Criticism of Mormonism/Websites/FutureMissionary.com/Polygamy & Polyandry

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The Book of Abraham

A FAIR Analysis of: FutureMissionary.com A work by author: Anonymous

Mormon Beliefs & Science

FAIRMORMON'S VIEW OF THE CRITICS' CONCLUSIONS

The positions that the FutureMissionary article "Polygamy and Polyandry" appears to take are the following:

• That Church leaders "Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young, and other prominent LDS leaders shared their wives with other men." There is no evidence for this.

FutureMissionary says...
The website states that "prophets from Joseph Smith to Joseph F. Smith preached that you need to be a polygamist in order to reach the highest degree of glory in the celestial kingdom."

FAIR commentary

• Actually, it is primarily Brigham Young that preached that, and it was only relevant to the Latter-day Saints of his era.

Additional information

• Brigham Young said that the only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy—Since Brigham Young said "The only men who become Gods, even the sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy" (Journal of Discourses 11:269), does this mean plural marriage is required for exaltation? (Link)

FutureMissionary says...
In response to the question "Was Joseph Smith a polygamist?" the website states that "Due to its sacred nature, Joseph Smith denied his participation in the practice to anyone outside of his inner circle."

FAIR commentary

• Joseph didn't keep it secret "due to its sacred nature." He kept it secret because a widespread knowledge of the practice at that time would have put the Church members in danger.

Additional information

• Initiation of the practice of polygamy within the Church—When and how did plural marriage begin in the Church? (Link)

FutureMissionary says...
The website poses the question "Did Joseph Smith marry a 14-year-old?" The answer is that he married 14-year-old Helen Mar Kimball.

FAIR commentary

• The sealing of Joseph to Heber and Vilate Kimball's daughter Helen was arranged by her father. After the sealing, Helen continued to live with her parents.

Additional information

• Was Helen's marriage consummated?—Helen was the youngest plural wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. Some claim that the marriage was consummated, despite a complete lack of supporting evidence. (Link)

FutureMissionary says...
The website poses the question "Did Mormon leaders marry women who were currently married?" The response is that Joseph married 11 women who were currently married to other men, and that "We don’t know the exact reason for the marriages, but we do know they were commanded by God."

FAIR commentary

• Joseph was sealed to 11 women for eternity who were married for time to other men. All of these women continued to live with their husbands.

Additional information

• Joseph Smith and polyandry—Joseph Smith was sealed to women who were married to men who were still living. Some of these men were even active members of the Church. (Link)

FutureMissionary says...
The website poses the question "Did any of the women have multiple husbands?" The authors conclude that "Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young, and other prominent LDS leaders shared their wives with other men."

FAIR commentary

• Church leaders did not "share their wives with other men."
• No references are provided for this claim.