Millennial Star, Vol. 15, No. 15, April 9, 1853, pg 226; “The consequence of my opposing the Patriarchal Order of Marriage would be the loss of my husband for all eternity…The great question is this – will we unite with the plurality Order of Ancient Patriarchs, or will we consent voluntarily to be doomed to eternal celibacy?…We cannot be married to our husbands for eternity, without subscribing to the law that admits a plurality of wives.” – Elder Samuel Richards
Deseret News, 14 November 1855; “If any of you will deny the plurality of wives and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned.” – Brigham Young
Article 3. The following ordinance shall be irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of this State:
[Religious toleration — Polygamy forbidden.]
First: — Perfect toleration of religious sentiment is guaranteed. No inhabitant of this State shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship; but polygamous or plural marriages are forever prohibited.
Leviticus 18:6; “None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.”
The reference from the LDS periodical Millennial Star was written in the form of a typical conversation on the doctrine of polygamy that may have taken place between two cousins.
It shows the understanding of what the Church taught and how members interpreted the doctrine. Obviously, the pretend conversation was spot on according to Brigham Young’s understanding of it.
Why didn’t they include the scriptural basis for God’s side of this horrendous doctrine? The majority of those practicing polygamy in the early years were guilty of marrying next of kin or multiplying wives to himself which God explicitly warned against. Deuteronomy 17:17.
If the polygamy revelation was really from God why was it pronounced illegal? Polygamy didn’t just become illegal in 1888 by the US government through the Edmunds-Tucker Act. It was illegal in Illinois and Missouri long before that time.
If mankind is powerful enough to outlaw something forever just as Utah’s constitutional law pronounces, why can’t the Mormon god out trump man’s laws for His purpose? Where is his power?
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