How do you know this?First I want to say I am surprised at how many opinions there are about our beliefs! Being a “Mormon,” I hope to clarify some of the questions that seem to be being asked on this site to the best of my knowledge. The main questions that seem to be getting asked are:
- Original Hinkley Question.
- Do we practice polygamy?
- Will we have multiple wives after death?
- What do we believe about god.
- Gordon B. Hinkley is presently in the spirit world. There he will continue in the work of the lord, teaching and admonishing as he did in this life. He will serve as he did on earth as he awaits the first resurrection, the millennium, and the day of judgement.
And it remains one of your doctrines (not practiced).
- No. We do not practice polygamy at present although it was practiced in the past.
Why the difference between what you say about a single marriage or more than one? Doesn’t the one sealing also depend upon one’s righteousness?
- I don’t know. I do know that only those sealed to you in the temple on this earth will be your wife after death. So if you are sealed to one you will only have one. Those who are sealed to more than one will have more than one predicated upon their righteousness.
Ultimately this knowledge comes from knowing the Book of Mormon is god’s word. Every doctrine taught within the LDS church originates from this book. Through this book and the teachings of the bible I have come to understand Gods plan for us.How do you know this?
The doctrine that any man can have as many wives as he wants is not a doctrine of the LDS church and never will be. The Lord is very clear in this matter when he spoke through Jacob to his people in the Ancient Americas. At this time some of the people were beginning to have more than one wife because David and Solomon had many wives:And it remains one of your doctrines (not practiced).
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.
I apologize for my poor choice of word order. That bit was a bit confusing. Similar to baptism, a sealing is also a covenant with the Lord. All covenants with the Lord are predicated upon our righteousness. So, Yes the one sealing is dependent upon the individuals’ righteousness.Why the difference between what you say about a single marriage or more than one? Doesn’t the one sealing also depend upon one’s righteousness?
Replace afterlife with millennium and I think that is correct. (I am not sure what you mean by “polygamous sealings.” To my knowledge a sealing is only done between one man and one wife at a given time.) Ordinances of the gospel and covenants with the lord must be done on the earth in the flesh. As explained above, any sealing following the first would require the Lords command.Also, your doctrine is such that a single person who never marries in this life will have the opportunity to be sealed to someone in the afterlife, including polygamous sealings.
Through knowing Christ I have come to understand God’s plan for us. I do not need a Book of Mormon.Ultimately this knowledge comes from knowing the Book of Mormon is god’s word. Every doctrine taught within the LDS church originates from this book. Through this book and the teachings of the bible I have come to understand Gods plan for us.
Your Church disagrees. “After God revealed the doctrine of plural marriage to Joseph Smith in 1831 and commanded him to live it, the Prophet, over a period of years, cautiously taught the doctrine to some close associates.”The doctrine that any man can have as many wives as he wants is not a doctrine of the LDS church and never will be.
God never commanded the practice of polygamy. Those who practiced it in the Bible did it on their own, and paid for their error.The Lord is very clear in this matter when he spoke through Jacob to his people in the Ancient Americas. At this time some of the people were beginning to have more than one wife because David and Solomon had many wives. Here the Lord is very clear that polygamy is only to be practiced under his command.
That’s ok. It happens to everyone. Congrats on the baby, and good luck with your pregnancy!Wow. Thanks for correcting me. I truly ask for mercy for having erred.
(trying not to be too sensitive, but I am pregnant and feel condescended to quite easily).
I was just curious what they believed. That’s all. Sorry.
True Science WOULD NOT state that God does not exist. Anyone who claims that science proves there is no God shows a complete lack of understanding of what science is and what it can do. I am NOT saying that science proves there is a God. Science deals purely with the material world, and what can be subjected to the scientific method. Once a scientist begins to address the concept of God, he is no longer speaking about science, but philosophy and religion. To ask science to tell us whether or not God exists is no different than to ask science to tell us why Hamlet is unable to kill his uncle. It is asking a question that science is not designed to answer.True science would claim that we all came from monkeys and that god does not exist. They site scientific evidence to support their claim. Do you believe in true science or only in selective true science?
This quote misrepresents the LDS church’s stance by quoting only a small portion of the article. The summary at the top of the article clearly states polygamy only practiced under the God’s command and ended when different direction was given.Your Church disagrees. “After God revealed the doctrine of plural marriage to Joseph Smith in 1831 and commanded him to live it, the Prophet, over a period of years, cautiously taught the doctrine to some close associates.”
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. At certain times and for His specific purposes, God, through His prophets, has directed the practice of plural marriage (sometimes called polygamy), which means one man having more than one living wife at the same time. In obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s but officially ceased the practice of such marriages after the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff in 1890. Since that time, plural marriage has not been approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any member adopting this practice is subject to losing his or her membership in the Church.
That’s interesting. What does the catholic church believe about Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon? Were they all condemned and punished for having more than one wife?God never commanded the practice of polygamy. Those who practiced it in the Bible did it on their own, and paid for their error.
we know they all suffered consequences for their polygamy. it’s in the bibleThis quote misrepresents the LDS church’s stance by quoting only a small portion of the article. The summary at the top of the article clearly states polygamy only practiced under the God’s command and ended when different direction was given.
That’s interesting. What does the catholic church believe about Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon? Were they all condemned and punished for having more than one wife?
It does not misrepresent, you said, polygamy is not a Mormon doctrine, clearly, your church says it is. The practice of it is what you are talking about, and the summary is addressing the practice of the doctrine, not whether or not the doctrine exists.This quote misrepresents the LDS church’s stance by quoting only a small portion of the article.
I said the following:you said, polygamy is not a Mormon doctrine, clearly, your church says it is
If polygamy is defined as a man has as many wives as he can get (which seems to be the general consensus these days) it is not church doctrine. The doctrine of plural marriage is different. I know that polygamy is conventionally defined as “the practice of plural marriage.” But there is a big difference between current forms of polygamy and what existed in the early LDS church. If you care to hear the difference I would be happy to explain but it really isn’t appropriate to equate modern polygamy with what was then practiced.The doctrine that any man can have as many wives as he wants is not a doctrine of the LDS church and never will be.
Whatever “modern polygamy” is. It is semantics, more than one wife = polygamy, whether it is 2 or 56 (the number of BY wives). If 56 isn’t collecting as many wives a possible, I don’t know what is.I said the following:
If polygamy is defined as a man has as many wives as he can get (which seems to be the general consensus these days) it is not church doctrine. The doctrine of plural marriage is different. I know that polygamy is conventionally defined as “the practice of plural marriage.” But there is a big difference between current forms of polygamy and what existed in the early LDS church. If you care to hear the difference I would be happy to explain but it really isn’t appropriate to equate modern polygamy with what was then practiced.
But it certainly seems to be the attitude of Heber C. Kimball (1801-1868 early church) in his infamous comparison “I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow”. Please explain how this statement by an Apostle doesn’t re-enforce a definition of polygny as “As many wives as he can get”. Getting married is the same as purchasing an animal, this is the form of polygyny practiced by the early LDS church.I said the following:
If polygamy is defined as a man has as many wives as he can get (which seems to be the general consensus these days) it is not church doctrine. The doctrine of plural marriage is different. I know that polygamy is conventionally defined as “the practice of plural marriage.” But there is a big difference between current forms of polygamy and what existed in the early LDS church. If you care to hear the difference I would be happy to explain but it really isn’t appropriate to equate modern polygamy with what was then practiced.
No one is telling you your pov. This is a forum for discussion, not for Mormon monologue.I am simply trying to explain our point of view. Everyone here seems to be insistent telling me what our point of view is. I can see I am wasting my time.
Thank you all for your enlightening remarks. I’ll save my explanations for someone with an open mind. If anyone happens to read this and cares for a Mormon perspective/explanation of our doctrine feel free to email me.
Good, at least you see it is a doctrine still.If I were proselytizing I would be laying things out in a clear concise manner with an invitation to try the principles found in the Book of Mormon and Bible. Not trying to explain my understanding of a doctrine not practiced for nearly 200 years.