polygamy, question for anti-Mormons and non-Mormons?

Question

There are those who, when talking to or about the Mormons, seem to think that having several wives would be something great! I mean, a different wife every night, and who knows what else! (wink wink) They think of it in terms of "hey, let's go to the harem room and pick out our cutie for tonight!" or something like that.

But, do they consider the practical ramifications of it?

If you have 10 wives, you get with it 10 mothers-in-law. And in many cases, 10 fathers-in-law (Son, can you support my daughter in the manner to which she's become accustomed?). None of them are going to appreciate a man who treats their daughter as sexual chattel, as well as all the others.

Second, how are you going to support them? You can't force them to work and support you. They aren't going to sit still for that! Not to mention that after a hard day's work, they aren't going to be real "frisky" at night.

Plus, what about the children? That is the main reason for plural marriage in the 19th century LDS church. To raise up seed unto God.

Let's see; one man said 10 wives. 10 sets of in-laws. And, with an average of, say, three kids per wife, that's about 30 little bundles of joy!

Where in the world are you going to PUT all these people? How are you going to feed them? clothe them? Educate those children? Give parent night a whole new perspective! They'd have to have one just for you! (Oh, yes, Mr. Jones, and Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Jones, let's talk about Cathy and Joey and Sam and Lizzie and Rebecca x 6+).

Yes, I'm aiming this at those who see it only for their sexual gratification.

I, too, think it can work, IF it is done in the proper way.

tuberoot, my point EXACTLY!!

Answer 1

I watched the first season of the HBO show BIG LOVE and I think I learned enough through that to see what you are saying.

LOL of course I know that's TV, but much of it is based on true experiences, especially those that have been in extremists fundamentalists groups that practise polygamy.

There's no way I could live that way, but the show is an interesting peek into that lifestyle.

Granny

Answer 2

Although there would definitely be some logistical ramifications of having multiple wives, I have found that the situation back then was very different than it would be today.

For instance, women were seen in the Church as being subservient to men. The teaching was that they could not be resurrected unless their husbands called them out in the resurrection. The husband could resurrect just fine, but needed at least 3 of his wives to be worthy at the resurrection for him to inherit godhood.

Because of this, it became a woman's sole responsibility to bear children. Women were expected to enter into polygamous marriages because if they didn't "give consent", they were "breaking the new and everlasting covenant of marriage". Fathers- and Mothers-in-Law were glorified when their daughters married and began to have children. Support wasn't ever an issue, because those that practiced polygamy were the Church leaders, who were generally pretty well-to-do. When Brigham Young died, he had a net worth of $600,000 (in dollars of his day, not today's) and once stated that he had "well over" 90 wives.

I don't doubt that God has often permitted polygamy in times past, and I don't mean that it's a sin. As a mormon, however, I can definitely understand how the tight-knit culture (especially in frontier Utah where there was little to no non-mormon influence for almost 60 years) can defame an otherwise God-sanctioned practice.

I think that as long as we LDS recognize the Church's history in polygamy for what it was, and not what we would like it to have been, we will receive a lot less persecution for it.

Answer 3

I know the fantasy of having several wives is vastly different from the reality. I also know that Mormons don't practice polygamy any more (except a couple of small splinter groups). I do want to point out though that many times polygamists marry sisters so there isn't necessarily a new set of in-laws for each wife. I'm sure there can be even worse downsides with that. I pity any man who got on the opposite side of an argument with sisters ganging up on him. If there's any truth to synchronized menstruation, it could be even worse having multiple wives. PMS x 8 and then they're all on their period. At any given one or two are likely to be pregnant. Any man would want a break from morning sickness and backache complaints. I don't imagine that the financial problems would really be worse than most traditional households unless he demanded to have the women stay home. Many of the extra costs can be made up with extra savings like having built in child care and various economies of scale.

Answer 4

Naturally a self centered man would imagine something like Polygamy. My daddy had 10 kids with the same woman and I was 2nd youngest. I grew up not knowing him 'cause he was at work all the time. Healthy kids need a mom and dad all the time. If "God" wanted men to have multiple wives then the ratio of females to men would easily accommodate that. Could you Imagine a world where women outnumbered men say 5 to 1. How about 10 to 1. They would all turn Lesbian and then you still wouldn't get your wives. Maybe that's how the LDS got their name. The Chicks were all chanting "More Men, More Men, More Men" so Joey just shortened it to Mormon.

Answer 5

actually in the land of the infidel !, having 5 divorces is the same as having plural wives but without the responsibility, so then others come up with the 15 minute marriage and they multiply their adulteries but without any other responsibility, and then there are those that just have girl freinds and pimp around and then there are those that have children out of wedlock, oh wait those are just exactly like an infidel, There are mormons who have never been married.
and then there are those that act like Ham when He mistreated Noah, and there are also those like the daughters of lot who did wickedly even though the eldest daughter conspired with her sister claimed it was an act of righteousness, Genesis ch.19 jst

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure the official Mormon church declared polygamy wrong quite awhile ago. The people you see on TV all the time claim to be mormon, but the church doesn't claim them. Otherwise Utah would have A LOT more people.

Answer 7

Do Mormons Practise Polygamy?
Had Some Come To My Place, But I Was quite Sure They Are Not True Christians

Answer 8

I don't care for polygamy.

How would you like to be one of ten men struggling to be the favorite of the wife you have to share with nine other guys? And how would you feel about having to be "supported" by your spouse, who is seen as more intelligent and capable than you are? Polygamy flat-out sucks from a woman's point of view.

Answer 9

idk about mormons but i'm a modern man, my wives can work, they don't have to sweat all day in the steal mill, but it's not sit around and eat bon bons time. They can make pottery in the communes craft shop.

I do understand many wives would suck, from having to give everyone attention, to jealousy, and people feeling left out. But if you restructured the leave it to beaver this is what life should be mold some problems aren't insurmountable. And it's not the first time a father in law hated someone

Answer 10

Okay, at one time there was a way of life that supported multiple wives. It was good for Jacob at times. Even the concubines got to play.

But here's the thing; who's insane enough to want that many women that have a claim on you penis all in one place? That's just freaking crazy. Many women don't know when to shut up either. Can you imagine that many women who have a claim on your penis, that never know when to shut up?

It's just too wild for me!