Polygamy in Scripture

Speaking to friends about the LDS faith, it is no surprise that the issue of polygamy comes up at times. While only a minority of LDS membership were ever even called to practice polygamy, the early historical practice of polygamy is an issue all LDS wrestle with. The following is a few thoughts I had on the subject after the topic was brought up in conversation recently.

1. LDS believe in and covenant to observe strict and absolute chastity/abstainance before marriage and complete fidelity within marriage.
2. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden demonstrate an ideal; one man and one woman.
3. The Nephites in the Book of Mormon were commanded that they should observe marriage as one man and one woman.
4. In the New Testament, Bishops and Deacons were to be the man of one wife. Elders could possibly be permitted more.
5. According to the Doctrine and Covenants, mankind in general are not called to practice polygamy. Polygamy was to be permitted by a calling (assignment) only.
6. Adultery is not about just having relations with more than one woman. Adultery is about having relations for purposes other than unifying a marriage relationship or having offspring and taking full and complete responsibility for your spouse and for those offspring.
7. The Bible does permit the practice of polygamy under specific circumstances.
8. Abraham and Jacob practiced polygamy which came with its own set of unique challenges.
9. Early in LDS history, a minority of LDS were called to practice polygamy. For those who were called or assigned, their acceptance of that calling or assignment was critical to their sanctification and eventual exaltation. Today, we are called to practice traditional covenant marriage and our exaltation is dependent upon accepting the calling into traditional covenant marriage.
10. Most of the women sealed to Joseph Smith likely were only "spiritual wives" and the marriage was not consummated. meaning a person participated in a simple ceremony sealing themselves as part of an eternal family. This would cover women who were married to other men and younger women. We know of no children by Joseph Smith by other women other than by Emma. So far, even hearsay cases where a person claimed someone else to be the offspring of Joseph Smith, the DNA evidence does not support the claim. That said, Joseph Smith likely did consummate several polygamist marriages and practiced polygamy "in very deed."
11. Polygamy was a great trial of faith for Joseph Smith and others. I do not expect the issue to be any less a trial of faith for us today.
12. Having spoken with many descendants of Mormon pioneers and polygamist, my wife being one of them, the practice at that time seemed to be a blessing with no ill-effects on future generations. In fact, most descendants of LDS polygamists have warm regard for these faithful forbearers.
13. Polygamy was only justified if commanded by God, for the purpose of raising righteous seed unto the Lord, and for the higher purpose of caring for the fatherless and the widow.
14. God at times has commanded prophets contrary to the 10 commandments for higher purposes and as a trial of faith.

Examples:
Abraham commanded to offer his son Isaac
Moses called to make a graven image of the brazen serpent
Joshua was commanded to "utterly destroy"
David permitted to have many wives and concubines by Nathan
Hosea commanded to marry a harlot.
Joseph Smith called to practice polygamy

15. There are many scriptures in the Old and New Testament which discuss the past and even future practice of polygamy.

Ex. 21: 10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. (speaking of the first wife).

Deut. 25: 5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. (likely would be a second wife).

Isa. 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.

Ezek. 44: 22 Neither shall they (Priests of Aaron) take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before. (likely a second wife).

1 Tim 5: 14-17 I will therefore that the younger women (widows) marry (re-marry), bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows (second wives), let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour (a double portion from the bishop's storehouse like the birthright son), especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (Bishop and Deacons should have one wife, but some Elders may have had multiple)

16. There are certain laws that because of their potential for abuse, cannot be fully and generally instituted in a fallen Telestial world. This may include the full institution of the Law of Consecration and its corresponding economic system known as the "United Order" where society lives as the Early Christians with "all things in common." This concept may apply to polygamy and covenant marriage.
17. Historically, an LDS couple who were called to practice polygamy had to be both equally consenting to it. There are some critical statements out there about polygamy, but there are also positive reports critics fail to acknowledge like those of my wife's ancestry.18. Divorce rules were more liberal in Biblical polygamy. If your husband wasn't able to provide food, raiment, and duty of marriage that wife was free to leave (Ex 21:11). And since the practice of polygamy creates a shortage of woman and raises the bar for males, there is no shortage of eligible suitors.
19.The purpose of this post is not meant to condone or advocate the practice of polygamy. According to how I read the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants, the practice of polygamy should not be generally practiced because of the inherent difficulties and possibility of abuse. However, you can't read the Bible and ignore the fact that in some specific cases and circumstances God condoned the practice. I am really not sure why anyone would even desire to practice polygamy at all. I can't even keep up with one "honey-do" list.
20. Therefore, the question that remains with regard to the historical practice of Polygamy in the LDS church is, did God command it. And that question can only be answered by faith and prayer.

Commandments and Exceptions

The 10 Commandments are not relative but God does make exceptions at times. For instance, the commandment "Thou shalt not [murder]." However, killing in defense of family or country is not considered murder. Capital punishment is not murder. Another commandment says, "Thou shalt honor they parents." Does that mean a child should do whatever their parent tells them? What if a child was forbidden to accept Christianity. According to God, accepting Christ, even if we are disowned or it causes a division in the family is considered honoring our parents.

The same principles also apply to the commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." In the Garden of Eden, Adam was given one wife. This was considered the ideal and prototypical relationship. But if you read further in the Bible, God has at other times allowed the practice of polygamy under specific circumstances. If done under these specific circumstances, polygamy was not adultery any more than capital punishment is murder.

The Nephites were commanded to have only one wife, but an exception to this commandment is given. Just like there are exceptions given for divorce. God says, "if I desire to raise up righteous seed, I will command otherwise."

Abraham is a good example of entering into polygamy for the purposes of raising up a righteous posterity. Abraham was led to find God. He had left his family and home and his idolatrous ways. But it seemed he would have no posterity to leave this great legacy despite being promised great posterity. Sarah hadn't borne him any children. So, the Bible says, Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a second wife. Jacob had 4 wives for this purpose and the results are the 12 tribes of Israel. Imagine how many people there are who praise God they were born through the bloodline of Abraham.

Abraham covenanted with the Lord that he would be the father of many nations. Since Sarah had given him not children, he received other wives to fulfill the covenant. He took an active roll in making sure the covenant blessings were realized. And because of this faith, it was accounted unto him for righteousness. This example teaches us that if we are promised something by God, we shouldn't just sit on our hands and wait for God to deliver, but we should be anxiously engaged in realizing Gods promises to us.

Exodus 21:10-11 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

Here Moses addresses polygamy very plainly right after recording the 10 commandments in Exodus. There is no suggestion that taking another wife = adultery if the husband continues to provide the 1st wife her food, reignment and duty of marriage. If, however, the husband cannot provide these 3 things, because his attentions are focused on another woman exclusively, then the actions of the man would constitute adultery, and under the conditions of marriage, she is free to divorce. LDS polygamy operated similarly. Divorce was easier to obtain. If a woman entered into a polygamist marriage and she didn't feel that her needs were being met, she was able to divorce and remarry monogamously. However there are only occasional examples of this occuring.

According to Exodus 21, It seems Moses wouldn't have a problem with a man taking another wife if he was able to provide fully for both households. And if you look back at Jewish history it is clear that polygamy was a common practice; certain sects more than others. That said, I am glad this kind of thing is not practiced any more. Unfortunately, in our society, there are an increasing number of men who have 4 children by 3 women and don't pay child support for any of them.

Deut. 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.

God makes polygamy a part of the Law of Moses for this same exception. The Law of Levarite marriage says that if a man marries and dies before his wife and he have any children, then his wife should be married to his brother so that the brother can raise seed up for his deceased brother. In many cases, the 2nd brother would have already been married; especially since the brother who dies without children would likely have been the younger brother. The older brother who would accept his brother's wife would have received the birthright and "extra portion" which would assure he had sufficient to fulfill the obligations under the Law. Therefore, Levarite marriage is another example of Biblically sanctioned polygamy.

David also took many wives and it was accounted unto him as righteousness. Only in the issue with Uriah and his wife was the sin (D&C 132:39). Solomon was also given many wives. Solomon was condemned because he took wives of non-Israelites or strangers and that resulted in Solomon turning to their gods, and building temples and idols up to other gods to appease his wives who worshiped other gods.

There is one other important exception that justifies polygamy and doesn't make taking another wife adultery. That is the commandment and duty to care for the fatherless and the widow. While many aspects of the Law of Moses were fulfilled in Chirst, our duty to care for the widow is still part of Christ's new and everlasting covenant. 1 Timothy Chapter 5 discussed the law for the care for widows. According to this chapter the first responsibility to care for a widow was on the widows own family. But if the widow were young (less than 60), Paul taught that the widow should remarry.

1 Tim 5:14-18 I will therefore that the younger women (less than 60) marry (remarry), bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Many of the second wives of Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young were widows of other church brethren. So, in these cases, having multiple wives and supporting multiple households is not considered adultery.

James 1: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
visit = episkeptomai = to care for

What is amazing is that the "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox" is used to justify the lavish lifestyle of many Christian pastors and bishops when this chapter is clearly referring to the duty of the elder who is using their own hard-earned money to care for multiple households. It is the elders who are caring for the widow and the orphan who rule (their homes) well who should be counted worthy of double honour. Further evidence that elder is referring to male believer in the church and not the pastor or bishop is that 1 Tim 1:19 "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses." The Pastor or Bishop would be serving as the judge and not be the accused.

Evidence that polygamy was practiced by the Jews at the time of Christ and the Early Christian saints can be found in the pastoral epistles of Paul. In speaking of the qualifications for a Bishop, Paul stress that bishops and other church leaders need be the husband of one wife. I presume this is to provide ample time to manage the flock and attend to the work of the ministry instead of caring for several households comprised of widows (polygamy) and orphans (adoption). If polygamy wasn't a common practice, I am not sure why Paul would have brought it up.

Polygamy was required of the early LDS Saints for their exaltation because they were commanded and empowered to receive it. If they had rejected that perfecting work, then they would be rejecting the Holy Ghost which guided them into that practice. And therefore, would have have been rejecting Christ (John 13: 20). God does not require it of us today, so it is not a practice to be desired, and is not part of our path to perfection and sanctification.

Also, with regard to commandments and exceptions to them, I try to live by the following mantra: It should only be an rare exception when I am the exception.

Current FLDS verses Historic LDS Polygamy

I have heard some of my colleages at work ask if there is any relationship between FLDS polygamy and the historical LDS practice of polygamy which ended in the early 1900's. I am concerned that some of them might ask, "So, is this how it was? Or, is this how the LDS polygamy used to be?"

According to the journals of my wife's ancestors, media detail on current FLDS practice seem nothing like how polygamy was practiced by the LDS church in the late 1800's. My wife's great-g-g-g-grandfather moved from Canada and imigrated to Utah with the first LDS pioneers to settle the West. He was a body guard to Brigham Young and buried bodies at Hauns' Mill. He did not have any desire to practice polygamy and was initually repulsed by the notion despite having a testimony of Christ, and the restored gospel. However, when the Martin and Willie Handcart companies were stuck in Wyoming, he left immediately as part of the rescue party.

His wife and he took in a young women who had lost her husband. She was badly frostbitten and had permenant disfigurement she carried her entire life. She was nursed back to full health and lived with that family and was cared for. Because of her disfigurment, she had few prospects to remarry and no oportunities for a carrier. In the West a women could work outside the home as only a teacher or a midwife. All the other jobs consisted in back-breaking, manual labor.

In Utah, the rescued woman was essentially fatherless and now a widow and never had had children. Years after the rescue the Bishop called my wife's husband to take her as a second wife. This issue was discussed and accepted by both husband and wife and the rescued girl became a second wife. A separate home was built for her, and she was given healthy children to raise and had every need provided for. Athough not an ideal situation, she was able to enjoy being a mother, homemaker, and wife and lived a fulfilled and spiritual life with a close relationship with Jesus Christ which was evident from her love and testimony expressed in her journal.

Polygamy is not the ideal situatation. If it were, Adam would have given him multiple wives in the garden. But, there are situations like all commandments where the Lord commands otherwise. According the the Law of Moses and the Law of Levirate Marriage, one purpose of polygamy that is accepted is to raise up righteous seed. In the Law of Levirate marriage if a man dies and his wife has given him no children she is commanded to be taken as a second wife by the man's brother to raise posterity unto the deceased man. In the same spirit, Abraham took Hagar to wife because Sarah was unable to bare children. The other reason that God may justify polygamy as an exception is to care for the needs of the fatherless and the widow. Polygamy was commanded by God to be practice by the LDS church for these 2 specific exceptions although those at the time might not have understood it. When polygamy not longer served a higher purpose it was revoked and is prohibited by the LDS church

Women were not to be treated like property in the LDS church. Women were encouraged to educate themselves, and develop their talents in homemaking, arts, music, literature, and sciences. The daughter that came from the polygamist union between my wife's g-g-g-grandfather and the rescued women studied obstretrics and gynecology and became an accomplished physician (not just a midwife) in Idaho.

Also, coercion was not to be involved. Polygamy was done by consent with the blessing of parents and family. In many cases a marriage was not consumated for several years after a marriage ceremony was performed. Polygamy served to benifit women in a way because men had to raise the bar in a sense of their behavior because other married men were still "in-the-game" so to speak. Women could never claim that "all the good ones have already been taken." Also, if they entered a polygamist relationship and they were not being taken care of they were more free to cancel the marriage and remarry out of polygamy. Second wives were given more freedom with regard to divorce because in a way their situation satisfied the command of Christ that divorce be permitted only in the case of adultery. But in this case the adultary was justified just like God justifies killing for the defense of family and country.

LDS men were not to desire the practice of polygamy. It was a call that was extended to a minority of men in the church who met strict criteria of self-mastery, righteousness, and had the means to care for a second family. Even with polygamy, LDS men were expected to practice strict chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage. Again, not an ideal practice and more open to be abused like in the case of the FLDS church, this was not something that anyone would desire to enter into. Brigham Young upon learning of the command to practice polygamy said:

"Some of these my brethern know what my feelings were at the time Joseph revealed the doctrine; I was not desirous of shrinking from any duty, nor of failing in the least to do as I was commanded, but it was the first time in my life that I had desired the grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. And when I saw a funeral, I felt to envy the corpse its situation, and to regret that I was not in the coffin, knowing the toil and labor that my body would have to undergo; and I have had to examine myself, from that day to this, and watch my faith, and carefully meditate, lest I should be found desiring the grave more than I ought to do" (JD 3:266).

But not long after obeying God's command, although an exeption, he was blessed and understood the necessity of it. Brigham Young became a fervant proponent of the practice and carried a consideral burden in taking on the support of many of Joseph Smith's wives after his death in the spirit of caring for the now fatherless and widows and in raising up seed unto his brother Joseph Smith whose second wives bore him no children.

At the time it was preached that men and women could not enter the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom unless they practiced this law. But that is because the practice was expected of them by God. There is no such expectation on members of the LDS church today, because the command to practice polygamy has been revoked and the original order established in the Garden of Eden and practiced in the Book of Mormon was restored.