Was polygamy commanded by God in the Bible?

[chris2009]

The most obvious offense is against the women. In the case of David, treated as property; won as spoils of war. Women are treated as commodities. LDS are no different.

“I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow” Heber C. Kimball

What you are saying is a lie. Please do not spread lies about our church. We have always treated women with the highest respect and honor in our religion. In addition, the LDS church as not practiced polygamy since 1890. All other breakoff churches have completely evolved into completely different churches with different beliefs. They are in not way associated with “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”.

And when did David “win” women as spoils of war? Where are you getting these false ideas from?

 

[chris2009]

What happens when the person is no longer humble or righteous? Oh yeah, look to the Mormons who still practice polygamy. Children taken from their parents and wives reassigned to “righteous” men. But Mormons are all about “family”.

I think you may be extremely confused as to the Mormon faith. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not practiced polygamy since 1890. This is the main church of 14 million members world-wide.

Any other breakoff sect that practices polygamy today comprise a few hundred here and there and are in no way affiliated with our church. It would be like me saying the Lutherans are the same as the Catholics. Lutherans broke away from your church many hundreds of years ago.

 

[chris2009]

I guess he wasn’t righteous or humble enough.

oh wait…it looks like God is all about choosing someone who is humble enough, and that list of humble attributes includes not practicing polygamy.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

I explain a scripture and put in back into context and all you do is respond with sarcasm?

Why do Catholics cover their eyes and pretend things aren’t there? It’s in your own OT over and over. It was practiced as a normal thing among the Israelites.

I’m still waiting for a Catholic to explain away this scripture:

"1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. "

I’m not sure how you can explain this away. It plainly says the prophet Nathan was commanded of the Lord to tell David that the LORD God of Israel gave him wives.

 

[chris2009]

I was embroiled in answering a pesky Muslim poster who had since been banned whose style of debating had irked nearly every Christian posters here. When I came into this thread it was virtually answering the title of the thread, ’Was polygamy commanded by God in the Bible?’ My answer was that it was not. There are many commandments by God but none that commanded people to practice polygamy. All the Biblical verses you referred to have been addressed and none of them about God commanding polygamy. Some are merely recounting the acts of polygamy being practiced albeit by the patriarchs and kings; others were just a way of speech and hypothetical situations where polygamy was mentioned but none speaks about God actually commanding polygamy. The other was about governance.

Honestly I did not realize you are a LDS. It was written under your nick but I did not realize that. I have not engaged in debating LDSs simply because of lack of knowledge in their religious background. So I can only comment on what I know from what I read and heard. Those can never be comprehensive of course.

As to answer your question - Jesus came to found Christianity. Basically it is about Jesus; that he is the Son of God who saves us from sin by his death and resurrection. That is Christianity.

Then Islam came and much later, your religion. Both of these two religions religiously contradict Christianity. So that was the gist of my comment to the Muslim poster in my post you referred to.

Was he banned for being pesky or Muslim?

I realize that most Catholics don’t consider me Christian, but I strongly consider myself Christian firmly believing in the Savoir Jesus Christ and in His atonement which saves us from sin and death. We are afterall call “The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints”. The Book of Mormon is “Another Testiment of Jesus Christ”. I believe you cannot find a page in the entire book that doesn’t reference Jesus Christ in some way.

I would still like to know your opinion on this scripture from the Bible:

"1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

8And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. "

It plainly says the prophet Nathan was commanded of the Lord to tell David that the LORD God of Israel gave him wives.

 

[chris2009]

This kind of post is not even worthed answering. I did not insult your religion and I don’t see why you should do that to mine.

I’m not trying to insult you, I’m just pointing out the similarities. Just as you mentioned about us.

 

[Reuben_J]

Was he banned for being pesky or Muslim?

I am not the mod so I wouldn’t know for sure. But he did mention that Christians will be like pigs because we eat pork. So you see for yourself if we should argue like that. Muslims are certainly welcome here and some of them we accord with respect that’s due to them.

 

[chris2009]

Firstly, I’d say it’s clear that nowhere in the Bible does He command polygamy. Does He allow it? I’m not entirely sure. It’s never explicitly forbidden. Maybe we can say it’s like divorce - once accepted, but in the New Testament forbidden as the original plan was restored. So the Patriarchs would not have been sinning, but latter-day (forgive the pun) polygamists like the Mormons would be.

In any case, since as I said it’s nowhere commanded, if the civil laws forbid it they ought to be obeyed.

I thought God is unchanging? The Patriarchs don’t sin with polygamy and the Mormons do? Are you just making this up as you go?

Why don’t we agree on this: if the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to begin polygamy, then it was not sin. Can we agree on that?

If Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, then all the revelations he received are true – end of story. Correct?

If the Book of Mormon is the word of God, then Joseph Smith MUST be a true prophet. Correct? Because the Lord would not bring forth His word through a false prophet.

So this means, all we have to do is find out if the Book of Mormon is true. If it is, then Joseph is a true prophet and ALL the revelation he received (including polygamy) are true regardless whether we agree with them or not.

Moses and even Jesus Christ were not well liked in their day also. All true prophets are hated and persecuted by the majority of the world.

 

[chris2009]

I am not the mod so I wouldn’t know for sure. But he did mention that Christians will be like pigs because we eat pork. So you see for yourself if we should argue like that. Muslims are certainly welcome here and some of them we accord with respect that’s due to them.

Rebecca said LDS treat their women like cows. How is that different?

 

[dolphinlove]

I was embroiled in answering a pesky Muslim poster who had since been **banned **.

planten is banned???
am i dreaming or is this real???

if it is…
:clapping: :dancing: :extrahappy:

in a strange way, ill miss his ‘unusual’ posting style

 

[chris2009]

You can’t admit that when your criteria for accepting polygyny is applied to slavery it is also acceptable. So you agree that slavery is moral and is actually commanded by God and is a good and moral situation.

Yes, anything God commands is moral – even if it’s slavery. God is the standard by which all morals are measured.

 

[chris2009]

Only 124 posts for the anti-Catholic to show. Teach you that in Sunday school?

Honestly after being a member for 40 years I have never heard any of those things taught in Sunday School. Why does that offend you to be compared to Greek Philosophy? Don’t you admire Aristotle?

 

[Reuben_J]

I’m not trying to insult you, I’m just pointing out the similarities. Just as you mentioned about us.

If you are honest, you know that there is hardly any unless you imply that we worship idol. It is obvious in the Ten Commandments that it’s a sin.

I did not have the intention to compare yours with Islam. Like I said it’s an observation and especially I was caught up with said poster.

The similarity about LDS and Islam is only on these aspects as have been pointed out:

(1) Both approve polygamy (but now I’m told that LDS does not, so that’s new to me).

(2) Both of your religions have some (not all) of their roots in the OT and NT and both were introduced by a prophet respectively after Jesus Christ.

From my point of view, the revelations of the two religions are contradictory to that of Jesus Christ, at least on the aspects where we disagree.

And how is that not similar, the two points? I did not mention anything other than that because I wouldn’t know.

 

[chris2009]

planten is banned???
am i dreaming or is this real???

if it is…
:clapping: :dancing: :extrahappy:

in a strange way, ill miss his ‘unusual’ posting style

Why would you cheer for someone to be banned? Don’t you like an open and free discussion of a variety of ideas? I don’t know the guy, but I thought he made some good points. I guess if he had agreed with you he would no longer be pesky.

 

[Reuben_J]

planten is banned???
am i dreaming or is this real???

if it is…
:clapping: :dancing: :extrahappy:

in a strange way, ill miss his ‘unusual’ posting style

Yes, I just found out as I checked the posts. I too will miss him for the many comedies that we witnessed. Nevertheless there were times where he really crossed the boundary and probably those were unacceptable.

 

[Reuben_J]

Rebecca said LDS treat their women like cows. How is that different?

First I am not Rebecaa and your post was directed to my post.

I am not sure what she meant but it must be in the context of polygamy. And that’s the problem of polygamy especially if you based it on the culture of the OT - that the women were treated as properties. Those days cattle were properties and when they talk about properties invariably it would be in term of cattle or cows.

Why do you have to practice polygamy anyway (just curious)? Nothing is good out of it and women especially, are the victims. How would you feel if any female members of your family are taken in a polygamous marriage?

 

[chris2009]

If you are honest, you know that there is hardly any unless you imply that we worship idol. It is obvious in the Ten Commandments that it’s a sin.

I did not have the intention to compare yours with Islam. Like I said it’s an observation and especially I was caught up with said poster.

The similarity about LDS and Islam is only on these aspects as have been pointed out:

(1) Both approve polygamy (but now I’m told that LDS does not, so that’s new to me).

(2) Both of your religions have some (not all) of their roots in the OT and NT and both were introduced by a prophet respectively after Jesus Christ.

From my point of view, the revelations of the two religions are contradictory to that of Jesus Christ, at least on the aspects where we disagree.

And how is that not similar, the two points? I did not mention anything other than that because I wouldn’t know.

1. We have not approved of polygamy since 1890. You are excommunicated from our world-wide 14 million member church if you are in any way associated with this. I suppose we have a similarity that we once practiced polygamy. But the OT prophets and Israelites also practiced polygamy so this brings in all Christians into the mix since the Bible is “their” book now.
2. Don’t all Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Mormons have roots in the OT? In our religion, we believe there has always been only one true church on the earth since Adam. We believe this has always been The Church of Jesus Christ. Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter and Joseph Smith all testified of Jesus Christ. All held the keys of the priesthood – the keys of the kingdom of God on earth.

 

[Reuben_J]

Why would you cheer for someone to be banned? Don’t you like an open and free discussion of a variety of ideas? I don’t know the guy, but I thought he made some good points. I guess if he had agreed with you he would no longer be pesky.

Please check out the Forum’s rule.

This is a respected forum; perhaps you permits insult and lies in a LDS forum but surely not here. And if a poster persists in contravening the rule, then it is good riddance. If you want to discuss and want to stay here then observe Forum’s rule and debating decorum.

 

[Reuben_J]

1. We have not approved of polygamy since 1890. You are excommunicated from our world-wide 14 million member church if you are in any way associated with this. I suppose we have a similarity that we once practiced polygamy. But the OT prophets and Israelites also practiced polygamy so this brings in all Christians into the mix since the Bible is “their” book now.
2. Don’t all Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Mormons have roots in the OT? In our religion, we believe there has always been only one true church on the earth since Adam. We believe this has always been The Church of Jesus Christ. Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter and Joseph Smith all testified of Jesus Christ. All held the keys of the priesthood – the keys of the kingdom of God on earth.

You are deviating away from the thrust of my post which was answering as a clarification to your post; you’re just being defensive. Please don’t jump from one issue to another.

 

[Reuben_J]

gtg for now.

God bless.

 

[dolphinlove]

Why would you cheer for someone to be banned? Don’t you like an open and free discussion of a variety of ideas? I don’t know the guy, but I thought he made some good points. I guess if he had agreed with you he would no longer be pesky.

your right in the fact that you do not know this person, and the continual insults and lies he used to post. I do like and open discussion, but i dont like it when people lie and insult to try and escape from answering the questions that are given to them.