Why we are where we are.
Why would anyone choose to live in a plural marriage in this day and age? How could any Mormon enter a plural marriage and feel that God approves of it?
The summary of my belief is that plural marriage is an eternal doctrine that the Lord has only ever removed from his people because of wickedness. I gained this belief in studying the teachings of the early prophets and apostles, John Taylor’s 1886 revelation, and the events between the first and second manifestos.
One of the most common arguments against my choice to live plural marriage that I’ve heard from members of the church is that I’m being prideful and counseling the Lord; telling him what we should be doing. I just have a different perspective on it. I believe that the church did that very thing in 1904 when they chose to put the laws of the nation over the laws of God. They allowed the politicians of the day to counsel God.
The practice of plural marriage was never ceased in the church because it was being lived wickedly. It was ceased because it was more convenient to remove the reason for their persecution than it was to continue to strive to live the way our Father in Heaven wants us to. William Clayton said that the first manifesto was “a trick to beat the devil at his own game.” Plural marriage didn’t end in the church in 1890. I don’t believe that God ever meant for it to end.
Plural marriage, when it’s lived righteously, is a beautiful thing. It’s a refining fire that tempers us, both man and woman, and teaches us charity, empathy, love, and humility. Christ has to be at the center of the family, in my opinion. He’s our spiritual connection to our Father. If we hope someday to inherit what our Father has, we have to live the way he lives and have every malicious feeling and desire towards our fellow brothers and sisters removed from us. There is no higher law, in my belief, and no more effective way to do this than in a righteous plural marriage.
If a family hopes to receive all of the blessings of Abraham, they have to live the law of Abraham. This is the condition that God has set for us to achieve a fullness of the blessings that he has prepared for us, eternal lives and the opportunity to be joint-heirs with our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are taught in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 130 Verses 20-21 that
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
In 1886, the Lord revealed to John Taylor that
“I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not, and as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph: All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law. And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham’s seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham? I have not revoked this law, nor will I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof; even so, Amen.”
This is simply a brief overview of the things that we believe and a simple introduction to those beliefs. We hope to offer some clarity for those who have known us for years and wondered, sometimes with a great deal of concern, how we could come to this belief. We also hope to have an opportunity to interact here with those who are curious about the beliefs of modern-day participants in plural marriage from a Mormon background, keeping in mind that there are many adherents to tenets associated with “Mormon fundamentalism” from many different groups, churches, and independent families.
There has been a culture of secrecy in fundamentalist society for over a century and this has led to the perpetuation of awful crimes and sins against humanity. The lion’s share of blame for these acts belongs to the individuals who have perpetrated them. That being said, a goodly portion of the blame also belongs to a government that for over 100 years has persecuted people for the peaceful aspects of their religious beliefs, even when practiced between consenting adults, and has driven whole communities into the shadows at the fringes of society. Abuse thrives in darkness. By speaking out, we hope to show others that we are all people with all of the challenges, hardships, emotions, and trials pertaining to mortal life, whether we are polygamous or monogamous, Mormons or Muslims, Christians or Jews, regardless of race or culture. What we individually do with our time on Earth and the good we try to perform in the service of each other should be the benchmark that we are judged by.
We hope that this page will provide an opportunity for us to share our family and our beliefs. We aren’t interested in debating religion, though we are certainly open to curiosity and discussion. Please feel free to message us with questions and we will do our best to answer them.
In closing this post, I want to share a line from an old Mormon hymn called “Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise.” I want to share it in particular with the many friends and family I have had my entire life that are members of the LDS church. It says “dear Lord prepare my heart to stand with thee on Zion’s mount and never more to part.” That is the fondest hope and desire of our family. We appreciate those of you who have refrained from passing judgment on our efforts to do so and hope you all know that we are refraining from passing judgment on you for trying your best to prepare your hearts for that glorious day.
I believe that it’s up to each individual to work out their salvation and exaltation with God, to trust in him instead of trusting in the arm of flesh. I have faith that you are all capable of working that out in the way that God approves of for you individually and as families. Our belief is that our exaltation doesn’t rest in the modern mainstream LDS church, though we acknowledge the incredible amount of good that the LDS church does in the world and the truthfulness of the LDS Church’s foundations in the restoration. Thank you to those of you who have continued to love and support us despite the differences in our religious beliefs. You are among the finest people we know and we are grateful that you remain in our lives.
With love and sincerity,
