Comments on: Follow-Up Thoughts on Nauvoo Polygamy

By: Antonio Parr

Antonio Parr — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:50:22 +0000

Bled at every pore. (I am a victim of my time zone. I’ll let you west coast Mormons take it from here.)

By: MCQ

MCQ — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:48:38 +0000

Christ didn’t bleed at any poor

Let’s leave the poor out of it. They have enough problems, surely.

By: Antonio Parr

Antonio Parr — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:44:18 +0000

Steve: Will you also edit those who talk about King David as a sexual predator?

These prophets were/are men, in desperate need of a Savior. Christ didn’t bleed at any poor because we were almost perfect, or just a wee bit naughty. He bled because the collective and individual weight of our sin was/is so great that it caused God, the greatest of all, to suffer for us all so that we could be at one with His Father, as He is as one with Our Father.

We have no problem speaking candidly of the sin of Moses or the sin of David, or the sin of a significant number of the early LDS apostles and first presidency. And yet we are so quick to glorify brother Joseph — who I recognize to be a Prophet of God — by speaking of him as if his sins were not really the kind that were in need of any real intervention by Christ.

Joseph’s interactions with married women were contrary to his own published revelations on plural marriage. In that sense, the D&C is the strongest possible indictment against Joseph’s actions.

I believe that we draw closer to God when we learn how He interacts with sinful men.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:22:06 +0000

Not sure I called anyone a predator. And I am assuming the story from the link on #49 had some partial truth. If joseph intending to have sex with wives he felt were his is assuming the worst then so be it. Too bad we don’t have any official records all we have is speculation which is this whole thread.

By: Geoff J

Geoff J — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:20:03 +0000

What took you so long Steve? It’s like trollapalooza on this thread at this point.

By: C Jones

C Jones — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:50:47 +0000

Jerry:

Clearly that question answers itself.

Clearly?? Everything you have said is nothing but speculation, and all of it assumes the worst.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:28:49 +0000

#130 Jerry, don’t be ridiculous.

ALL – this might not be popular, but I’m going to police this thread now. People who continue to talk about Joseph Smith as a sexual predator will be edited.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:15:07 +0000

C Jones – Perhaps I should explain myself a little more. Hiding and approaching one member of a family to betray a trust of another is disrespectful at least. It has nothing to do with gender. My point is if he was not looking for something that no spouse would likely give up without a fight why would he be so secretive? If he was looking for a platonic relationship there would be no reason to hide it. Why not ask the couple if they want to be joined spiritually if that was all it was? Clearly that question answers itself. If he did have sex with any of these women does that invalidate his good works?

By: DavidH

DavidH — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:51:42 +0000

I am not sure I understand stillconfused’s post, but let me try.

It would not be offensive if Emma (with Joseph’s consent) had invited a single man to be her second husband, while still married to Joseph, because that would not disrupt a pre-existing marriage of the second husband.

However, her inviting a married man to be her second husband (or Joseph’s inviting a married womn to be his second wife) would be quite offensive because it would disrupt the marriage relationship of the other party.

Along the lines of my previous hypothetical, I suppose a related question is whether it is offensive for a man (husband A) to be sealed to a woman (wife A) who is also sealed to another man (husband B) who is also sealed to another woman (wife B).

By: C Jones

C Jones — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:32:35 +0000

why wouldn’t he show respect and include the husbands the way he approached the fathers when he wed single girls

Show respect to who? Do you mean like the used car salesman that will only speak to the husband even though it is the wife that is buying the car?