Why so much oppostion, disgust for polygamy?

[pneal]

Wow, I have to applaud that last comment. Bravo Edgar for ending a threat decently and respectably. You too, Dale, i have been really impressed by your sensitivity.

I think we need to do that more here. Me included.

[Dale]

I do not have a problem with those who have a testimony that Joseph Smith was not a true prophet.

This topic evokes extra dislike for Joseph Smith in some people.

I myself stumbled on books detailing this period of restoration history in my youth. I wasn't prepared for it. I guess through study I became so used to the information it lost it's power over me. My advice don't assume everything on Joseph Smith & polygamy is accurate. Mormon Enigma by Newell & Avery was my first book with detail on the subject & I now am far less impressed with it than I was.

Another book that I find has far more serious flaws is Jerald & Sandra Tanners Mormonism Shadow or Reality? presentations on plural marriage. I think they write history not to educate the public but to trash others sacred stories. I have seen them refuted point blank but it's 2005 & they are yet to admit they have committed any of the many errors I see others point out in their writings.

Numerous out of context quotations has also been documented in the book.

As to my sensitivity I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know many people I respect who believe Joseph Smith was a polygamist. I don't discount all polygamy evidence myself. My differences with the LDS have to do with I as a member of the Community of Christ disbelieve the practice. I think you can disbelieve something without having to vent on that same subject. I feel no disgust towards Joseph Smith on this topic.

[KevinG]

Polyandry will not come up.

[Dale]

I know of no polygamist in history who lived the practice as decently as Joseph Smith did. I feel he respected women.

[1dc]

. . Love is a verb, an action of faith, not something to fall in and out of. But when treated as a verb, it can become very romantic.

I don't think we understand polygamy because we don't understand monogamy enough. Even if it became legal, I don't think the Saints, much less anyone else is prepared to live it, given our spotty record with monogamous marriage at present.

Good stuff.

PS - I'm still waiting for all of the outrage on cohabitation . .

and the related practice of divorce instead of sacrifice to one's partner . .

[Dill Pickles]

The rest of the story from her personal journals is this...

She was asked in revelation to marry Joseph prior to her marriage to Brother Huntington. She writes much later in her life that if she had been more ready to listen to specific promptings earlier in her life she would have spared a lot of people she cared for hurt feelings. (I wish I could source this for you here- try the book The Four Zinas) I have friends who are descendants who have let me see copies of the original journals.

Here is the rub with marriage and eternal covenants. If we are willing to listen to Father and let him "arrange" marriages (which I did in the case of my good friend, who is now my wife of 18 years because of my listening to Fathers prompting) and spent less time mucking about in "romantic" but less inspired affairs we would have less difficulty in monogamy. Love is a verb, an action of faith, not something to fall in and out of. But when treated as a verb, it can become very romantic.

I don't think we understand polygamy because we don't understand monogamy enough. Even if it became legal, I don't think the Saints, much less anyone else is prepared to live it, given our spotty record with monogamous marriage at present.

from the Pickle jar: don't we all have things we wish we'd done differently in our youth, that effect us throughout our lives? While hindsight is 20/20 or at least somewhat clearer than swamp water, foresight is rarely that clear. We muddle through life the best we can, based on our experiences and our worldview. While one outsider sees Zina as a woman grasping for the most powerful man in her circle, others see her as a woman following God's promptings. What one sees as rationalizing away serious sins, another sees as putting one's house in order.

Different brine for different pickles.

[charity]

Thanks, Dill. And since we don't know exactly what happened, and God does, plus He knows the intent of the heart, why don't we stop we trying to throw out our opinions as some kind of authoritative statement about who was sinning and who wasn't?

My mom used to caution me about saying things that I might have to take back later. It sure seems to me that there is going to be a lot of backtracking and red faces, and apologies to be made when we do finally find out the truth.

[KevinG]

I don't want to leave the impression that I would blame Zina for anything but trying to live a faithful life. I think her path as well as her regrets are understandable. Hers was a difficult choice to make.

I look at the faithfulness of Brother Huntington, Zina and others around them as an example. They followed the admonitions of the Lord at great personal sacrifice. Others will certainly mock them as fools, but I have great adminration for them.

[Dale]

I think this polygamy disgust thing is an imaginary silver bullet to try & kill Joseph Smith's credibility as a prophet. To me it's like shooting a BB gun at ballistic gel. You might leave a tiny mark but you won't do much damage.

The persons effected by the practice as to the feel the need to express disgust havn't convinced me I need to feel disgust.