John Edgar Slow Horses
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- Apr 11, 2023
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fairlatterdaysaints is only one of several different LDS (CoJC) interpretations. The fun thing now is that a developing schism is growing pitting a small minority of Mormons arguing that Joseph Smith was really a monogamist and, as a result of secret cabal of LDS apostles, murdered in Carthage Jail and blamed on the Missouri militia.We know from the Bible that plural marriage was at one time sanctioned by God. Faithful prophets of old married more than one wife.
- Sarai gave Hagar to Abram as his wife, Gen. 16:1–11.
- Jacob received Leah and Rachel and their handmaidens as wives, Gen. 29:21–28 (Gen. 30:4, 9, 26).
- If a man take another wife, he shall not diminish the first wife’s possessions, Ex. 21:10.
- David and his two wives went up to Hebron, 2 Sam. 2:1–2.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that having only one wife is the general law of marriage unless God commands otherwise. We believe that God commanded Joseph Smith to practice the law of plural marriage.
My personal belief is that plural marriage was part of the restitution of all things spoken of by the prophets of old. In the New Testament we read:
Acts 3:20-21
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Here it is prophesied that Jesus, after his death and resurrection, was prophesied that he would again be sent among us. However, he would remain in heaven until the time of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. One of those things which God had spoken by the mouth of his prophets was the law of plural marriage. Many Old Testament prophets lived by the law of plural marriage and this was sanctioned by God. We believe that the prophet Joseph Smith opened the time of the restitution of all things or in other words the dispensation of the fulness of times (see Ephesians 1:10). I believe that God felt that the law of plural marriage was one of those things that was to have restitution or restoration. Thus he commanded Joseph Smith to abide by this law.
For a detailed look at the wives of Joseph Smith and the research done by the church see:
Joseph Smith and Plural Marriage (Polygamy)