On the 26 th of july, 1953, in the dark, but early hours of the morning, stormtroopers under the direction and command of governor pyle of arizona, swooped down upon the peaceful short creek community with guns bristling and leveled at women and children, and with their badges all nice and shiny, and worn in the most conspicuous place, this invading army brought fright and enforced. Maybe the polygamist groups out west have joy books, but thats not a mormon thing, and the show really shouldnt be considered a source of information. Alexander although the occasion of many of the sermons i have given in church gatherings has faded into oblivion, the evening i reported my mission in the ogden twentyninth ward is indelibly impressed on my mind. George, the perspectives of two prominent mormon plural wives eliza r. Doctrine and covenants, section 101 removed in 1876. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon, 6 vols. Their leader is warren jeffs, who continues to lead. Today, the prophet of a polygamist community in utah, warren jeffs, will. Internet, prochurch authors and publishers, anti mormon authors and everything in between. Of course, when you hear about polygamy these days you automatically start thinking of a creepy cult situation there. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths.
The entire following section is from rethinking mormonism. In 1831 joseph smith made a prayerful inquiry to the lord regarding the ancient old. Jacob through words of mormon, to learn with joy monte s. Joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, privately taught and practiced polygamy. They took every false stereotype imaginable and all but flat out claimed that those are characteristics of actual mormons. But the trial of a fundamentalist mormon for assisting. Welldocumented treatment on the development of the doctrine and practice of plural marriage in mormonism. Mormon polygamy mormon girlz polygamy marriage free. The f in flds stands for fundamentalist, in that they strictly.
Van wagoner is a clinical audiologist and lehi city historian, author of lehi. Van wagoners work gives essentially equal balance to the mormon practice of polygamy from the early 1830s until the present day. The book of mormon account is basing its statements on an interpretation of mosaic law to defend a new to them negative position on polygamy. Smith considers the ideological, historical, and even psychological elements of the process and captures the emotional and cultural detail of this exciting and volatile period in mormon history. Wellwritten and concisely summarized, it is one of the first books you should read if you want to track the principles history throughout mormonism. God commanded some of the prophets of old in the bible to practice polygamy. Mormon polygamy, however, was an important part of the teachings of the church for fifty years. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The issue of polygamy has always been a sensitive one. Mormongirlz offers wonderful access to the mystery, taboo cravings of young mormon young girls and what sister evangelists actually do once no one is wanting.
Polygamy called plural marriage by mormons in the 19th century or the principle by modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by between 20 and 30 percent of latterday saint families. Internet, prochurch authors and publishers, antimormon authors and everything in between. Is polygamy mentioned in the book of mormon answers. After all, abraham and jacob and david and solomon had more than one wife. Hardys book, on the other hand, deals almost exclusively with the postmanifesto era polygamy between 1890 and 1910. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy. The fundamentalist church of jesus christ of latter day saints is a polygamous splinter group of the mormon church based in colorado city, ariz. Though lds president wilford woodruff announced the official end of the practice in 1890, mormon leaders continued to quietly marry plural wives up until the issue of the second manifesto in 1904. Disagreement over smiths doctrine of plural marriage has been among the primary reasons for multiple church schisms. Actually, something like 20 or 30 percent of latterday saints engaged in the practice depending on the statistical strategy one employs. Discussing the new polygamy essays part 1 with lindsay hansen park, john hamer and j. Nov 14, 2014 mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy the mormon churchs founder was married to as many as 40 women in the years before his murder in 1844, the church acknowledged in. Smith considers the ideological, historical, and even psychological elements of the process and captures the emotional and cultural detail of this exciting and volatile.
But the trial of a fundamentalist mormon for assisting in the rape of a minor could change all that. In an honest, methodical way, he traces the origins, the peculiarities common to the midwestern and later utah periods, and post1890 new marriages. Jeffs lost one brother to suicide, another to an overdose, but his book argues that. During this time the church publicly taught against polygamy and denied practicing it, while church authorities were privately taking plural wives. Marriage is a legal contract between one man and one woman. Plural marriage, or polygamy, continues to be one of the most wellknown doctrines and practices associated with the mormon tradition. While plural marriage has officially been banned by the lds church for more than a hundred years, the truth and lived reality for many modern mormon women is actually far more complicated. A portrait of religious excess winner of best book awards from the mormon history association and john whitmer historical association. But if big love took a few jabs at polygamy during its first two seasons. There has never been a law enacted to allow otherwise. Over the years a blind eye has been turned to the practice of polygamy in the united states.
Current state of polygamy in the latter day saint movement. Portraits of a utah town and other acclaimed works, including mormon polygamy. However, the first identifiable polygamist in the bible was lamech. He is coauthor of the biographical resource, a book of mormons, and has published in brigham young university studies, dialogue.
But the trial of a fundamentalist mormon for assisting in the rape of a minor. Polygamy plural marriage lds church perspective on. It won the best book award from the mormon history association. Polygamy during the 19th century in mormon churches. Mormonism and polygamy the complete guide this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a. The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise. Nov 20, 2006 over the years a blind eye has been turned to the practice of polygamy in the united states.
The title of her book, expose of polygamy in utah, says it all. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. The temple is all about polygamy recovery from mormonism. Ed pilkington uncovers a closed world of sisterwives and underage. It suffered great persecution for this practice, and mormons continue to be associated with polygamy to this day, despite ending the practice more than one hundred years ago. After smiths death in 1844, the church he established splintered into several competing groups.
This revelation was recorded on july 12, 1843 and is part of the mormon scriptures to this day doctrine and covenants 20, pp. Best book at the time on mormon polygamy has still stood the test of time as an indispensable resource decades later. In this comprehensive survey of mormon polygamy, richard van wagoner details, with precision and detachment, the tumultuous reaction among insiders and outsiders to plural marriage. Any time their ratings drop, they reveal another supposed mormon secret.
Polygamy as practiced in the 1800s was very different than the polygamy often practiced by modern fundamentalist groups. In revelation, resistance, and mormon polygamy historian merina smith explores the introduction of polygamy in nauvoo, a development that unfolded amid scandal and resistance. My story of growing up in a polygamous sect, becoming a teenage bride, and breakin. The doctrine and covenants, by contrast, wishes to explain how and when polygamy can be acceptable to god.
Below is an alphabetized combined index for the bound and unbound documents collections. A lot of people mistakenly lump flds polygamists in with the lds mormon faith. Emma hale smith or no man knows my history which are both worth reading, but they dont go into the history or detail of mormon polygamy in nearly as much depth as van wagoner. The mormon church practiced polygamy for just under fifty years. Apr 06, 2018 mormon stories admin october 23, 2014 church history, joseph smith, polygamy, top 10 polygamy, top 100, top 5 response to essays 162 comments this week the church of jesus christ of latterday saints released its longawaited series of essays on polygamy in kirtlandnauvoo, utah and postmanifesto polygamy, igniting a firestorm of discussion. Fldsthe fundamentalist lds church modern polygamy and. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace. Fundamentalist mormon polygamy from 1890 to the present john whitmer books, 2015, and in dormady and tamez, eds.
Janet bennion living among mormon fundamentalist polygamy as an anthropologist share this episode 503. Do fundamental lds mormon members believe in the book of. What do we really know about modern practicing polygamistsnot fictional ones. Todd compton, in sacred lonelinessthe plural wives of joseph smith. Christian polygamy is not mormon polygamy christian. At the age of 14 her name was added by her father to the joy book. Joseph smith, was the founder of the church of christ in 1830. This volume features articles on the churchs legal confrontation with government over polygamy, various aspects of plural marriage in st. This church eventually split to become the almost 100 denominations and sects forming todays lds restorationist movement. Congress renewed its attack on polygamy by disincorporating the church and seizing its assets. Why binders full of women was such a curious thing for a. In an attempt to justify early mormon polygamy, many mormons point to the bible. These two books also dont deal with post joseph smith era polygamy.
Mormon polygamy was never legal, at any timenot even in the utah territory from 1847 to 1890. One myth about mormon polygamy was that only about 2 or 3 percent of the church membership ever practiced polygamy. For the mormon mainstream, the 1887 edmundstucker act proved the final straw. Christian polygamy and mormon polygamy have completely separate and different reasons for their beliefs from each other. Mormon polygamy mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. The most stalwart families in the church entered into the practice, and they indeed produced future leaders in the church. From 1852 to 1890, union was associate in nursing accepted follow. For instructions and downloading option for indexes to the contents of this website, click here.
Mormons believe that joseph smith, the founder of mormonism, received a revelation from god in which he was commanded to practice polygamy. If you are interested in the history of mormon polygamy i recommend this book over mormon enigma. Jan, 2010 they took every false stereotype imaginable and all but flat out claimed that those are characteristics of actual mormons. As the church received political and legal pressure from alternative sectors of the society, the apply was declared felonious and church members who dont abide by are going to be restrained. The book of mormon another testament of jesus christ, expressly says that a prophet can ban polygamy, if that is what a prophet wants to do, and it can only be practiced again when a true prophet approves of it.
The practice began during the lifetime of founder and prophet joseph smith but became publicly and widely known during the time of 2nd prophet, brigham young. Today, any mormons a nickname for members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who enter into polygamy are excommunicated. What the media isnt saying about the history of mormon. Morality and marriage in the book of mormon religious studies. Polygamy called plural marriage by mormons in the 19th century or the principle by modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by between 20. Christian polygamy is based solely upon the old and new testament scriptures as they were written in their original languages.
From 1830 to 1876, lds scripture was consistent in prohibited polygamy. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths polygamy the mormon churchs founder was married to as many as 40 women in the years before his murder in 1844, the church acknowledged in. Purposes of mormon polygamy the only recorded reason for the practice of polygamy in the scriptures is to raise up seed unto the lord. The historian laurel ulrich uses the diaries of 19thcentury mormon women to tell the story of polygamy in a house full of females. Disagreement over smiths doctrine of plural marriage has been among the primary reasons for multiple church schisms the members of the largest faction, the church of jesus christ of latter. Jan 26, 2017 the historian laurel ulrich uses the diaries of 19thcentury mormon women to tell the story of polygamy in a house full of females. In mortality, when god does command polygamy, he understands it as an exceptional sacrifice by the innocent of the joy that would be theirs if they could obey the law instead. Mormonism and polygamy the complete guide this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book. Mormon polygamy mormon girlz free download as powerpoint presentation. How the women of the mormon church came to embrace polygamy.
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