Ruben wrote: > So when you write, "The official doctrine of the > LDS church is against polygamy" I can only say. > well now. But was that true during Smith and Young?
Smith and Young were both notorious polygamists. Smith did it in secret, even hiding it from his wife and children. Incredibly, Joe Smith had somewhere between 35 and 50 wives by the time he was 38. Thirty-three of them are documented by name in a book by Todd Compton. Considering that about 25 of them were added in 1842 & 1843, Smith was one busy man adding wives to his charge. One of his sons tried very hard to prove him innocent of the polygamy charge, only to find out in the end that he was deceived by his prophet father. The Nauvoo stake president, William Marks, claims that Smith denounced polygamy before his death. Smith had no marriages for the last eight months leading up to his death. Marks reports, "... about three weeks before his death, I met him one morning in the street, and he said to me, "Brother Marks... we are a ruined people... This doctrine of polygamy, or spiritual-wife system, that has been taught and practiced among us, will prove our destruction and overthrow. I have been deceived... it is a curse to mankind, and we shall have to leave the United States soon, unless it can be put down and its practice stopped in the church." Ruben wrote: > Have they changed because of government.or > would they rather please God more than man?? I think the historical context is very strong on the side that it was politically motivated, but the LDS will explain it as being a change in God's plan. Same thing with their modern switch concerning blacks, before excluding them, but now accepting them. Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
