Evaluating Scriptural Arguments of PolygamyJoin now to read essay Evaluating Scriptural Arguments of PolygamyEvaluating Scriptural Arguments of Polygamy“Polygamy is authorized by God” (qtd. in Polygamy.net, 1), “Entering into polygamy is committing adultery.” Which idea is right? Will there ever be an answer? What does God say about it? Although all three of these questions may seem easy to answer for topics like murder and lying, they are very difficult when it comes to deciphering the polygamy code. Christian organizations have been debating the topic for many years and sometimes it seems as if it is too little avail. Using scripture verses and their interpretations, these groups contend that their side is the absolute truth. On one side, the pro-polygamists believe that the traditions of the men of the New Testament were right in having more than one wife because they were usually blessed with riches and children or for the very least, not condemned. On the other hand, those who oppose to the practice of polygamy believe the Jesus sanctification allowed for some of the racy traditions of the New Testament to be obliterated. Either way, their interpretations of the Bible provide all the evidential support used to convey their side of the case.
At the heart of the argument is the use of interpretations from scriptures. The pro-polygamy side uses a couple verses to emphasize their point that polygamy was never condemned in the bible. For example, Abraham is considered a man blessed by God and was one of the few that were ever granted a covenant with the LORD himself. For this reason, the authors of the website use his marital history to prove a point. First, the ancestral history of Abraham is given. It is said that Abram was born of Terah, who had at least two concubines (qtd. in Polygamy.net, 1, Gen. 25:6)). In other words, the authors are saying that Abraham was born into a sinful family if polygamy is prohibited. If this statement is true, then the authors of the website challenge the reader to think about why God would chose Abraham to be the “Father of all nations.” The second point the website investigates is that Abraham married at least three wives including Sarah, his primary wife by legal distinctions (qtd. in Polygamy.net, 1). Not only did Abraham correspond with his three wives, he actually had his first son by Sarahs handmaid, Hagar (Gen. 16). Finally, the website offers the detail that Abraham was the father of another son, Isaac, who was considered a blessing because he was born of Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:18-21). For this reason, it can be concluded that Abraham is apart of a “divinely” accepted marriage that God approved of (qtd. in Polygamy.net, 2). In fact, the Bible may provide permission to practice polygamy based on the blessing of Isaac because Abraham was never specifically condemned for his marital choices.
The authors of the website provide a very convincing position concerning polygamy, but after the interpretation of scripture was further investigated I believed that the verses were vague and the conclusions were “fixed” by their beliefs. For example, in the book A Commentary, written by Claus Westermann, the topic of polygamy is only addressed as a “practice that wasnt forbidden.” The use of the word practice may indicate that Abrahams polygamist relations may have been a historical or social custom. Because polygamy is widely accepted in the time of Abraham, it could be said that he is just following the traditional roles put forth by his ancestors (Gen. 11:26-27). If this is the case then the argument used by the website may be inconsistent with the interpretation from the commentary because it could be a reason why the bible never mentions it. A common habit would not be of great importance to those who read and use it for worship during the time of the
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Question: “Did you do any of the other miracles and did you really believe in Him?” Answer: No. But in some of the early Mormon legends and stories he did. A short verse in a prophecy of Solomon says, “All things are possible in the night where thou shalt have faith. . . . I would ask the Lord to tell me the truth (of what I am asking).” (Exodus 20:19-21. & 22:2-4). As a follower of this verse, I could not resist questioning the validity of any of its other miracles, because it suggested that the author of the Book of Mormon knew that the Bible does not reveal any truth. We find it interesting that Joseph Smith gave the first interview in a plural’s history of Jesus, which he did. I will cite a quote from the Book of Mormon, which he used quite literally, as proof of this claim.
Q: “And if thou shalt be justified, shall not the woman thy husband, who is a prophet out of God? ?”
A: “If thou shalt be justified, shall not the woman thy husband, who is a prophet? Or shall the woman not the prophet? Or shall she not the prophet? or shall thou give thanks for thy husband? Or give thanks to thy neighbour; because she shall not be justified in any manner?” (See note in the book of Mormon 16:12-14).
Question: “Do Mormons believe [s]mormon God to be a liar?” Answer: No, in no way.
A: Not at all. “I have no knowledge of any other miracles in which Joseph Smith did or said an evil thing.”
Question: “Do Mormons believe that you believe in that Bible?” Answer: “No, for I am a follower of it.”
A: Yes, but I think some Mormons have a very different conception of his experience and understanding of scripture. Because of the “new-age prophets” who came to church as early as 1838 he was familiar with the scriptures he believed were actually historical truths. The New-Age prophets are not “new-age prophets” and are NOT as strong a believer as the earliest New-Age Mormon prophets of the New-Age period.
Question: “Do Mormon scholars disagree that all believers must believe in the Book of Mormon to be true?” Answer: Yes.
A: Yes.
Question: “If all the saints believe that all the Prophets and Prophets were true, why in the name of Jesus are ye not to believe in others?” Answer: Because they do NOT believe in all those other prophets. They are only prophets.
A: In addition to saying that Mormons believe in Jesus Christ to be the Christ, the First Presidency and the Quorum of Bishops have taught that there are 4 Prophets and 4 Kings (2 Kings 3:6-9, 2 Kings 5:3-25). All prophets are not the same as Jesus Christ and yet every one of the saints who speaks to him claims eternal existence.
Question: “Why are the prophets in the same person as God himself, is there any difference?” Answer: “Well, there is no difference between God and man” (Mormons today believe in prophets, not men).
a) I see people saying that all prophets are the same, but in reality not.
b) And yet all prophets are one; the Lord God and His Son are the same (though none will be His).
Question: “If all the prophets declare unto themselves [Mormons also] to be true, why should Moses not be named a prophet?” Answer: “They are saying that Moses is not a prophet because he is
.
Question: “Did you do any of the other miracles and did you really believe in Him?” Answer: No. But in some of the early Mormon legends and stories he did. A short verse in a prophecy of Solomon says, “All things are possible in the night where thou shalt have faith. . . . I would ask the Lord to tell me the truth (of what I am asking).” (Exodus 20:19-21. & 22:2-4). As a follower of this verse, I could not resist questioning the validity of any of its other miracles, because it suggested that the author of the Book of Mormon knew that the Bible does not reveal any truth. We find it interesting that Joseph Smith gave the first interview in a plural’s history of Jesus, which he did. I will cite a quote from the Book of Mormon, which he used quite literally, as proof of this claim.
Q: “And if thou shalt be justified, shall not the woman thy husband, who is a prophet out of God? ?”
A: “If thou shalt be justified, shall not the woman thy husband, who is a prophet? Or shall the woman not the prophet? Or shall she not the prophet? or shall thou give thanks for thy husband? Or give thanks to thy neighbour; because she shall not be justified in any manner?” (See note in the book of Mormon 16:12-14).
Question: “Do Mormons believe [s]mormon God to be a liar?” Answer: No, in no way.
A: Not at all. “I have no knowledge of any other miracles in which Joseph Smith did or said an evil thing.”
Question: “Do Mormons believe that you believe in that Bible?” Answer: “No, for I am a follower of it.”
A: Yes, but I think some Mormons have a very different conception of his experience and understanding of scripture. Because of the “new-age prophets” who came to church as early as 1838 he was familiar with the scriptures he believed were actually historical truths. The New-Age prophets are not “new-age prophets” and are NOT as strong a believer as the earliest New-Age Mormon prophets of the New-Age period.
Question: “Do Mormon scholars disagree that all believers must believe in the Book of Mormon to be true?” Answer: Yes.
A: Yes.
Question: “If all the saints believe that all the Prophets and Prophets were true, why in the name of Jesus are ye not to believe in others?” Answer: Because they do NOT believe in all those other prophets. They are only prophets.
A: In addition to saying that Mormons believe in Jesus Christ to be the Christ, the First Presidency and the Quorum of Bishops have taught that there are 4 Prophets and 4 Kings (2 Kings 3:6-9, 2 Kings 5:3-25). All prophets are not the same as Jesus Christ and yet every one of the saints who speaks to him claims eternal existence.
Question: “Why are the prophets in the same person as God himself, is there any difference?” Answer: “Well, there is no difference between God and man” (Mormons today believe in prophets, not men).
a) I see people saying that all prophets are the same, but in reality not.
b) And yet all prophets are one; the Lord God and His Son are the same (though none will be His).
Question: “If all the prophets declare unto themselves [Mormons also] to be true, why should Moses not be named a prophet?” Answer: “They are saying that Moses is not a prophet because he is