12: Kirtland Era Polygamy (Part 3 of 8 Mark Staker)

We’ll continue our discussion with Dr. Mark Lyman, an anthropologist at the LDS Church History Library in Salt Lake City. We’ll discuss charges of free love and polygamy in the early Kirtland community. In section 132 of the Doctrine & Covenants, It mentions that some of the polygamy revelations may have been received as early as 1831. What could have caused those early inspirations for polygamy. Dr. Mark Staker believes a slave by the name of Black Pete had something to do with this. Check out our conversation...

[@scottvance74]

At 9:47 he talks about Joseph receiving revelations about what the church should be called. My understanding is that it was Sidney Rigdon who changed the name to the Church of the Latter-day Saints in May of 1834, possibly due to some issues with the word Mormon and the connotations associated with it. This was around the time of the publication of Mormonism Unveiled, the first major "expose" on Mormonism. Joseph claimed to receive a revelation and change the name to the 3rd version (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Apr 1838 (see D&C 115:4), roughly 4 months after Joseph fled to Missouri in the wake of the Kirtland banking crisis. Both name changes appear to be influenced by negative press and could be seen as an effort to re-brand the movement.

[@GospelTangents]

Yes my interview with Michael Marquardt discusses that more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6iweJ6Eh6mibrc

[@henochparks]

We should keep in mind that plural marriage is a religious institution. The polygamy is a secular institution. That Plural marriage is done by revelation from God. The Israelites practiced it under the Aaronic priesthood. That LDS practice of plural marriage we done so under the Melchzedek priesthood. Both have different per

[@henochparks]

The Book of Mormon condemns the abuse of polygamy which is the secular practice of having multiple wives like David and Solomon practiced. God sustained the practice of plural marriage under the direction of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and revealed the rules for each type which are had in the scriptures. It is clear Joseph Smith received the basic revelation to practice plural marriage after he received the Melchizedek Priesthood (1829) in 1831. In 1842 he received the more complete understanding of the laws of the practice of plural marriage of the Melchizedek Priesthood when he asked the Lord about it. This revelation changed the way it was practiced.