3. Contemporary Revelation Denounced Polygamy
September 30, 20241. Polygamy Pre-Dates Revelation
October 2, 2024
Polygamy was illegal at the time.
A1) The LDS Church agrees that polygamy was illegal.
Supporting Sources and Quotes
“In Joseph Smith’s time, monogamy was the only legal form of marriage in the United States.”
–LDS.org, Gospel Topic Essay, Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Navoo
Other note: Polygamy was illegal in Canada and Mexico as well, because they only recognize marriages that are legal in the person’s home country.
In short, Polygamy was never legal, at any time-not even in the Utah Territory from 1847 to 1890.
A2) The LDS Church states as one of its ten articles of faith that the church believes in “obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”
Supporting Sources and Quotes
The 12th Article of Faith states: “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” This was written by Joseph Smith to Mr. Wentworth and published in the Times and Seasons in March 1842, while Joseph and other Church leaders were practicing polygamy.
Gordon B. Hinckley stated:
I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church. Most of them have never been members. They are in violation of the civil law. They know they are in violation of the law. They are subject to its penalties. The Church, of course, has no jurisdiction whatever in this matter.
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. An article of our faith is binding upon us. It states, 'We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law' [Articles of Faith 1:12]. One cannot obey the law and disobey the law at the same time.
"What Are People Asking about Us?" President Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1998 General Conference.
Issues these Facts Raise
Clearly polygamy was always illegal, so the church does NOT follow the laws of the land. Maybe this isn’t news, but it does seem to heavily contradict the article of faith, or at least put an asterisk. The church will follow the laws of the land, unless it disagrees with the laws of the land.
Questions these Facts Raise
Why did the LDS church or the prophet not follow the article of faith related to honoring and obeying the laws of the land?
