Types Of Marriages

[rick7475]

Hi there,

 

I have read Bushman, Compton, and I have ordered a three volume set from Brian Hales (though exerps are on FAIR I believe) on Joseph Smith's marriages. If there are any other good sources please let me know.

 

The reason for this topic is to try and understand the different types of marriages then and now (including the OT). I am trying to establish a model to follow the marriages performed when plural marriage was introduced again in 1831.

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time (consummated) - most of the world follows this kind

 

Monogamous Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I don't know any examples of these

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummated) - typical temple marriages today

 

Plural Marriage for Time (consummated) - such as the marriage of Joseph to Fanny Alger and Abraham to Hagar (though in Fanny's case it has been referred to as a sealing by some sources)

 

Plural Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I believe these are the marriages of Joseph Smith to Zina Jacob and Orson Hyde's wife and others with active husbands.

 

Plural Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummation optional) - such as with Helen Kimball where most likely there was no comsummation and the Lawrence sisters where intimacy may have occured.  

 

I have categorized these, but the actual differences may have been blurred in practice as Joseph Smith tried to understand the revelation and apply it. 

 

As for the Old testament, and reading John Tvednes book on the priesthood of the Old Testament, I am not sure how the marriages then would have been administered. Would there have been sealings for eternity as in Joseph's time? I think so because this was a restoration.

Edited October 29, 2013 by rick7475

[Rivers]

I've always assumed that eternal marriages existed in the pre-Moses era and were gone until the current dispensation.

[cinepro]

Plural Marriage for Time (consummated)

 

When this happens without the knowledge or consent of the first wife and in a place where such marriages aren't lawful, it could also be called something else.

Edited October 29, 2013 by cinepro

[JLHPROF]

Hi there,

 

I have read Bushman, Compton, and I have ordered a three volume set from Brian Hales (though exerps are on FAIR I believe) on Joseph Smith's marriages. If there are any other good sources please let me know.

 

The reason for this topic is to try and understand the different types of marriages then and now (including the OT). I am trying to establish a model to follow the marriages performed when plural marriage was introduced again in 1831.

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time (consummated) - most of the world follows this kind

 

Monogamous Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I don't know any examples of these

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummated) - typical temple marriages today

 

Plural Marriage for Time (consummated) - such as the marriage of Joseph to Fanny Alger and Abraham to Hagar (though in Fanny's case it has been referred to as a sealing by some sources)

 

Plural Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I believe these are the marriages of Joseph Smith to Zina Jacob and Orson Hyde's wife and others with active husbands.

 

Plural Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummation optional) - such as with Helen Kimball where most likely there was no comsummation and the Lawrence sisters where intimacy may have occured.  

 

I have categorized these, but the actual differences may have been blurred in practice as Joseph Smith tried to understand the revelation and apply it. 

 

As for the Old testament, and reading John Tvednes book on the priesthood of the Old Testament, I am not sure how the marriages then would have been administered. Would there have been sealings for eternity as in Joseph's time? I think so because this was a restoration.

 

I completely disagree with this approach and sorting of marriages.  I think some scholars are reading patterns into things and seeing things that aren't there and aren't supported by fact.

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time (consummated) - most of the world follows this kind

I am not sure God even recognizes these as true marriages - Joseph Smith didn't in Nauvoo and they have no religious authority to them.

 

Monogamous Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I don't know any examples of these

Not sure these exist

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummated) - typical temple marriages today

Sure

 

Plural Marriage for Time (consummated) - such as the marriage of Joseph to Fanny Alger and Abraham to Hagar (though in Fanny's case it has been referred to as a sealing by some sources)

Why wouldn't we think Abraham and Hagar had an eternal marriage?  Abraham (and later Isaac & Jacob) held the Patriarchal keys and authority and Abraham also was acquainted with Melchezidek himself (paid tithes etc).

As far as Joseph and Fanny, I think the only reason this was for time was due to the lack of keys at the time.  If it had endured they would have been sealed just as Joseph and Emma were (and they were posthumously sealed too).

Whenever the keys were restored the only approved plural marriages for time were the Levirate kind.

 

Plural Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I believe these are the marriages of Joseph Smith to Zina Jacob and Orson Hyde's wife and others with active husbands.

Plural Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummation optional) - such as with Helen Kimball where most likely there was no comsummation and the Lawrence sisters where intimacy may have occured.

This latest trend among scholars is a false separation in my opinion.  I don't believe Joseph considered any of his wives that he was sealed to as off limits.  I think this is a division which is not truly in evidence and is being used as a "make us feel better about polyandry" explanation.  Joseph consumated some marriages and didn't consumate some marriages, but I think it was situational factors, not specific religious designation that determined that choice.  I believe the marriages and sealings were all the same.

 

I've always assumed that eternal marriages existed in the pre-Moses era and were gone until the current dispensation.

 

I see no evidence for this fact - when Elijah restored the sealing keys to Christ's dispensation on the Mount of Transfiguration and the Apostles were authorised to seal on earth and in heaven, I am pretty sure that eternal marriage would have existed in Christ's dispensation, just as they did with all the dispensation heads.

[Thinking]

Monogamous Marriage for Time (consummated) - most of the world follows this kind

 

Monogamous Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I don't know any examples of these

 

Monogamous Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummated) - typical temple marriages today

 

Plural Marriage for Time (consummated) - such as the marriage of Joseph to Fanny Alger and Abraham to Hagar (though in Fanny's case it has been referred to as a sealing by some sources)

 

Plural Marriage for Eternity (no sexual intimacy needed) - I believe these are the marriages of Joseph Smith to Zina Jacob and Orson Hyde's wife and others with active husbands.

 

Plural Marriage for Time and Eternity (consummation optional) - such as with Helen Kimball where most likely there was no comsummation and the Lawrence sisters where intimacy may have occured.

Isn't this just an example of making the interpretation of the doctrine fit the circumstances?

[Calm]

I am not sure God even recognizes these as true marriages

 

He must, otherwise those involved in them would be breaking the Law of Chastity.  Nor would there be any more reason to assume they needed to be sealed than sealing a man to his mistress or a woman to her lover (is there a parallel word for women to have a male 'mistress'?).

Edited October 30, 2013 by calmoriah

[Senator]

He must, otherwise those involved in them would be breaking the Law of Chastity.  Nor would there be any more reason to assume they needed to be sealed than sealing a man to his mistress or a woman to her lover (is there a parallel word for women to have a male 'mistress'?).

 

Yah, the temple endowment specifically recognizes these marriages as the condition for chaste relationships. Unless of course "legally and lawfully" is referring to temple marriages only, which of course is not he case.

[rockpond]

Isn't this just an example of making the interpretation of the doctrine fit the circumstances?

 

Yes, I believe it is.  I'm not aware of any scriptural support for these different types of marriages.

[wenglund]

Isn't this just an example of making the interpretation of the doctrine fit the circumstances?

 

Perhaps, in a fundamentalist/binary way of Thinking you may be right.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[cinepro]

Isn't this just an example of making the interpretation of the doctrine fit the circumstances?

 

What do you mean?  It's not like we have "rules" saying that plural marriage had to be enacted by the sealing power.

 

Oh, wait...

 

In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood.