Mar 10, 2020 the second chapter of the book of jacob in the book of mormon contains the only explicit teaching about polygamy in the nephite record. Women in the book of mormon encyclopedia of mormonism. One of the biggest complaints i hear about the women of the scriptures is that there very few women mentioned in the book of mormon. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. However for the mormons trying to recruit new people they will whip out a scripture that says that you should.
Polygamy advocate brady williams talks with his five wives during an. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. Rodney turner, morality and marriage in the book of mormon, in the book of mormon. The book of mormon videos youtube channel is a collection of videos based on accounts from the book of mormon. How come none of the mormon history can be validated by any north or south american indian. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. What was the prevalence of polygamy in utah and how many wives did most polygamist males have. Those that claim they are mormons and do have multiple wives are a break off of the original. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1990, 27194. The book of mormon was translated and published in 1830. The book also adds protestant revivalistic language and ideas which were current in smiths day. Behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before.
The book of mormon states very clearly that you must be like abraham having many wives. For beautiful, highspirited new england farm girl susannah hale, the cha. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 600 bc to ad 421. Some mormons marry and have more than one wife, but this is not accepted by the mormon church, which does not accept polygamy or plural marriage. Abraham and other old testament patriarchs had multiple wives, and. Morality and marriage in the book of mormon religious. King noah also demands high taxes from his people to support his lifestyle. Mar 28, 2016 unfortunately, later book of mormon peoples saw the rise of wicked kings such as noah, the son of zeniff, who did not keep the commandments of god by taking many wives and concubines mosiah 11. The book of mormon, therefore, is the only record professing to be divine which condemns plurality of wives as being a practice exceedingly abominable before god. Cannon now spoke of the unfortunate condition of the people at present in regard to marriage. Aug 26, 20 joseph smith rejected the idea that all people go either to heaven or to hell. Mar 10, 2006 does not the book of mormon say you must have many wives like abraham. Everything you need to know about the religious followers that often knock on.
In other words, the passage in the book of mormon and the passage in the doctrine and covenants, quite possibly, are really not discussing the same issue at all. An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to. Mormon elders who publicly taught that all men were commanded to enter plural marriage were subject to harsh discipline. It is true that there arent very many women mentioned by name, only three sariah, abish and. Mormonism stands or falls on the life of its founder, joseph smith thats why you and mormons who read this book will be amazed as you learn about smiths personal life, starting with his early youth and progressing to his later years. Who owns the land that polygamist mormon communes live on.
Why are mormon men allowed multiple wives, but the wives are. In an attempt to justify early mormon polygamy, many mormons point to the bible. During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives. That may be true, but never, and in no way, does the bible ever say that god commanded them to take additional wives. In the case of plural marriage, the bible and the book of mormon teach that monogamy is gods standard for marriage unless he declares otherwise official declaration 1 heading, or, in jacobs language, if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people to practice plural marriage. How can the book of mormon strengthen marriages and families. Many were already married to other men and continued in polyandry. Nov 11, 2014 the founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged.
Book of mormon, 1830, page 178 the joseph smith papers. How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. Bennetts spiritual wife system and warned if any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the bible, the book of mormon, or the book of doctrine and covenants, set him down as an imposter. Mormon doctrine states that these celestially married men and women will live eternally in the family unit and have spirit children, thus becoming eternal fathers and eternal mothers 516. The second chapter of the book of jacob in the book of mormon contains the only explicit teaching about polygamy in the nephite record.
Previous to this book bh roberts project of synthesizing and editing the journals and history of the church, which was eventually published as the 7 volume series, as the history of the church, was the only project like this. Six are mentioned by name eve, sarah, mary, sariah, isabel, abish. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. Does not the book of mormon say you must have many wives like abraham. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the lord. Rather than creating larger populations of mormons, what resulted was a handful of men with many wives and children living in destitution, with many descendants leaving a legacy of competitive ecclesiastical abuse, torn families and patriarchal favoritism. The book of mormon prophet abinadi starts to prophesy to the people.
Many doctrines taught within the book of mormon have been ignored and replaced with other ones by the mormon church. In recent years, the church acknowledged that joseph smith wed. The mormon view of heaven and hell the bottomline guide to. Some women feel frustrated or offended that in what joseph smith called the most correct of any book on earth, god would have neglected to mention women. From 1830 to 1876, lds scripture was consistent in prohibited polygamy. Mormon author declares that jesus was a polygamist with many. Joseph had been caught in the act having sex with fanny alger. The mormon church says for the first time that its founder joseph smith took up. Abinadi testifies of jesus christ mosiah 1118 latter. The conception of the family among the nephites was multigenerational, and book of mormon prophets repeatedly taught true doctrines and principles designed to strengthen family relationships and. Photo courtesy of utah historical society courtesy photo completed in the spring of 1856, brigham young and some 1215 wives and their children lived in the lion house for wilford woodruff tribune file photo a closeup of the 1841 book of mormon printed in liverpool, england. Nov 04, 2018 at the touch of a button, you can find out how many wives can a mormon have. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. What is the number of wives that a mormon can have.
Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. Jun 30, 2009 one of the biggest complaints i hear about the women of the scriptures is that there very few women mentioned in the book of mormon. I figure this is a troll question, but just in case it isnt modern lds people do not practice polygamy. Many mormon converts are told to read the book of mormon in order to know about the latterday saints church. One mormon authority said jesus was killed for his polygamy. After all, abraham and jacob and david and solomon had more than one wife. Joseph married many additional wives and authorized other latterday saints to. The mormon wives by ann zavala goodreads share book. Does not the book of mormon say that black people are cursed and white people are blessed. Thats why the promise keepers organization has been warmly praised by the official mormon leadership. The mormons who belong to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints do not have multiple wives. Was it right, for example, for king david to have his several wives and concubines. Very prominent early mormons, such as founder joseph smith and brigham young, were polygamists who took many wives.
A man who has multiple wives can beget many more spirit children, making him much more powerful. For a book which inspired a thriving religion, the book of mormon is highly problematic. Joseph smith sees a vision of god and jesus christ. A comprehensive pdf many were teenagers, as young as years old. Unfortunately, later book of mormon peoples saw the rise of wicked kings such as noah, the son of zeniff, who did not keep the commandments of god by taking many wives and concubines mosiah 11. Nancy black eldredge, hannah mariah savage eldredge, and helvig marie andersen eldredge. All this makes the book of mormon seem plainer than the bible to one who has little acquaintance with gods holy scriptures. What is mormonism, why can men have multiple wives. The book of mormon vs mormonism the kindled flame blog. The book of mormon disrupts this divine pattern and intermingles the covenants and their ordinances. Behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the lord. Explaining polygamy and its history in the mormon church.
Mormon leaders have acknowledged for the first time that smith, portrayed in church materials as a loyal partner to his loving spouse emma, took as many as 40 wives, some already married and one. The founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The conception of the family among the nephites was multigenerational, and book of mormon prophets repeatedly taught true doctrines and principles designed to strengthen family relationships and spirituality. In my opinion, polygamy was initiated as a religious cover for joseph smiths philandering. Mormons wont tell you that the reason the book of mormon has no maps is because there is not one scrap of archaeological evidence to support it. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. These polygamous arrangements were not, and are not, considered adultery by the church, as it is the mormon view that god specifically commanded those men and select others to take many wives in order to build the church. Behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the lord jacob 2.
Instead, he taught that there are three heavenly kingdoms where nearly all people will be saved for eternity, while only a very tiny number of people will not be saved. Abinadi testifies of jesus christ mosiah 1118 latterday. Throughout his life, smith publicly denied having multiple wives. Mormon author declares that jesus was a polygamist with many wives and children the leaders of the promise keepers are convinced that the mormon church is just another christian denomination. Although women do not receive prominent attention in all parts of the book of mormon, they are referred to more often than most readers realize. Doctrine and covenants, section 101 removed in 1876. Joseph married many additional wives and authorised other. This question is interesting because the mormon scriptures give conflicting answers to this question. First of all, i dont think that this is the question of a troll.
Book of mormon, 1830, page 127 the joseph smith papers. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. According to the mormon church, which is officially known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, polygamy or plural marriage was practiced a long time ago for specific reasons, as commanded by god or the lord. One of these tenets was polygamy, which his contemporaries said came as a result of smith having been commanded by an angel to marry plural wives. I am a convert to this religion of parents who thought and taught that mormon men were domineering and controlling. The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one. At the touch of a button, you can find out how many wives can a mormon have. Mormon articles of faith say, we believe the bible to be the word of god as far as it is translated correctly. As well, many modern readers dont quite know what to do with a book that is more than 500 pages long but has only six named women sariah, abish and isabel in the book of mormon s own. Are mormon women more submissive to their husbands. The king has replaced the lords priests with new ones who support his wickedness.
God declared in the book of mormon that monogamy was the standard. Mormons wont tell you that the state of utah, which is predominately mormon, has a higher than the national average of wifebeating, child abuse, and teenage suicide. Mormon author declares that jesus was a polygamist with. Words of mormon mormon son of mormon moroni visited joseph smith mosiah isaiah sons and daughters sons and daughters children of ammon a people descended from lot solomon king many wives and concubines many wives and concubines mosiah mosiah 2 king of zarahemla helorum giddonah a high priest ishmael amulek ammon aaron omner himni. Polygamy was made illegal in the state of illinois during the 183944 nauvoo era when several top mormon leaders, including smith, brigham young and heber c.
The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the movement, which mormons used alongside the bible for teaching. Dec 18, 2019 jacob, a book of mormon prophet, calls the men of his people to repentance for seeking additional wives and concubines. Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy, eds.
To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. A mormon is only allowed to have one wife, according to the book of mormon. The churchs founder, prophet joseph smith is one who followed this command and was reputed to have had 40 wives. This was one factor which did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the lord. What is mormonism, why can men have multiple wives, what are. Some general conclusions about book of mormon women can be drawn from the books fragmentary material about marriage, family, and religious organization. Everything you need to know about the religious followers that often knock on peoples. Book of mormon statements about the practice of polygamy. And by lds people, im referring to the organization headquartered in salt lake city, utah and is currently presided over by russel nelson. But even that sacred book makes an exception in substance as followsexcept i the lord command my people. How can the book of mormon strengthen marriages and. Jacob was not just saying that david and solomon had more than one wife, he says that they truly had many wives, as if to say, there is no question that david and solomon had many.
Did early church leaders state that the book of mormon condemns polygamy. What is mormonism, why can men have multiple wives, what. In fact, if you read the accounts carefully, their practice of polygamy. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection.
Polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. Some general conclusions about book of mormon women can be drawn from the book s fragmentary material about marriage, family, and religious organization. Although family matters often recede to the background of the book of mormons narrative, the thematic importance of the family is never very far from the records core message. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Apr 06, 2017 the book of mormon is a sacred text of the movement, which mormons used alongside the bible for teaching. What is mormonism, why can men have multiple wives, what are their beliefs and what is the book of mormon.
Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of. The first edition contained numerous grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors, most but not all of which were corrected in subsequent editions. Why are mormon men allowed multiple wives, but the wives. Because of their behavior, the men had broken the hearts of their wives and. The book of mormon, along with his revelations, then became fundamental tenets of the mormon church. The sun website is regulated by the independent press. Joseph smith, founder of mormonism, was the first mormon prophet to practice polygamy.
Joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and practiced polygamy during his. Polygamy plural marriage lds church perspective on polygamy. Apr 19, 2017 although family matters often recede to the background of the book of mormons narrative, the thematic importance of the family is never very far from the records core message. In april 1844, joseph smith referred to polygamy as john c.
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