# If polygamy were made legal, would the mainstream LDS return to it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-were-made-legal-would-the-mainstream-lds-return-to-it/601886>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 4, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-were-made-legal-would-the-mainstream-lds-return-to-it/601886 "2011-11-04T19:07:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-were-made-legal-would-the-mainstream-lds-return-to-it/601886/21 "2011-11-16T01:24:54Z")

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> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> Dinah is based on Card’s great-great-grandmother, [Zina Diantha Huntington](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zina_D._H._Young), who married Smith and later Brigham Young. (Neither was bothered by the fact she was already married and had kids.)
> 
> As for whether the LDS would return to polygamy, that would depend on whether the president (aka Prophet, Seer and Revelator) got a revelation.

Fortunately for Mormons, the God that the Mormon prophet talks to face-to-face is an overwhelmingly pragmatic one.

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**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:** [November 21, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-polygamy-were-made-legal-would-the-mainstream-lds-return-to-it/601886/22 "2011-11-21T14:01:10Z")

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> [@Erdosain](#):
>
> Absolutely not. They are way too invested in becoming a mainstream religion.

[This.](http://www.salon.com/2010/08/09/mormon_ad_campaign/) Interesting article which talks about the ad campaign by the Mormons to show members as “normal” people.

One of the things my sister and I frequently talk about is how hard Mormonism is trying to go mainstream. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, being a “particular” religion was a badge of honor for us. Now, we have Mormon prophets who are attempting to fudge the Mormon’s fundamental belief that ordinary men and women can become gods and goddesses in the next life, with their own planets. If that can be jettisoned, then there is no reason for polygamy, as both principles were excuses used by founder Joseph Smith to justify taking other men’s wives.

The Mormon church is running into problems now with a slowdown in growth. While the number of nominal members is constantly growing, the amount of growth of active members is much less. Church officials themselves acknowledge the problem. They are smart enough to know the reinstating polygamy would kill them.

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