How then could it be retroactively applied to solomon and david. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife. While the book of mormon as a whole condemns the practice of taking. For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed to me, i will command my people, otherwise they shall hearken unto these things jacob 2.
Now, lets look at the second chapter of jacob again. The purpose of the book, in his own words, is to persuade all men to come unto christ jacob 1. Jacob indicates that if the lord commands people to practice polygamy in order to raise up seed unto himself, then the people should practice polygamy. Jacob explained to the nephites that polygamy was only permissible when it was given as a commandment, through gods chosen prophet. Mormons discontinued the practice of polygamy more than one hundred years ago. A few words concerning the history of the people of nephi. Using a verse from the book of jacob, the book of mormon justifies polygamy only in cases where god has commanded the person to marry multiple people. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship 25 2017. Jun 25, 2015 with this understanding, please read again the sermon of jacob in verse 30 where it talks about a seed unto the lord. The book of mormon unequivocally condemns the practice of polygamy. Today, any mormons a nickname for members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who enter into polygamy are excommunicated. It says, 24 behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the lord.
Sherem is killed by god for not believing jacob about jesus. The book of mormon account is basing their statements on an interpretation of mosaic law to defend a new position on polygamy. The only place where a doctrinal stance on polygamy is taken in the book of mormon is in jacob 2. The teachings of jacob and other prophets in the book of mormon are in harmony with jesus many teachings on wealth recorded in the new testament. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of christ.
Nov 21, 2008 chapter 2 of the book of jacob in the book of mormon addresses polygamy. He is best known for his lengthy prayer while hunting in the wilderness, wherein he first asks for personal forgiveness, then for gods blessings upon the nephites, then his blessings upon the lamanites, then that a record of the nephites will be preserved and brought into the lamantes at some future day should. Baird, understanding jacob s teachings about plural marriage from a law of moses context, interpreter. Morality and marriage in the book of mormon religious studies. Bennetts spiritual wife system and warned if any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the bible, the book of mormon, or the book of doctrine and covenants, set him down as an imposter. Lastly, this scripture tells us that hagars marriage to abraham was, fulfilling, among other things, the promises. This verse would be in complete opposition to the words in verse 25 if it were interpreted to mean polygamy is approved. In the new testament times, polygamy doesnt appear to be an option for the christian believers. Feb 29, 2016 polygamy in the book of mormon the book of mormon is more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. The book of mormon account is basing its statements on an interpretation of mosaic law to defend a new to them negative position on polygamy. And if you read the stories about the characters referenced above, youll quickly find that polygamy was an unmitigated sociological disaster that created heartbreak and sowed familial discord.
If this is what actually happened, the question is totally valid. In the case of plural marriage, the bible and the book of mormon teach that monogamy is gods standard for marriage unless he declares otherwise official declaration 1 heading, or, in jacobs language, if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people to practice plural marriage. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. May 31, 2014 polygamy and the book of jacob posted on may 31, 2014 december 11, 2018 by david donoghue one of the things i have observed about members of the utah lds church is that they often defend the appropriateness of polygamy by citing a verse in the book of jacob. For i, the lord god, delight in the chastity of women. Wherefore, we would to god that all men would believe in christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world. For an exploration into the biblical context of this passage, see brian j. Understanding jacobs teachings about plural marriage from a.
Why would joseph smith create polygamy when its strictly. Why did the mormons ever practice polygamy when jacob chapter. The people jacob was teaching were under condemnation for their adulterous lifestyle. Before going into the issue of polygamy, jacob condemns the people for going after wealth and, when some obtained more abundantly, they became lifted up in pride jacob 2. When paul talks about the rules for marriage in 1 corinthians 7, plural marriage is not even discussed.
Why does the book of mormon warn against seeking after. First, jacob s teachings cannot be divorced from the broader context of jacob s discourse as a whole. Jacob specified that plural marriage may be practiced when god commanded it, but insisted that monogamy was otherwise the norm. Understanding jacobs teachings about plural marriage from a law. The purpose of my study here is not to attack or defend polygamy. Never at any point does the book of mormon allow polygamy. Leah conceived and bore a son and named him reuben, for she said. Behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the lord jacob 2. If you were to study the bible, you would see it is in agreement with the book of mormon on this matter. Polygamy and the law of sarah mormon women project. For example, the book of mormon teaches that men should have only one wife see jacob 2. The last verse in jacob is a bit puzzling because there is a french word, adieu, thrown.
To the modern proponents of polygamy as opposed to biblical polygamy, which was entirely different, our forefather jacob is the shining example after all, he had four wives right. Many people, including myself on multiple occasions, have been told that jacob 2. In 2016, however, reaction to the book of mormon among non mormon readers is much more positive, with some now classifying the book as a classic. It would also be in complete opposition to the rest of the context of the book of mormon. I will share the way i interpret them, but i invite the reader to prayerfully read these verses and come to their own conclusions. Come follow me lesson, jacob 14 mar 9mar 15 youtube. Mar 28, 2016 for if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people.
John hilton iii, old testament psalms in the book of mormon, in ascending the mountain of the lord. And now it came to pass that the people of nephi, under the reign of the second king. For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people. In 1831 joseph smith made a prayerful inquiry to the lord regarding the ancient old. While latterday saints today do not know all the reasons for gods command, they do understand some reasons why god would command the practice of polygamy. This is a perfect example of a logical contradiction. The founder of mormonism said the book of mormon was the most correct book of any book, including the bible history of the church, vol. The book of mormon was published on march 26, 1830. The book of mormon is more specific about polygamy than the bible and i want to touch on these teachings. Modern polygamist groups are not part of the church and the church has no control over them. Jacob demonstrates that some of david and solomons actions were contrary to torah, and contrary to gods established order. In this chapter, the prophet jacob calls his people to repentance because they have been abusing the practice, with the influential men of the commun. Yet, essential mormon doctrines arent even found in it.
For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, i will command my people jacob 2. The revelation given to joseph smith now contained in doctrine and covenants 2. What were the historical and social circumstances among the nephites that motived this condemnation and how do jacob s words in the book of mormon harmonize with the teachings of jesus in the new testament. Jacob s sermon is perhaps the most specific, and ill get to. Jacob denounces the love of riches, pride, and unchastitymen may seek riches to help their fellowmenthe lord commands that no man among. An illustrated atlas, as verse by verse, the book of mormon vol. These verses make it sound like the book of mormon condemns the practice of polygamy, but verse 30 denotes otherwise. The book of mormon condemns the polygamy of david, solomon, and others as sin.
Do you think the church will eventually disavow the polygamous teachings in the book of mormon. The doctrine and covenants, by contrast, wishes to explain how and when polygamy can be acceptable to god. Jacob is given the overwhelming task of talking to his people about sins that they were beginning to labor in. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. Modern polygamy, however, it much harder to reconcile with the text of the book of mormon. If god will not justify even the kings of israel in such behavior jacob seems to argue why do you think he will justify you in taking plural wives which i, jacob, have not approved as gods representative among you. He focuses on pride and the idea that pride is at the heart of every. How jacobs teachings about pride and polygamy still. Recently, a good friend who has chosen to leave the church asked me.
Mar 24, 2017 the only place where a doctrinal stance on polygamy is taken in the book of mormon is in jacob 2. According to the text, it was written by the ancient prophet jacob. According to several of his associates, smith taught that polygamy was a divine commandment and practiced it personally, by some accounts marrying more than 30 women, some of whom had existing marriages to other men. Similarly, the book of mormon lends little support for polygamy.
Why did the mormons ever practice polygamy when jacob. Polygamy, or plural marriage, in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is generally believed to have originated with the founder of mormonism, joseph smith. Jacob 2 describes how the prophet jacob condemned materialism and sexual immorality, including unauthorized plural marriage. In april 1844, joseph smith referred to polygamy as john c. Next, you have to read every book to the end especially if it is the biblical context. The book shows how the development of polygamy was closely related to the development of a familycentered theology of salvation, which many of us cherish. However, if the lord does not command the people to practice polygamy, then a man should not have more than one wife. Enos is the third author in the book of mormon after nephi 1 and jacob. Here are questions readers might have in their studies of the book of mormon this week, accompanied by halls insights that add new meaning to the beloved verses. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the. There are a number of references in the inspired version of the bible and the doctrine and covenants which condemn polygamy, and none which command it to be practicedbut the most scathing denunciation of polygamy in josephs writings is found in the book of jacob in the book of mormon. May 30, 2019 the prophet jacob in the book of mormon harshly condemned those who seek riches before seeking the kingdom of god. There are only two other places in scripture, of which i am aware, in which acquiring wealth and wives. Temple, praise, and worship in the old testament 20 sperry symposium, ed.
This is because the book of mormon is nothing more than a. Nov 21, 2018 this is the third part of a series on problems with the book of mormon, the book that joseph smith said was the most correct book on earth, said it contained the fullness of the everlasting gospel and claimed that a person would get closer to god by abiding by its precepts than by those of any other book, including the bible. For this weeks come, follow me lesson, byu professors tyler griffin and taylor halverson offer some amazing insights into kingship, polygamy, marriage. This post is written to disabuse everyone of that notion. When joseph smith wrote the doctrine and covenants he completely back peddled on what he said in the book of mormon about polygamy and even said that david and solomon were justified in doing it, a blatant contradiction to the words of the book of jacob.
As for a possible purpose or function of polygamy other than increasing the church population, you might check out the book revelation, resistance and mormon polygamy 20, by merina smith. The brother of nephi, usually referred to as the book of jacob, is the third of fifteen books in the book of mormon. This ultimately is the pointjacob was defending the new party line on polygamy from the scriptures. Mormon polygamy, however, was an important part of the teachings of the church for fifty years. Was there an aaronic or melchizedek priesthood during book of mormon times during those same times were men stealing other mens wives and marrying underaged girls does jacobs teaching about king davids wives contradict what joseph smith taught in the doctrine and covenants is spiritual polygamy practiced in the lds church, today these interesting questions will be answered in. The utah lds say it supports polygamy and the rlds say it doesnt. So jacob went in to rachel also, and indeed he loved rachel more than leah, and he served with laban for another seven years. Fifth, the mormon must explain the book of mormon s take on polygamy in order to utilize the 2 samuel passage. Moabite, ammonite, edomite, sidonian, and hittite women, from the nations concerning which the lord had said to the sons of israel, you shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods. Now king solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of pharaoh. Understanding jacobs teachings about plural marriage from.
Jacob 1 skeptics annotated bible quran book of morman. How jacobs teachings about pride and polygamy still apply. Now the lord saw that leah was unloved, and he opened her womb, but rachel was barren. Nov 12, 2019 finally a question that actually has some merit, but it is flawed as well. In the book of jacob in the book of mormon, jacob preaches to the people following the death of this his brother nephi. Mar 28, 2016 jacob 2 describes how the prophet jacob condemned materialism and sexual immorality, including unauthorized plural marriage. Fourth, we learn that from hagar sprang many people and that one of the purposes of polygamy is, as jacob taught in the book or mormon is, to raise up seed unto god. Mar 12, 2020 how jacobs teachings about pride and polygamy still apply today. No prophet in the book of mormon, by temperament or personal testimony, seems to have gone about that work of persuasion any more faithfully than did jacob.
In other words, when the lords commands it, polygamy is acceptable. Bible verses related to polygamy from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order exodus 21. Well, thats what i thought for many years as well and it was no wonder i was looking through a lens colored by modern movies, television shows, and ten. Behold, david and solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which. Jacob 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The practice began during the lifetime of founder and prophet joseph smith but became publicly and widely known during the time of 2nd prophet, brigham young. The other is trying to understand how and when polygamy can be acceptable to god. God does not approve of polygamy, and it should only be instituted when it is specifically commanded by god.
It was all about joseph practicing polygamy without doing it to raise righteous seed. Grey, and david rolph seely salt lake city and provo, ut. The book of mormon, translated in 1829, makes mention of polygamy and, while it seems to forbid polygamy, it recognizes that sometimes god commands men to practice polygamy. Mar 17, 2020 the previous weeks reading in the come, follow me curriculum includes jacob 2, the epicenter for discussing polygamy in the book of mormon. This verse clearly says that it was abominable to god that david had many wives and concubines. The book of mormon explains that only when god commands it can a man have more than one wife at a time. May 24, 2011 historically, members of the latterday saints lds or mormons practiced polygamy, although the acceptance of the practice changed as new revelation was given to the prophets of the church. The passage from the book of mormon condemns david and solomons practice and the practice of plural marriage in. How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. How might readers make sense of this connection between polygamy and material wealth. Jacob strongly condemns it as an abomination before god jacob 2. For if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up seed to me, i will command my people, otherwise they shall hearken unto these things jacob. After that jacob preached against the practice of polygamy. Read together, the bible and the book of mormon teach powerful principles.
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