Ensign, March 2014, “The Lord’s Standard of Morality”; “…He [God] needs to speak only once on the issue of morality, and that one declaration trumps all the opinions of the lower courts, whether uttered by psychologists, counselors, politicians, friends, parents, or would-be moralists of the day.
Contrary to much public sentiment, there is nothing negative or restraining about God’s moral standards. Rather, they are positive, uplifting, and liberating. They build relationships of trust, they enhance self-esteem, they foster a clear conscience, and they invite the Spirit of the Lord to bless individual and married lives. They are the proven standards for happy marriages and stable communities.
What, then, is the Lord’s standard for use of the sacred power of procreation—His standard of morality?…The procreative power is to be exercised in the marriage relationship for two key reasons: (1) to bind and strengthen ties between spouses and (2) to bring souls into the world. These uses have the blessing and endorsement of the Lord.
On the other hand, the procreative power is not to be exercised outside the husband-wife relationship. Accordingly, any conscious thoughts or voluntary actions that stimulate or result in the expression of the procreative power outside the marriage relationship are disapproved by the Lord.” – Elder Tad R. Callister
Leviticus 18:18; “Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.”
Deuteronomy 17:17; “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
Mr. Callister’s talk sounds good (most of it anyway) don’t you think? We’re wondering how his truth holds up to the beloved founder of his faith – Joe Smith.
Let’s review –
Following God’s moral law in marriage builds trust. This is true when both members of the marriage are faithful to their spouse.
Following God’s moral law in marriage builds self-esteem. This is also true when both members of the marriage treat each other with respect and honor the marriage vows.
We’re wondering why Joseph and all of the LDS prophets up until 1904 lived a polygamous lifestyle when God explicitly stated otherwise. For those who tell me that God never forbade polygamy I defer to the examples above.
Did God’s moral laws not apply to the Church at that time?
Again we’re faced with a dilemma for the modern day Mormon.
If what they were teaching prior to 1904 isn’t acceptable to God then what happens to all those ancestors of theirs? The Bible tells us God does not change – Malachi 3:6.
Mormons today tell me what the Church taught back then doesn’t apply to them today so I’m asking again; why is that?
If these commandments from the Mormon god don’t apply to Mormons today then why are they still in their canon? See D&C 132.
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