My 13 year-old son explains the reason for polygamy

[_harmony]

The best answer for polygamy is simple: because god commanded it. And the saints had their faith tested with it. End of story. And it makes sense. It wasn't only Joseph who practiced it.

Actually, the best answer for polygamy is simple: because Joseph wanted other women.

[_just me]

CFR

What comment did Joseph make about the polygamy secret? I would honestly like to know what you are referring to.

http://eom.BYU.edu/index.php/Plural_Marriage

Could you pull out the specific references where Joseph says something and post them here?

[_thews]

Does everybody steal?

No.

I'm not sure my point has been clear at all. Probably my fault--here I was, in my head, thinking you guys aren't listening. Sorry about the confusion.

It's not confusing, but rationalizing things to make them insignificant to bolster what you need to believe is intellectually dishonest. Was Joseph Smith publicly lying when he claimed he had one wife?

It certainly depends on the context of taking things from others without their consent. If I take my wife's used cup to fill it up for me, I don't see how that constitutes theivery. If I take my work-mates apple without asking him with the intent of replacing it for him, I don't think that's theivery either.

More tap dancing to broaden the scope of what constitutes a thief. A thief steals what doesn't belong to him/her. If one steals once in a lifetime, are they then branded a thief for life? This is your point, which is to minimize what constitutes a liar.

I don't care what peole think about me...I'm trying to dicuss a point here. I'm quite perplexed how far off my point you are.

Your "point" is transparent. Mormons will often broaden the scope of what Joseph Smith is held to, which is perfection. "Well I'm not perfect and I don't know anyone who is..." Lower the bar and ask yourself what a prophet of God would do if God was actually communicating with him. Would he attempt to marry young girls by threatening their parents (or her) with damnation if she refused? Remember that to the Mormon version of God, polygamy is required for salvation. If Joseph Smith were truly a martyr, wouldn't he just promote what God told him was God's will? The fact is he didn't... he lied about it in public. In this instance, was Joseph Smith a liar?

[_harmony]

Your "point" is transparent. Mormons will often broaden the scope of what Joseph Smith is held to, which is perfection. "Well I'm not perfect and I don't know anyone who is..."

Actually, Joseph claimed to have done more for mankind than Christ. So perfection doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.

[_thews]

Your "point" is transparent. Mormons will often broaden the scope of what Joseph Smith is held to, which is perfection. "Well I'm not perfect and I don't know anyone who is..."

Actually, Joseph claimed to have done more for mankind than Christ. So perfection doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.

Quite ironical that you would point this out. One of the very Gods who Joseph Smith supposedly spoke to, takes a backseat to a mortal's narcissistic boasting.

[_harmony]

Actually, Joseph claimed to have done more for mankind than Christ. So perfection doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.

Quite ironical that you would point this out. One of the very Gods who Joseph Smith supposedly spoke to, takes a backseat to a mortal's narcissistic boasting.

No irony at all. Most here know my feelings about the lying adulterer... I mean prophet Joseph Smith.

[_thews]

No irony at all. Most here know my feelings about the lying adulterer... I mean prophet Joseph Smith.

I will never figure you out... that's ok. Maybe juxtapose works better?... Mormons love to use that word along with conflate.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/juxtapose

jux·ta·pose
   [juhk-stuh-pohz, juhk-stuh-pohz]
–verb (used with object), -posed, -pos·ing.
to place close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/conflate

con·flate
   [kuhn-fleyt]
–verb (used with object), -flat·ed, -flat·ing.
to fuse into one entity; merge: to conflate dissenting voices into one protest.

[_cafe crema]

I'd have a bit of trouble trusting the judgement of a person who couldn't discern a difference between

No that dress doesn't make your butt look big, when the dress does make the butt look big
and
No I'm only married to one wife, when there are marriages to multiple women.

Or catholic priests and bishops and cardinals who denied child abuse and lied about it? Come on café...such is being human. We lie...end of story.

Absolutely they shouldn't be trusted as a matter of fact I think they should be in jail an not some minimum security jail just regular state prison. And no lying about child molestation is not to be considered part of being human. Being human demands the opposite of what was seen from all levels of the Catholic church.

[_why me]

Could you pull out the specific references where Joseph says something and post them here?

I don't think that they had tape recorders back then. But here is a take on it:

http://www.fairlds.org/Misc/Polygamy_Pr ... tml#head11

Just scroll down and click on "Secrecy, Polygamy, and Threats of Violence against the Saints" link.

Imagination is also important. With such threats around and rumors of polygamy being circulated that stirred up the hatred....

[_why me]

Actually, Joseph claimed to have done more for mankind than Christ. So perfection doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.

I am surprised that my temple recommend holder friend pulls this one out of her hat. You do know the history of this statement, right? Joseph was speaking on the section in corinthians where Paul is boasting. Also we need to remember that we have no clue the context in which this was said per se since we only have second hand sources that he said this.