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< Joseph Smith | Polygamy
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Plural marriage |
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Joseph Smith era:
Post-Joseph Smith:
Post-Manifesto–present |
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In a discussion of plural marriage, critics announce that Joseph "sealed" brothers and sisters together, perhaps hoping that readers will conclude that brothers and sisters were thus married and engaging in incestuous relationships.
The authors hide the fact that a long list of living and deceased persons are part of the sealing. This is not a marriage, but a sealing of family and friends together into eternal relationships.
This is a classic example of a dishonest use of a source. The relevant diary entry reads:
The authors do nothing to explain this practice. They want it to appear bizarre or repulsive.
Joseph seems to have used some early plural marriages in the same way that modern members think about "sealing" families together for eternity. Thus, a "marriage" did not always necessarily imply a sexual or marital relationship.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Notes
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