Joseph Smith’s Trial and Error Approach to Plural Marriage 

My friend became the 2nd wife when the first wife died young. She had a few children of her own and raised them along with the children of the 1st wife, Her husband gets to have both his wives in the eternities. My Aunt was left a widow with 4 kids when she was just 24 years old. She was sealed to her 1st husband. She remarried and spent 60 years with her 2nd husband. She made her kids promise to seal her to her 2nd husband following her and her 2nd husband's deaths. According to what we have been taught in the church, she will have to choose between her husbands. We are told that God is no respecter of persons. How is it fair for Gods sons to have more privileges than his daughters ( when it comes to the number of eternal spouses one can have)? That just doesn't seem right. I don't buy the argument that because of biology and time having 2 husbands isn't feasible in the eternities. Time is a mortal thing. If you have endless eternities to produce children, time isn't a factor. I will feel good about polygamy when both genders have the same rights and privileges.

This was noteworthy but I was somewhat curiously unsatisfying .My intuition was certainly not based upon Joseph's nor Oliver's character and conduct. The problem I have is that our Lord commands Joseph " to do the works of Abraham" and enter into a new and everlasting covenant. Clearly, at least to most people within the context of a new and everlasting covenant of marriage and to follow the works of Abraham, the law of Abraham and the great Patriarchs must be complied with pursuant to the command of the God of Abraham. This means that Joseph and certain other Saints literally had a new moral standard he ask the brethren, specifically, out this stage to comply. Understandably, the 2nd Elder of the church was reticenced to comply. The record from numerous sources appear to indicate Emma was openly hostile and if some accounts are to be believed a little violent. This would account for both Joseph's well known nobility in character and for his reluctance to fully inform Emma of all the facts. Most men have approached their wives with fear and trepidation on issues particular to inflaming and igniting a woman's passion. Better to wait for hopefully a more advantageous time. ( Which in the case of a very Victorian women with polygamy is probably never if one would desire to experience a moment's peace) In the mid 1800's even on the fringes of frontier America the morals, customs and traditions of the Victorian era was , in fact, the prevailing customs and operating morals among descent civilized society of the time. Polygamy was a practice the heathen Indians engaged in not civilized European society. And yet, the God of the great Patriarchs was asking the prophet Joseph to restore an ancient law and practice he really was not prepared to implement not fully understood and simply at that time didn't even approve. Hence, I believe wherein many of us fail , including, many authorities in the church is attempting to defend the prophet Joseph actions and conduct and the justification for polygamy within the context of western values. I believe this has been a voluminous mistake. Why? Well, because it is well known the prophet was a restorationist and the church was not a reformation ecclesiastical institution, but took great pride and care of defining herself as a restorationist church. In fact, the main LDS Church is considered by many as the flag ship of the restoration movement and the offshoots are well respected branches of the American restoration movement. Given those circumstances it is rather natural that the LDS restorationist movement restore the ancient laws and practices of the Great Patriarchs and the great High Priest Melchzhedick. Once such a restorationist foundation is appropriately laid, it becomes very clear that the prophet Joseph was attempting to practice and implement the ancient morals, customs and laws of Abraham. In terms of D&C 132 Victorian morays and customs were simply obsolete and just did not apply. Did Joseph misstep falling into embarrassing errors in the initial execution of the restoration of the laws of Abraham. Obviously, yes. The worse approach is to attempt to justify his behavior in terms of traditional western Victorian concepts and attitudes. Joseph will most probably come out the loser by that yard stick every time. Nonetheless, if one utilizes the laws, morals and customs of the era of the great Patriarchs one comes much closer to the intent behind the prophet Josephs personal conduct. Joseph was a restorationist and not a reformist. He should not be measured by Victorian standards but rather by Abrahamic standards. As an example, under the customs and common eccleslitical morals of the Victorian era, the prophet Joseph was an adulterer. The more one uses Victorian standards as a means of defense the worse it appears as so aptly indicated by Emma and Oliver. However, within the context of the workings of Abraham Joseph's conduct, although, awkward at first it was certainly not immoral nor adulterous. It is well settled pursuant to ancient law that a Patrarch did not commit adultery if he married a second, third , fourth wife. Also, if the first husband of a subsequent plural wife failed in his obligation of support, sexual relations to produce issue the second husband did not commit adultery because the first husband failed in his duty to protect, produce offspring etc. In fact, this may be a large part of the motivation for Abraham to lie to the Moabite traders lest the kill Abraham for failing to provide his duty to protect Sarai. A defense of our prophet is near possible utilizing Victorian standards as the measurement of morality. However , applying the moral and legal standards of Abraham and Melchzhedick, the prophet Joseph conduct is readily defensible and affirmatively justified.

Thank you for bring light to this controversial topic in the history of the church! ❤

The "restitution of all things" angle makes no sense to me. Yes, it was practiced in the OT- though never articulated as a specific revelation. Then, the Savior came, and fulfilled the law - and instituted a higher law- and the New Testament clearly speaks against polygamy. Missionaries for decades gave the analogy of the Savior setting up his church when he was on the earth (like a mirror) - which broke like a mirror when the apostles and prophets were killed - and then His gospel was restored through Joseph Smith - bringing back the mirror that the Savior setup (which was after polygamy was done away with). I find it interesting that the angel would appear to Joseph - but not to Emma or any of the women/girls he was attempting to persuade. When I think of the Fanny Alger and Eliza R Snow debacles, I think of D&C 132:8.

You guys are heavily speculating here, like all historians do regarding Fanny Alger. You made the case that we can’t trust the McClellan or Hancock accounts, and that Oliver had to admit that he had no knowledge regarding an affair. Yet, then you go on to present this narrative as fact. This is right out of the Brian Hales playbook, Joseph did not have an affair with or marry Fanny.

You guys are brave for taking this on 💪 Thanks for what you're doing

Perhaps it would have been better to fellowship the husband, rather then just seal the wife to another man do she could meet the everlasting covenant of marriage? If it is true doctrine. Why don't we still seal women in part member marriages to other men? It is all just too much to believe?

why don't you guys bother getting the timeline right? according to you Emma allowed joseph to marry 4 women and 'teach them the principle' (according to emily partridge)..... two months BEFORE this revelation was allegedly shown to emma. How does emma not know about the revelation and be able to teach it? Lets be honest about the contradictions here.

If prophets have to "figure it out" then are the prophets today also figuring it out? How would one know if anything ever said or done in the church has it figured out already before immense damage is caused and innocent people are irreparably harmed?

When I was a Sunday School teacher for young members of the church, I had to postpone the lesson about plural marriage. I could not understand why the Lord this important revelation which brought so much trouble to the people at that time. I prayed and fasted about the topic and I received this answer: “Because Joseph Smith is the Prophet who has the keys of the restoration of all things in this dispensation.”. After this, I could give the lesson to the young members.

I love this episode I wish it was in Spanish too!

Oh the webs of lies we weave. The continuation of lies and deception perpetuated on and on and on...... Voices for the great deceiver just keep that narrative going. Regurgitate the lies, continue to confuse and lead souls astray.... You won't even be held accountable because you repeat these lies in ignorance.

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Más terrible.