Phaedrus Ut wrote: In 1842 both girls began living in Joseph's home. In May of 1843 Joseph married both girls for which he had been appointed guardian. These were Sarah and Maria Lawrence, age 17 and 19. Joseph was 37 at the time.
The only reason people have a problem with this is because of "presentism."
Did any of the Charles Dickens' characters marry their charges? That would have created a dickens of a predicament.
Phaedrus Ut wrote:Ahh yes the good ole days when is was morally acceptable for a guardian to start banging the teenage girls in his care. It's the modern moral decline that has lead us from such wonderful circumstances. Phaedrus
Truly dark times are upon God's children when they are no longer able to prey on the innocent for their money and intimacy. It must be a sign of the impending end, after which Jesus will return his saints to such blissful (gag) circumstances.