I think the title of this post quotes Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Maybe I have the exact wording wrong. But I know I have his sentiment accurately recorded.
There are certainly millions of American voters who would echo his sentiments. But no real, true, committed Latter Day Saint does so. That's correct: Honest to gawd Mormons remain in favor, and look forward to, Plural Marriage.
Here are the first four verses of Section 132 of the Doctrine & Covenants, which is the LDS Scripture that codifies Plural Marriage:
" 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—
2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.
3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
4 For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."
If you like to read the entire Section, it's here.
Okay, here's my point: Chameleon Politics has struck again. It is in the nature of politicians to try to maximize their voter appeal. So while it may be that Mitt Romney personally may abhor "polygamy" I can tell you that "True Believers" do look forward to it. And to my knowledge, it is still being practiced within the LDS Church in an abstract form.
If a man marries a woman in the Temple, that marriage being for "all time and eternity" and she passes beyond the veil (dies), that man can marry a second time in the Temple, for all time and eternity, and thus he has two 'eternal' wives, one for now, two for later. Theoretically he could do this any number of times, so there's a book/movie in this where a lunatic Mormon male keeps doing this...
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints do believe in Plural Marriage. While I understand Mitt Romney's decision to decry Polygamy, I don't like it because if he's a good Mormon, then it's an act. And if he really doesn't 'like' Plural Marriage, then he's not a good Mormon and that opens a real can of worms, because it means we don't know who he really is.
But if he gets the nomination, I'll vote for him. I'll be a bit perplexed, but I'm sure I'll get over it.
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8 comments:
If anything's clear about his stances, it's that they're rather, er, malleable. Whether it's his professed long-time love for hunting or the subsequent revelation that the closest he's actually been to hunting was spending two quarters playing the Nintendo arcade game "Duck Hunt" circa 1987, he's a bit shady to me.
I do love how the media clubs the populace over the head with its indignation about: "I can't believe 33% of people wouldn't elect a Mormon! How terrible are we as a people?"
Yes, so strange that people would fear a group of people following a largely discredited founder who won't let us see what goes on inside their temple, believe that Holy Father sent seagulls to "save them from the grasshoppers in our everyday lives" (the line used when I toured the Temple in SLC), and who think that short sleeves and ties are a good fashion choice.
If he allows me to keep more of my hard-earned funds, gives me the opportunity to view more of this great country for less money and keeps us all secure, I'll vote for him. -No matter how many wives he doesn't have.
Things do change and evolve, Bert.. or at least one would hope, as the world modernizes. That's the problem with Islam, it hasn't. Religious edicts change all the time, as they should.
I'm sure even Laztheism. No?
Incoggie, The Mormon Church is looking forward to Plural Marriage being practiced again. That is a pure and absolute statement. Women are never going to have the Priesthood and Men are going to have multiple wives. And so I was disappointed by what I think is Mitt's pandering for votes.
Not sure where you're coming from here. Being asked to live the Law of Plural marriage would be awful for anyone (in my opinion). It was awful for Joseph and it what awful for Brigham. They both struggled with it. It was awful for many and they left the Church as a result. But, if you look at this for the point of view of a Latter-Day Saint that believes in modern revelation as in the day of Abraham or Isaac or Jacob, and that God often asks us to do things that may be termed "awful", then Brother Romney's comments align with many in the faith. I can't even imagine what it was like for my ancestors to take that one on...
"It was awful for Joseph..."
This is very wrong. Joseph Smith reveled in it. What's your guess as to how many women Joseph Smith is sealed to? He sure as heck consummated a whole bunch of these marriages...
I'm not attacking the Church. I'm 'questioning' Mitt Romney, based on my perception that the Mormon Church believes that Plural Marriage is an Eternal Precept.
I'm saying that we can say something is "awful" and yet still do it if we believe that the command came from God. And, by the way, what is your citation that Joseph "reveled in it?" He loved Emma very much and this became a HUGE issue in their marriage. I think that makes it "awful"... I can't even imagine coming home one night and saying "Emma, I've received another revelation from God..."
I'm off to work right now, Anon. I will happily find and cite my sources for my 'revelry' comment and make them the subject of a posting. So stay tuned! And please keep in mind, I am not anti-Mormon. Laztheists are not anti-anything. We are pro-happiness and doubters of absolute truths.
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