Was Joseph a Polygamist?

[Moksha]

Was Joseph a Polygamist?

What if the Adversary planted polygamy amongst the Mormons much like he planted dinosaur bones from other planets to confound the righteous? It seemed to have worked since people abandoned their previous moral teachings about adultery and the sanctity of marriage to embrace polygamy.

This would pose a satisfactory answer to the claim that God supported such a predatory practice.

Your thoughts?

[drumdude]

He planted Early Modern English into the Book of Mormon. Dan thinks he is a trickster God, like Loki.

Polygamy could have been one big joke at several thousand women’s expense.

[Everybody Wang Chung]

He did reveal to Joseph that a tobacco poultice needed to be used on livestock bruises.

He also made his prophets (for centuries) make a detailed record on gold plates so that Joseph could translate without even needing the plates.

That’s evidence for a God with a great sense of humor.

[yellowstone123]

Joseph Smith Jr. appeared to be obsessed with the Book of Genesis. I bet he knew it from memory. He used Genesis to justify his selfish and unlawful behavior, one of which was polygamy.

Did Joseph go and get a marriage license to "marry" other single woman, or a marriage license to "marry" the legally and lawfully wedded wife of another man who was still living with the wife. I don't think so as that's evidence of bigamy which was illegal.

During the time period of Joseph Smith, bigamy could create a scandal. Look at Rachel Jackson who was married at first to Lewis Robards in Nashville but they separated and she believed Robards had secured a divorce. Rachel eloped with Andrew Jackson, believing she was divorced. Then it was learned Robards did not go through with it which likely meant failing to complete the proper paper work, meaning that Andrew Jackson was considered by many to be in a bigamous marriage.

If this was a scandal regarding one marriage at the time of Joseph Smith just imagine what thirty plus so-called marriages that Joseph Smith was involved in would be called.

If you think doing the proper paper work for a marriage is something that was likely done only in modern times, the three-volume "New England Marriages prior to 1700" sold on Amazon might suggest otherwise.

[Moksha]

Joseph Smith Jr. appeared to be obsessed with the Book of Genesis. I bet he knew it from memory. He used Genesis to justify his selfish and unlawful behavior, one of which was polygamy.

So what about the angel with a drawn sword who coerced Joseph into his polygamous propositions?

Perhaps the angel was planted along with the extraterrestrial dinosaur bones? After all, we are told the Adversary is tricky, and what better prank to pull on the Latter-day Saints than to have them forsake morality for polygamy?

[yellowstone123]

Joseph Smith Jr. appeared to be obsessed with the Book of Genesis. I bet he knew it from memory. He used Genesis to justify his selfish and unlawful behavior, one of which was polygamy.

So what about the angel with a drawn sword who coerced Joseph into his polygamous propositions?

Perhaps the angel was planted along with the extraterrestrial dinosaur bones? After all, we are told the Adversary is tricky, and what better prank to pull on the Latter-day Saints than to have them forsake morality for polygamy?

Maybe he got the drawn sword from reading pirate stories and mixed it up - a little bit of pirate stories and a little bit of Genesis.

[BeNotDeceived]

It's fairly well-documented that Smith was a sexual predator and pursued pretty much anyone he desired, didn't matter if they were young girls, young women, married women or single women... guy was thoroughly corrupt and used 'revelation' from God and an angel with a flaming sword that would 'destroy him' if he didn't engage in sacking it up with multiple women. And it had nothing to do with taking care of these women or there were far more women than men, 'raising up 'righteous' seed' or any of that made up excuse nonsense... guy was a monster, douchebag and expert con man, period, which is why mobs were always after him.

[Moksha]

... the guy was a monster, douchebag, and expert con man, period, which is why mobs were always after him.

The dinosaur bones planted by the Adversary must fit in there somewhere for the sake of BYU historical geology.

[BeNotDeceived]

... the guy was a monster, douchebag, and expert con man, period, which is why mobs were always after him.

The dinosaur bones planted by the Adversary must fit in there somewhere for the sake of BYU historical geology.