WAS JOSEPH SMITH HORNY OR SPIRITUAL?
The Salt Lake Tribune published a good article titled: "Comparing Joseph Smith, Warren Jeffs on polygamy".
In the article, the sexual dimension of plural marriages seems to bother LDS authors. After all, the Church teaches that Joseph only took plural wives because they were orphans or widows he looked after. It is when they talk about it at all... I remember meeting a sister missionary in St. George, who offered a tour of Brigham's Winter Home, and said she didn't know Brigham Young had plural wives until she went on her mission!
Some antagonist person recently asked, "That polygamy thing... Was Joseph Smith horny or spiritual?" She was clearly trying to turn Celestial Marriage into the usual "this-is-just-an-excuse-for-men-to-have-sex." I didn't get into the spiritual reasons with her. Instead, I decided to address the sexual dimension.
I told her that despite what Christianity teaches, sex is not wrong, dirty or evil. The ancient Jews knew that, and as Mormons, we should know that too. I told her that she could be sexual and spiritual. It does not have to be the Virgin Mary as a model, or the whore. We can embrace both sides of our nature. I believe it is OK, and I believe it was OK for Joseph too.
I believe Joseph's plural marriages were spiritual (they were the most valid in the eyes of God) and they were of a sexual nature (because that is an important part of marriage). There is no proof of descendants through his plural wives, but there are affidavits that those marriages were real marriages, sexual and spiritual, no matter what the age (the article says 10-12 was the age of consent back then) or what the "legal" marital status of those women were.
I told that woman, "Please don't feel you have to be sexual OR spiritual. That is a sectarian lie!" It worked. She didn't have anything to reply.
I think something the LDS may want to explore, and is briefly addressed in the article, is that the demise and death of the Prophet was mostly due to people within the Church who rejected Plural Marriage and the idea of the Kingdom of God, fundamental elements that the LDS ended discarding anyway.
I think something the LDS may want to explore, and is briefly addressed in the article, is that the demise and death of the Prophet was mostly due to people within the Church who rejected Plural Marriage and the idea of the Kingdom of God, fundamental elements that the LDS ended discarding anyway.
posted by fabnatic at
10:32 AM
1 Comments:
Sex can be debasing and it can be exalting. Plural marriage isn't just a welfare tool, though it is an essential tool in order to have a very small and limited government. Without the family structure allowing for women and children to go to men according to the man's ability to provide, the people will eventually call for big-government welfarism in order to forcibly remove those resources from capable men in order to dole it out in an impersonal manner. But, that said, it is an exalting glory to a man to be able to honorably receive more than one wife. Sex isn't the only reason it is glorious. Its intent is to bless and magnify those men who are worthy of the honor of having their resources go into the establishment of a larger posterity that carries that man's seed. The stage was set for Joseph Smith to be able to establish his seed but the people rejected God's means of doing this and Joseph Smith himself. In large part, I believe people were just jealous of the glory that God was endeavoring to pour out upon him.
Romans 1:18-32 summarizes very well the pattern that is playing out again as the foundation for the new creation was being laid by Joseph Smith, but the people took him for granted and projected their own evils upon him instead of allowing him to receive the glory he was ordained to receive.
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Anonymous, at August 20, 2011 3:24 PM
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