Christians only please, concerning Mormon practice?

Question

I am angry and sad. I just found out that my Great and Great Great Grandparents practiced polygamy. I feel like white trash and have been in tears. I am ashamed. I am angry at my ancestors low moral standards and at the Mormon Church for encouraging this disgusting practice both in this life and in life after death. Any comments?

All throughout my childhood I have heard excuses for polygamy. There is no excuse for it. You cannot make evil good. God DID NOT
command it. That is a lie.
My Great Grandfather was put in prison for practicing polygamy. That is exactly what he deserved.
Phrog and Dionysus you should be ashamed of yourself. You have lied and white-washed sinful behavior by both my ancestors and your church.

Answer 1

Remember, your ancestors are not you. This is an opportunity to search your own heart and soul and decide what your beliefs are. I change from the religion of my ancestors to Christianity in my 20's. One of the best pieces of advise I got as I studied was that my past was part of my journey and I built on that. My conversion was more of a "completion". I carry that with me every time I interact with my parents. This way I still honor them without believing as they do. Please, as others have said, study the True Bible for yourself. Look into Mormon beliefs and practices (I am assuming you are Mormon - perhaps erroneously) and witness that they would conflict themselves. Make up you own mind. And remember - all of us have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of the Lord. It is by Grace that we are forgiven and we are instructed to forgive those as we have been forgiven. I hope you are able to do so.

Answer 2

I have been there. It still bothers me that one of my great greats was a polygamist's wife at one time. (not my line, but she was married to a mormon pioneer polygamist before she married my ancestor....) I asked my dad about it once, because it was on his side of the family. He said "you're not responsible for who your relatives slept with."

I do not understand polygamy on any level (yea. I'm LDS). I know that they believed it was commanded at the time. I know that it has been practiced apparently at God's command throughout the Bible. It doesn't matter. In my mortal brain - I can't get there from here. Can not wrap my little mind around why this would ever be ok or acceptable.

I just had to come to grips with the fact that my ancestors and others did the best they could where they were with what they had. I can only try to do the same, and hope that the decisions I make in my life today are not a source of embarassment to my future generations. (I don't see how - since my kids are already embarassed by me sometimes....I can only think it will get worse as generations pass.)

It is easy to assume that they did this for reasons indicated by your wording 'low moral standards' and 'disgusting practice' - but that may not be the case at all. It was a hard world and especially for those who were alone. It may be that the only mortal salvation they had was to 'join forces'. It's a hard thing to pass judgement on practices when the circumstances cannot be known.

Edit: I do not make excuses for polygamy. I only seek to understand another person in another time (or not) and what they are thinking when they have done things. I have lived next door to polygamist (not LDS - because they don't exist anymore) and have seen polygamy up close. I still don't understand it. I don't like it. I don't agree with it. But I have not "whitewashed it", and have definately not lied about it. Socko - read your bible, or let someone else do that for you - http://www.biblicalpolygamy.com/
http://www.quransearch.com/ntpoly.htm

Answer 3

It's not excusable; it's simply not. However, everybody after Joseph Smith believed that it was a principle instituted by God and were simply "following orders", you might say.

I think Joseph Smith was clever for figuring out how to justify his adventurous behavior, but that it was a wrong decision completely unjustified by God. By affidavits of members, newspaper clippings, and unpublished letters, Smith and some close friends were practicing polygamy long before his claimed revelation authorizing the practice. He publicly taught against it, calling it evil, yet privately practiced it.

Because he got the idea accepted by Brigham Young (who also found it appealing, by the way), it became ingrained into the culture. I don't think you should just "let it go" by any means, but I think the object of your fury should be the person who introduced it, rather than the faithful members of his church who simply followed what they thought was right.

Answer 4

It is a very core part of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' teaching that the person has a CHOICE to accept the ordinances performed on their behalf. It can't be forced on them (that would be contrary to Heavenly Father's Plan). It goes like this: 1) a person died without having heard of the Gospel or without having had a chance to accept it properly; 2) the Gospel is preached to them in the Spirit World after they're dead (see 1Peter 3:18-19 or 4:6); 3) Ordinances have been performed in their behalf in a holy temple by people who are still alive (see 1Cor. 15:29); 4) They can choose to accept the Gospel and those ordinances or not (just like people in this life can choose to accept the Gospel and it's ordinances or not) E-mail me if you have any more questions! Thanks!

Answer 5

I can understand your pain. I too come from Mormon ancestors and find it revolting.

The best way to deal with this is to read up on the religion. You need to see why it's so appealing to people. It's a complete cult that lures unsuspecting people into it's sick world of "family values".

Most Mormon's don't even know the fundamental truths behind their religion. They are told that they are not yet worthy to know the "knowledge". And then they are told to keep having children, keep coming to church, and keep paying your 10%. How sad. The polygamist sects have an even more twisted dogma.

Lastly, you must forgive your grandparents. It will eat you alive if you don't .

Answer 6

my Great great grandparents on one side of my family practiced legal polygamy.

Although polygamy is strange to me I honor them as they lived righteous lives in their time and their circumstances.

The question I ask myself and I encourage to you is -- "how are my actions and life choices reflecting on my ancestors and my descendants?" -- Do I honor them by being righteous myself or do I self-righteously point fingers at them and say they were bad and I am good.

My polygamist ancestors never broke the law; tilled the earth; read scriptures; helped neighbors; etc.

What have I done to honor them -- watch TV and skulk around YA-R&S?

True current Polygamy is not only illegal but often has many horrible abuses of wives and children, but early Mormon Polygamy GENERALLY was quite civilized and honorable.

Although I cannot imagine how they did it with my 21st century culture and thought.

D

Answer 7

So what does that have to do with you? How can you put yourself down for what your Great/Great Great parents did. It was not your decision and should not effect your life. How sad that you allow what they did to effect you. If you don't want to associate with the Mormon Church or the lifestyle your Great grandparents lived then don't. But you also should not judge them. You would not want them to judge you for your decisions, would you?

Answer 8

I am sad for you, but you don't have to live like them and you don't have to answer to God for what others do.

I am also angry with Mormons who were "baptized" for some of my family members who never believed in that doctrine in the first place!

Answer 9

I am a born again Christian and would seriously urge you to immediately find a true New Testament church where nothing but Bible facts are taught.

Answer 10

go to latterdaysaints.com

has quotes form past leaders like Joey Smith And Brigham young

disgusting what they believed.

if your dark skinned you are cursed but if your a good dark skinned person you will turn white eventually?

SICK

read what they are founded on. From their own mouths