FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs may be serving life in prison, but his followers continue with their work on the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas where the group's white limestone Temple towers over the town they are building. Polygamy, the practice of plural marriage, appears to be alive and well in the Lone Star State, despite laws to the contrary.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
why are laws made?
the justification for governments making laws, is to prevent abuse. the laws against polygamy were in existence, in western civilization for millenia. if polygamy wasn't abusive, why the laws, even in ancient times?
Because polygamy can be a rich breeding ground for abuse. Now, when two women get together and decide to share a man there is research that indicates polygamy can be beneficial for them and the children. However, male dominated polygamy, particularly in closed societies like Pakistan and the FLDS, tend to be abusive to women, children, and non-favored males. Even in ancient times I think it was pretty clear that multiple wives for one man isn't fair to anyone except in times of great female surpluses.
Laws are passed because people vote them into existence. For whatever reason. So if enough people think the law should pass, then it does. So, laws are what people think should be right, not necessarily what IS right. And thus, laws are really what the public's popular opinion is at the time the law was made.
The clearest evidence in Scripture against polygamy is to be found in Matthew 19:5-6 which not only teaches that marriage is one man and one woman for life, but teaches also that it was so from the beginning. This passage leaves no doubt, therefore, that polygamy was wrong even in the Old Testament.
That it was wrong also in the Old Testament is evident, not from any explicit command forbidding it, but from the several facts: (1) that it was introduced by godless Lamech (Gen. 4:19); and (2) that those of God's people who committed the sin suffered the consequences of it, sometimes all their lives. Witness the brotherly strife that nearly destroyed the families of Jacob and David, and the idolatry of Solomon.
Other New Testament passages also condemn the practice. Most commentators agree that I Timothy 3:2 has to do with polygamy. It forbids the ordination of men who have been involved in such a practice, and important principle of foreign missions. Nor, we should add, does the fact that it is specifically forbidden of elders mean that it is permitted to others. Finally, all the passages which speak of marriage, speak always of one husband or wife, not many (Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:10-16; Eph. 5:22-33).
Most conclusive, however, is the fact that marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ and His church (Eph. 5:32). If this is the case, then it ought to be evident to us that our behavior in marriage is always to be patterned on Christ's behavior in relation to the church. In this case, the rule is that Christ has only one bride-one church.
I'm wondering why its ok for Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter to be pregnant and the daughters 'fiance' To not be in jail for getting her pregnant. Dont get me wrong, I DO NOT condone underage marriage whatsoever!! Nor underage pregnancy. Just curious, think about it, I would be interested in what others think about it.
Anon 10/01 @ 8:48- Most conclusive, however, is the fact that marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ and His church (Eph. 5:32). If this is the case, then it ought to be evident to us that our behavior in marriage is always to be patterned on Christ's behavior in relation to the church. In this case, the rule is that Christ has only one bride-one church.
I beg to differ with you here- The church comprises many members and only one head- like many wives and only one husband. Also, If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were so cursed (for their 'sin' of polygamy), why did God bless them and their seed? Why did God command Sariah to give the handmaiden to her husband as a wife if it was against His laws? Does God command the faithful to break His own rules? Does God bless sinner who willfully break His commandments? I don't think so.
bbgae, God didn't command Sariah to give her handmaiden as a wife to Abraham. Sarah came up with that herself and it caused a lot of friction later on.
Genesis 16 Hagar and Ishmael 1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me."
Genesis 16 1Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
"God didnt command Sari to give hagar to abraham, she took it upon herself, because she wanted a child so bad. She wasnt willing to " wait or faith" in that God told her she would have a child. She wanted one right then! And once sari had given abraham hagar and found out she was with child, Sari hated her, and forced Abraham to make her leave.
The primary purpose of laws is protection of property. Other laws only voice our degrees of social acceptance. All laws are made to be broken, after all any law that can't be broken serves no purpose.
Same goes for laws that are not or can not be enforced. Now as far as polygamy laws; Where are the laws that stop a married person from having several lovers? Why is it acceptable to have a mistress as long as she is only a mistress? How degrading. A mistress rarely ever meets "The Wife". Try to sort this out. The biggest question seems to be how to stop underage marriages and abuses in a closed society. Maybe having Warren Jeffs behind bars will at least open their eyes to realize these are abuses. I think if we were more accepting of their way of life, they would be less secretive and be able to expose themselves to the fact the outside world does have acceptable moral values.
"celestial wives" are mistresses, concubines according to Biblical terms. Is that what you want for your daughters? Legal terms is One wife to One man. You add more, I dont care what religion or morals you have, they arent legally wives. You think Abraham, Solomon, David did pay consequences for the many wives, concubines they had, knowing God didnt want that? Yes they paid huge consequences for Not doing what God told them.
Sarah Palin's daughter is 17, legal age in Texas or Alaska, she can be married with or without her parents consent. She is almost 18.
I don't think they would be less secretive, whether polygamy was decriminalized or not. If they "exposed" themselves, and most of all, their women, they would lose more women than they're willing to risk. Also, it's pretty clear that they aren't willing to give up the practice of underage "sealings" regardless of the stories they are telling the media, again. I think that their decision to avoid society has more to do with preventing society from "corrupting" their members than with fear of being found out. However, I think that decriminalizing polygamy might make women more willing to leave abusive polygamous relationships. Particularly if they knew they would get custody of their children and that their "husband" would have to pay child support. I think that would do a heck of a lot more to stop the abuses too. Once the men are being held responsible for their choices, their children, and their pocketbooks get hit, then something might change.
Just A Question IS THERE ABUSE IN MONOGAMY? WHY ALL THE FUSS ABOUT POLYGAMY. LETS LIST ALL THE PROBLEMS IN MONOGAMY. I WOULD'T DARE!!! LET'S JUST SHUT UP, OK.
Essentially, monogamists outnumber polygamists here. You don't like it, tough. Go find your own world where polygamy is the norm. Until then, we'll speak out all we like. Granted, you have just as much right to speak out against whatever flaws you think you've found in monogamy. No matter what spin you want to put on it, monogamy in most civilized countries is not allowed between old men and 12 year old girls.
one moment friend, what happened to "freedom under the constitution, to practice religious tenants that are against statute", but suddenly you want us to suppress our right to freely express our opinion,which is not against statute? :D
So Rebeckah "Might Makes Right"?? coercing others, because we have the power to force them to obey us? The old question; Would you jump off a bridge because....? We should all become the same? Social Darwinism? Old men and young girls has become more of a "Media darling" than a real fact. I can't say there are a lot of flaws in monogamy, but monogomous America does have the highest divorce rate in recorded history. Let's not even get into the fact that monogomous America includes Gay marriages. Hmmm a can of worms, when all you wanted to make was chicken soup.
I dont care what you want to be like as long as you follow the law! Thats the topic! Yup there are problems with monogomy to. But, in monogomy, there are laws to protect both spouses. There are NONE in polygamy! How many women who have left Polygamy, get child support? How many women get 1/2 of the community property when they leave? How many polygamists women who leave get alimony or support to help them get job training? No, its not a can of worms, its against the law to live in a polygamist or bigamist marriage!
You're so funny Anonymous 11:45. I didn't say anything about forcing anyone to do anything. What I said was that we didn't have to shut up. If you don't like it, tough. So, Anon, whining makes right? We should tip toe around you because you feel you have a religious "right" to polygamy? Sorry pal, but this is America where we discuss our differences freely.
And old men and young girls is a solid historical fact in the FLDS and other closed polygamous societies. I imagine it's necessary, since the numbers just don't work so the women must keep getting younger and younger. Too bad the FLDS don't recruit new women. If they could find some maybe they could let their little girls be little girls.
I really do love the baseless attack. ("Might makes right?" hahahhahaha) And the quick attempt to use a red herring with gay marriages. By the way, if polygamists want the government to stay out of their bedroom wouldn't it be more honest to say the government should stay out of the bedrooms of gays too? Oh, wait, they don't have the "religious freedom" mantra, do they? Hypocrites...
"Essentially, monogamists outnumber polygamists here. You don't like it, tough. Go find your own world where polygamy is the norm." __________________
"We outnumber you" ; That's not a statement inferring the use of force?? And keep your red herrings I said chicken soup not Bouillabais, sweetie. If old men and young girls is a "solid historical fact" where is this history written? or is it solid media dwelling on the exception? You might be American, and the American Government does not ignore what happens in your bedroom. That right of privacy is more of a Canadian thing. It was Pierre Trudeau that said "there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. What's done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code." Now you see I am niether American nor polygomous, and I don't slander an entire group because of the actions of a few. If all the FLDS men charged are found guilty it might push one of their communities per capita sex offender levels to that of average America. Just by the number of veterens in these communities it is obvious these people are proud Americans, a lot of good people with some bad leadership.
Off topic a sec....I wonder if the folks at YFZ/CC/Hilldale, etc., are registered Republican or Democrat?? Or if they vote? Are they told who to vote for? Or is there ANY free will allowed?
I think he did not go to jail because his age difference was not very much greater than Bristol Palin. Also, maybe Alaska consent permits this at age 16 or 17. Many states still have consent ages less than 18 and nothing happens to the males in the situation as long as they are not more than a couple years older than the females involved. It is more of a legal problem when the age difference gets larger. In the case of what the flds does, they practice institutionalized underage marriages where the girls are often coerced into marrying much older males,and these males are often already married as well. flds girls are living in a very closed, controlled society where there is much pressure for them to comply with others' demands that they marry someone they may not even know or may dislike, and also polygamy is in the picture. This is a big difference from non-flds girls dating guys that they like and are just a few years older, and where there is no social pressure making the girl marry anyone. There are several things going on with flds practices which make them objectionable.
Jesus Himself strongly emphasized that God had designed marriage as one man one woman for life. He was asked about it and he answered describing very high moral standards in comments which were supportive of only monogamy and the decent treatment of spouses by one another. The polygamists do not obey Old Testament Levitical incest rules, and they also ignore the high moral standards laid out in the New Testament, for average church members and for church leaders. Polygs are just rationalizing the breaking of good US laws because they are following in the footsteps of founder Joseph Smith, who was an incredible hypocrite and broke many US laws of his day, in addition to ignoring his own and others' marriage vows. Smith wanted many females but he did not want his wife to have any extra males in her life. Smith also moved romantically on married women with living husbands who did not want to divorce their husbands. So Smith was an active, long-term perpetrator of fornication and adultery, yet is held up as some kind of righteous person. Smith also "married" some girls as young as 14,telling them it would make it possible for them and their families to receive salvation. What rot! Smith threatened legal wife Emma with made-up language saying God was commanding Emma to accept all this nonsense "or be destroyed." Why didn't God tell Emma directly herself? (In earlier years Smith had "revelated" that having concubines and extra wives was wrong. What happened to Smith, eh?) It's all just sexuality-driven nonsense cooked up in Joseph Smith's perverse and blasphemous mind. Brigham Young threatened women who would not accept polygamy. BY had over 50 "wives." This is not the picture of good men who are interested in serving God. It is a picture of men driven by the flesh and by the thoughts of keeping others under control with threats and false pronouncements which produce fear.
27 comments:
Because polygamy can be a rich breeding ground for abuse. Now, when two women get together and decide to share a man there is research that indicates polygamy can be beneficial for them and the children. However, male dominated polygamy, particularly in closed societies like Pakistan and the FLDS, tend to be abusive to women, children, and non-favored males. Even in ancient times I think it was pretty clear that multiple wives for one man isn't fair to anyone except in times of great female surpluses.
Laws are passed because people vote them into existence. For whatever reason. So if enough people think the law should pass, then it does. So, laws are what people think should be right, not necessarily what IS right. And thus, laws are really what the public's popular opinion is at the time the law was made.
The clearest evidence in Scripture against polygamy is to be found in Matthew 19:5-6 which not only teaches that marriage is one man and one woman for life, but teaches also that it was so from the beginning. This passage leaves no doubt, therefore, that polygamy was wrong even in the Old Testament.
That it was wrong also in the Old Testament is evident, not from any explicit command forbidding it, but from the several facts: (1) that it was introduced by godless Lamech (Gen. 4:19); and (2) that those of God's people who committed the sin suffered the consequences of it, sometimes all their lives. Witness the brotherly strife that nearly destroyed the families of Jacob and David, and the idolatry of Solomon.
Other New Testament passages also condemn the practice. Most commentators agree that I Timothy 3:2 has to do with polygamy. It forbids the ordination of men who have been involved in such a practice, and important principle of foreign missions. Nor, we should add, does the fact that it is specifically forbidden of elders mean that it is permitted to others. Finally, all the passages which speak of marriage, speak always of one husband or wife, not many (Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:10-16; Eph. 5:22-33).
Most conclusive, however, is the fact that marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ and His church (Eph. 5:32). If this is the case, then it ought to be evident to us that our behavior in marriage is always to be patterned on Christ's behavior in relation to the church. In this case, the rule is that Christ has only one bride-one church.
If you had always kept all of the ten commandments you wouldn't have to ask.
The rest of them are in some form or another an expansion of those.
I'm wondering why its ok for Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter to be pregnant and the daughters 'fiance' To not be in jail for getting her pregnant. Dont get me wrong, I DO NOT condone underage marriage whatsoever!! Nor underage pregnancy. Just curious, think about it, I would be interested in what others think about it.
Anon 10/01 @ 8:48-
Most conclusive, however, is the fact that marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ and His church (Eph. 5:32). If this is the case, then it ought to be evident to us that our behavior in marriage is always to be patterned on Christ's behavior in relation to the church. In this case, the rule is that Christ has only one bride-one church.
I beg to differ with you here- The church comprises many members and only one head- like many wives and only one husband.
Also, If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were so cursed (for their 'sin' of polygamy), why did God bless them and their seed? Why did God command Sariah to give the handmaiden to her husband as a wife if it was against His laws? Does God command the faithful to break His own rules? Does God bless sinner who willfully break His commandments? I don't think so.
bbgae, God didn't command Sariah to give her handmaiden as a wife to Abraham. Sarah came up with that herself and it caused a lot of friction later on.
Genesis 16
Hagar and Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me."
Genesis 16
1Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
"God didnt command Sari to give hagar to abraham, she took it upon herself, because she wanted a child so bad. She wasnt willing to
" wait or faith" in that God told her she would have a child. She wanted one right then! And once sari had given abraham hagar and found out she was with child, Sari hated her, and forced Abraham to make her leave.
Honestly, You need to read scripture MORE!!!
The primary purpose of laws is protection of property. Other laws only voice our degrees of social acceptance. All laws are made to be broken, after all any law that can't be broken serves no purpose.
Same goes for laws that are not or can not be enforced.
Now as far as polygamy laws; Where are the laws that stop a married person from having several lovers? Why is it acceptable to have a mistress as long as she is only a mistress? How degrading. A mistress rarely ever meets "The Wife". Try to sort this out.
The biggest question seems to be how to stop underage marriages and abuses in a closed society. Maybe having Warren Jeffs behind bars will at least open their eyes to realize these are abuses.
I think if we were more accepting of their way of life, they would be less secretive and be able to expose themselves to the fact the outside world does have acceptable moral values.
"celestial wives" are mistresses, concubines according to Biblical terms.
Is that what you want for your daughters?
Legal terms is One wife to One man. You add more, I dont care what religion or morals you have, they arent legally wives.
You think Abraham, Solomon, David did pay consequences for the many wives, concubines they had, knowing God didnt want that?
Yes they paid huge consequences for Not doing what God told them.
Sarah Palin's daughter is 17, legal age in Texas or Alaska, she can be married with or without her parents consent.
She is almost 18.
If plural marriage IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE HIGHEST HEAVEN how many wives did Enoch have?
I don't think they would be less secretive, whether polygamy was decriminalized or not. If they "exposed" themselves, and most of all, their women, they would lose more women than they're willing to risk. Also, it's pretty clear that they aren't willing to give up the practice of underage "sealings" regardless of the stories they are telling the media, again. I think that their decision to avoid society has more to do with preventing society from "corrupting" their members than with fear of being found out. However, I think that decriminalizing polygamy might make women more willing to leave abusive polygamous relationships. Particularly if they knew they would get custody of their children and that their "husband" would have to pay child support. I think that would do a heck of a lot more to stop the abuses too. Once the men are being held responsible for their choices, their children, and their pocketbooks get hit, then something might change.
Just A Question
IS THERE ABUSE IN MONOGAMY? WHY ALL THE FUSS ABOUT POLYGAMY. LETS LIST ALL THE PROBLEMS IN MONOGAMY. I WOULD'T DARE!!!
LET'S JUST SHUT UP, OK.
Essentially, monogamists outnumber polygamists here. You don't like it, tough. Go find your own world where polygamy is the norm. Until then, we'll speak out all we like. Granted, you have just as much right to speak out against whatever flaws you think you've found in monogamy. No matter what spin you want to put on it, monogamy in most civilized countries is not allowed between old men and 12 year old girls.
LET'S JUST SHUT UP, OK.
one moment friend, what happened to "freedom under the constitution, to practice religious tenants that are against statute", but suddenly you want us to suppress our right to freely express our opinion,which is not against statute? :D
So Rebeckah "Might Makes Right"?? coercing others, because we have the power to force them to obey us?
The old question; Would you jump off a bridge because....? We should all become the same? Social Darwinism?
Old men and young girls has become more of a "Media darling" than a real fact. I can't say there are a lot of flaws in monogamy, but monogomous America does have the highest divorce rate in recorded history. Let's not even get into the fact that monogomous America includes Gay marriages.
Hmmm a can of worms, when all you wanted to make was chicken soup.
I dont care what you want to be like as long as you follow the law!
Thats the topic!
Yup there are problems with monogomy to. But, in monogomy, there are laws to protect both spouses. There are NONE in polygamy!
How many women who have left Polygamy, get child support? How many women get 1/2 of the community property when they leave?
How many polygamists women who leave get alimony or support to help them get job training?
No, its not a can of worms, its against the law to live in a polygamist or bigamist marriage!
Also you know when you see an older man with a teenage girl; don't jump to conclusions after all she could be his daughter or niece or his stepmom.
You're so funny Anonymous 11:45. I didn't say anything about forcing anyone to do anything. What I said was that we didn't have to shut up. If you don't like it, tough. So, Anon, whining makes right? We should tip toe around you because you feel you have a religious "right" to polygamy? Sorry pal, but this is America where we discuss our differences freely.
And old men and young girls is a solid historical fact in the FLDS and other closed polygamous societies. I imagine it's necessary, since the numbers just don't work so the women must keep getting younger and younger. Too bad the FLDS don't recruit new women. If they could find some maybe they could let their little girls be little girls.
I really do love the baseless attack. ("Might makes right?" hahahhahaha) And the quick attempt to use a red herring with gay marriages. By the way, if polygamists want the government to stay out of their bedroom wouldn't it be more honest to say the government should stay out of the bedrooms of gays too? Oh, wait, they don't have the "religious freedom" mantra, do they? Hypocrites...
"Essentially, monogamists outnumber polygamists here. You don't like it, tough. Go find your own world where polygamy is the norm."
__________________
"We outnumber you" ; That's not a statement inferring the use of force?? And keep your red herrings I said chicken soup not Bouillabais, sweetie. If old men and young girls is a "solid historical fact" where is this history written? or is it solid media dwelling on the exception?
You might be American, and the American Government does not ignore what happens in your bedroom. That right of privacy is more of a Canadian thing. It was Pierre Trudeau that said "there's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. What's done in private between adults doesn't concern the Criminal Code."
Now you see I am niether American nor polygomous, and I don't slander an entire group because of the actions of a few. If all the FLDS men charged are found guilty it might push one of their communities per capita sex offender levels to that of average America. Just by the number of veterens in these communities it is obvious these people are proud Americans, a lot of good people with some bad leadership.
"it is obvious these people are proud Americans, a lot of good people with some bad leadership."
at this time, that seems to be typical of good Americans every where.
Off topic a sec....I wonder if the folks at YFZ/CC/Hilldale, etc., are registered Republican or Democrat?? Or if they vote? Are they told who to vote for? Or is there ANY free will allowed?
good question
question..what exactly does the Old Testament say about Polygamy?
I think he did not go to jail because his age difference was not very much greater than Bristol Palin. Also, maybe Alaska consent permits this at age 16 or 17. Many states still have consent ages less than 18 and nothing happens to the males in the situation as long as they are not more than a couple years older than the females involved. It is more of a legal problem when the age difference gets larger.
In the case of what the flds does, they practice institutionalized underage marriages where the girls are often coerced into marrying much older males,and these males are often already married as well. flds girls are living in a very closed, controlled society where there is much pressure for them to comply with others' demands that they marry someone they may not even know or may dislike, and also polygamy is in the picture. This is a big difference from non-flds girls dating guys that they like and are just a few years older, and where there is no social pressure making the girl marry anyone. There are several things going on with flds practices which make them objectionable.
Jesus Himself strongly emphasized that God had designed marriage as one man one woman for life. He was asked about it and he answered describing very high moral standards in comments which were supportive of only monogamy and the decent treatment of spouses by one another.
The polygamists do not obey Old Testament Levitical incest rules, and they also ignore the high moral standards laid out in the New Testament, for average church members and for church leaders.
Polygs are just rationalizing the breaking of good US laws because they are following in the footsteps of founder Joseph Smith, who was an incredible hypocrite and broke many US laws of his day, in addition to ignoring his own and others' marriage vows. Smith wanted many females but he did not want his wife to have any extra males in her life. Smith also moved romantically on married women with living husbands who did not want to divorce their husbands. So Smith was an active, long-term perpetrator of fornication and adultery, yet is held up as some kind of righteous person. Smith also "married" some girls as young as 14,telling them it would make it possible for them and their families to receive salvation. What rot!
Smith threatened legal wife Emma with made-up language saying God was commanding Emma to accept all this nonsense "or be destroyed." Why didn't God tell Emma directly herself? (In earlier years Smith had "revelated" that having concubines and extra wives was wrong. What happened to Smith, eh?) It's all just sexuality-driven nonsense cooked up in Joseph Smith's perverse and blasphemous mind.
Brigham Young threatened women who would not accept polygamy. BY had over 50 "wives." This is not the picture of good men who are interested in serving God. It is a picture of men driven by the flesh and by the thoughts of keeping others under control with threats and false pronouncements which produce fear.
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