Related Information to Plural Marriage: In That Day Seven Women Shall...

Plural Marriage: In That Day Seven Women Shall... - Page 23

LDS_Forever said:

I agree with you! They try to cover up, they put a different "spin" on it... if you remember just a few months ago when I first posted in this thread, I thought what a LOT of members believe, that it was a practice invented to take care of widows left behind by the murdering mobs... that's not true, but it's an idea promulgated by the church leadership. It's very unfortunate, because it *is* necessary for our exaltation, and how are the members going to receive it if they are being led astray on this essential principle?

IMO
Roz

Shall Women Day That Marriage Plural

Just a couple of points here. Brigham Young said:

It is also reported from Wilford Woodruff's journal:

This certainly doesn't excuse us from getting a testimony for ourselves, nor for praying for the opportunity to live the laws that God has commanded us (remember 1 Nephi 3:7). But if we have that testimony, and are faithful in following the Spirit, then if we are not able to live the law, we are not held accountable.

If we refuse to find out for ourselves, and refuse to live our lives accordingly, then we will be held accountable. And, since the Brethren repeatedly stressed that this was an essential Celestial Law, without which no man (or woman) will be exalted, it is probably a good idea to get started on getting that answer.

For the women to consider, Brigham Young said:

Finally, Joseph Smith said:

Just a few things to think about.

NightHawk

Plural Marriage: In That Day Seven Women Shall... Studies Doctrine Mormon

I thought this would make interesting reading from the perspective of Amasa M. Lyman, April 5, 1866 - Marriage; Its Benefits. Remarks by Elder Amasa M. Lyman, delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 5, 1866.
Reported by G. D. Watt.

Keep in mind that these talks were given in public. It covers what probably should be our outlook towards plural marriage?

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Are you going to say something in support of plural marriage? No. I do not wish anybody to tell that I have said a word by way of supporting and sustaining plural marriage. Are you ashamed of it? No. Do you love it? Yes, I love it because it is true, and stands alone, without my aid. "What are you talking about it for, then?" That you may understand the truth and know its value, and secure to yourselves the blessings that only can accrue from the knowledge of the truth. That doctrine is safe and can take care of itself; and if you make an application of the truth to yourselves, it will take care of you; it will secure you from corruption, wretchedness, and death, and give you life and immortality; while others will still sink under the accumulating weight of corruption, until they go down to hell.
Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, p.205 - p.206, Amasa M. Lyman, April 5, 1866
"But," says one, "I have been looking, but I have not seen much change that has taken place in consequence of the introduction of polygamy." You are not a very close observer, perhaps. When the first edition of Federal officers came out here, we had hardly made a beginning in practical plurality of wives; however, it was awful times for them; they could only once in a while see a woman, and when they did see one, they inquired who she was. "O, she is Elder such a one's wife." "Who is that woman over yonder?" "She is brother so and so's wife." "Who is that woman that is crossing the street?" "She is Bishop such a one's wife." "O, the devil, the women are all married out here." They begin to look round for a peculiar kind of institution that flourishes so well in Christendom, where such prevail, where they make ample provisions for the gratification of lustful passion; no odds how foul, black, and damning in its consequences, still it can find its gratification at those favored institutions. Those Federal gentlemen began to look for similar accommodations in Utah; but instead of finding them they found school houses and houses for the public worship of God, dedicated to the best interests of humanity, for the improvement of the condition of our race. Their peculiar institutions they could not find here, and they could not stay; they went to Washington, and there they began to send up awful howls about the sins of Utah, and the necessity of active measures by the general government to chastise the Mormons in Utah.
Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, p.206, Amasa M. Lyman, April 5, 1866
How far they have succeeded is evident. The great Buchanan war brought the flower of the army of the United States out here; the bran and shots were left behind. They came to correct the poor misguided Mormons. For making prostitutes of the women? No. There are plenty of them at home; but the Mormons make wives of them, and this awakened all their sense of horror. It is this that excites our friends in the east-because we think more and better of women than they do.

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I agree with this, but perhaps many do not have a testimony of it because they are not exposed to it.

Page 23 Shall Women Day That Marriage Plural

I agree with this, but perhaps many do not have a testimony of it because they are not exposed to it.

There is plenty of information out there.

Having grown up in SE Idaho, in the heart of Mormon culture, I was raised with the idea that plural marriage was done away with, and good riddance. My grandmother was very, very much against plural marriage, and was devastated when her daughter (my aunt) got involved in it.

During my search for greater light and knowledge, I was led to much information about this and other "obscure" subjects. So, the only reason that I can figure for people to not be "exposed" to it, is lack of seeking. Of course, there is an awful lot of prejudice among the members against it, such that they refuse to even learn about it.

NightHawk

Shall Women Day That Marriage Plural

Hmmm yes maybe lack of seeking but I think the main reason is that the whole topic of polygamy is 'forbidden' in a way, like if you are in Church talking openly about it you get those weird looks like 'shut up, you're not suppose to be speaking about that in Church'. In my opinion, since Plural Marriage is necessary for Exaltation one of the missionary discussions should cover that, now the leaders in the Church says is not necessary but I do personally think that's not the reason we don't teach it to the investigators...we do not teach it because we do not want to scare them away! the Church needs to face it, this is the truth. That's why those members who like to study about Church history and stuff end up knowing all these things we are discussing in this thread but I personally think that the Church as a body is not doing anything to teach the members this principle. I do believe Salvation is personal and we should take the responsibility to study and research for ourselves but I don't think is correct to hide a doctrine so important as this one and how we hide it? by answering 'This is part of the past, let's close the book from the past' and so on. Every member of the Church needs to know about the principle of Plural Marriage, this is the time to prepare....and we as a body need to stop giving silly excuses about Plural Marriage and its use in the past to justify this practise and try to please Babylon like Nighhawlk likes to say.
I look forward the day that I go to the Church and in the Relief Society the Teacher says 'Today we are going to talk about Plural Marriage and how we can prepare for it'. Maybe I'm just dreaming, I hope not.

Plural Marriage: In That Day Seven Women Shall...

Exactly. I have a friend who is adamantly against it and has no problem at all expressing that she is against it. I think the Church is doing the members disservice by not helping them to accept it. Someday, we will be required to live it whether or this side of the veil or the other. Either way we need to learn to accept it and develop a testimony of it, even if we know we aren't prepared to live it. Many women aren't ready to live it so they refuse to even discuss it.

Plural Marriage That Day Women Shall... - Page 23

Well let's not start to sound apostate, by saying that the Church is doing a disservice. I think there are many doctrines that are not emphasized, for several reasons. One of them being the readiness of the members. I learned about plural marriage as a teenager growning up. The original reason I was given was for men who died and left many women as widows (not true of course), it was only when I got on my mission I started to understand it more, and it is only when I was married, I fully comprehended it (as far as the doctrine behind it). I know I will not fully realize its potential until I do it in the next life so i guess with that in mind why discuss something that you cannot participate in? I know for sure the plural marriage is discussed openly at the institute level, and in certain handbooks in Sunday School, but usually the teacher is unaware of the doctrine and skims over it lightly. Let us keep in mind that we may already be aware of plural marriage from the pre-existence and need very little insentive when we cross over because we will see it as normal just like a woman in the Middle East will see plural marriage as very normal and nothing unusual. I think it is Western Culture or European Culture to blame for the idea that a man should only marry one woman.

Plural Marriage That Day Women Shall... Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 23

In our Sunday Gospel Doctrince class, a mention was made about polygamy, I didn't hear how it got started... wow, what an uproar! The usual whisperings between the women, "well, it was only to take care of the widows and orphans... all those mobs, you know..." "I would *never* allow that in *my* home..." blah blah blah. Then the instructor interrupted and said quite firmly, "It is still a valid doctrine, and must be followed to gain exaltation." (that really surprised me!) Then one elderly gentleman in the back piped up and was very red in the face -- "We don't practice that! That's not a part of our church! You are wrong young lady! That was stopped years ago!" The instructor very gently took him aside and spoke to him for a few minutes whilst everyone else whispered and gasped and the usual histrionics.

I thought this was very brave of her to say it right out loud I don't know what she told the elderly gentleman, but she at least calmed him down enough to finish out the class.

Yes, there is prejudice against it.

Roz