Mormonism and Polygamy

by Jefferson David Tant It is well known that in the 1800s the Mormon Church taught and practiced polygamy. Its founder, Joseph Smith, had many wives. Andrew Jensen, who was an assistant Mormon church historian, listed 27 women who were married to Joseph Smith (see the Historical Record, pp. 233, 234). The Mormon author John…

Read More

What if the man I want to marry turns out to be a polygamist?

Question: Good afternoon sir, I’m in a relationship with a guy who comes from a polygamous family I love him and want to marry him but I’m scared of the future. His mother is harsh, and although I’ve been praying about it, I am worried about the future. What if he turns out to be…

Read More

Does I Corinthians 7:2 imply polygyny?

Question: Hello I stumbled on a website about polygyny being biblical still, which stunned me.  It’s not the only one out there promoting this.  The author claimed his insight came from I Corinthians 7:2 when two different words are used to show possession of respective spouses. The words are: heautou  (Strongs #1438) idios  (Strongs #2398)…

Read More

Did God change His mind about sexual sins?

Question: Did God change? How is it that God that was so quiet about fornication, adultery, and polygamy in the Old Testament and then suddenly changed in the New Testament? Answer: It is in the Old Testament that we learn that a man is to leave his family, get married, and become one flesh with…

Read More

Can deacons have multiple wives and homes?

Question: I was wondering if polygamy is wrong because a Christan polygamy site states this: “mia doesn’t mean one, it means first in I Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6” Regarding idios they are saying “The word “idios” signifies actual or potential corporate possession, or “ownership” (although sometimes the two words may be synonymous, the change up in this verse is…

Read More

Is it right to refuse baptism for a person who has multiple wives?

Question: Please preacher, is it biblically right to ask a person if he is customarily married or not, or whether he has two or more wives before such a person is baptized? If he fails any of the questions above, can you refuse to baptize such a person? Answer: In many African nations, there are…

Read More

Should I marry the woman I committed adultery with as a second wife?

Question: Dear Minister, I am a young man married to one wife for the last four years. My wife is now five months pregnant. Unfortunately, I committed adultery with another young woman and she is one month pregnant. We have made it a secret not to tell my wife until when the child is born…

Read More

Can a man, converting to Islam marry another wife?

Question: My friend married a Christian in a church wedding. After 20 years of marriage, her husband converted to the Muslim religion and married again to a Muslim woman. Is his marriage to a Muslim woman legal? My friend and her husband still have not separated. Thank you. Answer: “And He answered and said to…

Read More

Didn’t God support polygamy by offering David more wives?

Question: I’ve heard many ministers respond to why God allowed polygamy by saying that it’s like divorce. God allowed it but it wasn’t His will. I disagree with that response. After King David sinned with Bathsheba God said to David if you had only asked “I” (God) would have given you more wives.  Now, why…

Read More

Why do you teach that a man can only have one wife?

Question: I just read “What Bible Passage Teaches Monogamy?” by George Hutto. It has to do with men having only one wife. While I agree with most of what is written, I have a problem with the intent. Since most men, of any measure of success, in the Old Testament, had wives known as maidservants,…

Read More

What Bible Passage Teaches Monogamy?

by George Hutto via Tidings, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 2008. Monogamy is the marital rule of having only one spouse. Polygamists say that a person can have more than one spouse at the time, such as the Muslim practice. The teaching of the Bible on this subject will be considered in a moment, but…

Read More

Why did God allow polygamy under the Old Testament?

Question: Wondering if anyone has any materials on “multiple marriages” in the Old Testament? Would like to hear your views on why this was tolerated among God’s people. I understand this was not God’s choice, however, there is no outcry from the prophets against such. The practice of multiple wives and concubines in the Old…

Read More

Why did God allow polygamy and concubines?

Question: I have been wondering for a while about why polygamy and concubines were allowed.  Why was God okay with this stuff? Answer: We are not specifically told, but I can make some reasonable guesses. But to put it into context, as you were growing up were there not things that you did that your…

Read More

The only reason polygamy is condemned is because the church condemns it.

Question: I believe that every word in Scripture is there for a reason. I don’t think God plays around with the words in Scripture unless there’s a good reason to do so. With that said, have you ever wondered why Matthew 19 is the only quotation of Jesus that includes an exception in his teachings…

Read More

If divorce is allowed, then shouldn’t polygamy be allowed?

Question: I’m replying to a question I asked earlier, to which you posted your answer as “If a country permits polygamy, is there a biblical reason not to have multiple wives?” You said this: “Mankind often practices things of which God disapproves. God regulates the practices, but it would be a mistake to say that…

Read More