A question about polygamy?

Question

Since coming into Yahoo Answers I have learned that the Mormon church claims that Polygamy was commanded by God. When did this happen? I was a Mormon forty years ago and that was never mentioned in their church.

Also are Mormons pushing to have polygamy reinstated? I see some of their members talking in here about how they wish polygamy was legal.

Rac your last sentence, " The church has no desire to bring disrepute on the membership over something unimportant AT THIS POINT IN TIME" ,

does not look promising for the future.

Answer 1

Joe Smith was a womanizer, and he came up with the idea, er, I mean, he had a revelation about it shortly after his wife found about about one of his affairs.

really- not kidding.

Answer 2

Plural marriage began officially with Joseph Smith receiving the section 131 and 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants in 1843. Apparently Joseph knew about it long before this time but did not openly teach it until this time because it was such a hard doctrine to follow. It stayed within the leadership of the church and was not openly practiced by the membership until the Saints reached Utah and Brigham Young expanded the practice. Still it never reached but a small percentage of the membership.
In Jacob in the Book of Mormon, it states that "if I will sayeth the Lord raise up a people unto myself, I will command my people, otherwise they shall obey this law" meaning one man and one wife.
Thus, the Lord raised up a people unto Himself by having the Saints practice this law for nearly fifty years. Persecution reaching a zenith and the practice having fulfilled its purpose, the Lord no longer required it of us.
As for bringing it back, the answer is no. As a lawyer, I talked to the Church legal department about having the anti-poligamy laws overturned and I was told quietly to leave well enough alone. The Church has no desire to bring disrepute on the membership over something unimportant at this point in time.

Answer 3

Mormons absolutely do not practice it. Mormons believe polygamy is only acceptable on very rare occasions when God authorizes it (i.e. Abraham, Issac, Jacob, etc.). Otherwise, monogamy is the rule. Because God commanded Mormons to stop practicing polygamy in 1890, Mormons believe that modern-day polygamists are acting contrary to God's will. It is not that Mormons secretly want to practice polygamy but that the law/social norms/societal pressure prevent them. Mormons sincerely are not interested in practicing polygamy, because God has said it is no longer authorized. Even in cultures where polygamy is acceptable (some Muslim countries, for example), Mormons NEVER have more than one wife.

Most modern day Mormons would say that polygamy was acceptable prior to 1890 because God had authorized it, but that it is not acceptable now because God rescinded that authorization. In general, Mormons believe that the words of a living prophet supersede the words of past prophets because the living prophet speaks the words God wants told to our current generation.

To learn more about Mormon polygamy, visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com/misconceptions_mormon_women_polygamy.php#Polygamy .

Answer 4

I have seen one Mormon on here who said that he wants it and I think he was kidding.

Anyway- The LDS church has not practiced Polygamy for over 100 years.

The link Beta_Fishy Provided is the best source of info.

Most LDS don't want Polygamy reinstated.

Answer 5

According to the LDS, polygamy was commanded by God clear back when Joseph Smith was still in charge.

There are Mormons who would love to see polygamy reinstated, and my guess is that if someone truely pushes it, that the Supreme Court would have no choice but to legalize it due to religious freedom.

Answer 6

Which time? Old Testament or in modern times? If the latter, 1843. See Doctrine & Covenants section 132. Here's more information on it:

http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.3933737ad2ff28132eb22a86942826a0/?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&index=16&sourceId=9887ec6f164b2110VgnVCM100000176f620a____

I'm LDS and I'm not pushing to have polygamy reinstated. Dude, that would be so expensive...

Answer 7

the earl founders of LDS church, namely Joseph Smith were reading the Bible & noticed multiple wives & concubines was once a common thing...so they asked about it in prayer. The revalation came around 1950. Another revalation came that prophecied that if polygamy continued that the persecution, fires, murders, and horrible things being done by the U.S. to the church would continue. So it was commanded to stop.

It is not allowed in the church today anywhere. it is not rumored to be restarted, nice try. Men will boast they want it regardless of their religion. such is the ego of man

Answer 8

I know very little about the LDS of modern day. I do know there are polygamist in the US today. Those I have met are not LDS at all. I do think it and polyandry should be legal. Why not? We have multiple spouses now. We just have them sequentially.
....Though I'd never have more than one husband. Can you imagine how they'd decorate the house? It'd be wall to wall stereo equipment, sports and computer stuff. I'd never get any attention if my husband had a built in buddy to play Halo with!
EDIT: Another wife is not an option either.

Answer 9

Were you really ever a mormon? That was a HUGE part of the church when Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were prophets. Didn't you ever read up on church history?

And no, no one is pushing nor will the push to have it reinstated.

Answer 10

Mormon 40 years ago and not hear anything about polygamy?? Maybe you were not listening.

Reinstate polygamy??? Why??? I can't control one wife let alone more!!!

Answer 11

you are seeing others accusing us. it is not practiced, and only a man would wish for it to come back, I don't know many lds women who would be willing to share their husband, I'm not on the list of those who want it back