Eternal Marraige and Polygamy

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gryskull

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The doctrine of Eternal Marraige is something that has always confused me. Here is a quote from an LDS site.
When a marriage is performed by the proper authority, in the holy temple, it can last through eternity, rather than “till death do you part.”
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So here is my question. If a mormon is married and gets sealed in the temple by the proper authority then that marraige, at least for LDS, will last for eternity. What if the same man gets married again because his wife died and goes thru the sealing process again? Then he has another wife in the after life. Just think about that man going thru the same process X number of times. Doesn’t that make him a polygamist which the LDS church condemns. Or does the LDS church condemn polygamy only in this life but not after? Just need clarification on this subject.
 
A woman can only be sealed to one man but a man can be sealed to more than one woman in unusual cases like the one you mentioned. When the practice of polygamy was discontinued, it was because they were forced to, not because they were convinced it was a bad thing. Continuing it would have likely destroyed the church and what’s the point in that?
 
You have it right. Polygamy will be the rule in the celestial kingdom and the only prohibition is against practicing it on the earth now. Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants is still binding doctrine for LDS.
 
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majick275:
You have it right. Polygamy will be the rule in the celestial kingdom and the only prohibition is against practicing it on the earth now. Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants is still binding doctrine for LDS.
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Do the regular members know about this? Are they encourage to study such doctrine? How do they react to this? Do they just blindly accept such doctrine?

I’m wondering how a non-lds like me can get hold of these books considered doctrine by the LDS church such as the D&C, Pearl of Great Price, etc. Is this readily available in the internet?
 
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rmcmullan:
A woman can only be sealed to one man but a man can be sealed to more than one woman in unusual cases like the one you mentioned. When the practice of polygamy was discontinued, it was because they were forced to, not because they were convinced it was a bad thing. Continuing it would have likely destroyed the church and what’s the point in that?
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So do you think that polygamy is a good thing? Why do you openly condemn it today? Or is your condemnation just a facade?

At any rate my question still hasn’t been answered? Is polygamy condemned by your church totally or is it still held by your church, meaning that your President holds you bound to believe in this doctrine(afterlife or eathly)?

P.S.
I want to let you know that these are sincere questions because your answer bothers me. I accept you answers as it is(but it doesn’t mean that I hold bound your idea as the idea of the LDS church.) Coz another member of your church might think otherwise.
 
I’ll go with the commendation just being a facade. Although I would certainly have worded it differently! Like I said before, the church had a gun to their head and they decided to discontinue polygamy rather than die. But like Jacob, Israel, David and Solomon, they still abide polygamy. I personally don’t think it’s the ideal arrangment for a strong society and at best a lesser form of marriage.

AS you know, it’s a very passionate topic. It was back in the early days of the Mormon church too and nearly split it apart. They discontinued the practice when they were forced to and they are good to their word and have kept it ever since. But they do not believe it was wrong. Still, to permit it, even in countries where it is allowed, would be seen as an endorsement that would have serious consequences back home. I’m not sure how that is handled. I know in Nigeria, where half the country is Christian and half is Muslim, there are no legal prohibitions on polygamy. But many of the Christian religions (in Nigeria) will not allow you take take communion if you do. But the Mormon church has kept their word to the US government. As I understand it, not being able to take communion is pretty darn close to being excommunicated.
 
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gryskull:
Do the regular members know about this? Are they encourage to study such doctrine? How do they react to this? Do they just blindly accept such doctrine?

I’m wondering how a non-lds like me can get hold of these books considered doctrine by the LDS church such as the D&C, Pearl of Great Price, etc. Is this readily available in the internet?
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The members know. They study this one often. They don’t see a problem with it and love the thought of being a family “forever”. They follow it eagerly in my experience. You can read it online at www.lds.org there is a link on that page for scriptures and you can navigate from there. Careful though, these writings are from a false prophet clearly fitting the description in 2 Peter chapter 2
 
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gryskull:
I’m wondering how a non-lds like me can get hold of these books considered doctrine by the LDS church such as the D&C, Pearl of Great Price, etc. Is this readily available in the internet?
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Everything’s online. You can read the whole shebang at scriptures.lds.org. As majick275 says, if you are interested in the views on polygamy, the part you want to read is section 132 of the Doctorine and Covenants. I would also recommend, in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 1:23-35. You might be surprised but there is also a very certain denouncement of polygamy in there. Let me know when you have it all figured out!
 
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gryskull:
The doctrine of Eternal Marraige is something that has always confused me. Here is a quote from an LDS site.

So here is my question. If a mormon is married and gets sealed in the temple by the proper authority then that marraige, at least for LDS, will last for eternity. What if the same man gets married again because his wife died and goes thru the sealing process again? Then he has another wife in the after life. Just think about that man going thru the same process X number of times. Doesn’t that make him a polygamist which the LDS church condemns. Or does the LDS church condemn polygamy only in this life but not after? Just need clarification on this subject.
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Actually this is exactly what happens. And is the only way we still practice “polygamy” today. However… with the increased life spans its pretty rare that this actually happens.

You also have to remember the law of the leverite, which was Given to Moses by God had provision to manage polygamy built right into it. A brother was required to take to wife the spouse of a brother if his brother died.

Also, what happens if a Polygamist Iraqie wants to get Baptized? Do we make him choose one of his wifes and family and through the rest out in the street to beg for food?
 
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rmcmullan:
Everything’s online. You can read the whole shebang at scriptures.lds.org. As majick275 says, if you are interested in the views on polygamy, the part you want to read is section 132 of the Doctorine and Covenants. I would also recommend, in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 1:23-35. You might be surprised but there is also a very certain denouncement of polygamy in there. Let me know when you have it all figured out!
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Actually… thats Jacob 2: 23-30. Verse 30 leaves the door open for its practice if the Lord deems it necessary.
 
Here we learn to love as married couples; this love is then passed on to our children that God lends to us while on earth. . But this love is Gods love through us, it Is a gift to creation. In heaven love will not be measured in small units as we measure it here. In heaven we will be re united to God, to Him, we will be His people, He will be our God. God is who we marry, not in a human sense, rather is a spiritual sense forever. We will love all sons and daughters as our own, all spirits who find their life thorough God and because of God will be loved as God loves us by each of us united within the Holy Trinity. Marriage here is tempory, it prepares us for something much larger.
 
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Zakuska:
Actually this is exactly what happens. And is the only way we still practice “polygamy” today. However… with the increased life spans its pretty rare that this actually happens.

You also have to remember the law of the leverite, which was Given to Moses by God had provision to manage polygamy built right into it. A brother was required to take to wife the spouse of a brother if his brother died.
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So in a sense the LDS church still accepts/condones this practice. If it is something that was taught by JS as a revelation from God and is still being practiced by your church why then is it not revealed to people who are inquiring. I know from first hand experience, that missionaries say that this is something that is condemned by the LDS church but yet I get a different answer here. How then does the LDS church view polygamy? Is it something good that should be practiced or something bad that should be stopped.

In regard to your example we should consider the culture in those times. Although polygamy was accepted back then it doesn’t mean that it was right. Polygamy came about because of sin…sexual desires gone bad since this is something good in and of itself. Although God allowed it it doesn’t mean that God meant it to be. Remember that when God created man and woman HE meant for that marraige to be for one man and one woman otherwise HE would have designed it differently. Jesus himself condemned it when he sad “but it(divorce) was not so from the very beginning.” He condemned divorce because it allowed the israelites(men) to have another wife. It was because of the hardness of their hearts that Moses allowed divorce. The israelites basically wasn’t going againts moses but God since moses was but the humble speaker of God and the intercessor of the israelites everytime they stumbled and failed.
 
I think the feeling towards polygamy in your typical Mormon ward would be pretty much the same in a typical Catholic parish: the women are pretty much against it and some of the men are excited about the prospect but understand that it is not very realistic. How many guys can really support two families? Nobody really cares about it much or even talks about it much. It seems to be a very hot topic for people opposed to Mormons but the Mormons really don’t give a hoot.
 
Theres also the issue of Isaiah 4.

1 AND in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

rmcmullan ,

Amen! I got my hands full with just one! Let alone… any others.
 
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rmcmullan:
some of the men are excited about the prospect but understand that it is not very realistic. QUOTE]

I have been married to the same women for many years. Just the thought of what you have written makes me feel very ill. My devotion to my wife is un yeilding, but I also understand that the devotion that Christ has for both of us is much bigger. Our complete devotion goes to Him.
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Early LDS polygamy was an interesting dynamic. It was intended to follow Zak’s Isaiah reference. BY was big on self sufficiency and home industry. The plural wives were supposed to use complimentary skills to achieve economies of scale and under the direction of the wise husband would create a self contained economy in which all necessary goods and services could be obtained within the family. This freed up the Dad to serve missions, serve the church full time as GA or like the husband of the good wife in proverbs sit with the elders of the community and plan the future of the town, etc.

The idea is somewhat analagous to their “united order”. A socio-economic system that is self sustaining, all inclusive and “fair”. The problems encountered in actually implementing these ideals spelled disaster for both. Human nature could not be overcome to get true socialism in the United Order. That same human nature prevented polygamy from turning into small, family sized “zions”.

Just as most LDS believe that, in the absence of Satan, United order will be the rule in the millenium, so too polygamy. Without human nature being “tempted”, charity prevails and having all things in common works well. So does the symbolic 7 women taking one man all providing their for their own sustenance but having children as wives to worthy men.

Do some LDS have a degree of anxiety about this? yes. Do some even dread it? yes? do a few look forward to it? yes. Do most just not think about that right now? YES!

I am glad that I don’t have to worry about either way. My family just wants to worship God and be allowed to dwell in his presence.
 
Actually… through recent studies… I’ve come to think of the United Order as the ultimate Tax shelter. Since the church owns everything and you have stewardship. No taxes for the US governement. 😉
 
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