Dear Praying Friends,
Doris Hanson, Director,
A Shield and Refuge Ministry |
Mormon polygamy is all about religion—they believe their ‘god’ requires polygamy for salvation.
One reason the government doesn’t crack down on abuses and illegal activities of the polygamy groups is because of religion.
When the eleven FLDS defendants were recently charged with food stamp fraud, they entered a plea of not guilty on the grounds that their religion demanded they turn all their assets in to the group organization, which of course included the food stamps.
In any other setting, this idea would set emotions ablaze. But, for some odd reason, when it comes to polygamy, the atrocious and horrifying behaviors that mark polygamy groups seem to be totally ignored by our government, they are given a free pass instead of insisting upon reasonable accountability.
And when A Shield and Refuge Ministry makes reference to God, the Bible and other religious statements, we are ridiculed and criticized for making it a religious issue. And the most tragic result of all is that when we talk to polygamists about Christianity, their attitude is: “How dare you bring your religion into the discussion.”
It is strange times in which we live. But our hope is in God alone, who loves the polygamists and desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:4
“I have read pro polygamists say that the Bible doesn’t prohibit polygamy and they have their reasoning. I don't want to believe polygamy is okay. And it seems that it could almost go either way. The one thing that makes me believe it may have changed is in the OT, adultery could never be a sin against the women. They also say that “where there is no law sin is not imputed,” and God never said anything against polygamy or adultery in the OT. ... it seems God was pleased with certain polygamous relationships. He praised Leah for giving Jacob another wife, he never yelled at Sarah, but comforted Abraham’s 2nd wife. In Isaiah 4:1-2, seven women taking hold of one man to take away their reproach pleased God, etc. He never scolded Abraham or Jacob or David for being in polygamous relationships.” E.K.
ANSWER: Obviously pro-polygamy web sites use and mis-use every passage possible to justify their polygamy. We don’t understand your statement that adultery could never be a sin against women. Adultery is a sin against God first and is a dire sin against both the male and female equally.
“Where there is no law sin is not imputed” already implies that polygamy is a sin, but you’re saying that if God hasn’t made a law against it, it must be okay? That interpretation is a twist on God’s holy character, twists the passage and ignores that God ordained monogamy, which Jesus affirmed. In the Bible we find God’s commands against all sexual immorality.
God NEVER praised Leah for giving Jacob another wife, that’s a twist I’ve never heard of before, and God didn’t yell at Sarah! He doesn’t go around yelling at sinners. Instead, He died for them on the cross.
The passage in Isaiah is neither a command nor justification for polygamy. Taken in context, war kills off men leaving an excess of women. This is an indictment and a consequence, not a blessing. If women wanted a husband, they were forced to abase themselves and seek protection and provision from the few men available. The many arguments for polygamy just do not stand up against all the negativity of polygamy that Scripture records.
Canada is finally holding Mormon polygamists accountable for their actions. In November and December, B.C. Supreme Court held a trial on charges against three polygamist adults from Winston
Blackmore’s group in Bountiful, B.C. The three adults were accused of transporting girls across borders of the United States into Canada, and from Canada to the U.S. for the specific purpose of sexual contact. Closing arguments of the trial took place on December 5th, 2016.
One charge included a 13 year old girl who was taken from Canada to the U.S. and married to Warren Jeffs in 2004. Jeffs, who is now 60 years old and is in a Texas prison serving a life sentence, would have been 48 years old when he married the 13 year old girl from Canada as a plural wife. Evidence in the trial shows that records indicate Warren Jeffs said that the girl “belonged” to him.
The prosecuting attorney said that it's not necessary for the prosecution to prove the defendants acted with "motive or desire" that sexual activity take place between Jeffs and his young bride, but only that they could foresee that it would happen as a result of the marriage.
The trial included discussions of the beliefs that the polygamy group adhere to. Women must be obedient to all men. Polygamy is a required practice of their religion. Women are to have as many babies as possible. Sex was to happen as soon after the marriage ceremony as possible. The sole purpose of sexual activity is procreation. Females are never to refuse their husbands advances. The priesthood head is the absolute controller. Women cannot possess assets nor pursue an education without permission, which renders her economically dependent and makes it almost impossible for a woman to break free from the group.
We prayerfully await the verdict, that the results of this trial will finally bring justice regarding all that polygamy has done and is doing in violation of the human rights of women and children in Mormon polygamy groups.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bountiful-trial-closing-arguments
Exodus 21:7-11 "If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.
The above passage is not favoring polygamy. These are regulatory instructions, not commands for polygamy. If a man acquired a slave or servant girl to marry her, but marries someone else instead, he must provide for the woman he acquired, whether he marries her or not. “Depriving her with her marital rights” could mean he is either keeping her from marrying someone else, or he married her then rejected her because he had married someone else with whom he is more satisfied. In this passage God made laws to “protect” women in the context of a sinful and corrupt society.
Leviticus 18:9 "'Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
Leviticus 18:11 "'Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
Leviticus 18:18 "'Do not take your wife's sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
These verses are identifying wrong marriages, and are warnings against incest. They are NOT saying it’s okay to live polygamy; rather, they are teaching proper behavior in case polygamy is part of the family lifestyle. For instance if a son has a father who lived polygamy, God is telling the son not to have sex with a half-sister, or if a son has a living father but the mother had died and his father remarried and had children, the son is not to have sex with his half-sister.
continued next month....
The testimony of John D. Lee in regard to the practice of polygamy in Illinois is very circumstantial, and Lee was a conscientious polygamist to the day of his death. He says that he was directed in this matter by principle and not by passion, and goes on to explain: [From Mormonism Unveiled, pg 200]
"In those days I did not always make due allowance for the failings of the weaker vessels. I then expected perfection in all women. I know now that I was foolish in looking for that in anything human. I have, for slight offences, turned away good-meaning young women that had been sealed to me, and refused to hear their excuses, but sent them away brokenhearted. In this I did wrong. I have regretted the same in sorrow for many years .... Should my history ever fall into the hands of Emeline Woolsey or Polly Ann Workman, I wish them to know that, with my last breath, I asked God to pardon me the wrong I did them, when I drove them from me, poor young girls as they were"
Lee says that in the winter of 1843-1844 Smith set one Sidney Hay Jacobs to writing a pamphlet giving selections from the Scriptures bearing on the practice of polygamy and advocating that doctrine. The appearance of this pamphlet created so much unfavorable comment (even Hyrum Smith denouncing it "as from beneath") that Joseph deemed it best to condemn it in the Wasp, although men in his confidence were busy advocating its teachings.
The "revelation" sanctioning plural marriages is dated July 12, 1843, and Lee says that Smith "dared not proclaim it publicly," but taught it "confidentially," urging his followers "to surrender themselves to God" for their salvation; and "in the winter of 1845, meetings were held all over the city of Nauvoo, and the spirit of Elijah was taught in the different families, as a foundation to the order of celestial marriage, as well as the law of adoption." The Saints were also taught that Gentiles had no right to perform the marriage ceremony, and that their former marriage relations were invalid, and that they could be "sealed" to new wives under the authority of the church.
~ John D. Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, pg 165
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS:
Titus 1:5 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, ...
1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife ..
1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of
but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, … NIV
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The judge presiding over the FLDS polygamy trial in B.C. Canada said he would reach his decision in February of 2017.
· Please pray that God will turn the heart of this judge to set women and children free of the polygamy lifestyle, by issuing a fair verdict.
· Pray that justice will prevail so there will be future protection for the young and innocent and brainwashed girls that polygamist men traffic across international borders strictly for the purpose of underage marriage and sex.
· Pray that Mormon polygamists everywhere will know that breaking the law is not okay with God.
· Pray they will seek true salvation in the Savior, Jesus Christ, rather than serving polygamy, their perceived savior. |
“The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.“ (NIV) Psalms 90:10-14
...from all of us at A Shield and Refuge Ministry
We are available to speak to your group about Mormon polygamy.
We are grateful for the invitation to Boise, Idaho to speak about our ministry on January 28th to the LWML Convention. We look forward to meeting new friends and explaining what our ministry is all about.
We are happy to share our ministry and ministry materials with any interested group. Just visit our website or give us a call:
www.shieldandrefuge.org
Doris at 801-649-3103 |
Tidbits from MORMON POLYGAMY HISTORY
