Mormonism - Part II

This article begins the examination of the Mormon sacred writings as discussed last week. The first area involves consistency among Mormon writings. If they do not agree, then Mormon doctrine is not consistent, and thus not inspired.

Internal Consistency.

One area of teaching within Mormon writings involves marriage, specifically the question of polygamy. Do the Mormon scriptures condemn or condone the practice? Is it right or wrong to for a man to have more than one wife? The answer is yes! Passages can be found condoning and praising polygamy, therefore it is right, and passages can be found condemning the practice, therefore it is wrong. Is it right, and therefore good? Doctrine and Covenants 132:34,35 states,

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

Verses 37-39 of the same section speaks of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Moses all having concubines. Concerning Abraham’s concubines it is written "they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law" (verse 37). David, we learn, received his concubines from Nathan and other prophets (verse 39), "and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife" (verse 39). Clearly the idea of polygamy and concubines is not only allowed, but, at least for Abraham, counted as righteousness. What does this mean for Mormons? In 132:61-63 makes the application:

And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood--if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified; he can not commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he can not commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else. And if he have ten virgins given unto him by the law, he can not commit adultery, for they are given unto him; therefore he is justified. But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him . . .

So Mormon doctrine allows polygamy, right? Wrong! Jacob 2:26-28 in the book of Mormon states,

Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken unto the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; for I the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

Jacob quotes the Lord as saying multiple wives and concubines is "whoredoms" and "an abomination" before the Lord! God delights "in chastity of women" which is not true of women who are part of polygamous marriages according to Jacob’s account of God’s words.

Clearly Mormon writings contradict each other on this important matter. There is not reasonable explanation for the opposing views expressed between these two Mormon books except that one or both of these writers were not inspired. Thus we need to continue the examination next week.