Mike and John discuss the timeline and cultural context surrounding Joseph Smith at the time he claims to receive the revelation on polygamy which became canonized and is still considered scripture for many modern Mormon branches, some who still practice it today, and even ones who don’t, like the largest Mormon branch headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy:
- 1676: D&C 132 – Joseph Smith’s Polygamy “Revelation” w/ LDS Discussions – 25
- 1679: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 1 w/ LDS Discussions – 26
- 1682: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 2 w/ LDS Discussions – 27
- 1688: The Happiness Letter (Joseph Smith’s Proposition to Nancy Rigdon) w/ LDS Discussions – 28
- 1691: Polygamy Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc w/ LDS Discussions – 29
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Show Notes:
Mormon Stories Related Content
Official LDS Gospel Topics Essays on Polygamy
- Plural Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo
- Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah
- The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage
Other Resources
7 Responses
No one ever wants to bring back Nazarite vows or bizarre Old Testament dietary laws, but in every generation there are many that want to bring back polygamy. It was even briefly popular during the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther wrote “I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture. If a man wishes to marry more than one wife he should be asked whether he is satisfied in his conscience that he may do so in accordance with the word of God. In such a case the civil authority has nothing to do in the matter.”
Not a true believer and not a Dehlinite. I thought the topic would be interesting. However, it’s amazing the amount of speculation leeway Mike and John give themselves, while allowing none for any believer in Joseph Smith would want to have considered may have been going on. Additionally Mike and John allow no time period context leeway when it doesn’t fit their narrative, yet give themselves full permission to reject 1800s thinking and practices when it doesn’t fit in to their 2022 viewpoints.
Polygamy was a horrible practice, the past or future idea of which is fully rejected by many faithful LDS today.
There’s a lot of educational opportunity in these podcasts, but they come across as a manipulative circus when they are so one sided.
As a women who had experienced betrayal from a spouse who had struggled with sex addiction. When I read section 132 it feels like classic gaslighting. Joseph is doing whatever he can to manipulate his wife into being onboard with his choices.
JG quotes Martin Luther who suggest that polygamy is not forbidden in the scriptures. However, there is one prohibition in the New Testament. It records that a Bishop must be blameless and “the husband of one life”. 1 Timothy 3. 2. Also Deacons.
“one wife” not life.
You blame Joseph Smith for his happiness letter, but you don’t blame Jesus for John 8:7.
It’s not about the here and now it’s about eternity. Joseph’s god is definitely of his making. Polygamy becomes the idol (golden calf) of the Latter Day Saints. The church today seems to have replaced this idol with money, and temples . All of these things come from misdirection . Adultery is usually loaded with it . Warren Jeffs is the weaties box poster boy of how well this goes . We are fully invested when we are born in this mess . We don’t see this clearly. Stealing when we should be buying . god is love . he is or she is whatever we manufacture in this existence. The little bit we learn from the New Testament about Christ, should guide each of us to understand that if we follow any teaching that offends us we do this willingly and we eventually replace love and clarity, with mistrust and condemnation. The latter is the biggest reason for excommunication. As active members we must own these things . If our minds and hearts are the dwelling place of god , it would be like turning a pig loose in the temple and while all the holy activities are going on having to accept this stinky pig always showing up at the most inopportune moments. The next life will be just as dark and lonely as the salt lake valley was from 1849-1860 read the history look at the damage done to women at the time and it didn’t get much better until polygamy was stopped. The odd people are awakening from a coma here , and in the name of money the next wave of Mormon doctrine will be radically replaced by some new rusty inspired revelation. Sinility like being senile. Is taking over the current L d s leadership, maybe this is gods way of creating term limits.