy in a house full of females. During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives. What the quran says about what the bible says about what the book of mormon says about. Doctrine and covenants, section 101 removed in 1876. Second, in the book of mormon, polygamy is prohibited unless the lord needs to raise up seed unto me jacob 2. Disagreement over smiths doctrine of plural marriage has been among the primary reasons for multiple church schisms the members of the largest faction, the church of jesus christ of latter.
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. Mormon polygamy mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. In 1831 joseph smith made a prayerful inquiry to the lord regarding the ancient old. Mormon polygamy the short version the millennial star. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. And, in fact, the descendents of polygamous families sustained the church for years. The practice of polygamy is a mathematical contradiction of the principle that men and women are to be treated equally. Jacobs sermon is perhaps the most specific, and ill get to. What the quran says about polygamy the annotated bible. Common bible passages used by mormons mormonism research.
In both testaments, yea translates several different words and in some instances corresponds to no particular word in hebrew or greek. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. Had the book of mormon been heeded instead of ignored, none of this would have happened. Feb 16, 2016 growing up mormon in the 80s, i remember everything book of mormon was literally related to the mayans or the native americans. In the king james version kjv of the bible, the word yea occurs 275 times in the old testament and 65 times in the new testament, or 340 times in the entire bible.
Polygamy, doctrine and covenants section 2 and their. Polygamy plural marriage lds church perspective on polygamy. New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references the salt. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one. You are exactly right i have studied and tested the book of mormon and know that it comes from god and have had profound spiritual experiences. And the fact that polygamy was practiced in biblical times by certain people does not give people in following generations a sanction to do the same. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. So, while it was not explicitly stated in the old testament, the book of mormon indicates that it is an old commandment of the lord that a man should have only one wife. The angel showed the way for the author to find the. 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. In the book of mormon, though, the word yea occurs 1,254 times.
Helaman uses yea about 19 times more often than the kjv. There is a very interesting section on the politics involved in ending polygamy in the mainstream church. Joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, privately taught and practiced polygamy. God commanded some of the prophets of old in the bible to practice polygamy. This is a perfect example of a logical contradiction. Three other major false doctrines, equal in importance to polygamy, are also rooted in section 2. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book. For more detailed information on joseph smiths wives, get in.
Morality and marriage in the book of mormon religious studies. Polygamy advocate brady williams talks with his five wives during an. Rumors that polygamy was practiced by a small cadre of lds church leaders. Yes, it is a list of about 3500 words found in the book of mormon just eyeballing it, along with the number of occurences. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ.
God never commanded polygamy in biblical times, so it cannot be said that 19th century mormons who practiced polygamy were legitimized in their practice. For more information on this topic, we recommend the following books. See the commentary on biblical polygamy by michael d. Polygamy from late greek, polygamia, state of marriage to many spouses is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. Mormonism and polygamy the complete guide this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book. Current state of polygamy in the latter day saint movement. The book of mormon condemns the polygamy of david, solomon, and others as sin. After smiths death in 1844, the church he established splintered into several competing groups. Mar 28, 2016 for if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people. Abortion mitt romney caught on hidden camera claims some church leadership is prochoice. I will share the way i interpret them, but i invite the reader to prayerfully read these verses and come to their own conclusions. For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people.
These verses make it sound like the book of mormon condemns the practice of polygamy, but verse 30 denotes otherwise. Joseph smith wrote his seminal book of mormon after, by his admission, he had a series of visions presented to him by the angel named moroni. Today, any mormons a nickname for members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who enter into polygamy are excommunicated. When a man is married to more than one wife at a time, sociologists call this polygyny. Mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. Mormon church representatives claim that there are over fifteen million people among the followers of the teachings of the church today. Book of mormon artwork was also depicted this way, heck even singing the book of mormon song we made the signs with our hands that depicted feathers in our heads. Mosaic law respecting the firstborn in deuteronomy 21.
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