What Should We Think about Plural Marriage?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 in a lesson titled “I Have Seen Your Sacrifices in Obedience.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Through Joseph Smith, the Lord took some of the mystery out of eternity. The greatness of God, the glory of heaven, and the vastness of eternity can seem almost familiar in the light of the restored gospel, even to finite minds like ours. The revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 129-132 are a good example. What is God like? He “has a body … as tangible as man’s.” What is heaven like? “That same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22, 2). In fact, one of the most joyous truths about heaven is that it can include our cherished family relationships, if sealed by the proper authority. Truths like these can make heaven feel less distant—glorious yet reachable.

But then, sometimes God may ask us to do things that seem uncomfortable and unreachable. For many early Saints, plural marriage was one such commandment. It was a severe trial of faith for Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and almost everyone who received it. To make it through this trial, they needed more than just favorable feelings about the restored gospel; they needed faith in God that went far deeper than that. The commandment no longer stands today, but the faithful example of people who lived it still does. And this example inspires us when we are asked to make our own “sacrifices in obedience” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:50).

The scripture block teaches numerous principles, including (1) God wants to exalt His children (Doctrine and Covenants 130-132), (2) God blesses people who obey His laws (Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21; 132:5), (3) Heavenly Father made it possible for families to be eternal (Doctrine and Covenants 132:13-21), and (4) Plural marriage is acceptable to God only when He commands it (Doctrine and Covenants 132:1-2, 29-40).

This essay will discuss principle #4 about plural marriage. I am a product of plural marriage. My ancestors joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints four or five generations back, and at least eight couples practiced plural marriage. Nevertheless, I do not know any “stories” about their struggles, challenges, or even joys of plural marriage.

Many people who read the Old Testament wonder about Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and others marrying multiple wives. Joseph Smith was no different, and he took his questions to God? He wanted to know if God approved those marriages, or if the people involved committed adultery. Joseph’s answers were found in Doctrine and Covenants 132:1-2, 29-40.

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines—

2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.

29 Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.

30 Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph—which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.

31 This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself.

32 Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved.

33 But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promise of my Father, which he made unto Abraham.

34 God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises.

35 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it.

36 Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness.

37 Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.

38 David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me.

39 David’s wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife; and, therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord.

40 I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my word. [Emphasis added.]

God’s standard of marriage is a union between one man and one woman (see the section heading to Official Declaration 1; Jacob 2:27, 39). However, there have been times when God has commanded His children to practice plural marriage. The early years of the restored Church were one of those periods of exception.

We do not know God’s reason(s) for commanding the early Saints to practice plural marriage. Here are some possibilities:

1. Joseph asked about Abraham and the others practicing plural marriage. Would the commandment have come if he had not asked? We will never know, but we do know that the Lord told him, “Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:3). If this were the only reason, it hardly seems fair for this practice to be put upon so many of the Saints. Almost all the examples I have studied (including Joseph Smith who waited years before implementing the commandment) recoiled from the idea and thought that it was abhorrent. They participated through obedience to God rather than personal desire.

2. God wanted to “raise up seed” unto Him (see Jacob 2:30). One factor could be that God had given Joseph Smith the commandment to take the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. Even though a small percentage of church members practiced plural marriage, their sons and grandsons were the missionaries who took the gospel to the world. Another factor could be that there were more women joining the restored Church than men – women who were chaste and virtuous and would not be having children without the benefit of marriage. Marriage protected the women, and plural marriage would mean more babies being born.

3. Plural marriage had to be restored as a part of the restoration of all things, and the faith and sacrifices of the early Saints fulfilled its purpose. The practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lasted about 50 years. It ended in the late 1800s under the direction of God and under threats from the United States government. (See Official Declaration 1 in the Doctrine and Covenants.)

If you desire to learn more about plural marriage among the early Saints, see “Mercy Thompson and the Revelation on Marriage” (in Revelations in Context, 281-93); Saints, 1:290-92, 432-35, 482-92, 502-4; Topics and Questions, “Plural Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Gospel Library. This video titled “Why Was It Necessary for Joseph Smith and Others to Practice Polygamy?” answers many questions about plural marriage. Why was it necessary for Joseph Smith and others to practice polygamy?