Wedding Bells for LDS Apostle
Since we're on the topic of polygamy, here's a bit of news that raises a question or two.
In 1945 LDS Apostle Russell M. Nelson married his first wife, Dantzel, "for time and eternity" in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their life together for almost 60 years; Dantzel passed away in February 2005. However, it's believed by Mormons that she will, by virtue of her temple marriage, reunite with her husband after his death and spend eternity as his wife in the celestial kingdom.
A little over a year after Dantzel's death Mr. Nelson married again. On April 6th, 2006 Mr. Nelson and BYU professor Wendy L. Watson were wed in the Salt Lake Temple. This is the first marriage for the new Mrs. Nelson, so it's reasonable to assume her marriage was not just for "time," but for "eternity" as well. By her temple marriage she has secured the right, if she remains worthy, to also be her husband's eternal wife in the celestial kingdom.
It's not allowed within Mormonism for women to be "sealed" (married in the temple for eternity) to more than one man; however, men are allowed to be eternally "sealed" to more than one woman. This is apparently what has taken place in Mr. Nelson's case.
So the question is, according to LDS beliefs, doesn't this mean Mr. Nelson will be a polygamist in heaven?
Furthermore, isn't he a polygamist now though he is currently only living with one of his two wives?
The LDS Church web site defines polygamy as "more correctly polygyny, the marriage of more than one woman to the same man." The web site also states,
"The Church discontinued polygamy more than a century ago. No members of the Church today can enter into polygamy without being excommunicated."
I don't believe Apostle Nelson will be excommunicated for his temple marriage to Wendy Watson. Yet the declaration on the LDS web site, "There is no such thing as a 'polygamous' Mormon," is not entirely accurate. As is so often the case with this religion, there is much more to it than publicly meets the eye.
posted by Sharon @ 12:34 PM
1 Comments:
At April 19, 2006 3:12 PM,
rick b said…
Here are some of my thoughts, with Scripture Added on the issue of polygamy.
I have heard many LDS say, that God in the Bible, has or had at one Time COMMANDED Polygamy. My Question to those people is, Please show me chapter and Verse as to where this is?
This is stuff I have found in the Bible. Many LDS are or want to be called ELDER, Well one requirment to be an Elder is: 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife. Notice it says One Wife, Not many Wives.
What about: Tts 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife.
Again, not many wives.
What about this: Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband. The Husband is to Love his Wife (Singular) Not wives (Plural).
Something I really want to know is this, Why does it seem that when it comes to the Issue of polygamy, Regardless of someone saying it is of God or man that it is always one man to many wives, not one women to many husbands?
Now lets look at what the BoM says on the issue of polygamy.
Jacob 1: 15
15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
Jacob 2: 24
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
I find it rather intersting here, God says, many wives is an abomination in his sight, yet later he decides it is an everlasting Covenant that we must abide by or be damned.
I will post one more verse from the BoM, but over all their is much more I could post.
Mosiah 11: 2
2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.
Notice again, God calls them Whoredoms, Abominatins and wickedness. How can we go from God saying all that, to God saying it is a new and everlasting Covanet?
One last thing on this issue, Many LDS over the years have said, that this "Commanded" of God was only for certain men during a certan period. I hate to burst some bubbles but we read here in D and C 132:1-3
1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines
2 Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.
3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
Notice in verse three, God says, "FOR ALL" those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. God never said, for certain men, He said For all. If you read this, then you heard it and fall under the "FOR ALL" Why are you then fighting againt God and denying what HE taught. I could go on, but if you want to talk with me futher, go to www.mormonismreviewed.blogspot.com
Rick b
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