LDS Perspective on Warren Jeffs: Is Polygamy That Bad?

I have split feelings on this. It's easy to say that they (polygamists) should be allowed to practice their religion anyway they want - provided it doesn't involve children under the legal age of consent. This is an argument I have heard many times. On the other hand, it's also easy to say (based on that logic) that any type of marriage should therefore be permitted - homosexual or otherwise. So, can polygamy really be such a bad thing?

When it comes to determining which familial "choice" is right, the church has made itself very clear:

"We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God."

It's hard for some of us to accept restrictions based on marriage when it comes to polygamy. After all, our own church supported plural marriage at one time, and still holds the principle to be an eternal one. However, that principle was applicable to a select period in time, and has since been abandoned. Now, people can debate all day long whether the church abandoned it based on political pressure or divine revelation. But as members, we believe in the latter if in fact we truly sustain our leaders and have received our own testimony as to the divinity of the Gospel. Therefore, despite our history, we should continue to sustain our leaders when they tell us that today, polygamy is wrong.

Looking at some of the so-called "consensual" polygamous relationships, it's easy to sympathize and say, "They're not harming anyone. Let them be. After all, they are a family." We must look past such feelings of sympathy and recognize that these people entered into a relationship that is against the law. They may be a family, but that family was created by people who willingly broke law, or thought that they were somehow above it. In such cases, the grave responsibility lies with the father and mother when that family is ultimately broken up by the law. It is tragic, but we believe in upholding the law of the land.

You will see many people sympathize with Warren Jeffs in the coming weeks and months. You will hear many debate the reasoning behind anti-polygamy laws. Keep in mind, that these arguments will be co-opted by Satan. He will use this as a means by which to destroy the family. He'll say, "If you Mormons say you're for the family, then why would you want to break up such a peaceful (yet polygamous) relationship?." Don't be fooled. If we listen to such arguments, and fall under their sway, we open up the family to destruction on a far greater scale than we might realize. Remember, if we legalize one type of "alternate" marriage then we will legalize all types, and this is what Satan wants. It will cheapen the family, and it will cheapen the sanctity of marriage.

Ultimately, we must ask ourselves if we truly believe marriage to be "between a man and a woman." If we do, then we must fight any attempt to change that, no matter how much we may sympathize with the enemy.

Official Church Policy on Polygamy