Quotes/Brigham Young

Analysis and response to quotes made by Brigham Young

Polygamy as a requirement for salvation

"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them."(Journal of Discourses 11:269.) (emphasis added)

• The bolded portion is a phrase used by critics.
• Note the contingency "and they refused to accept them." Critical websites which display this quote typically do not include the second sentence.
• Polygamy is not required of Latter-day Saints now, so this statement does not apply to us in the present day.
• For a detailed response, see: Polygamy/The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy

"Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned; and I will go still further and say, take this revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has given, and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned. But the Saints who live their religion will be exalted, for they never will deny any revelation which the Lord has given or may give, though, when there is a doctrine coming to them which they cannot comprehend fully, they may be found saying, 'The Lord sendeth this unto me, and I pray that He will save and preserve me from denying anything which proceedeth from Him, and give me patience to wait until I can understand it for myself.'" (Journal of Discourses 3:266.) (emphasis added)

• The bolded portion is a phrase used by critics.
• Note that Brigham extends this to a denial of any revelation given by the Lord.
• For a detailed response, see: Polygamy/The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy