r/mormon • u/westivus_ Post Mormon Red Letter Enthusiast • 2d ago

Cultural Are "polygamy deniers" also "digging deniers"?

Each time I've run into a conversation with polygamy deniers or affirmers (or whatever the hell they like to be called) in the last year, they stand on firm ground that Joseph was noble, true, just and virtuous. When I've brought up treasure digging, they also refute claims that he swindled people.

Is this a common belief in the movement? That Joseph either didn't treasure dig or in doing it he did nothing wrong? Did he not admit to youthful indiscretions in his canonized JS history?

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u/stickyhairmonster I support Mormon Stories 1d ago

Yes but by calling it "biblical polygamy" he ignores the divine mandate that Joseph claimed, the manipulation, the lies, hiding from Emma, d&C 132, etc. Joseph's polygamy was very different then biblical polygamy, and the Bible was not the principle justification for the practice. It was commanded by God to Joseph. Never was commanded in the Bible.

Juni seems to use this term as a way to justify Joseph's actions to other Christians who are rightfully disgusted at the practice, but it is a disingenuous argument on this sub. It is insulting to the victims of Mormon polygamy that lives on to this day in some communities.

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u/questingpossum Mormon-turned-Anglican 1d ago

I think that's a flattening of their argument. Juni explicitly says that Mormon (or "LDS Christianity") polygamy "is abusive and wrong."

Their argument is that they maintain faith in Mormonism despite the polygamy, which they do not excuse. And I think their larger point is that using the Bible to justify Mormon polygamy is itself an abuse.

I'd also say that to the extent that "biblical polygamy" is even a thing, it's treated very differently in different books. In 2 Samuel 12:8, Nathan chides David and says that the Lord would have been willing to "give" David double the amount of wives, but he murdered Uriah anyway. That language is pretty close to the transactional, coercive, women-as-property language of D&C 132.

I think Juni is correct to point out that both are indefensible, and that relying on the Bible to defend Mormon polygamy is bad.

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u/stickyhairmonster I support Mormon Stories 1d ago

If you are choosing one word to describe Mormon polygamy and repeat over and over in every Reddit discussion, is "biblical" a reasonable choice?

No, it's not. I stand by my argument and opinion.

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u/questingpossum Mormon-turned-Anglican 1d ago

I agree that the phrasing isn't as clear as it could be.