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.
  • Doctrine and Covenants (1835), Section 101

207

 Section 101 was replaced with Section 132 in 1876
  •  Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints
  • 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

208

 It was taught that the skin color of the Indians would change if they joined the Church.

209

 Spencer Kimball believed that the Indians were becoming a "white and delightsome" people.
  • Improvement Era, December 1960, pp.922-23

212

 Brigham Young believed that the Indians skin would become white through intermarriage.
  • The Abominations of Mormonism Exposed, Cincinnati, 1852, pp.58-59

214

 Church leaders did not approve of interracial marriage.
  • Church leaders have discouraged any marriage in which the social or cultural differences will prove serious obstacles to a successful marriage. Unfortunately, that was often the case with inter-racial marriages in the United States until quite recently.
  • Interracial marriage condemned?

215

 Oliver Cowdery believed that Joseph had an improper relationship with Fanny Alger.
  • Letter written by Oliver Cowdery and recorded by his brother Warren Cowdery;
  • This source is vague and not much help to the reader. The actual source is: Oliver Cowdery to Warren A. Cowdery, "Dear Br. Warren," Far West, Missouri (21 Jan 1838); reproduced in "Letters of Oliver Cowdery." In New Mormon Studies CD-ROM (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1998).

219

 Lorenzo Snow said that anyone who had a plural marriage prior to the date of the revelation (July 12, 1843) was living in adultery.
  • Temple Lot Case, p.320

219

 It is claimed that Mormon leaders say that the 1843 revelation was actually received earlier, but History of the Church says that this was the date the revelation was received.
  • The revelation was recorded on this date, but it is clear that Joseph knew and was teaching it earlier.
  • First teaching about plural marriage
  • Danel W. Bachman, "A Study of the Mormon Practice of Polygamy before the Death of Joseph Smith" (Purdue University, 1975).
  • Danel W. Bachman, "New Light on an Old Hypothesis: The Ohio Origins of the Revelation on Eternal Marriage," Journal of Mormon History 5 (1978): 19–32.
  • History of the Church 5:500-501

220

 Brigham Young said that he lived "above the law."
  • Journal of Discourses 1:361

220

 Polygamy is forbidden by the Book of Mormon

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

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

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
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