This is the third installment in a series on the polygamist past of the LDS church. What if I told you it isn’t really past at all, but very much a current doctrine condoned by the highest ranking leaders? Would you believe me?
First lets consider eternity vs this life. Which of them is more eternal?
A little math as pointed out by redditor on a thread about the previous post on this topic1 shows exactly what this means.
1 lifetime/eternity = essentially 0
Yep in the big scheme of things, this lifetime isn’t much at all. That is why we needed the everlasting covenant According to Joe Smith. So we could bind together all these things on earth and not deal with that ’till death do you part’ malarkey all those other churches do in marriage. After all who wouldn’t want to be with their spouse forever? Or in Joe’s case several spouses in this life…
That’s where it gets interesting. You see The LDS church considers a temple sealing to be an eternal marriage. It’s taught to every daughter of Zion to yearn for marriage in the temple. They seek out the prince that will take them to his Mormon castle for that magical moment they have been taught to crave. For only a true and just man will marry them forever instead of just for now.
But there is a doctrine that isn’t talked about much yet is followed over and over again by the LDS faith. In the case of death of the first wife the man can be sealed to a second wife. Yes, you heard me right. A man can be sealed for eternity to a second wife after the first is gone. How this can’t be considered eternal polygamy is beyond me. Not given the fact the the church thinks the rules of marriage are so rigidly defined by their God that any non sanctioned form of union requires a person to be kicked off the celestial kingdom path to forever.
Celestial marriage = celestial polygamy. It says as much in D&C132 canonized scripture currently used today in the church.
4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
6 And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God.
37 Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.
38 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.
39 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 Uriahand his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord.
40 I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my word.
According LDS conon, the idea of polygamy was part and parcel of the restoration of all things. Now I realize you might have a hard time believing this. If so I suggest you take it to your stake president or local area authority and ask him. 2 I suspect you will get an answer along these lines when the members in Sweden asked church leaders if we believe in polygamy.
But wait, there’s more! If you are finally convinced that the LDS doctrine supports and even likely encourages the idea of eternal polygamy there is something else you should know. The Mormon church (the main one, not the FLDS Warren Jeffs version) believes in polygamy right here, right now, with living women. I realized this when a good friend of mine went through a divorce from her husband. A sealing in a Mormon temple isn’t dissolved just because some legal mortal men said a person got divorced. As is clearly evidenced by the churches actions toward other types of marriage the leaders confidently believe God defines what an eternal union is. Not man.
A temple sealing continues to be in force until the first presidency says otherwise. This is expounded on very clearly in the handbook given to all local leaders of the church. Here is a screen shot to save you some time digging for it:
My friend told me one day that she was now an eternal polygamist. The reason is spelled out right there ^^^ in book one. Her previous husband had just been sealed in the temple to his new wife. She wasn’t allowed to dissolve their eternal sealing, while by policy and doctrine it was totally ok for him to be eternally sealed to two women at a time. Even when both of them are still alive.
So does Eternal sealing = Eternal Marriage? That is the question right? And if the answer is yes, then it is pretty clear that the LDS church here and now promotes polygamy of it’s own Celestial variety even as it denies monogamous couples that same right if they happen to have the same genitalia. It is obviously unfair and unjust and more than a little embarrassing as well as hypocritical to most people. Maybe that is the reason when it comes to polygamy the LDS church keeps lying… or maybe should I say careful wording about it.
It’s interesting (to me anyway) that so much time and energy is taken up with people discussing(sometimes violently) about concepts or beliefs that cannot be proven and for that matter disproven because thats is what you believe and that is everyones right to believe what ever they want as long as they don’t try to impose that belief on anyone else. Or for some very odd reason claim they know the will of this unknown being and if you don’t follow what they belief then you are dammed as it were or even worse your murdered for it because thats what “God” wants.The beauty about not believing any of this nonsense(Mormon or other wise) is it makes you realize that it is nonsense(I know it’s circular) but it is also liberating and offers freedom that any religion can never offer.The Lds church(until people realize that it is made up and deceptive as all religions are because no all knowing “God” would ever come up with such stupidity) will continue to practice what they want and what they think is correct(which will surpass any logical understanding).If you choose to go along with it then you will play by their rules and yes the rules will not make sense and will be flawed etc because they are man made.I am sorry Randy you did not get any real answers but that in its self is an answer.The rule is we make up and change the rules as we go along.Imo do your self a favour and leave the stupidity behind and embrace life as much as you can and leave the endless and most often pointless debate about doctrine, theology etc behind for those unwilling to escape.
Well to be clear they know the will of God right up until you point out a logic hole, then they conveniently switch to the claim that no one knows the mind of God.
I am a spiritual polygamist against my will. I’ve in my 3rd request and 2nd appeal. I’ve spoken twice for 2 hours each with a GA/Seventy. He has offered no real answers why my sealing to my adulterous child abusive ex wife. I’ve written a letter to the editor of a Salt Lake paper with no response.
Our church teaches as doctrine that marriage is about love and fidelity. LDS sealings are eternal, holy, solemn and sacred. My question to the Brethren and the GA had always been…”what sin of commission or omission does one or both parties have to commit to get a sealing canceled? Adultery and child abuse can’t be on that list.” I have yet to receive an answer. How can sealings be sacred and based on fidelity if polygamy plays any potential role or if abuse or adultery can’t cancel it?
This has started a faith crisis in our blended family of 8. We have chosen to withdraw ourselves from activity until the Church chooses people over policy.
I’ve been divorced from my sealed spouse for 1 year now, and I’m actually pretty excited to remarry and call myself a polyandrist.
This all makes me sick!