The Justification for this Judgment

Criticizing others’ cohabitation arrangements is not considered good manners and, if all parties fully consent and are free from coercion, I prefer to keep my opinions to myself. The problem is, as the data and scriptural example show, polygamous marriage arrangements are often not free from coercion.

In our religious culture, men and women reading Section 132 will likely feel some level of intimidation because this scripture presents two options: live the principle or be destroyed (see Addendum below). Actually, according to verses 54 and 64, only the women who refuse to live this law as plural wives will be destroyed. It is therefore understandable that a woman living in early Church history times might have chosen life as a plural wife rather than the alternative.

Today the Church provides vague explanations for why members are no longer required to live what Section 132 commands and even though multiple wives can be sealed to one man in the Church’s temples, some statements assure members plural marriage may not be a requirement for everyone in the highest heavenly kingdom. These confusing explanations still leave room for women to feel coerced to believe the doctrine—hedging their bets that being an eternal plural wife is better than being destroyed.

President Nelson said,

“From the dawning of time, women have been blessed with a unique moral compass—the ability to distinguish right from wrong.”

This makes it seem that a woman should be equal to the task of facing difficult choices. Does that include the choice between two unappealing alternatives? Like a gun to the head, the destruction threat in Section 132 might pressure a woman to accept the plural wives principle even if her moral compass tells her it is wrong.

Addendum

Fun facts:  The word “destroy” or “destroyed” is used 11 times in Section 132, 7 times against women or Emma specifically, but never against men.  

• In a general way, it’s used 4 times (verses 14, 26, 57).

• Referring to women who become adulterers it’s used 3 times (41, 52, 63), but is not used for adulterous women who are not in the new and everlasting covenant (42) nor for adulterous men who are under a vow (43).

• For women who will NOT follow this plural marriage law, the word destroy or destroyed is applied to her 4 times…twice in each verse for emphasis (54, 64).