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What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Polygamy?

 One of the stranger ironies in Mormon history is this. The Book of Mormon outright condemns Polygamy with only one exception. And it does so in some of the strongest language found anywhere in LDS scripture. This is striking given that the church later became publicly defined by the very practice the book denounces.



The clearest statement appears in Jacob 2. The prophet Jacob addresses his people and accuses them of committing “whoredoms” and “abominations” by taking more than one wife. He explicitly ties this behavior to immorality and broken hearts. The passage does not hedge or soften its language. It is blunt.

 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord: I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch, from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I, the Lord God, will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none  

- Jacob Chapter II 


Then comes the caveat. And it is a big one. After condemning polygamy in absolute terms, the text conveniently introduces an exception. 

For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people: otherwise, they shall hearken unto these things. 

- Jacob Chapter II


In other words, polygamy is forbidden unless God explicitly commands it. And the stated reason for such a command is singular. To raise up a righteous seed. 

This exception matters because it sets a very narrow justification. Polygamy is not permitted for personal desire, spiritual experimentation, dynastic sealing, or theological symbolism. The only justification the text allows is reproduction. 

This creates a problem when the standard LDS defense of Joseph Smith’s polygamy is considered. A common claim made by believing members is that Joseph Smith did not have children with any of his plural wives (With the exception of his his first wife, Emma). This argument is often used to soften the moral impact of his polygamy or to distinguish it from later Utah practices. The difficulty is that this defense directly undermines the Book of Mormon’s own justification for the practice.

According to current historical scholarship, there is no conclusive evidence that Joseph Smith fathered children with the majority of his plural wives, and DNA testing has ruled out several proposed offspring. Even faithful LDS sources acknowledge this point. 

By contrast, Brigham Young and other early Utah leaders openly practiced polygamy in a way that resulted in large families and hundreds of children. Brigham Young alone fathered at least 56 children with multiple wives . If the Book of Mormon’s exception in Jacob is taken seriously, Utah polygamy at least aligns with the stated purpose of “raising up seed.”

Joseph Smith’s practice does not. If polygamy is only permissible when commanded by God, and if God only commands it to produce children, then a system of plural marriages that does not produce children fails the text’s own test. By the Book of Mormon’s standard, polygamy without offspring is not an authorized exception. It remains an abomination.

That leaves an uncomfortable conclusion.  Either the rule in Jacob is wrong, the exception is meaningless, or Joseph Smith himself violated the very law he claimed to restore. 


Check Your Understanding:

Test what you remember about the Book of Mormon’s teaching on polygamy and how it compares to later LDS practice.

1. How does the Book of Mormon initially treat polygamy?




2. Where does the Book of Mormon give its clearest condemnation of polygamy?




3. What specific behavior does Jacob accuse his people of?




4. What is the single justification given for allowing polygamy?




5. Why is the caveat in Jacob 2 considered significant?




6. What common defense is used to soften Joseph Smith’s practice of polygamy?




7. Why does that defense create a problem according to the article?




8. How does Brigham Young’s practice of polygamy differ from Joseph Smith’s?




9. According to the article, why does Joseph Smith’s polygamy fail the Book of Mormon’s standard?




10. What uncomfortable conclusion does the article leave the reader with?




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