LDS Freedom Forum

I'm putting together a paper on polygamy and plural marriage and would like some help from my fellow freedom lovers? Is there anyone on this forum who has experience or knowledge with polygamy and or plural marriage?

My questions are:
Where in Scripture (Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, or even in the Koran) is their support for polygamy and or plural marriage?
What is the history of polygamy or plural marriage? Please go back as far as you can.
What is the family structure of a polygamous or plural family?
What are the social rules within a polygamous or plural family?
What are the social rules within a community of polygamous or plural families?
Does polyandry have any involvement with polygamy or plural marriage?
Does polyandry become an unintended consequence within the polygamy or plural marriage community?

This discussion is NOT meant to judge or criticize the institution of polygamy or plural marriage. This discussion IS meant to be a learning experience for me and for anyone else who is honestly interested in the subject.

If it would be better for respondents to correspond privately please let me know?

Read "the Seer" by Orson Pratt

Ben McClintock wrote:Read "the Seer" by Orson Pratt

Ben that's totally funny that you would recommend that book. Just after I got to work this morning a co-worker asked if I had ever read The Seer. Will that book answer my questions? Even the social questions?

Tribunal wrote:

Ben McClintock wrote:Read "the Seer" by Orson Pratt

Ben that's totally funny that you would recommend that book. Just after I got to work this morning a co-worker asked if I had ever read The Seer. Will that book answer my questions? Even the social questions?

It should answer them all, at least from an LDS perspective. How it works now days, is going to very from group to group, but that's how it worked while the Church was doing it.

there are a few editions, but the cheapest is put out by Lighthouse ministries. They are an anti-Mormon group, but the book is just a photo copy of the original, so it's not altered to make the Church look bad or anything. If you feel weird giving anti's money, you will pay a bit more.

The Polygamists


Colorado City Polygamists

These books have some typos in them, but the information is trustworthy. I helped the man who was writing them and he sent them off to the editor before I had a chance to go through them (he is blind and used several people to type for him), but this man (Benjamin Bistline) knows the history. The second book is more readable than the first. They cover much the same territory, but the second one is updated a bit. He grew up amongst the FLDS, though he began life in northern Utah. He is LDS now, and has been for quite a few years.

I don't know anyone in Colorado City, but I have driven through a few times out of curiosity. They have an amazing pizza place in the middle of town (a bit off the highway) if you are ever driving through. The "pizza bomb" is worth it if you're already in southern Utah.

Colorado City's pizza place is awesome! Good price. And they offered whole wheat pizza. Delicious! I don't know if they are still open, with Jeffs' latest shenanigans. I was up in that area roughly a month ago, but did not go into the city, itself. (I did pass through on the highway, to pick up my daughter from St. George, though.) They also had a store where one could buy grain and such in bulk.

http://archive.org/details/OrsonPratt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That link has versions you can download of The Seer.

A Random Phrase wrote: I don't know if they are still open, with Jeffs' latest shenanigans.

True, they are going through a bunch of crazy stuff right now. There are a ton of people splitting off because of it. Others are doubling down. Interesting stuff

I read from the links provided by previous posts and didn't find what I was looking for. So...

My questions are:
Where in Scripture (Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, or even in the Koran) is their support for polygamy and or plural marriage?
What is the history of polygamy or plural marriage? Please go back as far as you can.
What is the family structure of a polygamous or plural family?
What are the social rules within a polygamous or plural family?
What are the social rules within a community of polygamous or plural families?
Does polyandry have any involvement with polygamy or plural marriage?
Does polyandry become an unintended consequence within the polygamy or plural marriage community?

You read You read The Seer and it didn't answer your questions?

There is a series that aired on Utah PBS a while back called "Matter of Principle" that may answer some of your questions.

Some other video's http://www.youtube.com/user/bonratay" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/user/funmormon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ben McClintock wrote:You read You read The Seer and it didn't answer your questions?

There is a series that aired on Utah PBS a while back called "Matter of Principle" that may answer some of your questions.

Some other video's http://www.youtube.com/user/bonratay" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.youtube.com/user/funmormon" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The more I read The Seer from a PDF the more I realized I've already read them. I personally would like another source instead of Orson Pratt. The Church no longer recognizes The Seer and I question the credibility of some of Brother Pratt's work.

I'll try the links you've just presented and get back to you.

I followed the links and after listening for awhile it seems anti Mormon and best to stay away from.

SARAH Ward wrote:I followed the links and after listening for awhile it seems anti Mormon and best to stay away from.

I felt the same way Sarah. The most recent links are much better. I'm trying to understand plural marriage from the perspective of those who actually support it and live it.

I am also. I wonder if there are any posters here who are in this situation, and whether they would be prepared to comment.

SARAH Ward wrote:I am also. I wonder if there are any posters here who are in this situation, and whether they would be prepared to comment.

I can only hope!

Anti? I didn't see anything anti in the least. Would love to hear more on why you felt it was anti.

I have been very interested in this subject and the idea of plural marriage and polyandry also.

Polyandry has never been sanctioned by the Lord.

SARAH Ward wrote:Polyandry has never been sanctioned by the Lord.

Mary the mother of Jesus as well as many of the wives of the Joseph Smith would probably disagree with you.

Eternally speaking, you are correct though

Tribunal wrote: I'm trying to understand plural marriage from the perspective of those who actually support it and live it.

I don't live it. I don't support it. But I have had friends who did (they lived in Colorado City, Hildale, and Centennial Park). It was a bit of a let-down to realize they were just ordinary people with ordinary lives. Most of them sincerely believe that God commanded polygamy, and that their prophets have equal (or greater) authority than our prophets. That probably doesn't answer your questions, though. There are also several in that area who are now LDS, but who used to be of the FLDS religion. I haven't lived there for a few years. I've gotten out of touch with every polygamist friend I had, and many of the LDS who used to be FLDS.

It may be to late for me to reply, but, I think that the pure love of Christ has much to do with pleural wives/marriage. For example, I have a very dear friend who died about 5 years ago. She was the best friend a person could ever have. There was not anything we could not share or discuss. I loved her oh so very much and I was heartbroken and devastated when she very unexpectedly and abruptly died. She died an unmarried woman sealed to not one single soul. How completely sad to belong to no one. It breaks my heart. Because of my great love for her, I would not even consider or let her be without anything, if the Lord would allow it, and in this next life would be happy to share all that I had with her so she could have the blessings of all time and eternity too. The pure love of Christ.....That is where it all begins, and it truly is a "gift" bestowed by God on those who pray for it with all the energy of their heart. When you receive it, trust me, you will know it, you will feel it, you will live it, and it will change your life.

Should be an interesting thread...

heartsongs, your friend will have her choice of exceedingly fine male spirits going into the Millennium....