My G. Grandpa was a Mormon polygamist. In 1887 the law caught up with him and put him in the penitentiary for 14 months for unlawful cohabitation and adultery. Who should I blame?
1. Great Grandpa
2. The Mormon Church
3. The Federal Officers who arrested him
State your religious denomination please, and reason for your choice.
2007-12-14 08:37:48 · 10 answers · asked by Ruth 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jewish
They ( Mormon church? will not take the blame nor will Peoples Temple i.e. Jim Jones )practice polygaming and the church encourage it and people won't let go of sex and they believe G-d was behind it and allow it....Your grandpa was wrong and knew it and this time the Federal Marshall's where right.
2007-12-14 08:48:53 · answer #1 · answered by wolfchief 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Kia Sis 1- Great answer!!! Just a few things to add to what she said. Polygamy was only practiced by about 5% of the church, and it wasn't something that the people took lightly. A lot of the men and women in the church didn't like the idea, and didn't practice it. It was a calling in the church, not just something that was done, and it was something that only people who were called to do were allowed. So, since we now know that more then likely, your great grandfather was actually following what he believed, and doing what he believed the Lord was asking him to do, why should you have a problem with him practicing it? You should be proud that he wanted to live his religion, and wanted to serve the Lord in any way that was asked of him. It isn't the church's fault he went to jail, it was the lawmakers fault. They are the ones who passed a law that was unconstitutional (see freedom of religion), and who just wanted to cause problems with the church. Blame it on them, not on a man who was following what the Lord asked him to do. I'm sorry you feel the way you do about the church, but that is no reason to try to make a practice that was OK by God look like a horrible thing. It wasn't horrible, and people gained a lot by practicing it. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's evil.
2016-05-23 23:36:11 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no religious denomination....
In 1878, the Supreme Court took away any defense polygamists had under the free exercise clause of the 1st amendment...In Reynolds v. US...
It wasn't until after 1887 that the mormon church weighed the conflicts between their 11th and 12th Articles of Faith in favor of bowing to the law of the land....
I would vote that this delay by the church played a part in GGP's unnecessary incarceration given the current status of the church's stance on polygamy....
The Supreme Court wasn't one of the choices given....
2007-12-14 09:03:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Mormon
Applying circumstances of that day with today's standards is impossible to do. That would be like asking who was at fault during the French Revolution? The aristocrats for not allowing democracy or the common people for executing the aristocrats. It is hard to say.
Paying attention to the how and now is a better use of time.
2007-12-14 12:32:49 · answer #4 · answered by Kerry 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LDS
No one. The event is over and done with and has nothing to do with you. We are not here to place blame or judgement, just to extend forgiveness. Life is much sweeter if we can rid ourselves of the burdon of being offended or feeling that we have been wronged.
Good luck.
2007-12-14 12:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by whapingmon 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why are you looking to blame anyone? And don't you think that in a situation like this, the blame can be distributed over many parties?
2007-12-14 13:32:09 · answer #6 · answered by Senator John McClain 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who cares that's over 120 years ago....
Now a days the majority of Americans would be in prison.
He was in prison because of the Edmonds Act of 1882.
Ted Eggard should be in prison for inpersonating a christian *L* and his love for men and drugs.
2007-12-14 09:04:05 · answer #7 · answered by Brother G 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your Great grandpa's. The church didn't force him to marry more then one person. The fed's were only doing their job.
Latter Day Saint
Logic
2007-12-14 08:42:18 · answer #8 · answered by newwellness 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I am LDS/Mormon and it's your great-grandpa's fault if he broke the law.
2007-12-14 12:25:45 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm christian and its your grandpas fault all around for believing in the Mormon church and in having more than one woman why do you care anyways are you planning on having a big family??????????????????
2007-12-14 08:47:16 · answer #10 · answered by been there and know now 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋