Seven wrote:Why were the polyandrous marriages done in secret and with instruction to keep it from Emma if they were only Law of Adoption? I will have to break out my Compton book, but I can't recall Joseph sealing himself to the husbands of these women listed as wives. Emma wouldn't have trouble with Law of Adoption sealings so it doesn't make sense he told the women to hide it from her. I'll have to skim through it and see if I am confusing the single women with married ones.
I agree that there were many Law of Adoption sealings done but I view them as we do sealing children to parents. Were the sealings done with the polyandrous wives viewed any differently than the men? Also, in Compton's books there were a few cases of outrage over proposals made to some of the wives. Orsen Hyde for example was told to find a new wife after Joseph had married his first wife Miranda Hyde.
I have not read Compton's book, and I'm not as well versed as I should be regarding Church history during this period. Maybe Uncle Dale or one of our other historians can shed some light on this.
My understanding was that Emma was aware of the majority of Joseph's plural marriages, with the exception of a few of the earlier ones. She wasn't happy about it, and publicly rejected it many times, but she was aware this was going on. It caused her great heartache, but her love for Joseph transcended this.
Wasn't she kind of threatened into accepting it? Scripturally speaking? D&C?
Jersey Girl
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb
Gazelam wrote:From the testimonies I have read, Joseph would ask the parents permission, and would ask the women he proposed to to ask God if it was right, after receiving an answer to their prayers to the affirmative, they then said yes to marriage.
I think a good analogy of this would be like serving a mission. Many people are told from a very young age to do as thay are commanded. If the very influential leader of a very controlling group comes to a member to ask of them something. What are they going to do? say no? Especialy if your parents are good with the idea.
One nice thing is, ze game of love is never called on account of darkness - Pepe Le Pew
Gazelam wrote:From the testimonies I have read, Joseph would ask the parents permission, and would ask the women he proposed to to ask God if it was right, after receiving an answer to their prayers to the affirmative, they then said yes to marriage.
Gaz,
Have you read Mormon Enigma-Emma Hale Smith, In Sacred Lonliness or VonWagnor's book on plural marriage. If not pick one then come back to discuss this. He did more then just ask parents permission.
No I havent read any of those. I was just going off some various things I've read. I have a long list of things to read before I get to any of those, thanks for the recommend though.
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. - Plato
Gazelam wrote:From the testimonies I have read, Joseph would ask the parents permission, and would ask the women he proposed to to ask God if it was right, after receiving an answer to their prayers to the affirmative, they then said yes to marriage.
Helen Mar Kimball's writings made it as though she was against it and did it only because of her father. She resented it, but later came to accept it as her lot in life. Doesn't really sound like God affirmed it to her as being right.
Micah
If you've read her writings, especially her poetry, then you'll know she claimed to have only been sealed to Joseph for "eternity." There is nothing in her writings to suggest that she ever cohabited with Joseph Smith.
Gazelam wrote:From the testimonies I have read, Joseph would ask the parents permission, and would ask the women he proposed to to ask God if it was right, after receiving an answer to their prayers to the affirmative, they then said yes to marriage.
Helen Mar Kimball's writings made it as though she was against it and did it only because of her father. She resented it, but later came to accept it as her lot in life. Doesn't really sound like God affirmed it to her as being right.
Micah
If you've read her writings, especially her poetry, then you'll know she claimed to have only been sealed to Joseph for "eternity." There is nothing in her writings to suggest that she ever cohabited with Joseph Smith.
Plutarch
And yet it is easy enough to interpret "eternity" as being euphemistic in this particular context.
Gazelam wrote:From the testimonies I have read, Joseph would ask the parents permission, and would ask the women he proposed to to ask God if it was right, after receiving an answer to their prayers to the affirmative, they then said yes to marriage.
Helen Mar Kimball's writings made it as though she was against it and did it only because of her father. She resented it, but later came to accept it as her lot in life. Doesn't really sound like God affirmed it to her as being right.
Micah
If you've read her writings, especially her poetry, then you'll know she claimed to have only been sealed to Joseph for "eternity." There is nothing in her writings to suggest that she ever cohabited with Joseph Smith.
Plutarch
Is cohabitation with Joseph Smith the main issue?
Jersey Girl
Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.
Chinese Proverb