The Antidote to 132
Men are condemned for having multiple wives in Jacob 2 and women are condemned if they don’t become multiple wives in Section 132. Jacob 2 goes head-to-head with Section 132 hitting on many of the same points but with the opposite view.
Not an Innocent Bystander
The Church is the majority Mormon sect—the main polygamous church, the one that no longer wants to be associated with polygamy or called LDS or Mormon (probably for fear of being confused with polygamists)—that has perpetuated the doctrine behind this legislation
A Speculative Explanation Found Wanting
Like a Ponzi scheme, the first men investing in polygamy take multiple wives, including those much younger than themselves, but the generations of later investors have already contributed their potential wives, so the multiple wives scheme is doomed to collapse
Does God Want His Name Associated With This?
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain”
Living this Principle Causes Harm
The evidence shows that living polygamy is harmful to families, which makes it confusing that a family-centered church ever endorsed a potentially family-damaging principle
Conflicting Doctrine — Relationships, Sex, Sin
Zina Diantha Huntington Jacobs Smith Young, married monogamously to Henry Jacobs, then polygamously to Joseph Smith and later polygamously again to Brigham Young, had more than enough credentials to speak on this topic
Would an Agency-Denying Principle Be Restored?
D&C 132 conveys that women can be given as wives, treated as property and their freedom to choose is insignificant
The Basis for the Doctrine
Hagar, not Sarah, is the example for multiple wives. By joining Sarah and Abraham, a slave with limited agency creates the threesome that becomes our model for this family arrangement
God is Not the Author of Injustice
God permits injustice in the world that results from His children’s choices, but God is not the author of injustice
The Narrative is a Source of Truth
God patiently tolerated some ancient cultural norms, including polygamy and slavery; however, His toleration does not mean approval
Women’s Identities and Destinies are Muddled
This muddled principle of plural marriage touches on both a woman’s identity and her destiny, resulting in a less than ideal understanding of either
The Justification for this Judgment
If all parties fully consent and are free from coercion, I prefer to keep my opinions to myself…but polygamous marriages are often not free from coercion
Are Men Superior and Women Inferior?
Our teachings on plural marriage obliterate the progress that Eve’s daughters make with their collective self-esteem
Part of Our History, Our Eternities, and Perhaps Our Lives Again
“ . . . all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same,” D&C 132:3
The Church Separates Itself from Other Sects Obeying D&C 132
We can understand neighbors wanting to separate themselves from the early Saints who were living this practice because, after all, the Church today does just that
The Church has Yet to Disavow Polygamy
While we are advised by the Church to say we no longer practice plural marriage, our temple sealing practices and D&C 132 cause members to assume this principle foreshadows what will be eternal
Just a Few of the Endless Questions
As I have tried to reconcile my understanding of a just God with this principle, I am left with additional questions
Do These Teachings Bring Members Closer to God?
I do better staying away from Church sites that teach this was inspired….my relationship with God is stronger when I believe it was not
My First Thoughts on this Confusing Doctrine
Some of my initial thoughts on this confusing doctrine can be found here on the SquareTwo website