This all began when Jack Balkin opined that is "very unlikely that the Catholic Church is going to change its views on homosexuality in the same way that the Mormon church changed its views on polygamy." This seemed to me to assume that the Mormon church had changed its religious views about the value of plural marriages, and I wondered whether that was factually correct.
My hypothesis is simply that the Mormon church made no change in its religious views, but only decided that it and its members must conform with American laws against polygamy. If that hypothesis is correct, then I suppose that if American law stops banning polygamy, the Mormon church could once again adopt its previous practices, and without ever having changed its religious views about plural marriage. The documents posted thus far seem consistent with that hypothesis. I'm not sure why this factual question about the Mormon church's official position has generated so much confusion. Nelson Lund Christopher Eisgruber wrote: > > Could you clarify your hypothesis, Nelson? Is it your suggestion that present-day > Mormons understand their position about marriage to be a (temporary) concession to > American law? Or is it your suggestion that, whatever the theological position of > Mormons today, it might in fact change their view if American law changed? Or > something else, perhaps? > > Nelson Lund wrote: > > > These statements seem consistent with the document posted earlier by Keith > > Whittington, which said that the church had decided to require its members to > > comply with American laws against polygamy. I don't see anything here indicating > > that the practice of plural marriages has been banned forever, or that the current > > ban is anything more than a submission to American law. > > > > Nelson Lund > > > > VanL wrote: > > > > > > > > From > > > http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-114-3,00.html > > > > > > Question: > > > What is the Church’s position on polygamy? > > > > > > Answer: > > > In 1998, President Gordon B. Hinckley made the following statement about > > > the Church's position on plural marriage: > > > > > > "This Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. > > > They are not members of this Church. . . . If any of our members are > > > found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the > > > most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so > > > involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of > > > the law of this Church." > > > > > > At various times, the Lord has commanded His people to practice plural > > > marriage. For example, He gave this command to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, > > > Moses, David, and Solomon (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1 > > > <javascript:onClick=openScripture('http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132/1#1')>). > > > > > > In this dispensation, the Lord commanded some of the early Saints to > > > practice plural marriage. The Prophet Joseph Smith and those closest to > > > him, including Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, were challenged by > > > this command, but they obeyed it. Church leaders regulated the practice. > > > Those entering into it had to be authorized to do so, and the marriages > > > had to be performed through the sealing power of the priesthood. In > > > 1890, President Wilford Woodruff received a revelation that the leaders > > > of the Church should cease teaching the practice of plural marriage > > > (Official Declaration 1 > > > <javascript:onClick=openScripture('http://scriptures.lds.org/od/1')>). > > -- > Christopher L. Eisgruber > Director, Program in Law and Public Affairs > Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Public Affairs > Woodrow Wilson School > Princeton University > Princeton NJ 08544 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > tel: 609 258-6949 > fax: 609 258-0922
