Boys Cast out

[_Maxrep]

It doesn't. Unless some fatal disease suddenly strikes a huge percentage of people with twigs and berries.

Do you mean farm type folk, with orchards and such? :)

[_beastie]

I think this is why polygamous societies are usually societies with a strong centralized power-figure who has the means to use the power of the state - or religion - to control dissatisfied men.

Also, I think the early church dealt with this problem by sending men on missions, who sometimes brought home wives with them. Or more females to choose from.

[_asbestosman]

It doesn't. Unless some fatal disease suddenly strikes a huge percentage of people with twigs and berries.

Do you mean farm type folk, with orchards and such? :)

I thought he was talking of grocers with apples and bananas.

[_asbestosman]

Polygamy works best in societies where you can count on a lot of your men dying off from war or attack.

There goes my hopes of a Celestial harem. ;)

Then again, there was that war in heaven . . .

[_The Nehor]

I think this is why polygamous societies are usually societies with a strong centralized power-figure who has the means to use the power of the state - or religion - to control dissatisfied men.

Also, I think the early church dealt with this problem by sending men on missions, who sometimes brought home wives with them. Or more females to choose from.

Yeah, according to Anti-Mormon tracts back in the 1800's Missionaries were only paid about 25-50 pence for British men but unmarried women could net you 5-10 quid each. Luckily for us transport was easy with our secret tunnel that went from Preston to Salt Lake City.

[_Scottie]

Polygamy works best in societies where you can count on a lot of your men dying off from war or attack.

I can see your point here.

Societies that are at constant war and constantly killing off the male population would be a good candidate for polygamy.

[_The Nehor]

Polygamy works best in societies where you can count on a lot of your men dying off from war or attack.

I can see your point here.

Societies that are at constant war and constantly killing off the male population would be a good candidate for polygamy.

When the Utah War never really got off the ground we had to throw it out ;)

[_moksha]

Thanks for the article Jason. On the most basic level, how does polygamy ever work out mathematically?

I think it works like this:

Divide the number of women by the prophet's desire.

This is biting satire. Could you also do gumming?

Sometimes one needs to look at the first principles of who polygamy was really designed for. Runtu seems to be on the right track.

[_beastie]

Missionaries bringing back more females:

"Brethren, I want you to understand that it is not to be as it has been heretofore. The brother missionaries have been in the habit of picking out the prettiest women for themselves before they get here, and bringing on the ugly ones for us; hereafter you have to bring them all here before taking any of them, and let us all have a fair shake."
- Apostle Heber C. Kimball, The Lion of the Lord, New York, 1969, pp.129-30.

"I say to those who are elected to go on missions, remember they are not your sheep: they belong to Him that sends you. Then do not make a choice of any of those sheep; do not make selections before they are brought home and put into the fold. You under stand that. Amen"
- Apostle Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.256.

http://i4m.com/think/polygamy/polygamy_widows.htm

[_Maxrep]

Missionaries bringing back more females:

" The brother missionaries have been in the habit of picking out the prettiest women for themselves before they get here, and bringing on the ugly ones for us; "
- Apostle Heber C. Kimball, The Lion of the Lord, New York, 1969, pp.129-30.

It kind of sounds like a cattle auction, right? Of course, the whole scene is pretty sad, but I couldn't help but laugh about the "pretty ones" getting plucked out by the missionaries.