He called 12 apostles and gave them all Because of this widespread apostasy, the Lord withdrew the authority of the priesthood from the earth. [Page 47]This essay will examine the uncomfortable relationship between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its polygamous past and the effect this discomfort has had on its members. Polygamy in the Spotlight, e-mail correspondence, July 14, 2011. There were approximately 400 people who participated in the survey with an almost even mix of men and women.32, In spite of the limited number of respondents, there actually was a good variety of people from different ages and backgrounds in terms of marriage status and activity in the LDS Church. Just do your best. Josh Lockhart is a husband, father of two, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor based out of Kimberley, BC, Canada. Feelings About Plural Marriage. There was one who chose Native American as an identifier while there were no African-Americans represented. "I was blessed with an extraordinary mother, Elder Oaks says. Your previous content has been restored. All of us know someone who has been divorced. Unfortunately, over time there have been a number of members of the Church who have been upset and offended about aspects of plural marriage, especially the so-called weird aspects. Through prayer and a very powerful dream she experienced, she no longer worried about it all.37 [Page 60]Unfortunately, many members are not reconciled to aspects of plural marriage. By They interpret this lack of information as a species of lyingabout Joseph Smith, about other Church members polygamous past, or about the events which surrounded the cessation of Church-sanctioned plural marriage. The LDS believe: After the deaths of the Savior and His Apostles, men corrupted the principles of the gospel and made unauthorized changes in Church organization and priesthood ordinances. Joseph Walker, Recent Events Highlight Confusion of Polygamy, Deseret News, August 6, 2011, accessed August 7, 2011, https://www.deseret.com/2011/8/6/20208124/recent-events-highlight-confusion-of-polygamy. Licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Jonathan Swinton of Salt Lake City, Utah, gives further insight on Latter-day Saint couples that seek counseling: Most respondents said they were active at the time of their divorce: Many continued to attend church after their divorce: Some shared why their participation decreased: The sisters of the ward blamed me for the divorce and told my girls that it was my fault. When Elder Oaks was about 11 years old, he took a small job sweeping the floor of a radio repair shop, eventually working his way to radio engineer and announcer in his late teens. I did know one who was released when he and his wife were separated. And they forgive.2. Why did he marry young teenagers, including 14-year-old Helen Mar Kimball, who had both parents and didnt want to be married?46. [Have] concern for my children, especially Young Men and priesthood leaders. These survey results provide an opportunity for personal reflection. I tried to understand that they just didn't know how to deal with a situation like this., Divorce may be more taboo for many, explains Dr. Swinton. Unfortunately, George D. Smiths Nauvoo Polygamy appears to not only accept the idea that Joseph Smith was sexually involved with these women because parts of the book are reminiscent in language and imagery of early anti-Mormon exposs. With the comforting doctrine that we can be sealed to our loved ones for eternity, divorce is a conclusion drawn with heavy hearts. An acquaintance of mine, married in the temple 25 years ago, four children and an active member in the LDS church was recently divorced for having an 61. If my parents were sealed in the temple and then got divorced, which one am I sealed to? How do I forgive them? In all my life I've never known of a Bishop who had been divorced. WebThis is a list of well-known Mormon dissidents or other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who have either been excommunicated or Growing up, Elder Richard G. Scott's mother was a less-active member and his father did not belong to the Church. With his father serving as asoldier in the war, President Uchtdorf's mother was left alone to transport her four children via a refugee train heading west to Germany during the winter. The manual emphasized that plural marriage should not be the focus of the lesson. On the positive side, unlike earlier Sunday School manual referred to, the online version of the latest Sunday School manual includes an explanation and discussion points about plural marriage. Hopefully these suggestions will help those who are troubled or discomforted about the Churchs legacy of plural marriage. The important thing to remember is that Heavenly Father loves all of you and wants the best for you, both now and in eternity. The place is easya Church setting in which accurate information may be taught in programs such as Primary, Sunday School, and Seminary. Most definitely not true. About 14 percent of the Latter-day Saint men and 19 percent of the women have experienced divorce. Yet continuing Church activity exposes us to correct principles and surrounds us with caring people. As they grew up, we would point to pictures of ancestors on the wall and explain how they came from his fifth wife or that the lady in the photograph was the plural wife of the man in [Page 70]the photo hanging next to hers. Quite often, in spite of divorce, extended family members remain connected because of a common interest, such as children. Plural marriage did not start nor end abruptly. For more information showing Josephs Smiths marriages to teenage wives were not out of the cultural and social norm of his time, see Joseph Smith/Polygamy/Marriages to Young Women, FairMormon Answers, accessed February 22, 2014, http://en.fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Marriages_to_young_women. . But these challenges only worked to strengthen President Uchtdorf's testimony of the gospel and family. Teenage wives. Indeed, in the minds of [Page 75]many people, 19th-century Mormon polygamy defines western polygamy.69 Accepting that the twain are inseparable does not mean the Church must acquiesce to the negative stereotyping used by its critics. But for me, the most important revelation in this long ignored manuscript has to do with a foiled plot on Jesus and Mary the Magdalene's lives, about 13 years before the crucifixion. It should be noted that while most of the sanctioned post-Manifesto plural marriages were performed outside of the United States, some were performed within U.S. borders. The midwestern United States also had a good representation, as did Canada (especially western Canada). That would be incorrect, divorced men can be bishops. Foster, Like Two Crazy Aunts in the Attic., 31. Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene Is Fact Men tend to be action oriented, so they may be less inclined to seek counseling and instead bury their feelings by working long hours or immersing themselves in a hobby. That sounds [Page 52]like The Prime Directive in Star Trek.16 Is there any wonder a 2011 poll undertaken by a California polling company found that almost half of those polled thought Mormons either definitely or probably practice polygamy?17. i was having a discussion with a friend and he said one of the 12 apostles of the LDS church had been divorced, i told him from what i know about the LDS church i did not think that was true but not being a member of the LDS i would try to find out if that was true, can anyone confirm or deny this ? Im angry that they have broken up our family. Examples of some who have furthered and even built upon some of this sensational and inaccurate stereotyping are Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1945); George D. Smith, Nauvoo Polygamy: . One guy from Japan ordered 5,000 of them for resale.20 Another alcoholic beverage company banking on the polygamy image is Five Wives Vodka, an Ogden, Utah distillery whose suggestive label displays five women in old-fashioned nightgowns.21. The percentage with very unfavorable feelings toward plural marriage was the highest among the possible unfavorable, including possible unfavorable feelings toward the LDS Church. They are in violation of the civil law. . The Church should probably highlight the differences when needed and otherwise ignore Fundamentalist groups like the FLDS as much as possible. As for the OP. One man commented, I see a lot of men in the Church who have become a little too complacent in pat (but unsatisfying) answers to questions about polygamy and womens issues in the Church, which causes some understandable frustration for women trying to see how theyre still of equal importance.56 In response to that comment, a woman wrote, I have watched a current thread about polygamy on the message board. In other words, you cannot be a bishop without the approval of the First Presidency. Their surprise at divorce can lead to a feeling of instability. One convert, who joined at age 24, wasnt told about the Churchs polygamist past until after he was baptized. Is there somewhere i can look this up? WebMy Home Donations Temple Appointments Leader and Clerk Resources Missionary Portal Ward Directory and Map Calendar Meetinghouse Locator Notes Patriarchal Blessing All Tools. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Third Hour Forum Rules - Please be familiar with these rules before posting. Nevertheless, more should be done since the obvious discomfort and embarrassment of Church representatives is not only fodder for anti-Mormons but also sets a poor example for their fellow members, many of whom are struggling with their own ambivalence about plural marriage. I told them I would be glad to answer any question they had. Latter Day Saint practitioners of plural marriage They know they are in violation of the law. I think being cool matters too much to me. a link to what.that shows all 12 are married to their spouse??? (Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostle Ronald A. Rasband speaks at General Conference on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. They likely dont know what to do or say. I will examine examples of members expression of discomfort over a polygamous heritage and conclude with suggestions of possible pathways to reconciliation. It was during WWII, and President Uchtdorf's family was no longer safe in Czechoslovakia. 11. For example, a number of years ago I showed some important guests around the Family History Library and then the neighboring Museum of Church History and Art, both in Salt Lake City. 19. 30. for Time and for All Eternity in Doctrine and Covenants and Church History: Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual, accessed February 14, 2014, https://churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-and-Church-history-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-31-sealedfor-time-and-for-all-eternity?lang=eng. Perhaps no single issue provokes power struggles more than child custody. 59. 9. He explained that he was not troubled by the knowledge as the Church was a restoration of all things. Because of financial concerns and the blow to their ego, some men experience challenges like depression, weight gain, experimenting with alcohol, and becoming less active in the Church. He married his wife,Dianne Marie Lewars, and has four children. Alternately, Todd D. Compton, in an essay in the same volume, 184232, titled, Early Marriage in the New England and Northeastern States, and in Mormon Polygamy: What Was the Norm? argues that such age gaps between marriage partners were unusual, but because his analysis relies on New England marriage patterns rather than those of the frontier, I do not believe he has rebutted the perspective offered by Foster, Keller, and Smith. Even so, 12 other countries were represented, most from European countries.34, Over 47% of survey respondents heard about polygamy as a child while another 39% heard about it as teenagers, for a total of over 86% learning about plural marriage while in their childhood or youth. the husband of one wife phrase However, unless there is potential for abuse or other harmful interaction, children do best when they maintain relationships with both parents. As interesting as the survey statistics were, the most fascinating parts of the survey data were the respondent comments. Media Library. Note: At the time this survey was conducted, the Church had not yet announced the ministering program that replaced home and visiting teaching. Men are less inclined to share their feelings, so they can be less likely to learn from their experience. Dr. Swinton says, Love them. Often times in our anxiety to live Gods commandments, we focus on everything we should avoid to remain righteous. For examples of accusations of Joseph Smith and pedophilia, see Smith, Nauvoo Polygamy; Mark Webster, Hes a Dangerous Man: God Talk and Sexual Abuse, Beyond Opinion.com: Christian Apologetics Ministry, December 13, 2010, accessed October 14, 2011, http://beyondopinion.com/tag/joseph-smith/; and Sandra Tanner, Joseph Smith as a Sexual Predator, Mormon Coffee: Its Forbidden But its Good, June 21, 2009, accessed October 12, 2011, http://blog.mrm.org/2009/06/joseph-smith-as-a-sexual-predator/. By the end of these few decades, a number of members had doctrinally and physically separated themselves from the body of the Church because they continued to teach and practice plural marriage. Its in the handbook. Gordon B. Hinckley, What Are People Asking About Us? Ensign (November 1998): 70. There is much to appreciate about the honesty and vulnerability of the responses that were shared. He has also been a columnist for 8+ years in local small papers. The Salt Lake Tribune reviewed the party affiliation of all 15 apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including the three-member First
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