The Church is the majority Mormon sect—the main polygamous church, the one that no longer wants to be associated with polygamy or called LDS or Mormon (probably for fear of being confused with polygamists)—that has perpetuated the doctrine behind this legislation

Like a Ponzi scheme, the first men investing in polygamy take multiple wives, including those much younger than themselves, but the generations of later investors have already contributed their potential wives, so the multiple wives scheme is doomed to collapse

The evidence shows that living polygamy is harmful to families, which makes it confusing that a family-centered church ever endorsed a potentially family-damaging principle

D&C 132 conveys that women can be given as wives, treated as property and their freedom to choose is insignificant

Hagar, not Sarah, is the example for multiple wives.  By joining Sarah and Abraham, a slave with limited agency creates the threesome that becomes our model for this family arrangement

God patiently tolerated some ancient cultural norms, including polygamy and slavery; however, His toleration does not mean approval

This muddled principle of plural marriage touches on both a woman’s identity and her destiny, resulting in a less than ideal understanding of either

If all parties fully consent and are free from coercion, I prefer to keep my opinions to myself…but polygamous marriages are often not free from coercion

Our teachings on plural marriage obliterate the progress that Eve’s daughters make with their collective self-esteem

“ . . . all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same,” D&C 132:3

We can understand neighbors wanting to separate themselves from the early Saints who were living this practice because, after all, the Church today does just that

While we are advised by the Church to say we no longer practice plural marriage, our temple sealing practices and D&C 132 cause members to assume this principle foreshadows what will be eternal

As I have tried to reconcile my understanding of a just God with this principle, I am left with additional questions

I do better staying away from Church sites that teach this was inspired….my relationship with God is stronger when I believe it was not

Some of my initial thoughts on this confusing doctrine can be found here on the SquareTwo website