[Fiannan]

Originally Posted by MarginOfError

Was this not a polygamous marriage that was not sanctioned by God. That there is very relevant.

That is never even hinted at in the Bible. And since the 10 Commandments presupposes polygamy (in Jewish teaching a man was not to covet his neighbor's wife but a single woman could covet her neighbor's husband since it was possible for her to also be married to him).

As for the point about Jacob in the Book of Mormon he was dealing with excesses, not polygamy itself. Having hundreds of wives and concubines was considered unfair to the wives and concubines as they were more objects rather than partners. Perhaps this is a reason Islam limits a man to just 4 wives and he is to treat them all equally.

Morality is a fluid construct that changes over time and, yes, geography. Polygamists in the USA are certainly free to believe that certain teachings should take a superior position than the laws of the state. In doing so, however, they should be prepared to accept the consequences that the state imposes on them. There has been plenty of evidence to show that it won't change, the law suits defending the right to religious practices that are contrary to state law have been exhausted, and it won't change. They're stuck in a position where what they do is either illegal or it is immoral. You can't talk your way out of that, and you'll not find any General Authority to tell you differently.

Again, you can't apply our Church's teachings to these people any more than a Lutheran has to listen to what the Pope says.

If the Bible does not call polygamy immoral then it cannot be seen as immoral. Perhaps this is akin to animal sacrifice. I would certainly not call ritual sacrifice by Muslims immoral since for me to do so would pit me against the teachings of the Old Testament and God. Does my religion say it is wrong? Yes, if done for religious reasons. Is ritual sacrifice illegal in some countries? Yes. Is a Muslim who then does the annual ritual slauther of animals immoral? No, but what he is doing is illegal in those European nations than ban it.

As for law, laws change. When the US Constitution was created homosexual sex was illegal in all 13 states. It remained that way up until recent times and only became legal with court rulings and some states making it legal. The same may well happen in regards to polygamy.

Oh, and morality is not a fluid concept. The Bible says that adultery and fornication are evil -- that will not change over time. Now if you happen to believe that something like public nudity might become more acceptable in the future that could occur but something like nudity is not in and of itself immoral. I mean if you could warp a bunch of sisters from a Relief Society meeting back to 1850 they'd be arrested for showing too much plesh in public as well as wearing provacative attire. Maybe in the future you might have a YA swim party where it would be acceptable to go topless for males and females. Those sorts of things fall into the category of social norms, not morality, and can change due to people's changing attitudes.

Then the father should be paying child support to all of the families as well.

Why if in every respect he is acting as a husband and father to all his families? Child support os for people who aren't in the immediate picture anymore.