Question for Gaz...

[_Kevin Graham]

Gazelem is a real piece of work. First he makes the ludicrous statement that in the 19th century, the average age of marriage was 14. When asked to produce references, he immediately backpeddles and changes his argument. Now he says, it was common in British culture in the day. His evidence?

Hardwick's Marriage Act 1753, which merely set the minimum age of marriage. It tells us nothing about what the average age was for 18th century England. But setting all that aside, why in the world would we think Joseph Smith’s family was influenced by British marriage practices when the past four generations were all born in America? Even worse, Joseph’s mother was the youngest bride (at age 20.5) of the whole lot! Consider the following.... and hold onto your crotch Gaz, because this is going to hurt....


Joseph Smith's father married Lucy Mack when she was 20.5 years old. He was born, not in England, but in Essex Massachusetts in 1771.

Joseph Smith's grandfather, Asael Smith, was born in Essex as well, in 1744 He married his wife when she was 24.

Joseph Smith's great-grandfather, Captain Samuel T. Smith, was also born in Essex, 1714 and married his wife when she was 27.

His great-great Grandfather, Samuel Smith sr., was also born in Essex, 1666, married his wife when she was 21.

Joseph’s great-great-great grandfather, Robert Smith jr, born 1626 in England, and married his wife when she was 22 years of age.

His g-g-g-g grandfather, Robert Smith sr., born 1589 in England, married his wife when she was also 22 years of age.

His g-g-g-g-g grandfather, Edward Smith, born 1553, married his wife when she was 23 years of age.

So going back the last seven generations of Joseph Smith’s family, the average marriage age of all his grandmothers was 22.8 years of age. That’s 50% older than Smith’s 14 year old bride.

So when exactly did English marriage customs influence the Smith family? They didn't seem to have much effect on the Smith families that actually lived in England!

[_Jersey Girl]

Gazelam,

What happened to verses 12-26? You are cherry picking verses out of context.

Off to shovel my way to work.

Jersey Girl

This is why Jersey Girl is such a genius. She just took my whole convoluted post about that section in Matthew and summarized it in two sentences. LOL

Your post wasn't at all convoluted. It was detailed. ;-) I just got home having made it safely on icy hills, white out conditions, blah, blah blah. I believe that my life was spared so that I could participate in this thread. :-D

I'll return shortly to comment further.

[_harmony]

I'll return shortly to comment further.

Build a snowman first! Oh wait... it would be redundant to build a snowman in the middle of a blizzard. Best to wait until it stops snowing and hope it doesn't melt all in one day.




x

[_Brackite]

Liz,
It is an established fact that polygamy is of God. Christ himslef came from a polygamous family, and many of the most righteous and obedient men and women who ever lived practiced it.

Polygamy is a princilple with a promise, and a school that instructs the participants in gaining an understanding of life in heaven. If a couple are commanded to practice it, and the wife in that couple refuses to do so, then the sin is upon her head, not the mans. That is all that the law of Sarah is stating. it is the same as with any other commandment, if you do not keep it, then you do not get the associated blessings that come with it, you instead get the cursings that come with the failure to be obedient.

God is a covenant making God. His laws are principles with promises. I do not think you would disagree with either of those statements. Apply this to the dispensation of the fulness of times and the restoration of the expansion of the marriage covenant. A study into the Abrahamic covenant would help you a great deal.

Gazelam

Hi Gaz,

It is Not an establish fact that Polygamy is of God. If Polygamy was and/or is really of God, then why did Not God make it for the sex ratio for Humankind here on earth, to be like, oh say, about 300 Females born for just every 100 Males born? Instead, The sex ratio here on earth has been, and is about 105 Males born for every 100 Females born. (1) The sex ratio here on earth, is enough evidence for me to believe that Polygamy is Not of God. Instead, I believe that Monogamy was and is from God.


1. http://geography.about.com/library/faq/ ... eratio.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_ratio

And:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publication ... /2018.html

[_Gazelam]

Brack,

The sex ratio here on earth has been, and is about 105 Males born for every 100 Females born.

Did you factor in that all the boys like to kill each other?

[_Pokatator]

Brack,

The sex ratio here on earth has been, and is about 105 Males born for every 100 Females born.

Did you factor in that all the boys like to kill each other?

All? Speak for yourself.