Taken from the records of the LDS church.
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/AF/individual_record.asp?recid=7762167&lds=0&frompage=0
Joseph Smith had 24 wives.
Joseph Smith is a major part of your religion.
Why would this be "ok" and how exactly is it Christ like?
(Serious question, no bashing please)
2006-10-15 19:03:40 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Saint Like: I will assume that you are a Mormon, by your "answer". Which by the way was a non-answer. Obviously I have studied more history than you yourself, in matters of your religion, if you have to get so negative to an honest question, and then avoid an answer.
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I'm unsure why there hasn't been any real responses from any LDS members. Isn't this a perfect opportunity to teach about your faith?
2006-10-15 19:26:35 · update #1
The mormons got into a shooting match with the army and the indians. They lost a lot of men. They had a lot more women so they started having multiple wives. The U.S. Government told them that it was illegal, eventually the church outlawed it except for a couple of counties, then the State of Utah banned it altogether, so they moved to one town in Arizona. The L.D.S. church is very wierd when it comes to things like that and hey, If I spent the night in an opium den I could see visions too!!
2006-10-15 19:11:51 · answer #1 · answered by rswdew 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is how it is explained:
Yes, we practiced Polygamy at one time.
No, we do not currently practice it because it was revealed by the Lord to stop.
Will it be practiced in the Celestial Kingdom? Yes.
we believe in following the laws of the Land. Polygamy is against the law. It was not at the time it was practiced, and even when it was, it was very very very few people, not the whole church. And even in the Celestial Kingdom it will not be every single man having more than one wife.
Men can be sealed to more than one wife IF the first wife has passed away. It is not something that is done on a whim, I am sure they prayerfully choose another companion to be sealed to. My neighbor's mom died when he was 12 years old. His parents were sealed in the temple, they had 2 children. His dad was remarried and is sealed to his second wife, they have 3 children. Now how sad would it be if God said, "sorry buddy you have to choose one or the other" Well, He won't. That is the kind of "polygamy" that will be practiced in the Celestial Kingdom. People aren't going to be getting married left and right, they will actually already have to be married to even be IN the Celestial Kingdom because it is a necessary ordinance (the new & everlasting covenant of marriage).
The reason it is Christ-like is because it is not a perverted thing like most of the world turns it into. It is a Celestial Law and will be in effect someday, on the earth again I do not know, but for sure in the afterlife.
2006-10-16 15:52:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, such a question is best answered by LDS Church headquarters. You can contact Church headquarters in Salt Lake City here: http://www.mormon.org/question/0,8534,795-1,00.html . I will attempt to answer your question to the best of my abilities, although you would be much better off talking to the missionaries.
Polygamy was stopped by the Church in 1890 after Wilford Woodruff received what we believe to be a revelation from the Lord. While it is true that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy, his main focus was always on his first wife, Emma Hales Smith. Polygamous relationships were entered into with the consent of both parties. Polygamy at the time was instituted to provide protection for widowed mothers and a father for their children. In cases (and there are some in Church history, including that of Joseph Smith), where the wife was not a widow, it was done for the protection of the girl in question.
Jacob, also known as Israel, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, practiced polygamy. Joseph, his son, was from his second wife. Abraham practiced polygamy. His son Ishmael from his first wife is the ancestor of the Arabic peoples while his son Isaac from his second wife is the ancestor of the Hebrew peoples.
If you believe in Christ, you also believe in the Old Testament.
If you believe in the Old Testament, you believe that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were prophets. They practiced polygamy. In ancient times, a woman without a husband was in danger and also had no way to support herself. Polygamy protected that woman and supported that woman and her children.
Polygamy is not practiced now in the Church, nor is it likely that it will be practiced again.
2006-10-16 02:23:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Polygamy is a practice that was followed by most of the ancient patriarchs such as Abraham and Jacob. When Christianty became the offical state religion of Rome, the Roman family system was adopted.
The principle of plural marriage was restored to the earth as well as other doctrines which were lost. When plural marriage was practiced, it had both a temporal and spiritual purpose. Since the practice was not lawful, it was withdrawn.
2006-10-16 02:38:31 · answer #4 · answered by Isolde 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mormons claim there are two sects of the religion, one believes in polygamy one doesn't.
I liked in a California Mormon conclave up in the mountains and a lot of men dissapeared for months at a time. Quality time with another family?
The original leader of the Branch Dividian Church in Waco, TX said God told him he could have 150 wives and he was said to have married both a 12 year old and 14 year old girl.
2006-10-16 02:35:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mormons do not believe in polygamy for a reason that is analogous to the fact that they do not believe in animal sacrifice.
In the Old Testament God commanded animal sacrifice, but later God allowed Christians to do away with that, for one thing it's not convenient.
Likewise, there was polygamy long ago; as matter of fact Abraham had at least two wives; and beside plural wives there were also concubines which God did not at the time condemn. Joe Smith had several wives but no concubines.
Things are different now, and presumably God allowed them to do away with polygamy cause it doesn't comport with civil law.
Haven't you studied history? Where are you from?
As for being "Christ like", the last part of your question, Jesus had no wives. No wives and no children, so you want to be "Christ like" in every detail?
2006-10-16 02:17:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Polygamy was once practiced in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) for may years, and was not outlawed until October 6, 1980. The LDS Church was formed in 1830, according to wikipedia. Today, that practice has been banned from the Church.
2006-10-16 02:17:18 · answer #7 · answered by Jimmy R 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
mormons used to practice Polygamy!! Until the goverment put a stop to that!! some mormons still do it!!
2006-10-16 02:06:42 · answer #8 · answered by alfonso 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
"We don't believe in polygamy." Translation: "We don't practice polygamy since the evil American government outlawed it."
2006-10-16 02:11:04 · answer #9 · answered by Becca 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is pretty wack, I never understood the Morman church...
2006-10-16 02:05:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋