Mormon Dilemma 72

Mormon Dilemma 72

Polygamy, General Conference, 2^nd Manifesto

Journal of Discourses 23:280; “…Whatever men’s laws may be we cannot deny the truth of God, the revelations of God. I cannot do it, I would be damned and go to hell if I were to do it….” – George Q. Cannon, Salt Lake City, October 8, 1882

LDS Second Manifesto; “Inasmuch as there are numerous reports in circulation that plural marriages have been entered into, contrary to the official declaration of President Woodruff of September 24, 1890, commonly called the manifesto, which was issued by President Woodruff, and adopted by the Church at its general conference, October 6, 1890, which forbade any marriages violative of the law of the land, I, Joseph F. Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hereby affirm and declare that no such marriages have been solemnized with the sanction, consent, or knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I hereby announce that all such marriages are prohibited, and if any officer or member of the Church shall assume to solemnize or enter into any such marriage, he will be deemed in transgression against the Church, and will be liable to be dealt with according to the rules and regulations thereof and excommunicated therefrom.”
JOSEPH F. SMITH,
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Earlier today we posted an article about the upcoming General Conferences being held for October 2011.  We learned that General Conferences serve as a time for members to receive personal revelation from God and how that contradicts what the Church actually promotes.  (Follow the prophets or else…)

The Second Manifesto issued by the Church in 1904 is another example of proof in how they do this.  This manifesto caused me to wonder what George Cannon must have thought at the time considering his dogmatic public announcement and feelings about polygamy.

This type of situation is what breaks my heart for the Mormons.  I’m sure Mr. Cannon wasn’t alone by feeling they’d go to hell if they didn’t practice polygamy.  But now what?  Now that polygamy’s outlawed in America do you still go to hell?  If the Mormon god is omniscient wouldn’t he have known this would be a future problem for Smith’s church long after he was dead and gone?