A question About The Mormons?

Question

Now all you Mormons don't start having a go! i would like to know how come in America it is illegal to have more that one wife so how come you have umpteen, and do they have all the information on people we are told they have ?

Answer 1

This is something that gets confused and misdirected. It really depends upon which Church you are in reference to. If it's the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints which was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith, they don't practice polygamy any more and haven't since October 6, 1890. It is true that they once practiced it. I don't fully know why the US ruled against it. I know they didn't agree with it, just like many people today. There have been people that have been against as well as fought against the Church, even before polygamy was introduced. I personally don't know if I could live it (even though my great, great grandparents lived it - my grandmother having much difficulty with it). It is also true that Church leaders and members that were practicing it went into hiding, some split between keeping the laws of the land or the laws of God, awaiting to receive revelation from God on the matter. Wilford Woodruff was the prophet and Church leader at the time. That's when he received the revelation on the matter and is recorded and described in the link below. Basically, he was shown what would have happened to the Church if they ignored the laws of the land and continued to practice polygamy. Church leaders and members would be put in prisons, not to provide for their families, etc... But, the main thing is that temple work for ourselves and ancestors would be stopped. The Temple is very sacred to us. It is a place where we perform sacred ceremonies for ourselves and ancestors that have died (marriage being one of them). Baptism is another where we perform Baptisms for the Dead as briefly mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:29. We know how important baptism is and how one cannot enter into the Kingdom of God unless they are baptized (see John 3:5). God wouldn't be a fair God if he rejected people that have never heard about Jesus and didn't have that opportunity to be baptized. That's why we perform baptisms for those people that are our ancestors so that they have the opportunity in the life after this to accept or reject that baptism that was performed on their behalf (the dead can reject the baptism so that it will have no affect like it was never done). These ordinances were much more important than living Polygamy. In Malachi 4:5-6, it says that Elijah will be sent before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (2nd Coming of Christ) to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their father, or else he'll smite the whole earth with a curse. We believe this is in regard to doing genealogy, finding our ancestors and doing the temple work (baptisms, etc...) for them, basically helping to bring salvation (if they accept it) to our ancestors bringing them back to God. God wants ALL of His children to return to Him. But, if they're not baptized, I think He'd be very upset that we didn't care enough about the rest of His children. Elijah apeared to Joseph Smith, fulfilling this promise in Malachi and making it possible for baptisms and sealing families together forever. Sealing means to bind (like glue, or welding together) you to your spouse, children to their parents, etc... But, of course these are not guarantees because it will depend upon how the individuals live their lives. If a husband physically abuses his wife, and then dies, he broke that seal because of his sins and not repenting. If a husband and wife, that are sealed in the temple, live a life that would be pleasing to the Lord, following in Christ's example of love, service, etc... and truly and sincerely repenting, that marriage seal or bond will continue after death and they will still be husband and wife (not "till death do you part" - which is a built-in divorcement in many other marriage ceremonies). The gospel of Jesus Christ is being taught to those that have died (see 1 Peter 4:5-6). Why would the gospel be taught to the dead unless there was a way for them to be baptized so that they can have the opportunity to enter into the Kingdom of God like the rest of us? Those that have died know the importance of these ordinances like baptism. They cannot progress without them. They cannot do it themselves because they are not mortal and death has separated them from their physical bodies. Who else do they have to turn to that will be baptized for them? Their descendants (their children and children's children, etc...). We are their only hope if they want to be baptized and return to God. Their have been many stories of people who have died helping their descendants to find their names (experiences from members of our Church and other Churches). People today have been searching tirelessly for the names of their ancestors. Some don't understand why, other than this feeling that they need to do it. Others have the opportunity and priviledge to be baptized for the names of their ancestors whose names they've found, hoping that they will be able to pass that gulf into the Kingdom of God by accepting and being worthy of that baptism. So, you can see how our ancestors can't be saved without us. And we can't be saved without them if we don't find their names and do the temple work for them (the whole earth will be smitten with a curse). I hope this makes sense... Temple work to us is much more important for the salvation of souls and bringing ALL of our family to God. In the vision that was shown to President Wilford Woodruff, he saw temples being taken away and temple work being stopped and God him told him to stop polygamy so that the more important work will be able to progress and not be stopped. After that vision, it wasn't difficult at all to make that decision. That's when in one of their conferences to the Church, Pres. Woodruff made this official declaration that it was the Lord's will for the moment to stop polygamy (everything will be taken care of and clarified when Christ returns). And anyone that did not abide by this will be excommunicated (they're going against the commandments of God). After this, there are some that quit believing that Pres. Woodruff was a prophet, thinking that he gave into the US. So, they broke off from the Church with their own prophets and beliefs, continuing to practice polygamy. One of them being the Fundamentalists. These are the religions that are spread out (some moved to Canada and Mexico) and are protrayed on TV, Big Love, etc... Whether they call themselves or allow themselves to be called Mormons, LDS, or not, ...I don't know. But, The Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints hasn't practiced polygamy since 1890, when the declaration was made. All those that had plural wives and stayed with the Church had to divorce their wives, but one. Not so soon after this declaration, there has been a couple people that have married more than one wife. When the Pres. Woodruff found out, these marriages were immediately rejected and the people disciplined. The people that have broke away from our Church still reside in Utah and other states and countries as well. They are in no way affiliated with or represent the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints. I hope this clears many things up.

Answer 2

Why is it illegal to have more than one wife? Good question, I can't answer that. I'm sure most people (maybe even myself) would lose their head over it if polygamy became legal.

There are small communities where polygamy is legal in America. They're not exactly "Mormons" though. There are the reformed Mormons who live in a collective society that do not include outsiders. Usually only the people in the priest hood can have more than one wife. I'm not exactly sure if its "legal" but they live sort of separately from everyone else. Kind of out of view from the world.

One reason why you see these old men married to multiple women, some as young as 14! (Bless their hearts. =/) Many people are trying to make them change these rules, saying that young women don't even have a chance to make their own choices. And America is, after all, supposed to be about democracy.

Despite some Mormons, the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints no longer has multiple partners. They are binded in a temple to each other for all eternity.

Answer 3

I've spent about forty years in bishoprics, high councils, and clerk positions, and I've seen a number of people leave the Church. I've sat on a number of disciplinary councils. None of them left the Church because of "evidence" against the Church. There are some who just gradually drift away into inactivity. Sometimes it is because of a loss of faith, brought on by doubts caused by something they've read. One of my brothers was like that, although he has since come back to Church. He didn't want to tell me about his doubts because he had become convinced that there was no answer to his doubts, and he didn't want to burden me with his doubts. It is too bad he didn't talk to me, because there is always an answer. Part of his problem though was that he was looking for a reason not to go on a mission, and "blindly" follow the example of his older brothers. It was partly a pride issue. I have a theory about those who leave the Church and claim it was because of evidence. They fall into three groups. (1) Some are honestly confused by the arguments of men. (2) Some look for evidence the Church is not true, but deep down they know the real reason was they were offended or they felt guilty about their sins. (3) And others don't understand their own motives. In a psychology class I once took I heard of an interesting experiment regarding this third group. A person in another psychology class was hypnotized and given a post-hypnotic suggestion. The hypnotized student was told that when the teacher coughed the student would get up from his seat and open the window to the classroom. He wouldn't remember anything he was told when hypnotized. He was then awaken from his hypnotic trance and told to go back to his seat. The student remembered nothing of what he was told while hypnotized. The teacher after a few minutes coughed, and the student got up and opened the window. Now here is the point of this story. When asked why he opened the window his brain immediately manufactured a reason. He said he was hot, and strangely enough his body proved it by getting red and sweaty.

Answer 4

Please do a bit of research into LDS and FLDS sects and get back to me..

As for the information I will assume you mean genealogy records, Yes the LDS church has one of the most extensive (if not the most extensive) collections of genealogical records in the world...

Yes the LDS church preforms what is called baptism for the dead using genealogical records for names etc.. What does this mean for you, not a thing as the LDS believe no matter what they do you still have the choice after death whether to accept their religious beliefs or not...

Unless you believe in a deity who takes something someone else did using your name without your consent into account in your judging you have no problems.. Simply ignore the fact that your information may be in the collection..

I know for a fact all my information is in the extensive collection.. I am actually quite grateful someone has had the fore thought to collect and catalogue all the information especially many of the very old records painstakingly saved during the 50's 60's and 70's as many of those original records are now completely deteriorated...

Consider the expense of collecting, photographing, catalogueing, storing and maintaining the vast amount records.. Then consider for only a few dollars anyone can access those records it's pretty amazing..

The LDS people should be commended for compiling the records not to mention maintaining a system of distributing the records at very little cost and in a very timely fashion to anyone who wishes to view them..

The Genealogical Library is quite amazing and a very valuable resource for all..

Answer 5

there is a cult branch of the mormon church called the fundamentalist Latter Day Saints that still practices polygamy, but the mainstream Mormon church doesn't do that anymore.
I would answer thesecond question but I don't know what you're talking about. What information on what people?

Answer 6

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by which I mean the organization with that exact title, does not allow polygamy, and, while maintaining scriptures as divinely revealed which call for it, excommunicate members who practice it. The word 'Mormon' is generally applied to members of this group. If the word 'Mormon' is applied to a Latter Day Saint who practices polygamy, this person does not belong to the above named organization, but one of the separate groups that claims the same scriptures as the LDS, but different leadership.

Answer 7

No active, faithful Mormon practices polygamy. They will be ex-communicated from the body of the Church if they do. There are radicals or liberals that do currently practice it. However, they are not members of the LDS (Mormon Church) if they do practice polygmay, as the practice was discontinued in 1890. If they practice it, they are ex-communicated.

Answer 8

Like most cults, the extremists in this following think they can make up their own rules......it's all mind control that has no positive influence.
More proof that man can really mess up all the truth that Jesus spoke about. It's a shame that there are people who are so desperate to follow something that they choose to be brainwashed and abused over the love of God.

Answer 9

Not all Mormons practice polygamy, only a few hold outs do.

Answer 10

Some skirt around it with 'concubines'.