This is the fourth in a series. You can read the first here, the second here, the third here.
Blogger’s Husband here again. You may start to hear more from me. Some of the things she writes gets me more fired up than others and she’s been on a tear lately with this polygamy stuff and I’ve got to jump in.
The Facebook debate has been fascinating on a couple of her recent posts. I’m entertained in a weird way by how staunchly some people will defend polygamy. For example, someone telling her (Blogger) she “would not be here today without” polygamy??? That was not on my polygamy response BINGO card.
I’ve vacillated in my opinion about polygamy over the last few months as I’ve researched different sides and sources. I’ve moved from not giving it much thought or caring about the issue/doctrine, to being curious if it was Joseph or Brigham who taught/instituted it, to landing firmly on Team Joseph (meaning I don’t believe he taught or instituted it – that it was all Brigham and those around him), to not caring who taught or instituted it, and finally to where I am now which is this: not knowing or caring who taught it or instituted it, but believing it is in no way a God-inspired or God-approved doctrine.
(Side tangent: I’d love for someone to coherently explain to me how polygamy was God-inspired and approved in ancient times, how it was part of the “restoration of all things” and practiced officially until 1890 (and unofficially into the early 1900’s), and how it is an principle of salvation and celestial glory that will be practiced into the eternities, but for this small smidge of time in all of eternity – the last 130 years or so – it’s somehow not a doctrine of the gospel. That’s the problem with discontinuing but not disavowing something – it’s hard to convince anyone that it was practiced previously, and it will be practiced eternally, but it isn’t a true doctrine now. It’s alright if you believe it is, but own it. And if you’re going to own it, you’d have to be alright if it was practiced right now. But I digress…)
I’m a very logical person and thinker so walk through this simple exercise with me.
D&C Section 132 is a beauty that needs its own dedicated post (or two, or three, or four….) because….damn. But as that may be, let’s start in verse 8:
“Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.”
Fair enough. A house of order not a house of confusion. Got it.
Now stay with me here….In the Book of Mormon, in the Book of Jacob, Chapter 2 verses 23 and 24 it reads: “This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.”
David and Solomon. Keep those two names in mind. As the record states they “truly had many wives and concubines” and it was “abominable” to the Lord.Back in Section 132, verses 38-39, it says: “David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me. David’s wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife.”
Wait, what? The same two individuals, David and Solomon, are referenced. In fact, they’re both referenced in the exact same way, word for word, as in Jacob 2 as having “many wives and concubines.” In the Book of Mormon it’s “abominable before me” by the Lord. In Section 132 it says they were “given unto him of me” (meaning the Lord) and “they did not sin save in those things which they received not of me.”
So here’s my question. It’s a simple one. Are you ready?
Which one is it?
Because it can’t be both.
I’ll wait….
While you’re thinking about it, I’ll say one more thing: this isn’t a Joseph vs Brigham argument. It’s an abominable vs God-inspired/approved argument. And polygamy apologists can spare me the rehearsal and mental gymnastics of Jacob 2:30 about the “raising up seed unto me” nonsense. Nothing was said about raising up seed in how the Lord saw the practice of David and Solomon having more than one wife. The two supposed viewpoints from the same God are diametrically opposed. 180 degrees.
So pick one.
Abominable? Or God-inspired and approved?
Book of Mormon teachings? or D&C 132?
Uh oh….now what?
All I Possess 