Dear Gramps,
My husband recently joined the Church and together we have been studying the scriptures. As he read he found the declarations that are made at the end of D&C as to the matter of polygamy. He has some questions, and I felt comfortable enough to answer them but as I prepared my thoughts I realized how little I did know on the subject. I have read the official declaration concerning polygamy, but it almost seems as there was a denial of it ever happening. Did it go on? Who or how many brethren had more than one wife? And most of all, why, if ever, was there a need for this practice? I hope that you will be able to advice me. Sincerely,
Ana from California
Dear Ana,
There is something about polygamy that few people understand, although they appear to be versed in the Bible. Whenever the kingdom of God has been on the earth, He has commanded certain of his children to have more than one wife. It is common knowledge that most of the Old Testament prophets had plural wives.
The same commandment was given in the early days of the Restoration. However, polygamous relations, to be valid and legal, had to be authorized by the President of the Church. I understand that no more than about 4% of the early church members were called to have more than one wife. When polygamy was first practiced in the Church it was a perfectly legal procedure. However, the anti Mormon law makers used it as a political issue in attempts to defame the members of the Church, and a retroactive law was passed against the practice. The Church appealed the court action outlawing polygamy, and the official declaration banning the practice was issued only after the appeal had been denied by the supreme court. However, while the appeal was in litigation no plural marriages were authorized. This was strictly consistent with the church doctrine to be obedient to the laws of the land.
The Church has never denied the early practice of this principle, but has followed the revelations from the Lord both in initiating and in terminating the practice. The reason for practicing plural marriage has nothing to do with the shortage of men and the preponderance of women in the Church, as some have claimed, but is a practice related to our eternal progression. The only plural marriages that were authorized were those unions for time and eternity that were sealed in the holy temples, and relate to man’s progress in the eternities.
Gramps
