Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Chapter 9

Chapter 8

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Jerald and Sandra Tanner

Chapter 10

Claims made in Chapter 9: Plural Marriage

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
205	The 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants had a section denouncing polygamy.	1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy	Doctrine and Covenants (1835), Section 101
207	Section 101 was replaced with Section 132 in 1876	The Saints believe in on-going revelation—Church policy may change from time to time.	[ATTENTION!]
207	A revelation on plural marriage given in 1831 was "suppressed" which said that the Indians would become "white and delightsome" though intermarriage with the Mormons.||Native Americans to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage? || Letter from W. W. Phelps to Brigham Young. August 12, 1861
220	Polygamy is forbidden by the Book of Mormon	Book of Mormon condemns polygamy
220-221	Joseph F. Smith said that the Book of Mormon forbid polygamy.	Book of Mormon condemns polygamy [needs work]	Reed Smoot Case, vol. 1, p.480
221	Orson Pratt said that the Book of Mormon condemned polygamy.	Book of Mormon condemns polygamy	See Quote mining—Journal of Discourses 6:351 to see how this quote was mined.
222	Joseph took wives without his first wife's consent.	Joseph Smith and polygamy
225	It is claimed that LDS leaders were worried that the missionaries would "take the best women."	Misrepresentation of source: The quote says nothing about choosing women. Heber C. Kimball warns them simply that they are on the Lord's errand, and should allow the Lord to choose his sheep; they are merely to bring them home: Let truth and righteousness be your motto; and do not go into the world for anything else but to preach the Gospel, build up the kingdom of God, and gather the sheep into the fold. You are sent out as shepherds to gather the sheep together; and remember that they are not your sheep: they belong to Him that sends you. Then do not make a choice of any of those sheep; do not make selections before they are brought home and put into the fold. You understand that. Amen	Journal of Discourses 6:256
226	Heber C. Kimball remarked on the "great sorrow" of plural marriage.	Did early Church leaders speak of plural marriage difficulties?  [needs work]|| Journal of Discourses 4:178
226	Brigham Young spoke of the "problems" of plural marriage.	Did early Church leaders speak of plural marriage difficulties? [needs work]	Journal of Discourses 9:195
231	Joseph had between 27 to "sixty or more" wives.	Joseph Smith and polygamy	Andrew Jenson, Historical Record, pp.233, 234 Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1945), 434-65. ( Index of claims ) Western Humanities Review, vol. 10, pp.232-33
231	There is a rumor that Emma beat Eliza Snow with a broomstick and caused her to fall down the stairs, preventing her from having Joseph's child.||Joseph Smith and polygamy—Children of polygamous marriages—Snow|| Wilhelm Wyl, Mormon Portraits Volume First: Joseph Smith the Prophet, His Family and Friends (Salt Lake City: Tribune Printing and Publishing Co., 1886), 57-58. Intimate Disciple, a Portrait of Willard Richards, 1957, p.407
232	Joseph was sealed to a large number of women after his death.	Joseph Smith and polygamy	Joseph Smith and Polygamy, p.47 Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, Single Volume Edition, 1960, pp.342-43
233	Brigham Young had "fifty or sixty" wives, and boasted of his ability to obtain more.	Brigham Young and polygamy	Journal of Discourses 6:180-81 Journal of Discourses 8:178 Journal of Discourses 5:210
239-240	Some women who were associated with Joseph claimed that they did not know who the father of their children were.	[[Joseph Smith and polygamy/Children of polygamous marriages]]|| Wife No. 19, 1876, pp.70-71
258	Brigham Young said that the "only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."	[[The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy?]]|| Journal of Discourses 11:269
289	Modern Church leaders teach that polygamy is not essential for exaltation.	[[The only men who become gods are those that practice polygamy?]]|| Mormon Doctrine, 1958, p.523