POLYGAMY
Robert Hyatt
1996
PREFACE:
The doctrine of polygamy by the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints is the most misunderstood and hardest doctrine
to understand by members and non-members alike. It has caused
more persecution to the saints than any other single doctrine of
the Church. To understand this sacred principle better, the
following essay has been prepared.
What Are The Meanings of Monogamy, Bigamy, and Polygamy?
Monogamy means to have a single wife.
Bigamy means to have two wives.
Polygamy means to have two or more wives.
First of all it must be understood that the doctrine of Polygamy
was given by way of Commandment to Joseph Smith. The doctrine of
Polygamy was restored in the latter-days as were all the ancient
practices of the Church. Polygamy was very much accepted in
Biblical times. Many ancient Prophets practiced Polygamy.
Abraham, Issiac, and Jacob are just a few who had the Lords
blessing to have more than one wife.
The purpose of polygamy was two fold; the first being a
restoration of an ancient law, and the second being the increase
in posterity of righteous seed. Jacob 2:27-30 explains that
"polygamy is permissible when directed by God for the purpose of
raising up "seed" unto him."
July 17, 1831. W.W. Phelps writing to Brigham Young claims that
on this day Joseph first taught the brethren that plural marriage
was a correct principle.
April, 1841. Joseph Smith takes his first plural wife, Louisa
Beaman.
July 1, 1841. Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, and John Taylor reach
Nauvoo from their missions to England. Joseph meets with them
until late at night explaining the law of plural marriage.
Brigham Young knew of the forth coming principle of polygamy while
in Great Britian before Joseph revealed the doctrine.
June 15, 1842. Brigham Young married his first polygamist wife,
Lucy Ann Decker with full approval and blessing from his wife Mary
Ann Young.
Some Church leaders refused to accept the doctrine of polygamy.
Sidney Rigdon was one that very much opposed the principle of
polygamy.
August 28, 29, 1852. A special conference was held announcing
publicly the practice of polygamy. Elder Orson Pratt from the
Council of the 12 Apostles was chosen to give the first public
sermon on plural marriage.
It is not clear whether Joseph Smith lived as husband with any of
his plural wives but many were sealed to him while he was alive.
These include Louisa Beaman, Lucy Walker on May 1, 1843, Eliza R.
Snow, Sarah Ann Whitney, Helen Mar Kimball, Fanny Young (sister to
Brigham Young), and Rhoda Richards.
In order to have a second wife, permission was required from both
the first wife and the leaders of the Church.
July 1, 1862. Congress passes the Morrill Act which impossed
criminal sanctions for bigamy.
Sept, 26, 1890. President Woodruff issues an official declaration
commonly called the "Manifesto" forbidding plural marriages.
Authorization for plural marriage had already been withdrawn, but
this was the first official announcement that the Church would
comply with the Law of the Land.
Oct. 6, 1890. The Manifesto is adopted by the Church during
general conference.
Although polygamy was the main reason for persecution against the
Church, it played only a small role in the life of most Mormon
communities. Exactly how many people entered plural marriages is
unknown, but it is thought that only about 10% - 15% of the
families in Utah entered plural marriages. Most only had one
plural wife.
In 1904 the Church issued an "Official Statement" denying any
plural marriages and stated that anyone found guilty would be
excommunicated.
CONCLUSION:
Although polygamy is not practiced at this time, it will again be
instituted by the Lord during the Millennium and continue through
Celestial life. Plural marriage is not essential to salvation or
exaltation; however, those who desire an increase in posterity in
the Celestial Kingdom will have to enter into polygamy.