Amulek had multiple wives...most likely?

Over43 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 11:52 PM

In Alma, chapter 11 Amulek speaks to the people of Ammonihah and introduces
Alma to the people of that city. In the course of his opening remarks he states that the people of the city know him (as well), his wealth, standing, his father, women and children.

I have been reading the Book of Mormon for 25+ years and that is the first time that that item has come to my attention.

Now I just hope it was chapter 11 v. 10, and not Chapter 10 v. 11.

By the way, where did Fall go? It went summer to winter in about...a day.

O.

pam · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 01:43 AM

It's Chapter 10 and I'm not sure where the thought of multiple wives comes from. Amulek states he has many kindreds and friends. There is no mention of women and children.

Over43 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pam

It's Chapter 10 and I'm not sure where the thought of multiple wives comes from. Amulek states he has many kindreds and friends. There is no mention of women and children.

Chapter 10 verse 11: For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children and my father and my kin folk...

That's where the thought of mutliple wives come from. His women would probably be differentiated from any of his daughters (chbildren) or mother (who would be married to his father...In fact, not having mentioned his mother, it might be the case that she had passed away? Maybe not...)

I was almsot right initially, just got my chapters and versus mixed up.

pam · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 09:11 AM

Ahhhh I didn't read far enough down. I just read the first few verses of Chapter 10. I see where your thoughts are..but could women not also mean mother, sisters, aunts? It could just be a collective term of the women in his household not necessarily wives.

Vort · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over43

Chapter 10 verse 11: For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children and my father and my kin folk...

That's where the thought of mutliple wives come from. His women would probably be differentiated from any of his daughters (chbildren) or mother (who would be married to his father...In fact, not having mentioned his mother, it might be the case that she had passed away? Maybe not...)

I was almsot right initially, just got my chapters and versus mixed up.

I think this is a misreading of the verse. "My women" simply refers to all adult women in his household, probably including adult daughters and definitely including any mother, mother-in-law, sisters, or other adult women living in his household that were considered family and not servants.

There is no indication that polygamy was ever approved in the history of the Nephite peoples, while there is absolute proof that it was condemned. So in my mind, it is very highly unlikely that Amulek, a righteous man and a tool of the Lord, would have participated in such an arrangement.

Misshalfway · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 06:04 PM

I don't see multiple wives here at all.

FlyingPurpleMonkey · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 02:58 PM

Now it's time for the rest of the story...

If Amulek was a polyganist and took these wives, he did so while in rebellion to his calling and before he met Alma.

What happens to Amulek in the end?

When he gets righteous and obedient to the Lord his entire family rejects and abandons him and he is forced to move in with Alma.

So if this topic was an attempt to justify the practice because of slight chance that Amulek practiced it at some time..... Uber Fail.

pam · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 08:15 PM

I don't think this thread was an attempt to justify it at all. I believe the OP was just asking for clarification on what was written.

Dove · #9 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 04:24 AM

I appreciate this point/question being brought up.

I have a sweet joy and respect for Amulek in this story. This verse has also lead me to wonder if he had more than one wife. I think that perhaps the customs of their day would need to be studied to ascertain whether the possesive term "my women" meant "wives" or any adult female in his household.....

Regardless, it seems to me that upon Alma's staying/teacing at his house, he went through a change of heart and turned towards God, much like Alma did through his repentance process.....Alma 10, verses 5-6 states that he knew of God's ways, but "would not know."

It's amazing to me the sacrifice Amulek made in turning to do God's will for him....There are those verses where the "women and children" were burned for accepting Alma and Amulek's message. Amulek saw their pains in the fire and wanted to stop them from burning to their deaths....Alma was constrained to not do this by the Holy Spirit, saying the women and children burning would be received up to glory and that this was done so that a righteous judgement could be made upon those who burned them......

If you notice, it doesn't mention Amulek's "women and children" as being amongst those who rejected his message, "his kindred, friends and father." (Alma 15:16). I can't help but wonder/believe that Amulek's women and children were among those who Amulek witnessed burning to death as a result of embracing his message.....

My heart goes out to Amulek......In Alma 15:18, it speaks of how Alma took Amulek to his own house to minister to him......Amulek gave up everything to follow the Lord. It's incredible to read of his sacrifice. Not only did he give everything up, he saw his women and children burn to death as a result of accepting his message....This blows my mind.

By the way, Vort, as I'm sure you probably know, while polygamy was never approved in the history of the Nephit nation, it was practiced at times by the wicked parts of them. Amulek admits to not following God for most of his life in Alma 10:4-5. I think he could have been practicing polygamy before he repented......

sixpacktr · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 06:20 PM

Not to hijack the thread, but I love Amulek. He obviously had a background in the gospel because after a short time with Alma he is able to bear powerful testimony, so much so that he confounds Zeezrom (who, after repenting, was another great one).

My favorite line by Amulek, which I believe speaks to our souls to some degree, is when he says "I KNEW but I would not KNOW".

As the Nephites were, in reality, transplanted Israelites, it is POSSIBLE they are talking of multiple wives, but couldn't it be more likely that Amulek was instead responsible for not only his wife and children, but also his mother, aunts, cousins, etc, since he was well known and probably well off. And, if he was the first born (since we're speculating here) the head of the family would have fallen to him, which may be another reason for saying 'women' instead of 'woman' or 'wife'.