why did the LDS church stop practicing...?

Question

why did they stop practicing polygamy? why did they practice it initially? will the practice be reinstated?

Answer 1

Depends on who answers this...for the Gentile [non-Mormons] would answer that polygamy became the LDS practice when Joseph Smith, the founder, believed he personally needed another [and younger] wife...and had the Revelation to prove it. According to the non-Mormons, polygamy was stopped because Utah would have been kept out of the union if they didn't stop what was for the rest of the US at the time, abominable and against US law. For an LDS, both the beginning and ending of polygamy came as Divine Revelations.

Answer 2

There were a number of reasons why polygamy was practiced throughout time, including when it was done in Old Testament times. For this dispensation of time, during the beginnings of the LDS Church, polygamy was mainly practiced because many more women were join the early LDS Church than men and therefore those women would not have the chance to enter into the "New and Everlasting" covenant of eternal marriage. Polygamy was instituted in part to allow all members, both male and the larger number of females, to have an eternal marriage. When the numbers evened out more in at the end of the 19th century, polygamy was discontinued. Additionally, the laws of the USA outlawed it and Mormons wanted to obey the law.

Answer 3

Kelly,

There are over 200 denominations of Mormons.

The largest group, based in Salt Lake City, banned polygamy in order to convinced Congress to allow Utah to be a state.

The rest of the groups practice it to this day.

The leader of one of those groups made it to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

His name was Warren Jeffs.

Warren Jeffs was named to the FBI's Ten Most wanted list and he was apprehended all duing the past year.

I've seen this on TV many times.

If you read the source documents written by Joseph Smith, in Documents & Covenents, I can't recall the chapter number, but its something like 124 to 134, you'll see that Mr. Smith said that the rule about multiple wives can never be changed and other places Mormon source documents teach that the only way a man can reach the highest place in heaven was to have mutliple wives and have those marriage sealed in a Mormon Temple.

Mormons will reluctantly admit that the ban annouced about 120 years or so ago was only temporary.

These are only some of the reasons why I suggest people avoid the LDS or Mormon religion.

Mormons also deny the basic beliefs of Bible believing Christians, such as the Diety of Jesus, the Trinity and that God has always existed as God.

Mormons teach that their god was once a man from the planet Kolob.

Mormons teach that their Jesus is the brother of Satan.

Whereas the Bible teaches that Jesus is God's only begotton Son. John 3:16

Pastor Art

Answer 4

The practiced it initially so that the men could have as many wives as they wanted and have many kids to "get into their heaven". And women weren't seen to be equal to men. The church stopped when the US made them stop, it was illegal long before. The practice is still in use for the FLDS, a branch of the LDS. Go research the FLDS, they're not the same but they still practice it.

Answer 5

You sound like you're hopin it will...hm, interesting. Anyways...

Mormons say that they started polygamy because it was a commandment from the lord, and it was to protect the widows that were being left with no one to care for. This was because, with all the persecution, the men were being killed off, leaving the poor helpless women and children without the priesthood in their homes.

Now, if you want the REAL truth, that's right here. Contrary to what mormons say, (they dont research their own history...i have) the persecution that they claim was the CAUSE for their need of polygamy, was actually the RESULT of them practicing it. Why did they start practicing it in the first place, you ask?? I think we'd all like to know. Jo Smith says he had a vision from god or he spoke to him or whatever, but if you do a little research, it turns out that Jo Smith had been practicing it for years before he claimed to have had any such revalation. Commandment from god? i think not. Bunch of perverts lookin to get some? i think so. What do you think?

Anyways, they stopped practicing it because:

according to the mormons: revelation from god to jo smith saying it now wasnt necessary. (hm...go figure)

according to fact, dates, and PROOF: the mormons practice of polygamy had caused a serious elevation of persecution towards them, and it became too much for them to bear just for a little extra sex.

good timing for god to change his mind, dont you think? Hope this helped!

Answer 6

The real reason was that the United States government wouldn't allow Utah to become part of the US unless they stopped being polygamists. So coincidentally new scripture was found that said polygamy was wrong.

Answer 7

So Utah could become a state.

Utah wasn't going to be accepted into statehood unless the mormon church gave up polygamy.

and it came to pass, The mormon prophet declared that now is not the right time for the gospel principle of polygamy.

So even though some mormons don't currently practice polygamy, they still believe in it that it is holy and from god.

Answer 8

history says they stopped practicing plural marriage because the federal government forced them with military might to stop it, or they would take all the property from the anti bigamy laws that were established only because there was a nation wide predjudice against mormons. often formed by false testimony.

its ironic, because the same nation has undergone radical transformations, NOW gay marriage is often a question of civil rights. when men that had more than one wife were often more righteous than any gay person.

Answer 9

The church officially denounces the practice.

- Started because Joseph wanted some variety and needed an excuse from God for approval.
- Although they don't officially practice it now, it is prophesy that it will be restored at a future date.

Answer 10

It is no longer practiced because of revelation from God. It was started because of revelation from God. It will be reinstated only through revelation from God. =)