Do These Teachings Bring Members Closer to God?
The good news is the Church is more open about its plural marriage history (although not its eternal nature). The bad news is that those of us troubled by this issue have to encounter it more often. The early Saints made significant contributions and were driven by faith in God, but since I think the plural marriage they practiced was morally misguided, I do better staying away from Church sites that teach it was inspired. My relationship with God is stronger when I believe it was not.
In 3 Nephi 11:39-40, the Savior says:
“39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.”
The Savior is warning against declaring more or less and establishing it for His doctrine when it is not built upon His rock. So was this doctrine built upon His rock? From its beginning, I believe it has not met the promise described in the scriptures: it has not proven to be a good seed, it has not produced good fruit, nor has it been light that discernibly shows goodness.
Alma 32:32 “Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.”
Alma 32:35 “O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?”
3 Nephi 14:17 “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”
Some justify their faith in an eternal principle of plural marriage with scriptures that state we cannot comprehend what God comprehends. I use those same scriptures to justify my faith that God does not approve of this teaching or practice (and thus does not consider it a doctrine/principle), but allowed it to infiltrate His Church because He honors agency or for other reasons I cannot comprehend.
I have invested most of my life in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, as a result, my life has been blessed. Even so, I cannot accept that this part of our beliefs—which tears at my heart, testimony, and relationship with God—was of Him or that He wants me to turn off my brain and conscience to trust that it was. I have obviously spent too many years and too much time considering this topic, but throughout that time I have gained confidence in my common sense (or perhaps the Lord’s spirit) that has whispered to me that something is wrong with this polygamy picture.
Appendix:
Related to the plural marriage teachings bringing us closer or farther from God, I’ve linked to a brochure written by Catherine Lewis in 1848. I found it interesting to read her strong opinions and experiences with plural marriage in the early Church.
This is part of an essay that first appeared on SquareTwo