Mormons Admit—the Truth

On page A3 of the November 12, 2014 Orlando Sentinel is a brief article which declares that the Mormon Church is now acknowledging that its founder, Joseph Smith, took as many as 40 wives. Several things are of interest in this news story: The first one is that Smith had 40 (or more wives) before the Mormon Church decided to acknowledge the truth of the matter. This “revelation” is scarcely news to anyone who is familiar with their history. One would almost think that if the Mormon Church did not acknowledge their past teachings and practices, then we could not teach people the truth about them. However, facts are facts, even if they are not acknowledged.

First, They Were Against It

So, what are the facts? In the Book of Mormon, the practice of polygamy was condemned. The writer of the newspaper article appears not to know this—or perhaps did not have room to include all of the information he had access to. He writes:

The roots of the practice date to Smith’s study of the Old Testament in 1831. Major biblical figures—including Abraham, David and Solomon—had more than one wife and were acting on God’s wishes (A3).

The way this comment is phrased, it makes it sound as if Smith had been studying the Old Testament and suddenly realized that certain men in times past had more than one wife. The truth of the matter is that Smith already knew that such was the case and had condemned it in no uncertain terms in the Book of Mormon. For those unfamiliar with this work, it consists of 15 books, one of which is the “Book of Jacob,” which follows 1 and 2 Nephi. Notice carefully what the quote has in it. The emphasis is supplied:

Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led the people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not be any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts (2:24-28).

This passage clearly states that Smith was fully aware of David and Solomon and the number of their wives. God called the practice an abomination, according to the Book of Mormon. The text also implies that polygamy involves whoredom and the unchastity of women. Smith, then, already knew that God abhorred polygamy.

It is not correct, either, for anyone to say that, when David and Solomon had more than one wife, they were acting on God’s wishes. God addressed this issue in the Law of Moses. Referring to a time when Israel would desire to have a king (Deut. 17:15), Moses records that he should not multiply horses, gold and silver—or wives (vv. 16-17). If anyone in the history of the world could ever be said to have multiplied wives, it was Solomon. He was not fulfilling God’s wishes but disobeying God’s command.

Second, They Were For It

Doctrines and Covenants is another book of Smith’s that Mormons believe is inspired of God. It claims that Joseph Smith received several revelations from God and that the 132nd section of this book was received in Nauvoo, Illinois, on July 12, 1843. It is a complete reversal of what was taught in the passage already cited from the Book of Mormon (first published in 1830). So a mere thirteen years later, the question is presented concerning Abraham’s having children through Hagar: “Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it” (D & C 132:35). Having a plurality of wives was abominable for David and Solomon, but God commanded it for Abraham? Besides being inconsistent, it is not true. As Galatians points out, Isaac is the child of promise, who came by faith, and Ishmael was a child of the flesh, resulting from human planning.

Another contradiction occurs at Section 132:38, where Smith wrote that David and Solomon had many wives and concubines, “and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me.” So, in the Book of Mormon having wives and concubines was an abomination to God, but thirteen years later it was not a sin. Why the change? Joseph Smith wanted more wives. It was not altogether unlikely that his wife Emma might not be so enamored with this new “revelation.” Section 132:52 was written just for her. The reader is liable to think that the following part of Doctrines and Covenants was made up just to be funny, but it is serious:

And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.

Polygamy was an abomination in 1830. Women who participated in it were not chaste and committed whoredoms. But, mirabile dictu, thirteen years later those same ladies are now virtuous and pure. Oh, but that is not all. Joseph threw in a few more admonitions for his wife.

What if Emma did not want to be part of such a perversion as this?

And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law (132:54).

Now that’s incentive to conform!

Third, They Were Against It—Again

When Utah wanted to become a state, they were told it would never happen unless they gave up the practice of polygamy. Amazingly, they received another “revelation” saying that the practice was wrong in 1890, and in 1895 they were granted statehood. No wonder they did not want to admit that Joseph Smith had 40 wives or so. But it was the case long before they owned up to it.

The newspaper did not acknowledge it, but polygamy was the reason that many disliked the Mormon religion in the Nauvoo region of Illinois. Also, the Mormon religion and their avenging Danites was the basis for the very first Sherlock Homes mystery, written in 1886 and published the following year. Yes, it is extremely unflattering, but scarcely anyone protested at the time. The reason for a lack of outrage may have been due to the reported “Mountain Meadows Massacre” in 1857, when the Utah militia (consisting of Mormons) attacked and ultimately killed a wagon train headed for California. Only children under the age of seven were spared. The Mormons were joined by some Indians and, in fact, disguised themselves as such. Will the Mormon Church also admit this historical truth?

The other major historical fact is that Brigham Young, who succeeded Joseph Smith and led the Mormons to Utah, was known to have had more than 50 wives; the 19th one, Ann Eliza Young, went on tour around the country, lecturing on the evils of polygamy. In her autobiography, Wife No. 19, published in 1876 she wrote that she desired

to impress upon the world what Mormonism really is; to show the pitiable condition of its women, held in a system of bondage that is more cruel than African slavery ever was, since it claims to hold body and soul alike.

In 1961, Irving Wallace wrote a novel about Ann Eliza Young, which he titled, The Twenty-Seventh Wife. She testified before Congress and may have been part of the reason why legislation was enacted against polygamy. In recent years, many have taken it upon themselves to re-define marriage, thus moving it away from God’s definition of one man and one woman for life (Gen. 2:18-24). However, in re-defining it to include two males or two (or more) females, the door had been opened to polygamy. One wonders how long it will be before the Mormons have their next “revelation” justifying polygamy.