Show notes
When many people hear about Mormonism, their first thought is polygamy. The mainstream LDS church continues to try to downplay their polygamist roots. But polygamy in LDS offshoots keeps cropping up in the news. How did polygamy get started? Why did they do it? When did it end? Are Mormons polygamists today?Joseph Smith and the Origins of Polygamy Some of early LDS scripture is in response to questions asked JSOne such question: why many OT leaders had more than one wife (as early as 1831)Smith was interested in restoring ancient biblical religionBut without context or hermeneutical discernmentHow many wives? 40 - 49.Some dispute bc documents do not always existFanny Alger (1833) - 16 yr old housemaid living with SmithsPeople closest to Smith (Emma, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris) believed it was simply adulteryApparently there was a marriage ceremony; although this may be dubious - based on very late accountsPlural marriage in Nauvoo (1841-1844)Practiced entirely in secrecySmith’s wivesTwo under 14Eight were already married to other menSome pairs of sisters / in some cases, mother and daughterMany of these were consummatedKey leaders initiated into the practice → loyalty test / initiation into higher levelAbout 100 people initiated into it before Smith’s deathSmith’s denials of polygamy - 1835 even became part of LDS scripture for a timeSmith’s justification for plural marriageClaims that David’s multiple wive and concubines were given to him by GodLots of problems with this claim (see below)But → biblical prophets / kings did not take multiple wives then lie about itBacklash reaction - Nauvoo ExpositorLeaders in Nauvoo began to hear rumors / opposed Smith for this reasonWilliam Law started an opposition newspaper devoted to “exposing” plural marriageOnly one edition → Smith had it destroyed = the reason for his arrest, which led to his deathSee the LDS Church’s Gospel Topics Essay on Plural Marriage in Kirtland and NauvooBrigham Young and Utah PolygamyBY was already initiated in plural marriage when took overJ Smith dies - 1844B Young leads exodus to Utah - 1846-47Public announcement of polygamy - 1852Published the written revelation → Section 132 of D&CBrigham Young’s polygamy practice51-56 wives / 56 childrenSome lived with him as wives; others were sealed only for eternity; others were married to him as “welfare” cases (older widows)Other prominent practitioners → basically every top leader; Young’s successorsPlural marriage as a Utah institutionThose in leadership positions were encouraged / expected to take multiple wivesNever a majority practice: St George: 1870 - 30%; 1880 - 40% South Weber 1880 - 5%Most polygamists had 2 wivesSee the LDS Church’s Gospel Topics Essay on Plural Marriage and Families in Early UtahThe End of Polygamy in the LDS ChurchPopular opposition in the US1856 (just after public revelation) = Republican party platform opposed polygamyPressure from the US governmentSeries of US laws from 1862-1874 seeking to undermine / prohibit polygamy1882: Edmunds Act - disenfranchised convicted polygamists1887: Edmunds-Tucker Act - threatened to shut the church down financiallyPolygamy goes undergroundChurch leaders / members went into hiding to avoid arrestThe Manifesto - 1890New LDS President Wilford Woodruff - changed church’s policyAdvised LDS to “refrain from contracting any marriages forbidden by the law of the land.”Merely created ambiguityContinued practice of plural marriages - including all polygamous general authoritiesMany polygamists moved to Canada and Mexico to continuing in plural marriagesSecond Manifesto - 1904The LDS Church finally actually stopped authorizing new plural marriagesBegan excommunicating those who did not complyEven then, most LDS men with plural wives continued in those relationshipsThe 1st LDS President who was not a polygamist: George Albert Smith (1945)See the LDS Church’s Gospel Topics Essay on The Manifesto and the End of Plural MarriageThe Survival of Polygamy in the Fundamentalist MovementMany believed the LDS Church discontinued polygamy only due to government pressureContinued the practice in secret or in isolationExcommunicated by LDS churchThe John Taylor conspiracy3rd LDS prophet: died while in hiding from polygamy prosecutionModern fundamentals claim he set apart some men to continue with polygamy, sensing that the church would caveIn 1930s, 7 leading polygamists formed a loose confederation to keep polygamy goingIncluded various groups led over time by a changing cast of “prophets”Many internal splits / splinter groupsCurrent status of polygamyMain groups: Kingstons, FLDS, United Apostolic BrethrenMany smaller groups, independentsHow many? No one knows. 40,000 throughout the West?Mainstream LDS Church and polygamyDidn’t really end it, only suspended it → still authorized in D&C 132 as a “everlasting covenant” No divine revelation ending the practiceStill acknowledged as an eternal principle → multiple sealingsAs marriage practices & laws change in US, could it be reinstated?Not as long as the public views it as weird / marginalLDS Church is most interested in its imageBiblical Response to PolygamyNever commanded by GodContrary to order of creation in Gen 2One man, one woman → united / joinedNote how this becomes the basis for NT teaching on marriageEvery instance leads to tragic resultsAbraham - conflict between wivesSolomon - “his wives turned his heart away” (1 Kings 11:3)Strictly forbidden for Israel’s kings - Deut 17:17Contrary to the biblical image of God’s relationship w/IsraelGod as Israel’s spouse (Hosea) → one chosen nation only, not manyNT: Christ has one bride; cf Eph 5