# If polygamy had not been prohibited, all Mormons would be like the FLDS sect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 11, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840 "2008-04-11T03:01:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/41 "2008-04-13T14:01:25Z")
[QUOTE=ragerdude] Jesus answered that question himself. [/QUOTE] Really? Where? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/42 "2008-04-13T14:13:31Z")
I forgot to answer a question from TokyoPlayer. Which religions? Well, I’ve heard quite a few people from a number of “mainstream” Christian denominations (Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, etc.) saying they’re looking forward to being reunited with their spouses. ---
**Author:** ![ragerdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ragerdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ragerdude)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/43 "2008-04-13T14:27:53Z")
Matthew 22:23-33, and parallels (Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40). The Sadducees tried to trap him with a trick question that tries to find an embarrassing glitch in the doctrine of the ressurection. Essentially, Jesus teaches that couples who die are no longer “married” in the next life when they are raised from the dead, but are unmarried, as the angels also are. For Jesus and the early disciples, the whole point is not so much about “going to heaven” but being raised from the dead at the end of time. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/44 "2008-04-13T14:36:10Z")
Interesting interpretation. Note that I used the word _interpretation_. ---
**Author:** ![ragerdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ragerdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ragerdude)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/45 "2008-04-13T16:44:13Z")
I’m not sure why that interpretation is “interesting.” The text is quite clear and unambiguous. There’s pretty much no controversy on what Jesus’ view on the resurrection is in this passage. The view I presented is the standard one. Are you aware of any other interpretations? How would you understand this passage? ---
**Author:** ![ragerdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ragerdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ragerdude)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/46 "2008-04-13T17:05:59Z")
Of course, there is the other debate as whether the _Jesus of history_ said those things, but that is not my point. I’m talking only about the Jesus according to the Gospels. ---
**Author:** ![ragerdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ragerdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ragerdude)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/47 "2008-04-13T17:11:07Z")
Of course, there is the other debate as whether the _Jesus of history_ said those things, but that is not my point. I’m talking only about the Jesus according to the Gospels. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/48 "2008-04-13T20:27:15Z")
Probably not. To paraphrase an episode from _Around The World In Eighty Days_ (the novel, not the movie): On a train in Utah a Mormon passenger gives a lecture on his faith. Passepartout decides to attend. At the end he asks the Mormon how many wives he had, and the answer is, “Just one, and that was enough!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/49 "2008-04-13T22:29:15Z")
is the church of lds helping texas with the women and children? they are rather obviously going through a culture shock. it would seem somewhat helpful if the church groups that are helping were mormon. in the news it just says church groups and doesn’t give denominations. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/50 "2008-04-13T22:44:56Z")
[QUOTE=Dogzilla] [W]hy is [D&C 132](http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/132) still canon, then? [/QUOTE] I have a question about the D&C 132. In one part it says: > [@](#): > > 51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to aprove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice. > 52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God. > 53 For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been afaithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him. > 54 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law. > 55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an hundredfold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of eternal lives in the eternal worlds. In the books “Under the banner of Heaven” by Jon Krakauer (which I know some LDS members think is not very good) he explains this passage as follows (I’m going by memory here because my copy is not readily available - if someone wants I can verify what I am saying): Joseph Smith decided he wanted multiple wives. His wife Emma Smith was not too pleased with that idea and told him “Well if you can have multiple wives why don’t I take multiple husband? So there.” The revelation from God to Joseph Smith, conveniently enough, singled out Emma Smith saying that she should in no way think that this multiple spouse business could apply to her. What is the official interpretation of this passage according to LDS doctrine? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/51 "2008-04-13T22:56:57Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] As far as I have ever been able to figure out from my reading, women in early Utah were in fact rather better off than their counterparts back East. Women had the vote (which they gave up for statehood in 1896), they were treated as adults (instead of children or property), education was very important, and they accomplished amazing things. [/QUOTE] From my meager readings on the subject, I got the idea that women’s suffrage was not uncommon amongst territories or states in the USA, being used as a tool to encourage immigration by women: Wyoming, Washington, Montana, Colorado also allowed women to vote pretty early IIRC. Which doesn’t mean, of course, that we shouldn’t give full credit to those governments that gave women the right to vote before it was common practice in the rest of the Union. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/52 "2008-04-14T17:08:47Z")
[QUOTE=dangermom] Hey, that’s a good question. It’s still in there because, at the very least, it was a revelation at the time and we don’t want to start taking things out. It was a commandment that was rescinded by the Manifesto, which is also in the D&C. [/quote] Nope. It wasn’t rescinded by the Manifesto, not even close. Let’s look at the language of the two sections. This is from the revelation [del]allowing[/del] commanding polygamy. Note that the voice is of God. > [@](#): > > 61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else. > 61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else. > 62 And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified. > 63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified. Then let’s look at the section which you cited as the “end” of polygamy, in the words of the then current leader of the church. > [@](#): > > And I now publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land. On one hand, we have God commanding polygamy, and then on the other hand we have a leader who gives a personal view suggesting people don’t cross legal lines in the sand. Is it any wonder that the practice continued? > [@](#): > > Thus the current prophet’s word always supersedes former revelation, and Wilford Woodruff could legitimately receive a commandment that reversed a commandment which Joseph Smith received, and which is still contained in scripture. Which would be an interesting question if WW received a commandment which reversed JS’s one. OTOH, if WW were only to release a public statement which urged people, as a personal stance and not in the name of God, to not cross legal lines then there may not be as clear a message. I’d be confused, and I’m not nearly as smart as the rest of the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/53 "2008-04-14T17:14:31Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] I forgot to answer a question from TokyoPlayer. Which religions? Well, I’ve heard quite a few people from a number of “mainstream” Christian denominations (Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, etc.) saying they’re looking forward to being reunited with their spouses. [/QUOTE] And are these offical doctrines of the churches in questions or simply members speaking of their wishes? Please, Monty, cite me another Christian denomination which teaches that people can become gods in the next life, and that men can have multiple wives therein. If you will so kindly do so, I’ll look into the differences. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840/54 "2008-04-15T00:57:55Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] That is a very disingenuos comment from you. You are parading it time and again because of the shock value: “The Mormons _really, really do_ still believe in polygamy.” [/QUOTE] Suggesting that Mormons still believe in polygamy is very different from trying to prove that Mormons still practice polygamy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-had-not-been-prohibited-all-mormons-would-be-like-the-flds-sect/444840.md?page=2)