Heber J. Grant - The Last Polygamist Prophet Died In 1945

[phaedrus ut]

This weekend I was surprised to read that even though the First Manifesto happened in 1890 it took until 1945 until the church had a prophet that hadn't been a practicing polygamist. That seems astonishing to me. 1945 wasn't that long ago.

Heber J. Grant wasn't a polygamist when he became the President of the Church in 1918 but he had been up until 1908 when his wife Emily died. In fact as member of the Quorum of the Twelve he lived openly with his plural wives with one accompanying him in 1901 to open the Japan Mission and another traveling to visit the European missions in 1903.

When you do the math you realize that while we have had non-polygamist presidents of the church for the past 67 years yet prior to that the church had 112 years with a polygamist church president. It won't be until 2057 that the church will have had a equal 50/50 balance of years with polygamist and non-polygamist presidents.

Phaedrus

[cinepro]

Keep in mind that Joseph Fielding Smith was a polygamist and he died in 1972.

Depending on how you define the term of course.

Edited April 16, 2012 by cinepro

[Buzzard]

And your point would be? A while back I posted a thread looking for research about polygamist families formed before the manifesto and how they lived afterward. Turns out there are a few stories out there, but no systematic research has been done on the subject. I hope that one day that will happen. In the meantime, since I have no problem with the Lord condoning plural marriage, I have no problem with those of his servants who lived it during that time.

[Bob Crockett]

Keep in mind that Joseph Fielding Smith was a polygamist and he died in 1972.

Depending on how you define the term of course.

This is one of the most disingenuous arguments anti-Mormons make. Serial marriage is not polygamy.

[phaedrus ut]

Keep in mind that Joseph Fielding Smith was a polygamist and he died in 1972.

Depending on how you define the term of course.

I don't think that counts. By the same measure some present Apostles would be. On a related note since the LDS.org page for Joseph Fielding Smith was so detailed regarding his marriages I wondered what it would say about Heber J. Grant. Apparently he was a bachelor.

Phaedrus

[mfbukowski]

Well if my math is right it's been nearly 50 years since Thomas Monson was called to be an apostle.

That's a blink of the eye in church time I guess. I am sure someone will correct those numbers if I am wrong. Anyway, my wife's grandmother who died in the early 80's was raised in a polygamist LDS household- and I met her while I was in my 30's. She spoke of going and visiting her "aunties", and we have a picture of her with my oldest daughter who is now 30

It all wasn't that long ago in human terms.

Edited April 16, 2012 by mfbukowski

[cinepro]

This is one of the most disingenuous arguments anti-Mormons make. Serial marriage is not polygamy.

Don't tell that to Hyrum!

[phaedrus ut]

And your point would be?

Mostly just a surprising observation. It's strange to think of a President of the church who had polygamist wives as a contemporary of the ending of WWII, the atomic bomb, commercial air travel, and the television set. In my mind it was always much more historically distant

Phaedrus

[altersteve]

I didn't know Heber J. Grant was a polygamist either. Huh.

You learn something new everyday.

[mfbukowski]

Mostly just a surprising observation. It's strange to think of a President of the church who had polygamist wives as a contemporary of the ending of WWII, the atomic bomb, commercial air travel, and the television set. In my mind it was always much more historically distant

Phaedrus

I agree it is pretty amazing.

The last civil war veterans died in the early 1950's.

My grandfather, who I remember very well, was born in 1888 and fought against Poncho Villa in Texas and points south.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa_Expedition

[Avatar4321]

That's nice and all, but im not sure why thats bad.