Polygamy - Things to Consider if You're LDS
- Dec 19, 2025
- 5 min read
OH NO!! The “dreaded” topic of Polygamy...
But here are some things to consider if you are still LDS and believe the church doesn't practice it or believe in it anymore:
#1 The LDS Church claims that it renounced the practice of polygamy in 1890 with a “Manifesto” and again in 1904 with a “decree.”
The LDS Church states on its website:
“Today, the practice of polygamy is strictly prohibited in the Church, as it has been for over a century…the practice is banned in the Church, and no person can practice plural marriage and remain a member.”
QUESTION: If the LDS Church truly has renounced that practice, and wants nothing more to do with it, then why is it STILL in the current day Doctrine & Covenants section 132 with the words “the principle of plural marriage”?
If you truly renounce something, shouldn’t you completely remove it?
Hasn’t the LDS church removed everything about blacks not getting the Priesthood?
In fact, the LDS Church states this re: the restriction of blacks from receiving the Priesthood after describing its history in the church:
“None of these explanations is accepted today as the official doctrine of the Church.”
WOW—so they declare now that it is NOT “official doctrine” of the Church. WAHOO!
But do they do the same re: plural marriage?
Things to consider:
• Is plural marriage NOT “official doctrine” of the Church today…or is it just not “practiced” today?
• Is to “renounce” something different than to merely “prohibit” or “ban” it?
• If you only “prohibit” or “ban” something, can’t a person still do it if they never get caught?
• And what if someone does it in SECRET and no one knows about it?
• Or what if people do know about it, but they are all in on the SECRET with you?
Let’s dive a little deeper:
The LDS Church states:
“Marriage between one man and one woman is God’s standard of marriage (see the section heading to Official Declaration 1; Jacob 2:27, 30). 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.”
QUESTION: Where in the Bible or the Book of Mormon does God ever command His people to enter into plural marriage?
ANSWER: Never.
Even in the Old Testament, the first wife had to be dead and childless and it was only the brother who was allowed to marry her [Deut 25:5-6].
A man was never commanded by God to be married to more than one woman at the same time.
The Book of Mormon (the book Joseph Smith brought forth) clarifies God’s stance on plural marriage in case the Bible is a little confusing:
“Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to 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. [Jacob 2:24-27 emphasis added]
QUESTION: Do you believe the words of God as contained in the Bible and more recently, the Book of Mormon, or do you believe the words of men that go CONTRARY to God’s word?
For me, I choose to listen to and obey the word of the Lord Yahweh.
His command that a man is to have only one wife at a time is clear throughout history.
Joseph Smith getting an answer that was contrary to God—especially in the book HE JUST TRANSLATED, should make you wonder who he was really getting his “command” from.
Let’s look at the fruit of polygamy:
Tell me ONE experience, ONE story, ONE woman, ONE positive “fruit” of polygamy in the LDS Church’s history...
Then tell me of ONE LDS person you know today, who is looking forward to polygamy in the “highest degree of glory,” and I’ll show you someone who is demonized with the stronghold demon of Lust, Adultery and Fornication.
FACT: The doctrine of polygamy is still in effect today in the LDS Church. It's just not "openly" practiced.
PROOF: A man can be sealed to more than one woman in the LDS temples today. Else why are they then allowed to be sealed to more than one wife?
And do you want to know a secret?
It’s still practiced today for the living...
but they don’t want you to know that because it’s a secret just like the entire temple endowment session.
Not sacred.
Secret.
TEST: If it's not "secret," then please go and share all the names, signs, and tokens you received in the temple with your neighbor to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Jesus never told us NOT to teach something because it was a secret, or because it was sacred.
In fact, His words are quite clear:
"Go therefore and make disciples of ALL the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen." [Matthew 28:19-20 emphasis added]
So the questions I have for you are these:
Did Joseph Smith really get the "command" to enter plural marriage from the Lord God Yahweh?
Do you believe it's the same Lord who speaks in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon?
Do you believe that God is the "same yesterday, today and forever?"
Do you believe Joseph when he declared “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
If the Book of Mormon is the "keystone" to the LDS Religion, and it specifically prohibits being married to more than one wife, then why would God tell Joseph something different than what was in the Book of Mormon?
Could Joseph have gotten the "revelation" from another source who was posing as the Lord?
Maybe a "false" Christ...??
Maybe even from Satan himself...??
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." [2 Corinthians 11:13-15]
Why hasn't the LDS Church removed D&C Section 132 on plural marriage if it's no longer a doctrine of the church?
ANSWER: Because it still is a core doctrine of the LDS Church--if not now, then for sure in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.
Else why would President Nelson be proudly displaying BOTH his wives pictures on his desk...
