Plural marriage in the Book of Mormon

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Book of Mormon statements about the practice of polygamy

Jump to details:

• Question: Does the Book of Mormon condemn polygamy?
• Question: Why does Doctrine and Covenants 132 speak favorably about some Old Testament practitioners of plural marriage, while Jacob 2 is negative?
• Question: Did early Church leaders state that the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy?
• Question: Is Jacob 2:30 actually not saying that polygamy is an occasional exception to monogamy?
• Gospel Topics: The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is God’s standard, except at specific periods when He has declared otherwise

Question: Does the Book of Mormon condemn polygamy?

Jump to details:

• Question: Does the Book of Mormon condemn polygamy?
• "For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things"

Question: Why does Doctrine and Covenants 132 speak favorably about some Old Testament practitioners of plural marriage, while Jacob 2 is negative?

Jump to details:

• Question: Why does Doctrine and Covenants 132 speak favorably about some Old Testament practitioners of plural marriage, while Jacob 2 is negative?
• Jacob demonstrates that some of David and Solomon's actions were contrary to Torah, and contrary to God's established order
• At some point after David and Solomon, it was encoded into Mosaic law that a man was not to have many wives
• It is probable that Jacob is effectively quoting this passage (or a precursor to it) from the Brass Plates
• It was the murder of Uriah and the taking of his wife that was the sin David committed, not polygamy
• It was the fact that Solomon allowed some of his wives to turn his heart away from the Lord that resulted in sin, not polygamy
• It was not the concubines or the multiple wives that was abominable, but the fact that not all of it was specifically approved by the Lord

Question: Did early Church leaders state that the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy?

Jump to details:

• Question: Did early Church leaders state that the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy?
• The Smoot hearings

Question: Is Jacob 2:30 actually not saying that polygamy is an occasional exception to monogamy?

Jump to details:

• Question: Is Jacob 2:30 actually not saying that polygamy is an occasional exception to monogamy?
• Introduction to Question
• Response to Question
• “Command My People” May Mean “Move to a Different Location”
• The Book of Mormon clearly states that the David and Solomon’s sin was having many wives and concubines
• Richard and Pamela Price's Interpretation
• Conclusion

Gospel Topics: The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is God’s standard, except at specific periods when He has declared otherwise

"Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah," Gospel Topics on LDS.org

The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is God’s standard, except at specific periods when He has declared otherwise.

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here

Notes