Plural Marriages Between The Years Of 1844 And 1852

[ALarson]

I am involved with the planning of our ward's next 5th Sunday discussion and my Bishop has decided to begin covering the essays regarding polygamy/plural marriage. We met Sunday night (along with his counselors and a few other leaders in the ward) and we were discussing the revelation on plural marriage (D&C 132), its origin, history and so on.  

 

When it was discussed that it wasn't until 1852 that Brigham Young and Orson Pratt officially announced the revelation to the general membership of the church, someone asked how many had lived polygamy during the years between Joseph's death and that announcement (mainly meaning new sealings and other's being introduced to it other than those during Joseph's life).

 

So, I told them I'd ask this question here as there are many on this board who are very knowledgeable about details from church history.

 

Some questions:

 

- Was polygamy still practiced mainly within the inner circle or leadership of the church during those years (as it was when Joseph Smith was alive)?  

 

- Was it just by a specific calling from Brigham Young?  

 

- Or was it lived openly but the revelation just hadn't been presented publicly yet?

 

- Also, how about the 3+ years between Joseph's death and when Brigham became the next president of the church?  Were there many plural marriages taking place during those years?

 

 

Thanks in advance for any input or help.  I'm also trying to read anything I can find on this topic, so any references anyone can give will be greatly appreciated!

Edited June 9, 2015 by ALarson

[JLHPROF]

I am involved with the planning of our ward's next 5th Sunday discussion and my Bishop has decided to begin covering the essays regarding polygamy/plural marriage. We met Sunday night (along with his counselors and a few other leaders in the ward) and we were discussing the revelation on plural marriage (D&C 132), its origin, history and so on.  

 

When it was discussed that it wasn't until 1852 that Brigham Young and Orson Pratt officially announced the revelation to the general membership of the church, someone asked how many had lived polygamy during the years between Joseph's death and that announcement (mainly meaning new sealings and other's being introduced to it other than those during Joseph's life).

 

So, I told them I'd ask this question here as there are many on this board who are very knowledgeable about details from church history.

 

Some questions:

 

- Was polygamy still practiced mainly within the inner circle or leadership of the church during those years (as it was when Joseph Smith was alive)?  

 

Yes, primarily.  During Joseph's life acceptance of the doctrine (with intent to practice) was basically a prerequisite for receiving the endowment and entrance into the anointed quorum.  It remained that way under Brigham Young until the Nauvoo endowment companies began giving the ordinance to the members in general at which point plural marriage was not a requirement.  Acceptance was always a requirement in Nauvoo to receive the higher second endowment.

 

- Was it just by a specific calling from Brigham Young?  

 

Not sure if only Brigham or most of the twelve issued callings.

 

- Or was it lived openly but the revelation just hadn't been presented publicly yet?

 

It was the worst kept secret in Nauvoo when you consider how many of the saints lived it and how many of those were public figures in the community.

 

- Also, how about the 3+ years between Joseph's death and when Brigham became the next president of the church?  Were there many plural marriages taking place during those years?

 

There were plural marriages and sealing in the Nauvoo temple as indicated in the temple records.  After the exodus in 1846 it obviously slowed to a trickle.  But on the trail many people knew of the plural marriages.

 

Thanks in advance for any input or help.  I'm also trying to read anything I can find on this topic, so any references anyone can give will be greatly appreciated!

 

Some best references (in my opinion):

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/nauvoo-endowment-companies

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/quorum-of-the-anointed/

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/mormon-polygamy-a-history/

[ALarson]

Thanks for the answers, information and references, JLHPROF.  I'll look them up and start reading

[ALarson]

In my reading this morning, I found a portion of the announcement from Brigham Young to the general membership and found it interesting to read.  (I read this on Wikipedia, but would like to find a better source if anyone has it, to confirm it's correct.):

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Brigham Young:                                      

 The doctrine which Orson Pratt discoursed upon this morning was the subject of a revelation anterior to the death of Joseph Smith. It is in opposition to what is received by a small minority of the world; but our people have for many years believed it, though it may not have been practiced by the elders. The original of this revelation has been burnt. William Clayton wrote it down from the Prophet's mouth; it found its way into the hands of Bishop [Newel K.] Whitney [father of Smith's 16th wife Sarah Ann Whitney], who obtained Joseph Smith's permission to copy it. Sister Emma [smith] burnt the original. I mention this to you because such of you as are aware of the revelation, suppose that it no longer exists. I prophesy to you that the principle of polygamy will make its way, and will triumph over the prejudices and all the priestcraft of the day; it will be embraced by the most intelligent parts of the world as one of the best doctrines ever proclaimed to any people. You have no reason whatever to be uneasy; there is no occasion for your fearing that a vile mob will come hither to trample underfoot the sacred liberty which, by the Constitution of our country, is guaranteed to us. It has been a long time publicly known, and in fact was known during his life, that Joseph had more than one wife. A Senator, a member of Congress, was well aware of it, and was not the less our friend for all that; so much so, as to say that were this principle not adopted by the United States, we would live to see human life reduced to a maximum of thirty years. He said openly that Joseph had hit upon the best plan for re-invigorating men, and assuring a long life to them; and, also, that the Mormons are very good and very virtuous. We could not have proclaimed this principle a few years ago; everything must abide its time, but I am now ready to proclaim it. This revelation has been in my possession for many years, and who knew it? No one, except those whose business it was to know it. I have a patent lock to my writing-desk, and nothing gets out of it that ought not to get out of it. Without the doctrine which this revelation makes known to us, no one could raise himself high enough to become a god.

 

Edited June 9, 2015 by ALarson

[Uncle Dale]

I am involved with the planning of our ward's next 5th Sunday discussion and my Bishop has decided to begin covering the essays regarding polygamy/plural marriage. We met Sunday night (along with his counselors and a few other leaders in the ward) and we were discussing the revelation on plural marriage (D&C 132), its origin, history and so on.  

 

...

 

- Or was it lived openly but the revelation just hadn't been presented publicly yet?

...

 

 

According to (then) Apostle John Taylor, there was no plural marriage being

practiced in the LDS Church at that time, and members were governed by

the D&C section limiting marriage to one wife per husband and one husband

per wife. However, LDS Church records show that Taylor himself was sealed

for time (and eternity) to several women when he give this announcement.

 

Travelers passing through the camps of Mormons migrating westward during

that time encountered men who obviously had several wives -- they were

not hiding that fact.

 

Travelers passing through Great Salt Lake City during that period witnessed

plural marriage being openly lived/exhibited among the Mormons.

 

However, when these reports were cited and published in the newspapers,

the LDS Church representatives residing in Washington, D.C. denied

their truthfulness. Thus, we see late 1849 and early 1850 Washington

editors repeating these Mormon denials, and pleading for the "monogamous"

State of Deseret to be admitted to the Union.

 

But Deseret's bid for statehood was turned down by Congress. It seems that

the alleged Constitutional Convention supposedly held by the Mormons (and

representing delegates from the principle Mormon settlements) was a fiction.

The would-be State's constitution was the creation of a tiny handful of topmost

LDS leaders, meeting in secret -- but, like Mormon monogamy, represented

to the world as a reality.

 

With the failure of Deseret statehood, and the continued presence of Gentile

travelers, coming and going through Salt Lake, Ogden, Provo, etc., it became

impossible to keep LDS plural marriage a secret.

 

My own ancestors learned that the previously advertised denials were falsehoods,

in 1852 -- ONLY after their ship (the Ellen Maria) had left Liverpool and was away

from land, in the Irish Sea. At that time, the elder-in-charge (I think it was Wheelock)

called all the MEN together, on deck, and announced the "Revelation on the New

and Everlasting Covenant" --- the English and Welsh male converts were then

instructed to tell their wives of this "NEW" commandment from the Almighty.

 

I do not know if it is true or not, but family lore relates that as the ship neared

the coast of Scotland, one of the LDS couples aboard jumped ship and swam

to shore -- unwilling to remain in a church which denied polygamy in Liverpool,

but admitted (and commanded) it, upon the open sea.

 

My own polygamous ancestors (well, some of them, at least) gave up their plural

wives when the United States Government's "Poland Act" of 1874 went into effect.

For obeying that law, my g-g-grandfather, Samuel Broadhurst, was excommunicated.

 

UD

[rockpond]

 

I am involved with the planning of our ward's next 5th Sunday discussion and my Bishop has decided to begin covering the essays regarding polygamy/plural marriage. We met Sunday night (along with his counselors and a few other leaders in the ward) and we were discussing the revelation on plural marriage (D&C 132), its origin, history and so on.  

 

When it was discussed that it wasn't until 1852 that Brigham Young and Orson Pratt officially announced the revelation to the general membership of the church, someone asked how many had lived polygamy during the years between Joseph's death and that announcement (mainly meaning new sealings and other's being introduced to it other than those during Joseph's life).

 

So, I told them I'd ask this question here as there are many on this board who are very knowledgeable about details from church history.

 

Some questions:

 

- Was polygamy still practiced mainly within the inner circle or leadership of the church during those years (as it was when Joseph Smith was alive)?  

 

Yes, primarily.  During Joseph's life acceptance of the doctrine (with intent to practice) was basically a prerequisite for receiving the endowment and entrance into the anointed quorum.  It remained that way under Brigham Young until the Nauvoo endowment companies began giving the ordinance to the members in general at which point plural marriage was not a requirement.  Acceptance was always a requirement in Nauvoo to receive the higher second endowment.

 

- Was it just by a specific calling from Brigham Young?  

 

Not sure if only Brigham or most of the twelve issued callings.

 

- Or was it lived openly but the revelation just hadn't been presented publicly yet?

 

It was the worst kept secret in Nauvoo when you consider how many of the saints lived it and how many of those were public figures in the community.

 

- Also, how about the 3+ years between Joseph's death and when Brigham became the next president of the church?  Were there many plural marriages taking place during those years?

 

There were plural marriages and sealing in the Nauvoo temple as indicated in the temple records.  After the exodus in 1846 it obviously slowed to a trickle.  But on the trail many people knew of the plural marriages.

 

Thanks in advance for any input or help.  I'm also trying to read anything I can find on this topic, so any references anyone can give will be greatly appreciated!

 

Some best references (in my opinion):

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/nauvoo-endowment-companies

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/quorum-of-the-anointed/

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/mormon-polygamy-a-history/

 

 

Can you tell us more about the Nauvoo endowment companies?

[stemelbow]

In reading Parley Pratt's biography, I recall him marrying many women after Joseph died, I believe starting in 1844.

From Wikipidea:

 

In the fall of 1853, Pratt had seven living wives. These wives were:

Elizabeth Brotherton (1817–1897). Married Pratt July 24, 1844. They adopted one child.

Mary Wood (1818–1898). Married Pratt September 9, 1844. Four children including Helaman Pratt.

Hannahette Snively (1812–1898). Married Pratt November 2, 1844. Three children.

Belinda Marden (1820–1894). Married Pratt November 20, 1844. Five children.

Sarah Houston (1822–1886). Married Pratt October 15, 1844. Four children.

Phoebe Elizabeth Soper (1823–1887). Married Pratt February 8, 1846. Three children.

Ann Agatha Walker (1829–1908). Married Pratt April 28, 1847. Five children. Agatha ran a millinery business in Salt Lake City.[60]

Other wives of Pratt:

Martha Monks (1825–?). Married Pratt April 28, 1847. One child who died shortly after birth. After this Martha abandoned Pratt in early 1849 and moved to California.[61]

Keziah Downes (1812–1876). Married Pratt December 27, 1853. They did not have any children, although she lived in the same house as five of Pratt's other wives and helped them in raising their children.[60]

Eleanor Jane McComb (1817–1874). Married Pratt November 14, 1855.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parley_P._Pratt

http://www.amazon.com/Parley-P-Pratt-Apostle-Mormonism/dp/0195375734

The book is good. As memory has it there was some friction between Pratt and Young, as Pratt didn't think he needed Young's buy-in about receiving more wives and, I think, it was suggested he went a little rogue. But his influence was good enough that it kept him untouched.

Edited June 9, 2015 by stemelbow

[JLHPROF]

Can you tell us more about the Nauvoo endowment companies?

 

It's been a while since I read the 700 page book...what did you want to know?

 

There are a lot of temple records in that book, as well as historical accounts of what went on in the Nauvoo temple.

(Lots of plural marriage records, and lots of what we would consider underage marriages too).

It was the start of Brigham's attempts to systematize ordinances that Joseph had to do in a more haphazard way.

 

So many saints received their endowments there that they were running the temple night and day.  Even when Brigham tried to close the temple for a break the saints hung out waiting for their ordinances.

Fascinating period.

[ALarson]

According to (then) Apostle John Taylor, there was no plural marriage being

practiced in the LDS Church at that time, and members were governed by

the D&C section limiting marriage to one wife per husband and one husband

per wife. However, LDS Church records show that Taylor himself was sealed

for time (and eternity) to several women when he give this announcement.

 

....

 

My own ancestors learned that the previously advertised denials were falsehoods,

in 1852 -- ONLY after their ship (the Ellen Maria) had left Liverpool and was away

from land, in the Irish Sea. At that time, the elder-in-charge (I think it was Wheelock)

called all the MEN together, on deck, and announced the "Revelation on the New

and Everlasting Covenant" --- the English and Welsh male converts were then

instructed to tell their wives of this "NEW" commandment from the Almighty.

 

Yes, I've read this too about John Taylor's denials regarding polygamy being lived in Utah.  It sounds very similar to how polygamy was lived in Nauvoo privately among the leaders, but was publicly denied.  

 

I also have an ancestor who had no idea that the Utah Mormons were living polygamy until she left her family overseas, traveled to Utah alone (at the age of 23 years old) and arrived in SLC only to learn about polygamy.  She had a very unhappy plural marriage to a much older man in the church and was not treated well at all by his first wife.  Her story is very sad to read.

[rockpond]

It's been a while since I read the 700 page book...what did you want to know?

 

There are a lot of temple records in that book, as well as historical accounts of what went on in the Nauvoo temple.

(Lots of plural marriage records, and lots of what we would consider underage marriages too).

It was the start of Brigham's attempts to systematize ordinances that Joseph had to do in a more haphazard way.

 

So many saints received their endowments there that they were running the temple night and day.  Even when Brigham tried to close the temple for a break the saints hung out waiting for their ordinances.

Fascinating period.

 

Ah...you were referring to the large number of endowments that were happening there in the final days in Nauvoo?  I just wasn't familiar with the term "Nauvoo endowment companies".

[JLHPROF]

Ah...you were referring to the large number of endowments that were happening there in the final days in Nauvoo?  I just wasn't familiar with the term "Nauvoo endowment companies".

 

It is the name of the book on the period.  I believe the term "endowment company" is what we would call the participants in an "endowment session" today.

[JLHPROF]

The book is good. As memory has it there was some friction between Pratt and Young, as Pratt didn't think he needed Young's buy-in about receiving more wives and, I think, it was suggested he went a little rogue. But his influence was good enough that it kept him untouched.

 

That, and the fact he was killed only 10 years after the saints came to Utah, and only 5 years after the official announcement on plural marriage.

He didn't have enough time to oppose Brigham as much as others (and Brigham wasn't the all powerful leader he was by the 1870's).

[rockpond]

It is the name of the book on the period.  I believe the term "endowment company" is what we would call the participants in an "endowment session" today.

 

Thanks!

[Uncle Dale]

Yes, I've read this too about John Taylor's denials regarding polygamy being lived in Utah.  It sounds very similar to how polygamy was lived in Nauvoo privately among the leaders, but was publicly denied.  

 

I also have an ancestor who had no idea that the Utah Mormons were living polygamy until she left her family overseas, traveled to Utah alone (at the age of 23 years old) and arrived in SLC only to learn about polygamy.  She had a very unhappy plural marriage to a much older man in the church and was not treated well at all by his first wife.  Her story is very sad to read.

 

 

One of the major problems devolving from all of these denials, is that

they gave fuel to the Josephite fires -- calling for a Reorganization of

the Church. People like William Marks, Emma Smith, etc. knew full

well that plural marriage had been practiced by Joseph Smith, Jr.,

Hyrum Smith, William Smith, etc., well before 1844.

 

And yet those earliest Reorganized leaders carried on the knowing lie,

and founded a "One True Church" based largely upon the profession

that Joseph Smith was a life-long monogamist, and that the "wicked"

Brigham Young had "invented" polygamy in Utah.

 

That was what I was taught, by the RLDS, all through my younger years.

At one point, while visiting the Church Library in Independence, Missouri,

I came across Sidney Rigdon's 1844-46 exposure of Nauvoo polygamy

and confronted some Reorganite historians with that evidence. But they

refused to discuss the subject. Later I read the first issue of the RLDS

"Saints' Herald," where Joseph Smith's polygamy was admitted. But I

was told by priesthood superiors that Isaac Sheen, then the paper's

editor and publisher, had "lied" and was "reprimanded" by Joseph Smith III

for saying such vile things in the official RLDS newspaper.

 

And, after that, I came across the writings of Jason W. Briggs and Z. Gurley Jr.,

two of the earliest and most prominent RLDS -- who also admitted polygamy

was an innovation promoted by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, William Smith,

and their brethren.

 

But -- still -- I could not obtain an admission of these facts from my priesthood

superiors. After all, William Smith himself was RLDS -- and he denied not only

his own alleged polygamy, but that of his more famous brothers as well.

 

The lie got repeated, embellished, and "set in stone," to the point that every 

RLDS member was receiving false counsel -- just as the lower-ranking

Brighamite members in Utah (and all through the foreign missionary field)

were receiving false information, up until 1851-52. And, for the RLDS/CoC

members, all the way up until the resignation of Pres. Grant McMurray.

 

What a mess!

 

To think that God ordered, and enforced the commandment of keeping polygamy

a secret (not only from the Gentiles, but from most of the members) for so long,

and under so many extenuating circumstances, is totally unbelievable.

 

It is much easier for me to believe that the practice was kept secret in hopes

of the topmost leaders being able to establish an independent nation of Deseret

(or, at least their own State of Deseret) --- before the truth was to be admitted.

 

UD

Edited June 9, 2015 by Uncle Dale

[Uncle Dale]

 

...

 

To think that God ordered, and enforced the commandment of keeping polygamy

a secret (not only from the Gentiles, but from most of the members) for so long

...

 

I'm not saying that every LDS member I've spoken with has made

this sort of statement -- but I've heard it said so often, that I suppose

that many (if not most) Mormons believe that the leaders kept that

secret because they were inspired and led by God, to do so.

 

UD

Edited June 9, 2015 by Uncle Dale

[JLHPROF]

I'm not saying that every LDS member I've spoken with has made

this sort of statement -- but I've heard it said so often, that I suppose

that many (if not most) Mormons believe that the leaders kept that

secret because they were inspired and led by God, to do so.

 

UD

 

Pearls before swine.

[bjw]

What UD mentions is one reason I think it is tough for LDS and even CoC to be accepted as Christians by EVs, even though more strides are being made. I know the justification for giving the false reports about polygamy comes from the BoA and Genesis, but the misunderstandings are still lingering today. One lady that lives across from me that is an EV thinks that high level Mormons are still living polygamy today, just keeping it a secret from the rank and file membership.

I don't think it's specifically the polygamy doctrine antis use as much anymore, but people like Decker, Schnoebelen, McCraney, et al probably still use this to try to paint the church as always keeping secrets from the membership. I personally have found the church to be much more transparent than other churches I've been to in the past.

[JLHPROF]

What UD mentions is one reason I think it is tough for LDS and even CoC to be accepted as Christians by EVs, even though more strides are being made.

 

Personally, I have no interest in being "accepted as Christian" by other religions.

 

 

I know the justification for giving the false reports about polygamy comes from the BoA and Genesis, but the misunderstandings are still lingering today. One lady that lives across from me that is an EV thinks that high level Mormons are still living polygamy today, just keeping it a secret from the rank and file membership.

 

Well...

Edited June 9, 2015 by JLHPROF

[juliann]

The vast majority of people who lived in polygamy were women. Yet we only refer to the men. I suggest http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-episodes/

 

We also need to be more cautious, I think, when referring to "giving up plural wives" no differently than giving up smoking. Many of these wives were essentially  abandoned along with the children, they had to continue living and supporting themselves, it was not a one time event for them.

[hope_for_things]

It’s been a little while since I listened to this podcast on the FHM site, but this one is about early Utah polygamy and might help. 

http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-early-utah-period-polygamy-episode-39/

 

From what I can recall most of Joseph’s wives were married to Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball shortly after Joseph’s death.  Also, I believe there was quite a large # of polygamous marriages after 1844 and before 1852.  I can tell you that I know of at least two of my ancestors that were married polygamously during these years, one at Winter Quarters after the death of her first husband.  The other in 1850 in Utah, and my ancestor was not a member of the quorum, and did not hold high position in the church, but he was friends with Brigham Young.

 

In spite of what John Taylor may have been saying, I believe polygamy was being practiced frequently during these years.  

[JLHPROF]

We also need to be more cautious, I think, when referring to "giving up plural wives" no differently than giving up smoking. Many of these wives were essentially  abandoned along with the children, they had to continue living and supporting themselves, it was not a one time event for them.

 

I had not heard of this as a common situation among the saints.  Were there occurrences of this situation that weren't referred to?

My understanding was that when the manifesto was issued most men did not give up any plural wives, but continued to cohabit.  I believe the last polygamous family in the Church didn't pass away until the 1950s.

Edited June 9, 2015 by JLHPROF

[Uncle Dale]

The vast majority of people who lived in polygamy were women. Yet we only refer to the men. I suggest http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-episodes/

 

We also need to be more cautious, I think, when referring to "giving up plural wives" no differently than giving up smoking. Many of these wives were essentially  abandoned along with the children, they had to continue living and supporting themselves, it was not a one time event for them.

 

 

In my g-g-grandfather's situation, his two "extra" wives bore him no children

and had lived apart from the first wife and her family. So, it was not a great

change in living arrangements when they were "released."

 

In those days divorce cost a five-dollar "half eagle" and had to be approved

by Church authority. My ancestor was unable to get that permission for the

second of the two former wives -- so he just "let her go," once another fellow

had agreed to marry "Ms. Moss." That was his transgression -- in putting her

away without ecclesiastical authorization. However, since she went on to

marry another Mormon, it appears that the Church recognized that something

like a real divorce had occurred. In the eyes of Territorial (and U.S.) law, he

had simply ceased an illegal episode of double-fornication.

 

However, getting the two "extras" unsealed (from eternity) could only happen

with my ancestor's excommunication. I have not checked the TIB records to

determine if both were re-sealed to other men for eternity, but I think it was so.

 

His association with the tiny branch of Great Salt Lake Josephites did not

last long -- but one of his sons (my g-grandfather) married into a family

with Reorganite members (and thus, eventually... my existence).

 

According to "The Kingdom or Nothing," my ancestor was allowed back

into the LDS Church on his deathbed -- without the need for any re-baptism.

His main "sin" was not in abandoning the two wives Apostle Woodruff had

selected for him, but in his denial of Adam=God. When President Taylor

came into office, that doctrine was abandoned, and most of the friction

between Samuel and the Church authorities vanished. By then numerous

loyal Saints had received permission to opt out of polygamy -- so it 

seems "all was forgiven" when g-g-grandfather breathed his last.

 

As for the "abandoned" plural wives -- the only family lore I ever heard

was that they were happy to be separated from "the old apostate."

 

Perhaps a Disneyesque "lived happily ever after" can be applied here.

 

UD

[Uncle Dale]

I had not heard of this as a common situation among the saints.  Were there occurrences of this situation that weren't referred to?

My understanding was that when the manifesto was issued most men did not give up any plural wives, but continued to cohabit.  I believe the last polygamous family in the Church didn't pass away until the 1950s.

 

 

As late as 1951 or '52, I witnessed a 24th of July parade, with

at least two floats bearing polygamous families --- either that,

or some very old people pretending to have gone into plural

marriage before the Second Manifesto.

 

I've also been told, that back in the early 20th century, some

LDS men (outside of the USA) lived with more than one woman;

because there was a period of confusion, when  adherence to

the Second Manifesto was presumed to apply only within America.

There appear to have been some "irregularities" in Cardston,

even during my own childhood -- with some of my shirt-tail

relatives involved, and LDS authorities turning a blind eye to

the mix-ups.

 

UD

Edited June 10, 2015 by Uncle Dale

[strappinglad]

Yes , I believe the Blackmores, of BC polygamy communities , originally hail from the Cardston area.

[Teancum]

Have fun with the lesson.

 

It seems pretty clear to me that polygamy is the 800 pound gorilla in the room for the LDS Church.  Nobody would go to the lengths, breadths, efforts, tears, blood, sweat and anguish for this absolutely absurd, evil and abusive practice unless they needed to in order to maintain the alleged prophetic call of Joseph Smith and his successors down to Wilford Woodruff as well as maintain a testimony that the LDS Church really was restored.... including plural marriage... through Joseph Smith.

 

Believing Mormons these days UTTTERLY reject any other so called prophet or cultic leader who introduces polygamy including those that have an LDS tradition,.

 

The current LDS leaders have to HATE this aspect of their own tradition and do all they can to sweep it away.  The recent essays never would have happened had not the technology and information age thrust it upon them.  That in and of itself is telling.

 

Best wishes ALarson in your lesson. I could not do it.  It is clear to me what the real answer is on this one.