Mormon Polygamy |
Polygamy was practiced by the Mormon Church in its early days. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, began the practice of men marrying more than one woman. Polygamy existed in the Mormon Church for over fifty years, until pressure from the United States government forced them to put an end to its practice. The subject of polygamy is a sensitive topic for many Mormons and a great source of criticism for those opposing the Mormon Church. The prevailing social climate in the United States and most of the developed world looks at polygamy as a relic of uncivilized, patriarch-dominated peoples. It cannot be reconciled by the modern Western world’s notion of romantic love in a positive way. The Mormon Church officially ended the practice of polygamy in 1890, but as a doctrine of Mormonism it still embarrasses and confuses some Mormons, and is exploited by Mormon detractors.
Eternal Marriage
Many of the revelations that Joseph Smith received concerning the establishment and organization of the Mormon Church are contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. The 132nd section is a revelation on eternal marriage and polygamy. The Mormon doctrine of eternal marriage states that a marriage performed by the authority of the priesthood is binding in heaven as well as on earth, and is necessary for receiving the greatest glory of heaven. The typical phrasing of a marriage ceremony states "until death do you part." A marriage in a Mormon temple, called a sealing because it is performed with the sealing power that binds in heaven what is bound on earth, remains valid for all eternity. The result of this doctrine is that it places marriage and family as the defining characteristic and most important part of a Mormon’s life. This doctrine of Mormonism is very attractive to those taken by romantic love.
Also set forth is the proper practice of polygamy. Having multiple wives is justified only when specifically allowed by the Lord. The Lord has allowed several of His servants to practice polygamy. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, and Moses are all given as examples of those the Lord permitted to practice polygamy. But they are only justified in taking those wives that the Lord commanded. Not every man was allowed to marry another wife whenever he wanted, it must be a marriage sanctioned by the Mormon Church. Another instruction given to Joseph Smith required the first wife to consent when taking another wife, and she must not belong to any other. This seems to run into some contradictions with Joseph’s marriages. Although polygamy is no longer sanctioned by the Mormon Church, according to the doctrine of eternal marriage, the polygamous marriages of its history are still valid.
Joseph Smith
The revelation on the doctrine of eternal marriage and polygamy was recorded in 1843, but there is evidence that Joseph Smith had known about it as early as 1831. Joseph was reluctant to practice it at first, evident by the twelve years that he put off recording the revelation. Several of his closest friends and Mormon Church leaders advised against it. Many converts to Mormonism left the Church when the practice of polygamy became known. Joseph’s wife Emma pleaded with him not to teach or practice polygamy, but despite the societal taboo, Joseph was compelled to obey the commandment of God.
One aspect of Mormon polygamy that makes it difficult to understand it the fact that it was initially practiced in secret. It may not have been publicly acknowledged as a practice of the Mormons until they had settled in Utah, where they were the majority and there was some distance between them and their enemies, because of the potential for suffering greater attacks. The rumors of strange sexual practices among the Mormons fueled many of the mobs in Mormon history.
There is an attempt by many to portray Joseph Smith as a sexual deviant. Not simply because he instituted polygamy but also due to the nature of his many marriages. First, they were in secret. Research has probably found most of them, but it is not definite exactly how many women he married. Some were already married to other men, some were young women in their teens, and some were the wives of some of his closest friends. The enormous amount of slander executed against Joseph Smith makes it difficult to get the facts and understand them in the proper context.
It is unclear how the Mormons understood eternal marriage when it was introduced. Several women were eternally married to Joseph Smith while already being married to other men. This would make them wives to their husbands until death and wives to Joseph after that. Joseph also asked some of his closest friends to be eternally married to their wives as a test of faith. After they consented he praised them for their faith and loyalty, but never married any of them. Joseph also proposed marriage to teenage girls, for which he is criticized, but it was custom to marry that young in Joseph’s day. Some defenders of Joseph Smith claim there is no evidence that he lived with or had sexual relations with any of his polygamous wives. Many of the marriages, including those to women with living husbands, did not have a sexual dimension, but Joseph Smith’s chastity need not be defended by applying this to all his marriages, for in the revelation the purpose of polygamy is to "multiply and replenish the earth." Nonetheless, due to the secret nature of the marriages, and the intimate nature of all sexual relationships, there cannot be substantial proof beyond children, and there is one that is suspected, but not proven, to be Joseph’s child from a polygamous wife.
Polygamy in Utah
Brigham Young officially announced the practice of polygamy in 1852. Now that the Mormons were settled in Utah, away from any persecutors, they felt free to practice polygamy without fear of retribution. Mormon leaders often had many wives but it was not common to do so. Brigham Young is thought to have been married to approximately fifty women; Heber C. Kimball to forty-three; but the majority of Mormon polygamists, 66 percent, only had two wives, and 21 percent had three. Slavery and polygamy were considered the twin relics of barbarism by the Republican Party. After the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves, the government began a crackdown on polygamy. Laws were passed to prevent it from being practiced unofficially as well and Utah statehood was blocked while Mormons resisted. In the late 1800s many Mormons were imprisoned and others, including many leaders, went into hiding. Facing greater and greater pressure from the government, Mormon Church president Wilford Woodruff announced the end of the practice of polygamy in 1890 to prevent to collapse of the Mormon Church at the hand of the U.S. government. For many it is more difficult to accept the outright practice of polygamy sanctioned by Brigham Young and the Utah Mormons. Before that, it is surrounded by secrecy and easy to explain away, but Utah polygamy is an undeniable approval by the Mormon Church.
Polygamy Today
After the Mormon Church ended polygamy many splinter groups formed that continued the practice. There are many groups in and around Utah today claiming Mormon beliefs that practice polygamy. The Mormon Church distances itself from these groups and excommunicates any one of its members found to be practicing polygamy. Although it currently forbids it in practice, the Mormon Church has never renounced polygamy as a doctrine. It is still possible for a man who is widowed to be eternally married to a woman who is not eternally married to anyone, which would give him two wives married to him in the next life. Because of current social taboos it is a topic that makes many believers uneasy, and becomes a target for Mormon critics. Philandering and divorce have become less stigmatized and more commonplace, but for some reason Western thought cannot sanction polygamous marriage. Polygamy is practiced in many areas of the world but is not shown the same tolerance that is requested of other alternative lifestyles that are growing in acceptance. By current standards polygamy appears as an outdated practice of patriarchal societies and is difficult to understand why it is a doctrine of Mormonism. Just as it was when first introduced by Joseph Smith, polygamy continues to be a trial of faith.