I love this very common statement…I have to wonder at the logic behind it, though. After all, if no Mormon KNOWS this, then how can it have been ‘taught as fact,’ especially with the interpretation YOU are putting on it?
I especially enjoy the 'they don’t admit that they do…" as if not knowing something, or denying something, is proof that this ‘something’ is true.
How does that work, exactly? It does seem like an odd logical path…lack of knowledge proves truth. You need to be careful in using it. After all, by the exact SAME reasoning, the fact that you claim that the Book of Mormon is not true proves that it is.
You need to reread my post; I didn’t say ‘No Mormon knows…,’ I said most don’t know. Big difference. In fact, most Mormons aren’t that familiar with much of their own history. I don’t assume you know or believe anything other than what is taught today. Feel free to add to that as the conversation progresses, but I will never put words in your mouth or thoughts in your head; I’m simply using what has been taught by the church, past and present, as the standard.
It was taught as fact and that can be proven by simply opening a book, one produced by the LDS itself, one that claims to be scripture: “Joseph Smith holds the keys of this last dispensation, and is now engaged behind the vail (sic) in the great work of the last days…namely, that no man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter intot he celestial kingdom of God without the consent of Joseph Smith…every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance where God and Christ are…” (Brigham Young, General Conference, Oct 9, 1859, JOD 7:289)
We also see the same sentiment in the song "Praise to the Man: “…crowned in the midst of the propets of old, mingling with Gods, he can plan for his bretheren.” (Gospel Principles pp 358-359, 1996 edition)
And thus it is with many of the church’s teachings; they are taught, fall out of favor, and then forgotten or even denied. This is exactly the case with polygamy and temple marriage being two sides of the same coin of exaltation, the ‘new and everlasting covenant’ in D&C 132:4. Since polygamy is no longer permitted, the church had to redefine its own terms and theology to make it seem plausible.
I’ll assume, however, that you were fully aware of these two things. Did you know that Jesus was once taught to be a polygamist and the reason that he was crucified was because people were jealous of the number of wives he had?
It stands to reason that if the prophet taught something, the people likely believed it.
