Polygamy question

[Darth J]

A lot of people make assertions about Joseph Smith's sex life as though they know what they are talking about. They don't know what they are talking about. Here is what we do know.

1. Genetic research by Ugo Perego has uncovered no descendants of Joseph Smith through any woman other than Emma Hale Smith while a number of candidates have been eliminated including Fanny Alger's first son.

http://www.deseretne...5226318,00.html

2. Emma Hale Smith asserted that Joseph was faithful to her.

I don't have a problem with polygamy. It is clearly sanctioned in the Bible. However, I have my doubts that Joseph Smith ever had plural wives during his lifetime. I have no doubt that he recieved the revelation as recorded in D&C 132; the main thrust of which is eternal marriage, polygamy being a side issue.

Doug, if you want to volunteer answering my question, then address what I asked:

61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood

[Darth J]

I have my doubts that Joseph Smith ever had plural wives during his lifetime.

That's okay. I have my own doubts about whether or not Abraham Lincoln was ever the president of the United States. Still researching, though.

[Ariarates]

I don't have a problem with polygamy. It is clearly sanctioned in the Bible.

Could you elaborate on that? The way I read the Bible, most instances of polygamy that are mentioned in any detail primarily deal with the problems surrounding the practice. The Bible seems to warn more against polygamy than to support it (ask Hagar and Uriah).

[Ariarates]

I started reading up on this topic. I am currently reading Zeitzen, M.K. (2008). Polygamy. A cross-cultural analysis. Oxford: Berg. On p. 106 she writes:

When directly asked, many polygamous fathers do not know how many children are in their family , what all their names are or how many children each wife has.

This would seem contrary to the proposition that polygamists are better fathers (assuming that knowing how many children you have and what their names are is important). The author, who is primarily concerned with contemporary polygamy, cites the following sources for this assertion (I have not checked these sources, though I think I'm going to buy the first one):

Altman, I. & Ginat, J. (1996). Polygamous Families in Contemporary Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Derr, J. (1987). Strength in our Union. The making of Mormon sisterhood. Beecher, M. & Anderson, L. (eds.). Sisters in Spirit. Mormon women in historical and cultural perspective. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, pp. 153-207.

Jankowiak, W. & Diderich, M. (2000). Sibling Solidarity in a Polygamous Community in the USA. Unpacking inclusive fitness. Evolution of Human behavior 21(2), pp. 125-139.

[LeSellers]

I started reading up on this topic. I am currently reading Zeitzen, M.K. (2008). Polygamy. A cross-cultural analysis. Oxford: Berg. On p. 106 she writes:

When directly asked, many polygamous fathers do not know how many children are in their family , what all their names are or how many children each wife has.

This would seem contrary to the proposition that polygamists are better fathers (assuming that knowing how many children you have and what their names are is important).

The issue is not "polygamists are better father", but "LDS patriarchs, and more specifically, LDS leaders, in plural marriages are better fathers".

Was this author, interviewer of contemporary "polygamists", talking to LDSs, or some other group? (Hint: there are no contemporary LDSs living in plural marriages. Further hint: Notice the use of the present tense.)

The author, who is primarily concerned with contemporary polygamy, cites the following sources for this assertion...:

Altman, I. & Ginat, J. (1996). Polygamous Families in Contemporary Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Derr, J. (1987). Strength in our Union. The making of Mormon sisterhood. Beecher, M. & Anderson, L. (eds.). Sisters in Spirit. Mormon women in historical and cultural perspective. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, pp. 153-207.

Jankowiak, W. & Diderich, M. (2000). Sibling Solidarity in a Polygamous Community in the USA. Unpacking inclusive fitness. Evolution of Human behavior 21(2), pp. 125-139.

Of the three, only the second seems to have any bearing on the question we are discussing. The others do not (or at least seem not to) address the LDS practice of plural marriage, now a full century in stasis.

Lehi