Polygamy
Update: October 2015
Please check out the following website for accurate information about Joseph Smith's institution and practice of polygamy:
josephsmithspolygamy.org
The following website contains all of the source documents available regarding Mormon polygamy in any way. Keep in mind that not all sources are created equal, as some are 2nd, 3rd, or 4th hand accounts.
mormonpolygamydocuments.org
Please check out the following website for accurate information about Joseph Smith's institution and practice of polygamy:
josephsmithspolygamy.org
The following website contains all of the source documents available regarding Mormon polygamy in any way. Keep in mind that not all sources are created equal, as some are 2nd, 3rd, or 4th hand accounts.
mormonpolygamydocuments.org
It's everyone's favorite topic. Critics love to talk about it, and Church members love to avoid it. Misrepresentation and misunderstanding account for probably 80% of people's feelings toward it. Another 10% are due to holes in the historical record. The last 10% is because the concept is totally foreign and weird to most in the Western world. However, as Church members, we need to be the ones to address the topic head on. It's our history and doctrine. Let's own it.
First, I think it's important to establish the scriptural basis for polygamy. I've heard plenty of Christians label the practice it as nothing short of inspired by the devil himself. They say that the men involved must have been power hungry and lustful. That's an interesting idea, yet they completely ignore the Biblical precedent for polygamy. The patriarchs of old (Abraham, Jacob, etc.) were polygamists. So was Moses. There are around 35 different men listed in the Bible who were polygamists - the majority of which were men of God. Jesus himself said that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven. (See Matthew 8:11 and Luke 13:28).
Just because something is acceptable by society doesn't mean that it is acceptable to God. The converse is true as well.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God has a larger view than we do. He isn't going to change what He views as acceptable or unacceptable because of popular ideology.
First, I think it's important to establish the scriptural basis for polygamy. I've heard plenty of Christians label the practice it as nothing short of inspired by the devil himself. They say that the men involved must have been power hungry and lustful. That's an interesting idea, yet they completely ignore the Biblical precedent for polygamy. The patriarchs of old (Abraham, Jacob, etc.) were polygamists. So was Moses. There are around 35 different men listed in the Bible who were polygamists - the majority of which were men of God. Jesus himself said that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven. (See Matthew 8:11 and Luke 13:28).
Just because something is acceptable by society doesn't mean that it is acceptable to God. The converse is true as well.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God has a larger view than we do. He isn't going to change what He views as acceptable or unacceptable because of popular ideology.
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Polygamy?
The Book of Mormon clearly states that God's law is monogamy between one man and one woman... unless He commands otherwise:
"Hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife... Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes... For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things" (Jacob 2: 27-30).
The Lord says in this scripture that if he desires to "raise up seed unto [himself]" then he will command polygamy under certain circumstances. However, those circumstances are determined by the Lord and no one else. This point is abundantly clear if you read all of Jacob 2. Some of the Nephites decided to practice polygamy of their own accord without the Lord's authorization. In this case, the Lord equated the practice to a "whoredom" and an "abomination" - just as He has always done with unauthorized sexual relations.
Joseph Smith Instituting Plural Marriage Before His Death
Some ask, "Well, the scripture says that polygamy is only allowed in order to raise up seed unto the Lord. Why, then, with Joseph's 30+ wives were there never any genetically confirmed children?" This is a good question. Geneticists have done DNA testing and have found that none of the genetically verifiable children that some speculate to have come from Joseph via plural marriage were actually Joseph's children. Keep in mind that Joseph Smith was by no means infertile; he had many children with his first wife, Emma. This evidence supports the fact that, while some of the marriages to Joseph may have also been marriages in an earthly sense, clearly many of them were only considered "celestial sealings" wherein sexual relations did not occur.
Let's continue to the original question. How was Joseph authorized by God to be sealed to so many during the last couple years of his life if no children came of it? In my opinion, these offspring are to come after this life. Countless couples are married in the temple and are commanded to raise up seed unto the Lord - yet thousands of these couples end up being physiologically unable to have children. Does this mean that they are breaking the commandment to "multiply"? No. The commandment will be completed in the hereafter. Nothing in the plan of God is meant to be looked at with a narrow field of vision. To do so is to miss the whole point. We are eternal beings. The commandments, laws, and promises of God are eternal as well.
To those who called Joseph and other sinners for obeying God's commands, God said the following in D&C 121:
Let's continue to the original question. How was Joseph authorized by God to be sealed to so many during the last couple years of his life if no children came of it? In my opinion, these offspring are to come after this life. Countless couples are married in the temple and are commanded to raise up seed unto the Lord - yet thousands of these couples end up being physiologically unable to have children. Does this mean that they are breaking the commandment to "multiply"? No. The commandment will be completed in the hereafter. Nothing in the plan of God is meant to be looked at with a narrow field of vision. To do so is to miss the whole point. We are eternal beings. The commandments, laws, and promises of God are eternal as well.
To those who called Joseph and other sinners for obeying God's commands, God said the following in D&C 121:
16 Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord, and cry they have sinned when they have not sinned before me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was meet in mine eyes, and which I commanded them.
17 But those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobedience themselves.
Joseph Smith once said, "Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason there of until all of the events transpire.”
Not all of the events have transpired yet. Let's try to be patient with God's timing as He is so mercifully patient with us.
Additional Resources and Articles to Consider
1) Here's a recent set of articles published by the Church regarding polygamy. Click Here
2) Again, the following is probably the best site for accurate information. It also clears up issues involving polyandry: josephsmithspolygamy.org
2) Again, the following is probably the best site for accurate information. It also clears up issues involving polyandry: josephsmithspolygamy.org