In 1831 joseph smith made a prayerful inquiry to the lord regarding the ancient old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. Yes, it is a list of about 3500 words found in the book of mormon just eyeballing it, along with the number of occurences. Nov 14, 2014 mormon historian todd compton, whos written a book on smiths polygamy, says theres good evidence smith married at least 33 women by the time he was murdered by a mob in 1844. The qurans allowance of multiple wives thus poses a challenge for the contemporary apologist, who wants his western audience to believe that islam encourages gender equality. There is a very interesting section on the politics involved in ending polygamy in the mainstream church. A great book for a general knowledge of mormon polygamy, and a quick read. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace polygamy. Chiasmus is one of the most frequently cited evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon. The book of mormon condemns the polygamy of david, solomon, and others as sin. Common bible passages used by mormons mormonism research.
Nov 21, 2008 the book of mormon, translated in 1829, makes mention of polygamy and, while it seems to forbid polygamy, it recognizes that sometimes god commands men to practice polygamy. The project gutenberg etext of the bible and polygamy. God commanded some of the prophets of old in the bible to practice polygamy. During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives. And the fact that polygamy was practiced in biblical times by certain people does not give people in following generations a sanction to do the same. Abortion mitt romney caught on hidden camera claims some church leadership is prochoice. Jan 26, 2017 the historian laurel ulrich uses the diaries of 19thcentury mormon women to tell the story of polygamy in a house full of females. The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one. Mormon church representatives claim that there are over fifteen million people among the followers of the teachings of the church today. Mosaic law respecting the firstborn in deuteronomy 21. It is the word of god and, like the bible, gives us guidance and inspiration in our daily lives.
New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references the salt. Feb 29, 2016 polygamy in the book of mormon the book of mormon is more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. Feb 16, 2016 growing up mormon in the 80s, i remember everything book of mormon was literally related to the mayans or the native americans. Common bible passages used by mormons the following are difficult bible passages that mormons may use to support their case. What the quran says about polygamy the annotated bible. For more information on this topic, we recommend the following books. Rumors that polygamy was practiced by a small cadre of lds church leaders. Nov 20, 2017 among other beliefs written in the book of mormon is the belief that any mormon has the capacity to become god if he follows the teachings of jesus christ. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace. Saints has updated its four books of scripture the bible, book of mormon. The standard doctrine of the church is monogamy, as it always has been, as indicated in the book of mormon jacob chapter 2.
See the commentary on biblical polygamy by michael d. When a man is married to more than one wife at a time, sociologists call this polygyny. It may be well to read the three preceding verses, commencing with the 7th. 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. Why do mormons have more scriptures than the bible. Polygamy plural marriage lds church perspective on polygamy. The verses say, and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy referring specifically to the book of revelation. Neither the mormon bible, nor the book of covenants, nor the revelations of. In the book of mormon, though, the word yea occurs 1,254 times. After smiths death in 1844, the church he established splintered into several competing groups. What the quran says about what the bible says about what the book of mormon says about.
These insertions were perpetuated by the author of the book of mormon in 3 nephi. The word yea in the bible and in the book of mormon. In an attempt to justify early mormon polygamy, many mormons point to the bible. Had the book of mormon been heeded instead of ignored, none of this would have happened. Three other major false doctrines, equal in importance to polygamy, are also rooted in section 2. Polygamy advocate brady williams talks with his five wives during an.
The book of mormon is not inspired by god, it is not the holy bible. The word mormon originally derived from the book of mormon, a religious text published by smith, which he said he translated from golden plates with divine. Mormon polygamy, however, was an important part of the teachings of the church for fifty years. And here is the quote from the mormon church about why they can practice polygamy. Modern polygamist groups are not part of the church and the church has no control over them. Specifically, the book of mormon was prepared for our day so that we would learn and grow by readings the words of ancient prophets in the americas. The first is the shocking teaching that a man may commit any sin whatsoever short of murder after having his marriage sealed by the holy spirit of promise. Husbands, love your wives, just as christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant. You are exactly right i have studied and tested the book of mormon and know that it comes from god and have had profound spiritual experiences. Book of mormon artwork was also depicted this way, heck even singing the book of mormon song we made the signs with our hands that depicted feathers in our heads. Plural marriage in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. For a man of god to be confined to one woman is small business. Growing up mormon in the 80s, i remember everything book of mormon was literally related to the mayans or the native americans. The practice of polygamy is a mathematical contradiction of the principle that men and women are to be treated equally.
For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people. Mormon historian todd compton, whos written a book on smiths polygamy, says theres good evidence smith married at least 33 women by the time he. The book of mormon identifies one reason for god to command it. There is not a single book in history that can compare to gods word. The angel showed the way for the author to find the. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. In a very short time there would not have been a house of illfame in existence. Second, in the book of mormon, polygamy is prohibited unless the lord needs to raise up seed unto me jacob 2.
Mormon polygamy the short version posted on october 22, 2014 by meg stout someone who notices when new stuff on topics gets posted on alerted me to the fact that there is updated information regarding the topic of polygamy. The mormon church was founded by joseph smith in the 19 th century in the united states. The book of mormon is more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. Polygamy, or plural marriage, would increase the descendents of faithful mormon families.
There are actually two lists, one alphetical and one sorted by frequency. New mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references. The book of mormon, translated in 1829, makes mention of polygamy and, while it seems to forbid polygamy, it recognizes that sometimes god commands men to practice polygamy. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the holy bible history of the church, vol. What the book of mormon says about polygamy jacob 1. Joseph smith wrote his seminal book of mormon after, by his admission, he had a series of visions presented to him by the angel named moroni. Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the latter day saint movement of restorationist christianity started by joseph smith in western new york in the 1820s and 30s. In april 1844, joseph smith referred to polygamy as john c. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book. 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 2200 bc to ad 421.
Bible verses related to polygamy from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order exodus 21. Carmon hardy, mormon historian, truth and mistruth in mormon history, in lavina fielding anderson and janice merrill allred, eds. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one. Polygamy mosaic law respecting the firstborn in deuteronomy 21. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife. For more detailed information on joseph smiths wives, get in. Polygamy, doctrine and covenants section 2 and their. For more detailed information on joseph smiths wives, get in sacred loneliness by lds historian todd compton. Current state of polygamy in the latter day saint movement. Disagreement over smiths doctrine of plural marriage has been among the primary reasons for multiple church schisms the members of the largest faction, the church of jesus christ of latter.
Mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. Jacob 2 describes how the prophet jacob condemned materialism and sexual immorality, including unauthorized plural marriage. The mormon church uses the king james translation of the bible and the book of revelation, and has made no changes to the text. Joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, privately taught and practiced polygamy.
A prochoice mormon perspective on abortion, from a nonofficial mormon website. 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. The bible and the practice of polygamy mormonism research. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. The practice began during the lifetime of founder and prophet joseph smith but became publicly and widely known during the time of 2nd prophet, brigham young. Mormon polygamy mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago.
I will share the way i interpret them, but i invite the reader to prayerfully read these verses and come to their own conclusions. Mormon polygamy the short version the millennial star. After all, abraham and jacob and david and solomon had more than one wife. Sep 05, 2017 had the book of mormon been heeded instead of ignored, none of this would have happened. Paul uses this same analogy in the preceding verses in ephesians. Mormonism and polygamy the complete guide this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a. Helaman uses yea about 19 times more often than the kjv.
Mar 28, 2016 for if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people. Polygamy from late greek, polygamia, state of marriage to many spouses is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. From the fraction that we have, skousen identified 256 more corrections that are necessary to bring the current edition of the book of mormon into alignment with the text found in the original manuscript. In both testaments, yea translates several different words and in some instances corresponds to no particular word in hebrew or greek. However, the first identifiable polygamist in the bible was lamech. The historian laurel ulrich uses the diaries of 19thcentury mormon women to tell the story of polygamy in a house full of females. Morality and marriage in the book of mormon religious studies. Top 40 inspirational book of mormon scriptures the lifey app. In the king james version kjv of the bible, the word yea occurs 275 times in the old testament and 65 times in the new testament, or 340 times in the entire bible.
The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Explaining polygamy and its history in the mormon church. The people jacob was teaching were under condemnation for their adulterous lifestyle. Its mortal probation is cut short and its godgiven agency compromised. Gospel cougar has posted a list of book of mormon word counts. The doctrine and covenants, by contrast, wishes to explain how and when polygamy can be acceptable to god. God never commanded polygamy in biblical times, so it cannot be said that 19th century mormons who practiced polygamy were legitimized in their practice. The two biggest additions to the new edition of mormon scripture can be found in the book of doctrine and covenants, says givens, a professor of literature and religion at the university of richmond, and they deal specifically with the churchs original ban on black priesthood ordination and polygamy. The book of mormon account is basing its statements on an interpretation of mosaic law to defend a new to them negative position on polygamy.
Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy. Small changes such as these can be momentous in their impact on the lives of. Book of mormon artwork was also depicted this way, heck even singing the book of mormon song we made the. Today, any mormons a nickname for members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who enter into polygamy are excommunicated. And, in fact, the descendents of polygamous families sustained the church for years. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Gospel topics, plural marriage and families in early utah gospel topics, 20in accordance with a revelation to joseph smith, the practice of plural marriagethe marriage of one man to two or more womenwas instituted among members of the church of jesus christ of. Gospel topics, plural marriage and families in early utah gospel topics, 20in accordance with a revelation to joseph smith, the practice of plural marriagethe marriage of one man to two or more womenwas instituted among members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in the early 1840s. Doctrine and covenants, section 101 removed in 1876. From 1830 to 1876, lds scripture was consistent in prohibited polygamy. Mormons then point to this verse, which is only a few verses after the 1st verse above. These verses make it sound like the book of mormon condemns the practice of polygamy, but verse 30 denotes otherwise.
292 61 830 1020 1447 355 1092 1198 1216 281 1455 640 366 667 1174 1463 665 94 189 462 833 1335 1287 443 803 493 390 341 422 1333 450 1040 1082 466 884 1220 87 934 1061 112 220 631 1052 938 1495 896