Question On Joesph Smith And Other Prophets

[rameumptom]

Originally Posted by Moksha

I think the average standard of beauty was different throughout the 19th Century.

Mark Twain, a major critic of Mormons and polygamy, went to SLC. He said that upon looking at the women in Salt Lake, he realized that polygamy was a kindness being shown to all the ugly women there.

[rameumptom]

Originally Posted by bytebear

Emma Smith denied polygamy ever with Smith, and said it was Young who started it up, but I think she may have believed in the affair (but I think she was mistaken). As to other testimonies, several church leaders after the move to Utah attempted to bolster the idea of polygamy by gathering testimonies of Smith's involvement in the practice. The Community of Christ (RLDS) historically have denied Smith's involvement completely, so it was a battle in the late 1800s as to who was right which is where I believe many of those testimonies come from. So I can see how the Alger story got made to be part of the "wives" list, but I don't believe them.

In the last decade or so, the Community of Christ has also begun to accept the concept that Joseph was involved in polgamy. There's just too much evidence, including the Nauvoo Expositor and the testimony of many of his wives and others who were close to the Smiths. It's hard to argue when both friends and enemies claim the same thing.

[Snow]

Originally Posted by bytebear

Emma Smith denied polygamy ever with Smith, and said it was Young who started it up, but I think she may have believed in the affair (but I think she was mistaken). As to other testimonies, several church leaders after the move to Utah attempted to bolster the idea of polygamy by gathering testimonies of Smith's involvement in the practice. The Community of Christ (RLDS) historically have denied Smith's involvement completely, so it was a battle in the late 1800s as to who was right which is where I believe many of those testimonies come from. So I can see how the Alger story got made to be part of the "wives" list, but I don't believe them.

Sticking one's head in the sand and saying I see nothing/I hear nothing is not not a very effective strategy...

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by TRomans

Hello everybody,

Earlier today I was watching the 4 hour PBS documentary entitled "The Mormons". I thought it was an interesting documentary, although I feel that they could of touched more on some parts and less on others-such as polygamy and those who still practise it-as they are not even members of the church.

Anywho my question comes on the bases of Joesph Smith calling polygamy into play. From my understanding it is that many members including Brigham Young were opposed to this idea. Smith had claimed that it was through Revelation that he had received this notion of putting polygamy back into use.

Now comes my question..Do you think that Joseph made polygamy alright in the Church for selfish reasons? That perhaps he wanted to have polygamy so he could sleep with younger women? I know Joesph Smith is/was a Prophet of God, but nonetheless he is still a man-an imperfect being.

Also say this happened in today's times, that we felt one of our leaders was doing something for personal reasons. Do we obey or what?

I hope what I am getting at makes sense, and that my question can be answered.

Thanks

Tyler

First stay away from any media...what is presented is not always the truth but a blend of it mixed with lies. Sound familiar with person who cast out from the Spirit world? Now, who commanded Joseph to enact this practise?

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by rameumptom

Mark Twain, a major critic of Mormons and polygamy, went to SLC. He said that upon looking at the women in Salt Lake, he realized that polygamy was a kindness being shown to all the ugly women there.

If he looked upon his own statement, he was top of the heap when it came to ugliness.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by Moksha

From the Wikipedia (with citation links):

According to George D. Smith, Alger's marriage to Smith may have been attested by several contemporaries at the time, including Emma Smith, Warren Parish, Oliver Cowdery, and Heber C. Kimball,[9] even though publicly the leadership of the church, including Joseph Smith and Emma, [10] denied throughout their lives that Joseph Smith had been a polygamist.[11][12][13]
-------------------------

You have love the gospel according to the Wiki god.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by Ezequiel

I'm sure there were alot of mistakes made. The early saints made many mistakes in a number of ways, because of the lack of comprehension of doctrines and lack of faith - or simply the weakness of men. But we can't deny the heritage of faith they have left us behind. Joseph Smith will be held responsible before the Lord for the things he has done, and it isn't for us to make that judgment. Without a question in mind, I know that he is a prophet of God.

Just as Joseph was prepared for them and for their time.

As Joseph did not teach the early Saints all the doctrine he was taught.

The problem with asking about a subject before the Lord as Joseph did concerning the practice of the earlier fathers [when translating] over multiply wives, is to act on it when commanded. He failed to do so in the beginning because of the fear on what Emma would do. Well, we did find out what Emma did when she found the hand written revelation.

Again, do not ask about something if you are not ready to live it or apply it in your own life.

[deseretgov]

I don't have a problem with the "under age" women thing. It seems to be mainly something that stems from our upbringing and culture. For example in the middle ages most people only lived until about thirty-ish. Marriages between people were common around the age of sixteen or so. Not considering the pre arrainged marriages when people were infants. It's just because of our current culture/laws/upbrining that marrying people people age 14-17 seems wrong.

[Hemidakota]

I can understand for us, our current culture speaks against marrying a a young teen but back in the 1800s and some out of the way places in the mountains today, the culture is totally different in allowing marriage with a person less than 18-years old.