Trying to Be Fair
On Tuesdays at noon, brother Andy Kizer is leading several members of the 9th Avenue congregation in a study of Islam. We are looking at the history of that religion as well as many tenants and facts about it. One thing we are trying our best to do throughout the study is to be fair. We are looking at the text of the Koran, not the acts of some militant hotheads. After all, we would want others to look at Christianity in the same way.
The Mormon religion should be looked at just as fairly. Over the past few days, the FBI has been looking for Warren Jeffs, who has been added to the “10 Most Wanted” list. He is accused of many things, but polygamy and underaged sex are two of the offenses.
Such accusations have again raised questions about polygamy. The topic is a bit “taboo,” so it makes for easy news. However, it is a very serious topic. It is a subject that aims right at the heart of one of the main institutions set forth by God: marriage.
Just today, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that the ban on polygamy had been upheld. But, read the article closely. It was not a unanimous decision, and some of the reasons given for upholding the ban are quite interesting. The article is very informative, as you would expect, since it comes from Utah, which will be known as the state that allowed polygamy for so long. Also on the page, you can read the entire court’s opinion (but, be warned, it is LONG…85 pages long, to be exact!). The Tribune article may be accessed here.
What are we to make of all this talk of polygamy? Is it authorized by the Mormons? Some would say that only “fundamentalists” still argue that it is. However, the Mormons consider three books to be inspired: The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. If something is taught in one of these books it is “doctrine” for the Mormon church.
So, is there anything said about polygamy. Yes. In fact, the entire 132nd section of The Doctrine and Covenants deals with the issue. Andrea Moore Emmett wrote:
In 1842 Mormon Church president and founder Joseph Smith revealed the doctrine of “Celestial Marriage” (polygamy) to followers as the only way to attain the “fullness of exaltation.” The full revelation was recorded in their Doctrine and Covenants; section 132, making it “scripture” to Mormon faithful. Members of the Mormon Church continued the practice of polygamy after establishing themselves in the Utah Territory, keeping Utah from statehood for more than 30 years. In 1882, Congress passed the Edmunds Tucker Act, resulting in a major crusade against polygamists in the form of raids and arrests.
She also says there are some estimates that claim there are as many as 60,000 polygamists still in the state of Utah!
Mormon leaders over the years have also argued strongly for polygamy. In 1888, Mormon church President Wilford Woodruff said, “We won’t quit practicing plural marriage until Christ shall come.” (Interestingly, two years later, Woodruff was one of the signers of a document stating that Mormons had given up polygamy, and that helped Utah become a state.)
Another leader, George Q. Cannon, who was a counselor for the Mormon First Presidency said in 1885:
To comply with the request of our enemies, would be to give up all hope of ever entering into the glory of God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the son. So intently interwoven is this precious doctrine with the exaltation of men and women in the great hereafter that it cannot be given up without giving up at the same time all hope of immortal glory.
So, are we to take what some leaders say? While they do carry some weight, they do not carry as much weight as the “authoritative” document. While some may try to argue away that Mormons practice polygamy, we must understand that it is allowed (and, in fact, encouraged) in The Doctrine and Covenants section 132. If you wish, take time to read section 132, which you may access by clicking here.
