Is Polygamy Required for Exaltation?

[Faded]

I think livy111us covered it pretty well. Just remember that many of our beliefs are going to seem strange to people who were raised in other religions. That's all I'm saying.

Granted I don't know why we're going through Journal of Discourses. Lots of good stuff in there, but it can be quite confusing without the proper foundational understanding. But I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that Jim is trying to pick a fight. I think he most likely read it somewhere and wanted to get an LDS explanation rather than assuming the worst about us.

Ultimately, only Jim can know what his motives were, right?

[Guest Alana]

I wish to say to you, and all the world, that if you desire with all your hearts to obtain the blessings which Abraham obtained, you will be polygamists at lest in your faith, or you will come short of enjoying the salvation and the glory which Abraham has obtained. This is as true as that God lives. You who wish that there were no such thing in existence, if you have in your hearts to say: "We will pass along in the Church without obeying or submitting to it in our faith or believing this order, because, for aught that we know, this community may be broken up yet, and we may have lucrative offices offered to us; we will not, therefore, be polygamists lest we should fail in obtaining some earthly honor, character and office, etc,"—the man that has that in his heart, and will continue to persist in pursuing that policy, will come short of dwelling in the presence of the Father and the Son, in celestial glory. The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them.

Journal of Discourses 11:269

As I read this I get the impression that the highest glory will not be obtained by those who do not accept polygamy, not necessarily those who don't practice it. When he says you will be polygamist, at least in your faith, that is what clarifies it for me. He is also chastising those who are offered the blessings and don't take them.

What I find important though is also being reminded that marriage is also required. Do all on this earth have that opportunity to marry? No. When that is the case will they be given the opportunity later? Yes. This might be the case with polygamy, also. If it is or isn't is not so worrisome to me because, well lets face it, when in the Celestial Kingdom, it doesn't matter if you're only two people sealed together or many wives, it will be perfect and joyful. In the mean time, even though we don't practice polygamy, that doesn't change the fact that it has been practiced by faithful men and women in the past and we currently seal deceased men to more than one wife. God accepts polygamy, even if it isn't being practices right now.

[TheAngelPalmoni]

I came across this and I would like your thoughts on the matter. Is polygamy required for exaltation? Following is a quote from Bringham Young. It is found in the Journal of Discourses 11:269

"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy"

This does not seem to jive with what I have learned so far, but this is BY talking on the record. Your input is much appreciated, Jim

if you really want to know..."It is True"

[Snow]

I'm not discrediting him, just pointing out that the revelation he received was unique for the time that he lived in. Perhaps during his time, when polygamy was allowed, it was required for exaltation (although this still is debatable). Now that polygamy is expressedly forbidden by current prophets, whose revelation is unique for our time right now, it makes no sense that polygamy is required for exaltation.

Generally, when the teachings of current and past prophets seem to conflict, go with the teachings of the more modern prophet, as these teachings are most likely based on the most up-to-date revelation.

Do you have any evidence that Brigham Young received a revelation about polygamy?

[Snow]

I came across this and I would like your thoughts on the matter. Is polygamy required for exaltation? Following is a quote from Bringham Young. It is found in the Journal of Discourses 11:269

"The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy"

This does not seem to jive with what I have learned so far, but this is BY talking on the record. Your input is much appreciated, Jim

The standard interpretation of the Brethren was that the New and Everlasting Covenant and hence the Celestial Kingdom meant polygamy.

It wasn't until after the turn of the centry, 1900, that it came to be understood as Temple marriage/sealing in general. Talmage was instrumental in spearheading the new understanding.

The scripture hasn't changed but the Church's interpretation of the scripture is much different today.

[Moksha]

Do you have any evidence that Brigham Young received a revelation about polygamy?

I am almost positive that was not in the Priesthood manual on Brigham Young.

[Clarity_over_agreement]

It might be another case where I disagree with one of Brigham Young's personal opinions again. Did he claim it was revealed to him by God?

I agree with the quote above, there are a few things that prophets some times say that was not preceded with "THUS SAITH THE LORD", and I sometimes believe that it was the prophet's opinion rather than doctrine (although a prophet's opinion often carries a lot of weight). None the less it still just might have been opinion. On the other hand another idea that we are memeber of the LDS church believe is that living revelation is for the current time period and it could be that during Brigham Young's time it was required to enter into polygamy as the lord was trying to "raise up seed unto [himself]" See Jacob 2:30 and for those saints in that time period it was required to do so in order to increase the birth rate and raise up a righteous posterity all within the covenant of the Lord.

Just a few ideas. Pick them apart if you disagree.

[blusun7]

Here we go again... Prophets do have opinions and are HUMAN

[Snow]

If the polygamy was a requirement for exaltation, the Church would certainly tell us.

Can anyone provide current Church teaching that polygamy is required? Or that acceptance of the principle is required?

By the way - the answer is no, the Church does not teach it. Those that claim it is required are grossly misinformed and spreading falsehood.

[Palerider]

It seems the author of this thread has stopped posting his remarks here....

[TheAngelPalmoni]

Look, ok, let's look at this logically. In This Plan of salvation there are Billions and Billions of spirit Children. So the only ones spiritually creating these spirit children are those who entered into the highest degree in the CEL Kingdom in the Last Plan of Salvation. And since there are Billions and Billions of Spirit kids, and not that many in the highest degree in the CEL kingdom. There will also me More women than men in Heaven....

[TheAngelPalmoni]

Plus, Yes it is Doctrine...

web.me.com/angelpalmoni

~angelpalmoni