Best Book Documenting Polygamy Doctrine And Practice From An Lds Perspective?

[MDalby]

I have a lot of books that touch on polygamy such as Rough Stone Rolling, Mormon Enigma etc but is there a concise work that makes an effort to bring all the quotes and doctrine together under one work that presents the case from an LDS perspective?

Thanks

[Calm]

There was a book put out by a now excommunicated member (for promoting polygyny) who collected quite a number of quotes by those who practiced it. I had a free copy from working at a church bookstore, but gave it to a friend. IIRC it was called More than One, but it was not the Daynes's book, which was an academic study of early practices in the Church.

It was not what I would call academic, but rather 'popular'. He was not a trained scholar, but had done the research on his own, but it was a great collection of quotes...not necessarily doctrinal, but how people felt about it who practiced it...though definitely more from a positive POV than negative, can't remember if he included negative experiences or only positive ones as he was definitely proplural marriage, then and now.

I think he would have run into less problems if he had left out the last chapter which was his case for starting plural marriage up again, though in the book he stated it should only be done through revelation from the prophet IIRC, but his wife divorced him on grounds he wanted to practice it IIRC.

http://www.amazon.co...n one" marriage

http://www.deseretne...ves.html?pg=all

Edited July 26, 2013 by calmoriah

[daz2]

I think Brian Hale's work is the best and most up to date, albeit not concise (3 volumes)

[Calm]

I think Brian Hale's work is the best and most up to date, albeit not concise (3 volumes)

Definitely would go for his if you want thorough documentation. He has a website as well that has a lot of stuff on it, hard to navigate though last time I was on it.

http://www.josephsmithspolygamy.com/

First two volumes are history, last one is theology

Edited July 26, 2013 by calmoriah

[Gohan]

Ditto on Brian Hales' three books, they're excellent.

[iamse7en]

No such thing as concise. It's a complex web but very fascinating to learn the details. I'd read Joseph Smith's Polygamy, Mormon Polygamy, and Nauvoo Polygamy. They all have different interpretations/perspectives, but Hales' volumes obviously most up-to-date with the most sources. I would also read Quinn's long paper in response to Hales' ceremonial polyandry interpretation, and then Hales' response to that response. You'll get a taste for how complex yet interesting it all is. Mormonism sure isn't boring, that's for sure. Just not sure why they try to make it so on Sundays.

Mormon Polygamy is very concise and covers a longer time period, but you may find it incomplete with rash interpretations if you don't have access to all the sources, plus it's a touch outdated. Doing the Works of Abraham is also good, as is Persistence of Polygamy. If you want more post-Manifesto time period, Solemn Covenant, Quinn's famous Dialogue article, as well as Hales' Modern Fundamentalism books are good. But you must also read books by Drew Briney (Silencing Mormon Polygamy & Apostles on Trial) to see another perspective. PM me if you want more/links/info. I've read almost everything there is on Plural Marriage and it's all very fascinating.

[Robert F. Smith]

I haven't read it, but highly recommended is:

Samuel Brown, In Heaven As It Is On Earth (Oxford Univ. Press, 2012).

[volgadon]

I haven't read it, but highly recommended is:

Samuel Brown, In Heaven As It Is On Earth (Oxford Univ. Press, 2012).

I've enjoyed it.

[volgadon]

I have a lot of books that touch on polygamy such as Rough Stone Rolling, Mormon Enigma etc but is there a concise work that makes an effort to bring all the quotes and doctrine together under one work that presents the case from an LDS perspective?

Thanks

Kofford Books recently published three volumes by Brian Hales on polygamy. This is the most comprehensive work on the subject to date. Haven't read it yet, but there some reviews on Worlds Without End.

[volgadon]

Kofford Books recently published three volumes by Brian Hales on polygamy. This is the most comprehensive work on the subject to date. Haven't read it yet, but there some reviews on Worlds Without End.

Never mind, I see it has been mentioned.

[EllenMaksoud]

There was a book put out by a now excommunicated member (for promoting polygyny) who collected quite a number of quotes by those who practiced it. I had a free copy from working at a church bookstore, but gave it to a friend. IIRC it was called More than One, but it was not the Daynes's book, which was an academic study of early practices in the Church.

It was not what I would call academic, but rather 'popular'. He was not a trained scholar, but had done the research on his own, but it was a great collection of quotes...not necessarily doctrinal, but how people felt about it who practiced it...though definitely more from a positive POV than negative, can't remember if he included negative experiences or only positive ones as he was definitely proplural marriage, then and now.

I think he would have run into less problems if he had left out the last chapter which was his case for starting plural marriage up again, though in the book he stated it should only be done through revelation from the prophet IIRC, but his wife divorced him on grounds he wanted to practice it IIRC.

http://www.amazon.co...n one" marriage

http://www.deseretne...ves.html?pg=all

If polygamy happens again, I think that it will be driven by circumstances that we do not face now. And, perhaps it will not strictly be polygamy. In America we live in quiet times compared to Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, or almost any other place.

[Nevo]

.

Edited October 1, 2014 by Nevo

[Rivers]

Brian C. Hales also has a Mormon Stories interview about Joseph Smith's polygamy.

[Robert F. Smith]

Howard, Richard P., “RLDS Change Their Tune,” Sunstone Review, 3/11-12 (Nov-Dec 1983), 10. Re Howard’s Sept 24, 1983, John Whitmer Historical Society paper (approved by the RLDS First Presidency) showing that Joseph Smith Jr had practiced polygyny and that it was an inevitable result of the doctrine of baptism for the dead. The paper was published in the JWHA Journal. However, see the discussion in Sunstone Review, 4/1 (Jan 1984), 5, in which “RLDS First Presidency Clarifies Polygamy Issue,” citing the official RLDS statement in Saints Herald, Dec 15, 1983.

Richard P. Howard was then the RLDS Church Historian (technically called the History Commissioner).