Same here. What's the big deal? Anyone ever worked with LDS folks before? I've worked with a lot over the years and have nothing but admiration for them. They are kind, honest people with work ethics that are beyond reproach. I can also say the same about Indians (from India). While I don't agree with their ideologies, I don't care how many wives they have. As I've always understood, it's a very select few in fringe offbeat groups that practice this anyway. Is polygamy really a problem? If it doesn't threaten my country, my family, myself or my way of life, believe in what you want. Christianity (and the many flavors of), Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism or whatever you chose. There's only one religion I'm aware of that threatens all four of the above. That's the only religion I take issue with.
The point was simply that this stemmed from the earliest days of the LDS church. Back then the LDS fight as hard for polygamy as the FLDS are today. Interesting how the battle has flipped. The FLDS actually broke off largely because the LDS church dropped polygamy because they felt the LDS went against God and sided with the world. Any guy who thinks having more than one wife is a good idea doesn't have one wife.
Yes... unfortunately many do not believe there is any modern-day revelation Why do they think that God just died and left us alone here, I must wonder?
KalvinB, I see so many judgments - so many condemnations of Mormons and others on this and other threads. I rather like the following. Keeps me from smugly patting my own back too incessantly:
what condemnations? I posted facts. My wife used to be LDS and thinks I'm crazy sometimes when I mention things the LDS church taught. Then she looks it up. I studied the church in 1997-1998. I learned things from the LDS then that were going out and are now no longer taught. If you can find some specific plank you think I should remove, then by all means point it out.
Well, one thing we have that our ancestor's didn't have was such supreme doubt (not necessarily a bad thing). With a number of God's vessels ending up to be nothing more than sick individuals, can we really make a judgment about someone while they're still alive?
"can we really make a judgment about someone while they're still alive?" That's when we should be judgeing them. Your eternal soul depends on it.
Keep in mind I know next to nothing about most religions - I'm just a philosopher. But as mortal humans, should we really be judging anyone (with the exception of those who enforce man's laws)? Mankind naturally places judgment on people - so-and-so is a good person because they x, and so-and-so is a bad person because of y, and so-and-so was a great example because of z, but while you're alive you both a) hide what you're really up to and b) flip-flop or switch positions. For example, with no certainty can I say that I won't murder someone (or some ones) tomorrow. Life is chaotic order, after all, and since I can't see all the connections, I have no idea what may come.
You have to make judgments for better or for worse. And it's not necessarily about people. Just because I judge a religion doesn't mean I judge the people. But often times it's taken personally. And as you may have noticed, sites that counter mormonism are labeled "anti-mormon" as though they are personal attacks on the people. The LDS church does that on purpose. The people who run those sites will tell you they are anti-mormonism. They are judging the religion based mostly on the writings of the LDS church. Some focus on comparing and contrasting the Bible to LDS doctrine. I've never seen an "anti-mormon" site that talks badly about the people of the LDS church. You don't have to judge people. But you most definitly should judge what they are telling you. To do that, you need a foundation of what you consider truth. I assume the LDS consider the writings of their own leaders truth so that's what I posted concerning polygamy. The terrorists can only be judged by the Koran. That's just the way it is because that's their foundation.
IMO, to each his or her own. Plural marriage is practiced in several countries, and under different religions. I'm with Gtech on this one. Is it really a problem?
I know it would be for me. If my wife didn't kill me, I don't think the relationships would be too good. Especially if I became an enoch through the ordeal!
Like I said, too each his own. For me personally, I really do not know how I could do it. It's hard enough sharing equal love with more than one pet, or child... now imagine more than one wife. From a sexual standpoint, it all sounds good. But when I look at all that goes into a marriage, I really do not know how anyone could do it. I think "Big Love" on HBO really captures a lot of the problems involved in what something like this must really be like. Granted, it is TV, but that show is pretty entertaining! Imagine having one wife bitching at you. What happens when you have 3 to deal with?