Mormon Polygamy

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By definition, polygamy is “the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time.” This practice is illegal in all 50 states but is still seen in various parts throughout the country. The common stereotype is that Mormons are often the ones seen practicing polygamy. More times than not, it is the male who has multiple wives. According to the article titled, “What’s the history of polygamy in North America?”, mainstream Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or LDS) don’t practice polygamy. In fact, there is a break-off sect also known as Fundamentalist Mormons who do practice polygamy. Some Neopagans like the Wiccans, are open to the practice as well as many liberal groups. According to this article, …show more content…
The revelation was based on a simple principle: God wanted his people to multiply. Men can produce any number of offspring at one time, while women can only bear about one child per year. The practice eventually instilled within the church and it lasted for about 60 years. The Divine Principle is still in the Mormon scripture and is still respected within the LDS Church, but the practice is not. Polygamy eventually ended in 1889 when then-president and Prophet Wilford Wilson received a revelation stating that the time for polygamy (and the outlaw Mormon) had passed. Within the next few years, the church began to excommunicate those Mormons still forming new polygamy unions. Those excommunicated Mormons became the Fundamentalist sects that still engage in polygamy …show more content…
Polygamists often refer to Genesis 1:28 where is reads, “Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” They also refer to historical figures in the Bible like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon who were all commanded by God to practice plural marriages. According to “What’s the history of polygamy in North America”, Fundamentalist Mormons believe that plural marriages expand the mind and the heart. They also trust it encourages patience, tests one’s faith, and helps steer the righteous away from the sins of adultery and envy. Based on many verses cited throughout the Bible like 2 Samuel 12:8, Deuteronomy 21:15-17, Matthew 25:1-46, and many more, Fundamentalists believe that polygamy is supported by God and should be legal. This shapes their sexuality because they (commonly seen with men) look for more than one partner. If the practice of polygamy is seen as normal, supported, and common within the Fundamentalist Mormon community, men (or women) are mot likely to express interest sexually in more than one person. This idea is seen in individuals who believe that marriage should be between two people whether opposite-sex or same-sex couples. If these
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