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Let's imagine that the first presidency today started to practice polygamy secretly the way that it was done in Nauvoo. Imagine that you are in the inside circle. You're one of the few that know it's happening. Imagine that the first presidency and apostles were approaching women in private and proposing to them and charging them to keep it secret. Using language such as, 'I have been commanded of God to take another wife, and you are the woman.' In some proposals they promise eternal salvation for them and their families. Let's imagine that you knew some of them were doing it without the knowledge or consent of their wives.

Would you keep it a secret? Would you help to hide it from the lay membership and the world at large? If one is willing to rationalize what happened in Nauvoo. If one believes that it was moral and acceptable then why not today? Why not now? What's the difference? If you think it moral, what would keep you from doing the very same thing?

Great Question, Mr. Waters.

Great question, indeed.

Can't wait to see the responses from the faithful.

To know the history of the church and still believe it is led by men who speak with God, you have to be able to hope for the good intentions of scoundrels. So I have no doubt that many Mormons would rationalize secret polygamy and other dark deeds exactly the way you describe it.

I enjoyed Kish's response on another thread dealing with this issue:

Kishkumen wrote:

Darth J wrote:By the way, Reverend, how many 14 year-old girls have you gotten to marry you behind your lawful, adult wife's back by telling them that their family would go to heaven if they did it?

My count is at zero. How about you?

Let me count my testicles and I'll get back to you.

ETA: Both present!

I guess that makes the answer "zero."

Kish went on to say that Mrs. Kishkumen is not to be trifled with. I would say that Mrs. Kishkumen and I have a lot in common.

The Dude wrote:To know the history of the church and still believe it is led by men who speak with God, you have to be able to hope for the good intentions of scoundrels.

Precisely, sir. Rem acu tetigisti.

Lapidary ... and true.

Every TBM I know would have no problem with it. They do whatever the prophets and apostles say. If the prophets and apostles say they are going to secretly marry multiple women, why would a TBM question that? The way TBMs on this board defend Joseph Smith's behavior, they would gladly hand over their wife to Thomas Monson if asked.

How do you know they are not still practicing it, perhaps at the very highest levels on a very limited basis? How many members know about the 2nd endowment?

Fence Sitter wrote:How do you know they are not still practicing it, perhaps at the very highest levels on a very limited basis? How many members know about the 2nd endowment?

Well Oaks is practicing it, albeit one bride is deceased.

Fence Sitter wrote:How do you know they are not still practicing it, perhaps at the very highest levels on a very limited basis? How many members know about the 2nd endowment?

Maybe they do in some limited form. Although I have my doubts because polygamy seems a hard secret to keep as demonstrated by Nauvoo and post manifesto polygamy. But the point is that if Nauvoo style polygamy is okay than there is no moral objection to Monson and company doing it now.

So another question that could be asked is if you are okay with the information being withheld from lay members then, would you be okay with similar information being withheld from you now?

Stormy Waters wrote:So another question that could be asked is if you are okay with the information being withheld from lay members then, would you be okay with similar information being withheld from you now?

Absolutely not.