Polygamy = Murder? By Edson Robis Rase

It's one of the iconic posts by an INC member who thinks his terminology of Polygamy is contrary to scriptural Practices. And that LDS members still practice Polygamy. Let take a look how the scripture really meant it?

Was Polygamy equal to Adultery?

In the context of Latter-day Saint history, polygamy and adultery are not considered the same.

Polygamy, or plural marriage, was practiced by some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 19th century. This practice was introduced by Joseph Smith, the Church’s founder, because he felt it was a commandment from God. It was publicly announced in 1852 and discontinued by the Church in 1890 with the issuance of the Manifesto by President Wilford Woodruff.

On the other hand, adultery is defined as voluntary sexual relations between a married person and someone who is not their spouse, which is considered a serious sin in the Church.

So, although polygamy was a significant and often difficult practice for those involved, it was seen as a commandment temporarily given by God, quite different from the sin of adultery.

Biblical Example of Polygamy VS Adultery

Polygamy Examples -

1. Example: Jacob (Israel)
• Scripture Reference: Genesis 29-30
• Details: Jacob, who was later named Israel, had two wives, Leah and Rachel, and also had children with their handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah. This situation was part of the cultural and religious practices of the time.
2. Example: King David
• Scripture Reference: 2 Samuel 3:2-5; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9
• Details: King David had multiple wives, including Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba, and others. This was in accordance with the practices of ancient Israelite society.

Adultery Examples -

1. Example: David and Bathsheba
• Scripture Reference: 2 Samuel 11
• Details: This is a classic example of adultery. King David saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing and decided to sleep with her, leading to an adulterous relationship. This act was clearly condemned by God, and David faced serious consequences for his actions, including the death of the child born from that union.
2. Example: The woman taken in adultery
• Scripture Reference: John 8:1-11
• Details: In this New Testament account, a woman caught in the act of adultery was brought before Jesus. While the scribes and Pharisees sought to stone her according to the Law of Moses, Jesus responded with compassion, forgiving her and admonishing her to "go, and sin no more."

Key Differences

• Polygamy was culturally and sometimes religiously acceptable in certain periods and societies in the Bible.
• Adultery was always considered a sin and was strongly condemned throughout the scriptures.

Aside from previous LDS Prophets, were the rest of the LDS members allowed Polygamy?

The practice of polygamy, or plural marriage, was not limited to just the prophets of the Church. During the 19th century, many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were allowed to enter into plural marriages.

Key Points:

1. Joseph Smith: He introduced the practice of plural marriage among Church leaders and some members.
2. Brigham Young: Under his leadership, the practice became more common, especially after the Church moved to Utah. It wasn't a requirement for all members but was considered a commandment for those who felt called to it.
3. Authorization Required: Not everyone could enter into plural marriages on their own accord. It required authorization from Church leaders, ensuring that it was done in accordance with what was believed to be God's commandments at that time.
4. End of the Practice: The practice of plural marriage officially ended in 1890 with the issuance of the Manifesto by President Wilford Woodruff. This document stated that the Church would no longer sanction or support plural marriages, and subsequent leaders reaffirmed this stance. We'll talk much of this latter on.

So, while plural marriage wasn't restricted only to prophets, it was a practice that needed to be authorized and was regulated by Church leadership. After 1890, any new plural marriages were not sanctioned by the Church.

Why did the church ended up Polygamy?

The decision to end the practice of polygamy was multifaceted and involved a combination of spiritual, social, and legal factors. Here are some key points:

1. Manifesto and Divine Revelation
• President Wilford Woodruff: In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff, the fourth President of the Church, issued the Manifesto (Official Declaration 1). He declared that he had received a revelation that it was the will of the Lord for the Church to cease the practice of plural marriage. This declaration marked the end of new plural marriages within the Church.
2. Legal Pressures
• U.S. Government Legislation:The U.S. government had enacted several anti-polygamy laws that severely threatened the Church and its members:
• Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act (1862): Made bigamy illegal in U.S. territories.
• Edmunds Act (1882): Criminalized polygamy and disqualified polygamists from voting, serving on juries, or holding public office.
• Edmunds-Tucker Act (1887): Targeted the Church by confiscating its property and further suppressing polygamous practices.
3. Social Pressures
• Public Perception: There was substantial public outcry against the practice, which painted the Church in a negative light and led to significant persecution and hardship for its members.
4. Preservation of the Church
• Avoiding Destruction: There were clear legal threats, including the potential arrest of Church leaders and the possible confiscation of Church property, which could have severely crippled the organization. Ending the practice of polygamy helped to preserve the Church and allowed it to continue its mission.
5. Future Growth
• Statehood for Utah: The discontinuation of plural marriage was a key factor in Utah being granted statehood in 1896. The federal government demanded that the Church and its members comply with U.S. laws as a condition for Utah to attain statehood.

Official Declaration 1 (1890 Manifesto):

"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws and to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise [...]"

The combination of divine guidance, legal pressures, social challenges, and the need to ensure the Church's survival and growth led to the end of polygamy.

So, when the member practice Polygamy what will happen to them?

When a member of the LDS Church practices polygamy today, it actually goes against the Church's current teachings and policies. Here's what typically happens:

• Church Discipline: The Church takes polygamy very seriously and those who practice it are subject to disciplinary action, which can include disfellowshipment (a temporary restriction of certain privileges) or excommunication (removal from Church membership).
• Legal Consequences: Polygamy is illegal in many places, including the United States, and those practicing it may face legal action, such as fines or imprisonment.
• Community Impact: Practicing polygamy can lead to social stigma and may affect relationships within the community and family.

The Church officially discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890 with the issuance of the Manifesto by President Wilford Woodruff. Since then, any member found practicing polygamy is not considered to be in good standing with the Church.

Was Polygamy equal to murder in biblical eisegesis / exegesis?

Polygamy and murder are viewed very differently in Biblical eisegesis (the interpretation of text by reading one's own beliefs into it) and exegesis (critical explanation or interpretation). In the Bible:

Polygamy: This was practiced by many key figures in the Old Testament, like Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon. While it was not God’s ideal for marriage (as seen in Genesis 2:24 - one man and one woman becoming “one flesh”), it was permitted under certain conditions and cultural contexts.

Murder: This is unequivocally condemned in the Bible. It’s one of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). Murder is seen as a serious sin and an affront to God, who values human life.

So, in biblical interpretation, polygamy and murder are not considered equivalent. Polygamy was culturally tolerated and even regulated to some extent, whereas murder was always condemned as a grave sin.

It's important to contextualize these practices within their historical and cultural settings.

Were Biblical Prophet condemned in practicing Polygamy?

Biblical prophets weren't condemned for practicing polygamy; in many cases, it was acknowledged or regulated rather than outright prohibited. Here are a few relevant scriptures:

Abraham: He had multiple wives, including Sarah and Hagar.

Genesis 16:1-3: "Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai."

Jacob: He had two wives (Leah and Rachel) and also had children with their handmaids (Bilhah and Zilpah).

Genesis 29:28: "And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also."

Genesis 30:4: "And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her."

David: Had multiple wives and was not condemned for the practice itself, though he was condemned for his actions with Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 5:13: “And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.”

Solomon: Had many wives and concubines, though he was later condemned for the influence his foreign wives had on his faithfulness to God.

1 Kings 11:3-4: "And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father."

While these instances show that polygamy was practiced by key biblical figures, the New Testament and more modern revelations in the LDS Church have emphasized monogamy as the standard for marriage (see 1 Timothy 3:2: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife").

Did Christ and the rest of the apostles condemned Polygamy?

The New Testament doesn't specifically mention Christ or the apostles explicitly condemning polygamy. However, there are some passages that suggest marriage is ideally between one man and one woman.

Let's look at a few scriptures:

Matthew 19:4-6: Jesus says, > "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Here, Jesus emphasizes the unity of one man and one woman becoming "one flesh."

1 Timothy 3:2: Paul writes about the qualifications for a bishop, > "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

This implies that church leaders should be monogamous.

Ephesians 5:31: Paul again refers to the Genesis account, > "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."

Similar to what Jesus said in Matthew, this verse again emphasizes the idea of two becoming one.

While these passages aren't outright condemnations of polygamy, they reflect a preference for monogamy, especially among church leaders. It's also worth noting that by New Testament times, Jewish society had largely moved away from polygamy, so it wasn't as common an issue.

Conclusion: From a careful examination of the New Testament, it becomes evident that while Christ and the apostles did not explicitly condemn polygamy, their teachings and guidelines implicitly favored monogamy. Jesus' references to the creation narrative, as seen in Matthew 19:4-6, highlight the foundational union of one man and one woman becoming "one flesh." This concept emphasizes an ideal of monogamous marriage.

Additionally, Paul’s writings reinforce this stance. In 1 Timothy 3:2, he specifies that a bishop should be "the husband of one wife," and Ephesians 5:31 reiterates the Genesis teaching of a man being joined to his wife as "one flesh." These scriptural passages collectively suggest a view that promotes monogamy, particularly within church leadership and marital ideals.

While the New Testament doesn't directly address polygamy as a widespread issue, it reflects a cultural shift towards monogamy that had already taken root in Jewish society by that time. This shift aligns with a broader vision of marriage as a singular, unified partnership. Thus, the implicit preference for monogamy in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles conveyed an evolving standard for Christian marriages and church administration.

Additional references from other sources

• https://josephsmithspolygamy.org/
• Plural Marriage after the Manifesto
• Web Archive
• Wikipedia

Other reliable sources will be added soon.