DallinH. Oaks, Divorce, Ensign, May 2007, 70. We know that some look back on their divorces with regret at their own partial or predominant fault in the breakup. Meet the Apostles. Elders Bednar, Cook + 3 Other Apostles Whose Family They are not members of this Church. When he was 12 years old, the missionaries began visiting Elder Baxter and his family, bringing a sense of goodness and peace into their home. lds The Lord still loves you and will always be there to support you.. The historical record, however, clearly demonstrates that Church leaders intended at least a few plural marriages to continue without the Churchs public sanction and encouragement.2 This contributed to the difficulties of the next few decades. LDS church have 15 apostles if only Whether or not the particular suggestions in this essay are adopted, the goal of leaders and defenders of the Church should be to aim for a more knowledgeable membership who thereby exhibit less discomfort and embarrassment about the Churchs past relationship to plural marriage. If the Lord chooses a divorced man to be bishop, that man will be bishop. 30. One divorcee noted, Friends outside church did not treat me like a sinner for getting a divorce. Some noted that they asked for a break because of the new demands they faced after their divorce. There were also several who identified themselves as fundamentalist Mormons of former LDS membership. Pauline Christians can continue to have faith in a celibate savior who is divorced from his family, his people and his times. There is much to appreciate about the honesty and vulnerability of the responses that were shared. Others believe they were released because they were now a bad example, or because local church leaders didnt want a divorced person in that role. Hales expands this argument about Joseph Smiths polyandrous marriages in his three volume work titled, Joseph Smiths Polygamy (Salt Lake City, Utah: Greg Kofford Books, 2013). 55. Copy in authors possession. Elder Baxter says his mother was "happy, content, and fulfilled until overtaken by mortality" during her marriage for nearly 25 years until she passed away. (Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostle Ronald A. Rasband speaks at General Conference on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. I will join the Church when I know it is the right thing to do'" (Elder David A. Bednar, "The Powers of Heaven," lds.org). All who have been through divorce know the pain and need the healing power and hope that come from the Atonement. You'll also like: How to Talk to Children About Temple Covenants After a Divorce. Most recently, Rebecca Wall Jeffs Musser, a former plural wife of Rulon Jeffs, with the assistance of award-winning author M. Bridget Cook Burch, published The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice.14 This is a fascinating account of her life within and eventual escape from the FLDS, a branch of the fundamentalist movement. Broadcasts Video Images Music Podcasts and Radio. That would be incorrect, divorced men can be bishops. Polygamy in the Spotlight, e-mail correspondence, July 14, 2011. The new apostles could come from general authorities of the church, or from the church membership at large. 41. I don't know if divorced men can be branch presidents though. Copy in possession of author. With every separation or divorce comes uncomfortable reminders of former relatives. Divorce is traumatic: those involved can experience feelings of shock, denial, confusion, depression, and anger, as well as physical symptoms such as disrupted sleep and eating patterns. But, on the other hand, the Church and its members will never be able to divorce themselves from historical plural marriage. Gains have been made since the days I observed palpable discomfort in missionaries and volunteers. The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage What is your personal anchor belief? 51. Your Feelings About Mormon Polygamy., 43. Unfortunately, she was not alone in being shocked to learn Joseph Smith had plural wives. After leaving the museum, they tentatively, almost apologetically, asked me about how plural marriage started and what it was like. Interestingly enough, 5 of the respondents were from England, with at least 3 of them identifying themselves as fundamentalist Mormons. Joseph Perkins, Will Same-Sex Marriage Lead to Legalized Polygamy, Christian Post, October 8, 2011, accessed October 8, 2011, http://www.christianpost.com/news/will-same-sex-marriage-lead-to-legalized-polygamy-57640/. 23. In many ways, the Fundamentalists are the Latter-day Saints extended and somewhat estranged relatives. [Page 47]This essay will examine the uncomfortable relationship between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its polygamous past and the effect this discomfort has had on its members. Not all members of the Church have been members since their childhood, and too many new converts have stumbled upon the Churchs history of plural marriage and have been shocked and even angered they were not told of it before their baptism. As the discussion grew heated, one group member observed in a private e-mail to another, Most of those who did not agree with the reinterpretation of whether or not plural marriagewill be practiced in the Celestial Kingdomhave been hammered into submissive silence by louder voices and the powers that be.59 Near the end of the online discussion, one of the men answered a woman who adamantly expressed her belief that plural marriage would not be a requirement or even a possibility in the celestial kingdom. John the Baptist was a descendant of Aaron and as such, he held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. TRUTH: Scripture shows that God gives permission for divorce. No they can't. In fact, Elder Bednar said in his April 2012 general conference talk that some members in his ward did not know his father was not a member because he regularly attending Church meetings with his family and helped with various Church activities. E-mail correspondence between [anonymous] and Craig L. Foster, August 14, 2011. One of the members of a private e-mail group of faithful Latter-day Saints wrote, EVERYTHING that Correlation has produced, since its inception, indicates the Church is running away from polygamy as fast as it can.41, For many active and disaffected members of the Church, certain aspects of Joseph Smiths polygamy have been difficult to understand or accept. Quite often, in spite of divorce, extended family members remain connected because of a common interest, such as children. 48. : Latter-day Saint Ambivalence over Its Polygamous Past, in The Persistence of Polygamy, 88, and Lesson 31: Sealed . No they can't. Its in the handbook. I don't know if divorced men can be branch presidents though.applepansy It was reported that at the time of Jeffs' death at age 92 that he may have had as many as 75 wives and 65 children; however, conflicting sources indicate that Jeffs may have been survived by 19 or 20 wives and "about 60 children," including 33 sons. Divorced male members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are now required to obtain permission from the First Presidency before being sealed to a second wife. Another active Latter-day Saint responded: Are you suggesting that what is making you pleased is the denial of relationships in the Celestial Kingdom? The missionary told how Brigham Youngs wife would keep house, and I naturally wondered which wife, so I asked. Pay attention to the children who are going through a really bad time. What handbook are you referring to? To his knowledgge this policy came from the Area Seventy. M. Russell Ballard, The Importance of a Name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints October 2011 General Conference Addresses, accessed October 24, 2011, https://churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-importance-of-a-name?lang=eng. Those who have been divorced have experienced great pain. The only safe path through a divorce is to remain true to the gospel. The time or times of such sacred education needs a little more explanation. Foster, Like Two Crazy Aunts in the Attic., 31. 67. Is there somewhere i can look this up? LDS Don't let discomfort prevent you from providing support that may be needed. Surprisingly, only 4% of the respondents did not know he had plural wives. All content by The Interpreter Foundation, unless otherwise specified, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. He explained that he was not troubled by the knowledge as the Church was a restoration of all things. "When she tried to find the train, the train was gone with her four children in there.". :). Of his parents, Elder Cook would later say they "loved the Savior. ok if you have any links or info that i can show this person i would like to see them and thanks for confirming what i thought However, Elder Baxter's family situation was still difficult. In preparation for this essay, I conducted an unscientific online survey of attitudes about plural marriage among current and former members of the LDS Church. It is not my place to advise Church leaders on how to handle this problem and, therefore, these suggestions should be seen as suchsimple suggestions that might help. Newell G. Bringhurst, Where Have All of Brigham Youngs Wives Gone? For an excellent discussion about this pivotal time period, see Gregory L. Smith, Polygamy, Prophets, and Prevarication: Frequently and Rarely Asked Questions about the Initiation, Practice, and Cessation of Plural Marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FAIR, 2005, accessed January 20, 2014, http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/publications/polygamy-prophets-and-prevarication. "It is intended that this requirement will help to re-emphasize the significance and sacredness of the temple marriage covenants. It was during WWII, and President Uchtdorf's family was no longer safe in Czechoslovakia. Through prayer and a very powerful dream she experienced, she no longer worried about it all.37 [Page 60]Unfortunately, many members are not reconciled to aspects of plural marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintss uncomfortable relationship with its polygamous history is somewhat like an awkward marriage separation. Was the Apostle Paul Married? Yes, He 9. The First Presidency sent a letter last week to stake presidents, bishops and branch presidents advising them of the new policy.The brief letter, dated Feb. 3, was titled "Divorce Clearance Procedure." They said they had asked other Mormons about plural marriage and had been met with embarrassment, silence, and awkwardness.67 I was sorry for both them and the members who had not known how to gracefully react to honest curiosity. Its in the handbook. Copy in authors possession. Unlike Warren Jeffs and a small minority of polygamists, most Fundamentalist Mormons are quiet, law-abiding (other than practicing polygamy) people of good report who generally blend in with the rest of society and who have no desire to attract attention to themselves or their religious practices. Then I will get a temple sealing. Furthermore, if she had been learning about the Churchs polygamous history in the youth Sunday School programs, she would have had a better foundation on which to stand.
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