Rational justification for Polygamy?

[_zzyzx]

In reading and listening to others about Polygamy in the LDS Church I can't come up with any rational or reasonable reason it was practiced.
As a commandment it falls off when we see Joseph Smith starting the practice before he has the authority to do so.

The excuse of 'too many women' falls apart when one looks at the population figures.

Was there any rational and reasonable reason for polygamy as practiced by the early LDS?

[_truth dancer]

Was there any rational and reasonable reason for polygamy as practiced by the early LDS?

Yep!



Joseph Smith started polygamy for the exact same reason other powerful cult/religious leaders did/do.

Seems powerful religious/cult leaders get away with all sorts of otherwise hurtful, inappropriate, even cruel sexual behavior if they use the "God said" excuse.

~td~

[_harmony]

Was there any rational and reasonable reason for polygamy as practiced by the early LDS?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No matter how apologists spin it, the answer is still No.

[_marg]

In reading and listening to others about Polygamy in the LDS Church I can't come up with any rational or reasonable reason it was practiced.
As a commandment it falls off when we see Joseph Smith starting the practice before he has the authority to do so.

The excuse of 'too many women' falls apart when one looks at the population figures.

Was there any rational and reasonable reason for polygamy as practiced by the early LDS?

Yes, Mormonism attracted more women than men. I read recently I believe it was from Brigham Young where he commented on that fact, unfortunately I don't remember where I read it and can't quote. So if that's the case, that Mormonism would appeal and attract women much easier than men, it makes sense to practice polygamy.

[_harmony]

Yes, Mormonism attracted more women than men. I read recently I believe it was from Brigham Young where he commented on that fact, unfortunately I don't remember where I read it and can't quote. So if that's the case, that Mormonism would appeal and attract women much easier than men, it makes sense to practice polygamy.

Only if you're an alpha male who is determined to marginalize women while at the same time lording it over lesser males.

And the answer is still No, marg. And when Joseph started polygamy, there was no overabundance of women... he mostly married married women and teenage girls, not single adult women.

[_marg]

Yes, Mormonism attracted more women than men. I read recently I believe it was from Brigham Young where he commented on that fact, unfortunately I don't remember where I read it and can't quote. So if that's the case, that Mormonism would appeal and attract women much easier than men, it makes sense to practice polygamy.

Only if you're an alpha male who is determined to marginalize women while at the same time lording it over lesser males.

And the answer is still No, marg. And when Joseph started polygamy, there was no overabundance of women... he mostly married married women and teenage girls, not single adult women.

I am positive I read and I'm pretty sure it was Brigham Young say that more women have an interest in Mormonism than men. Joseph didn't practice polygamy, Joseph practiced sex. However my point still stands because he likely realized that it is easier to convert women than men. A successful man at converting can simply marry the women, or marry recent converts of others.

[_Joey]

Yes, Mormonism attracted more women than men. I read recently I believe it was from Brigham Young where he commented on that fact, unfortunately I don't remember where I read it and can't quote. So if that's the case, that Mormonism would appeal and attract women much easier than men, it makes sense to practice polygamy.

Well given that "rational argument", why don't the CEOs of General Growth Properties and Simon Properties (the two largest developers of shopping malls) practice polygamy???

What am I missing?

[_marg]

This is from wiki pedia on Brigham Young but this is not where I read it, I read something which Brigham Young wrote which indicated this.

Brigham Young refused to discuss the private details of his family life. He had in his lifetime 26 wives and 56 children by 16 of those wives. He took good care of his family and was not considered dictatorial or autocratic by them. He even granted a couple of divorces to his wives. Beyond those 26, Brigham Young married other women, with whom he did not cohabit (See Polygamy for a more detailed account of the various types of polygamous marriages). Young married these women to support them and their children financially, as there were many more female converts to the Church than male.

[_Paul Osborne]

Hey, let's not fail to cover it all. Could it be that penis size had something to do with who could have extra wives? The larger the organ the more wives you get? No, just kidding!



Or more so, how about it was needful that the restoration of all things was prophesied long ago and the law of plural marriage had to be established in latter days to fullfill all things that pertain to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The house of Israel was founded upon polygamy! It it is fitting that Latter-day Saints imitated this practice. The other Christian sects got caught with their pants down and failed to realize a restoration of all things was already written in the plan of God. had not the Mormons done it first the other religions would have tried it. But they were much too late.

Paul O

[_truth dancer]

Hey Harmony,

Was there any rational and reasonable reason for polygamy as practiced by the early LDS?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No matter how apologists spin it, the answer is still No.

Just to be clear... the reason I said "yes" (that there is a rational reason to explain polygamy) is because, it is rational to think that Joseph Smith started polygamy because he wanted young girls and women for his sexual pleasure.

What is not rational is to think that Joseph Smith was somehow completely different than all the other powerful men who exploit and use girls and women for their sexual pleasure.

~td~