A Frank Discussion on Polygamy with President Paternoster

I have had several comments and questions on my blog on the subject of polygamy.  I wish to clarify the position of the church in this matter.  Firstly for the purpose of this post I will define polygamy as meaning one man having more than one living wife at the same time.  This is the same definition given on lds.org: http://lds.org/study/topics/polygamy-plural-marriage?lang=eng&query=polygamy

Based on this definition it is important that I as a respected leader be completely up front in acknowledging that there are many in the church practicing polygamy.  This most often occurs when a couple gets a civil divorce and the man then takes another wife to the temple to be sealed.  The first temple sealing (marriage) is still valid in the eyes of the Lord, as is the second.  This man therefore has more than one living wife at the same time.

Often sisters who have been granted a civil divorce ask me if they can get their temple marriage annulled too.  I always reply that we do not break eternal temple sealings for sisters as this would leave them unsealed into the eternal family of God and would be unfair on them.  Sisters seem especially keen on getting this annulment when they wish to remarry.  This we do not do unless they are marrying another worthy priesthood holder to whom they will be sealed in the temple.  If a civil marriage is taking place then we leave the first marriage in full force and effect.  This way any children born to the new couple are sealed to her and the first husband and are under no condemnation since the first marriage remains valid in the eyes of the Savior.  This is one of the many methods we use in the church to encourage sisters to only marry within the hallowed temples of our Lord.

One sister recently threatened to remove her name from the church records in order to no longer be sealed to her first husband.  She said she could not stand the thought of being with that man or being subject to him in the next life.  I was able to show her that her intended actions were prideful and would only hurt her in the long run.

One must keep in mind that the above example of how we still practice polygamy requires a man to be faithful to one woman at a time.  In the past we as a people were free to practice the type of polygamy that allowed a man to have multiple wives with whom he could procreate at the same time.  I will now address this type of polygamy.

From the aforementioned link at lds.org we learn that “At certain times and for His specific purposes, God, through His prophets, has directed the practice of polygamy.  In obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s but officially ceased the practice of such marriages after the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff in 1890”. Some say that the Manifesto was given due to governmental pressure, but I can assure you as a stake president that even without such pressure this revelation would have occurred.  Since 1890 no plural marriages have been approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

President Hinckley clarified this for the entire world when he 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. They are in violation of the civil law. They know they are in violation of the law. They are subject to its penalties.  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”.  One cannot obey the law and disobey the law at the same time."

This is a very important point made by a prophet of the Lord.  As latter-day saints we have always kept the laws of the land in this and all other regards. We are utterly disgraced at those who knowingly violate this law.      

Often I am asked why Mormons practiced polygamy in the past.  People need to realize that this was the method the Lord instituted to take care of the poor widows in the early days of the church.  Many had lost their husbands due to persecution and were in need of care.  Brigham Young and others stepped up to the plate and fulfilled this need.  Sometimes the women were able to care for themselves but simply wanted a faithful priesthood holder as a husband.  In this an ancient prophecy was fulfilled when Isaiah wrote of our day in chapter 4 verse 1 as follows “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”

I am grateful for the early leaders of the church being so willing to sacrifice themselves for these good sisters in need. 

One single sister recently asked me if there will there be polygamy in heaven.  I responded without hesitation that she need not worry, there certainly will be.  I taught her that more sisters will make it to the celestial kingdom than brothers.  Eternal life is to become as God, creating new worlds and populating them with our own offspring.  This cannot be done in a state of singleness therefore in order that these faithful sisters may progress they will need to be given to a worthy priesthood holder.  You should have seen the look of relief on this sisters face as I explained this to her. 

While I don’t know the process by which this will be done I imagine that as a stake president I will be involved in the assignment of the single sisters within my stake.  I stand prepared to take many of them unto myself, including the sister of whom I just spoke.  This is why even though I exhort them I do not become too worried if husbands become slack in their priesthood duties.  I know that many of their wives will be available to me and others in the kingdom of heaven and that these sisters will in no wise lose their reward.  Those that I do not pick for myself I will assign to my counselors, the bishops and stake high council as directed by the spirit. 

The Lord in his infinite mercy has provided a way for all to come unto Him, be saved and reach their fullest potential in the life to come.  Due to the righteousness of so many of our beloved sisters’ polygamy is a necessary part of the plan of happiness that the Lord has put in place for us.