Many of us have been astonished by the church's candor in the recently released essay on polygamy. Why would the church be willing to publically brand its founder as a serial adulterer and statutory rapist?

Maybe something bigger is going on. While the church publically disavowed polygamy in 1890, it secretly continued the practice until at least 1904. What if it didn't stop there? What if polygamy went deeply underground and was only secretly practiced by very senior leaders, such as the top 15.

And now, with Utah's "cohabitation" statutes declared unconstitutional and gay marriage becoming the norm, maybe the bretheren are preparing the membership for a return of publically practiced polygamy.

Yes, the church has punished polygamists before, but it makes sense that they would disavow any action that was not authorized by them, or even authorized actions that were publically revealed.

Even if there hasn't been a deeply buried polygamy underground, what if Monson is going off the deep end and thinking that he's having revelations on the topic? Sudden crazy changes have happened before, such as the recent lowering of missionary ages.

No matter what happens, this is going to be fun to watch.

It could attract a whole new group of devotees.

I know several wanna-be polygs who are salivating at what they now see as the imminent return of legal, Church-approved multi-wifery. TSCC is going to test the waters carefully, as a major PR disaster with huge backlash is the last thing they want. Maybe they'll "restore" it in cultures outside the US where it's already accepted and practiced, then eventually expand it to the US when it feels "safe" for them to do so.

icedtea Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe they'll "restore" it in cultures
> outside the US where it's already accepted and
> practiced, then eventually expand it to the US
> when it feels "safe" for them to do so.

Interesting idea. I never thought of that but it makes sense.

;o)

It would be welcomed by some of the lonely hearts who can only accept a worthy pencilholder as a husband. Those Nuskin MLM boys have plenty money and room in their mansions to take on some extra wives.

But then they'd lose a lot more women. Many women have explained themselves into 2nd class citizenship, denouncing women who want the Priesthood.

But would they really stretch so far as to explain away 2nd class citizenship, to allow themselves to be a 3rd, 4th, or 5th wife to their DH?

I know a lot of women say sh!t like "Polygamy can't be reinstated unless the Prophet says so!" But behind that, they're saying "Please, don't let polygamy become reinstated in my lifetime!"

Totally disagree with this suspicion. The church and its adherents are very embarrassed by the history of polygamy. The LDS Inc is far more concerned about PR and acceptance and growing the church than preserving wacky old doctrines. They would lose so many members and potential converts that there is NO WAY they would attempt to reinstate the practice. I'm sure they would love for polygamy to be completely be swept under the rug but its impossible for them to do this. Polygamy will forever be tied to Mormonism.

The only reason this article came out was because its part of a whole series of articles on VARIOUS controversial issues on Mormon history and doctrine. Due to mass media and the internet, the LDS church is being forced to confront the issues being openly discussed online. This is their attempt to try and "control the message" pretend to be "open and honest" about their history.

I must have missed the part of the essay where they made it clear that Joseph Smith was wrong to implement polygamy, that they will never ever implement polygamy ever again, that all polygamous temple marriages will be cancelled and that no more polygamous temple marriages will be allowed. Maybe because it wasn't there?

The truth is they will re-implement polygamy as soon as polygamy becomes legal, or Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory, whichever comes first. They will be waiting for a long time ;)

That would definitely put those covenants to the test.

I think in reality every Mormon has his breaking point, a line he can't cross.

Maybe not some of the mental ones who cling to blood atonment. The John Lees and Porter Rockwells.

Yes, polygamy will return. But it will be with conditions, and very much behind the veil.

It will be a fantastic way to finally empty the singles wards of sweet spirits.

Joe Smith got the "revelation" as a CYA action, so I don't see any modern revelation to say it's OK, but imagine the push for multi-marriage when the polyg's say: "Hey, mainstream SLC, it's legal for 2 guys to get married, so why not one guy and 3 or 4 ladies!?"

Polygamy always ends up being a disaster. The fat cat old men steal the hot looking women from the younger generations and eventually run the young men off. Probably killed them in the old days.

Nature keeps the population roughly an even number of male to females. Whenever someone starts marrying more than one or aborting one sex over another the balance is screwed up.

Polygamous colonies are always ran by a dictator. China has screwed itself long-term by aborting female babies and causing a imbalance of males to females. The males will end up fighting each other for the females or invading other countries for their females.

It's best to find the one you love and stick with them if you want a family.