My 13 year-old son explains the reason for polygamy

[_beastie]

Has there ever been an apologetic response to the lying regarding polygamy?

Kerry Shirts addressed one particular lie, what a thing to be accused, etc etc here

http://www.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/polygamy.htm

"I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made one proclemation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives....This spiritual wifeism! Why, a man does not speak or wink, for fear of being accused of this....What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago; and I can prove them all perjerurs"-Joseph Smith (History of The Church 6:410-411)

Basically, Kerry tries two approaches. One is to say that Joseph Smith was talking about, literally, the time when he had been "married scarcely five minutes." So, according to Kerry, Smith was talking about his "early marriage".

Then he tries the "we're not sure this was recorded correctly" line.

[_cafe crema]

I'd have a bit of trouble trusting the judgement of a person who couldn't discern a difference between

No that dress doesn't make your butt look big, when the dress does make the butt look big
and
No I'm only married to one wife, when there are marriages to multiple women.

[_Some Schmo]

Well, shoot, Schmoe, I've grown to like your posts. I'm sorry you are so offended for mine.

Its discouraging to see people turn on people because they hold a different opinion. Eerily it reminds me precisely of what many here complain about regarding some posters over at MDD. Oh well, Schmoe. have fun.

Don't get me wrong, man. I don't dislike you because of this one incident. (I don't dislike you at all, in fact). As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I think you've been more honest lately, but the way you're arguing in this thread makes me feel like you've had a BS relapse.

Incidentally, there isn't anyone on this board I don't like. Just because I disagree with you or think you're full of crap doesn't mean I dislike you. I may not like what people write at times, but it would be pretty stupid to dislike strangers based on a few of their words (which we aren't even sure they really mean) thrown up on a message board. Come on! People were talking about MDB acting like teenagers because of name calling. Really? Well, that's nothing compared to the adolescent behavior of not liking someone you don't know because of an opinion you think they hold.

[sarcasm]
Oh yes, everybody means every single thing they say on a religious message board. You can take that to the bank!
[/sarcasm]

[_why me]

My 8 -yr old asked if Joseph Smith was a liar and I told him yes.

Did you also tell him that Joseph Smith was a human being and as such he was not perfect? Probably not. However, at the time of Joseph Smith, many found him not to be prophet material because of how he did life. He was too human to be a prophet. Strange. No one is perfect. We are all liars when we feel that it is better to lie. Such is being human.

[_why me]

I'd have a bit of trouble trusting the judgement of a person who couldn't discern a difference between

No that dress doesn't make your butt look big, when the dress does make the butt look big
and
No I'm only married to one wife, when there are marriages to multiple women.

Or catholic priests and bishops and cardinals who denied child abuse and lied about it? Come on café...such is being human. We lie...end of story.

[_why me]

I'm thinking his lies are what got him and his buddies killed but, maybe...

I do believe that much would have been different if the Mormons were allowed to practice their faith without persecution. To see and experience suffering at the hands of mobs is not pretty. Joseph himself knew what could happen if the secret got out. He commented about it. Also, I don't think that he was in an easy position with emma. If he believed tha god wanted him to go back to practicing polygamy and knowing how emma felt about it...well...what to do?

He did the human thing.

[_just me]

I'm thinking his lies are what got him and his buddies killed but, maybe...

I do believe that much would have been different if the Mormons were allowed to practice their faith without persecution. To see and experience suffering at the hands of mobs is not pretty. Joseph himself knew what could happen if the secret got out. He commented about it.

CFR

What comment did Joseph make about the polygamy secret? I would honestly like to know what you are referring to.

[_why me]

My response to him was basically this: "There was no huge disparity in gender populations requiring polygamy. That is a myth people choose to believe to make themselves feel better about such a weird thing. The only reason the church practiced polygamy is that that Joseph Smith said God told him to do it. This is the only reason to believe in polygamy. But you must decide whether or not you believe God would command such a thing.

I didn't offer my personal opinion on the matter because he didn't ask me, but I would have had he asked.

The best answer for polygamy is simple: because god commanded it. And the saints had their faith tested with it. End of story. And it makes sense. It wasn't only Joseph who practiced it.

[_Joseph]

wyme wrote: "No one is perfect."
*************
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

So, you don't believe Jesus was real either.

[_why me]

CFR

What comment did Joseph make about the polygamy secret? I would honestly like to know what you are referring to.

http://eom.BYU.edu/index.php/Plural_Marriage