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The complete text of ER's response:
I find it interesting that the topic of Plural Marriage better known as polygamy spans almost
10% of the total questions here to date. Considering plural marriage was covered in the bible and
was authorized by the Lord must mean nothing to those who continually dwell on this subject matter.
The fact that so many people do not understand the principal of plural marriage only serves to help
prove my point.
The prophet Joseph Smith announced plural marriage on July 12, 1843 to all the Latter Day Saints.
Polygamy in D&C 132:59 states "Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was Aaron, by mine own voice,
and by the voice of him that sent me, and I have endowed him with the keys of the power of this priesthood,
if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will
justify him." A man must be called of God (The Father) as Aaron was called. We know that Aaron was called
of God to hold the priesthood by referencing Hebrews 5:4 states "And no man taketh this honour unto
himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." What does D&C 132 verse 59 tell us? You must hold
the priesthood in order to be given the right to practice the covenant of plural marriage and you must be
called of God. This means you as a man cannot just wake up one day and decided to take another wife.
In Question 26 I have already answered what is polygamy/ plural marriage
and the relation of how it is
to take place in context of Jacob. To get a greater understanding please refer to this posting as well.
We see examples of Plural Marriages in the Bible. David had plural wives so did Moses and Abraham to
mention just a few.
In D&C 132 verse 61 it states "And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood--if any man
espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse
the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot
commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth
unto him and to no one else." So what is it saying here? Well it says that a man again cannot just
choose to go out and marry another women. The first wife must agree also. A man cannot come home and
say; honey, meet your new housemate I married her this afternoon.
Plural Marriage is for the raising of seed unto the Lord and must be done by the Lords will and
his alone. It cannot be done for lustful reasons. Most people barely understand this principal, including
Latter Day Saints. People only look at the lustful aspects of plural marriage. This lack of understanding
would weight heavy on Joseph Smith. I am sure that many men were requesting to be able to take on additional
wives. Men were probably teaching a principal they didn't understand possibly making it a missionary tool.
This is "not" what the Lord would want. Polygamy was a misunderstood doctrine, nevertheless a necessary
doctrine to the raising of seed unto the Lord because of persecutions and murder of the Latter Day Saints.
The more important doctrine to be teaching would be the Jesus Christ's plan of salvation.
The timing of Joseph Smith's journal entry makes perfect sense to me as the principal of plural marriage
is so misunderstood. Using the complete quote pertaining to plural marriage from Oct 5th 1843 from his
journal entry for the day says "Walked up and down St[reet] with Scribe and gave instructions to
try those who were preaching, teaching, or practicing ["practicing" struck through] the doctrine of plurality
of wives on this Law. Joseph forbids it and the practice thereof. No man shall have but one wife." Let's paint
a picture here. Joseph makes the announcement of Plural Marriage. It is misunderstood, and becomes the focal
point of discussion of doctrine in the community. Men request to take multiple wives. Men preach and teach the
subject on the streets of the community. Just as David was overcome by lust so are those that are preaching
and teaching this doctrine. These people on the streets preaching and teaching this doctrine have forgotten
that Jesus Christ is the center of salvation and the heart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Joseph Smith walking down the street preaches to those who are lust filled that they need "not" put aside your
first wife for a second wife. Joseph teaches that principal in Jacob 2:27-29 as the preferred method of
marriage and for those who are "not" called to practice in plural marriage. You as an individual cannot be
granted more responsibility if you have not fulfilled your current responsibility.
In closing I would like to add that he was not condemning the practice of plural marriage. Joseph Smith
was condemning those who were preaching and teaching the practice of polygamy that did not understand the
practice and making it the central doctrine based on lust. -ER (LDS)
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