Doctrine Of The Priesthood Vol 5 No 6 In Defense Of Celestial Marriage A Response To Anti Mormon Attacks By Benjamin F Johnson

The Sermons That Cost Francis M. Darter, High Priest, Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, His Membership.

In the last several years a wealth of information has been published on Joseph Smith's practice of polygamy. For some who were already well aware of this aspect of early Mormon history, the availability of new research and discovered documents has been a wellspring of further insight and knowledge into this topic. For others who are learning of Joseph's marriages to other women for the first time, these books and online publications can be both an information overload and a challenge to one's faith. In this short volume, Brian C. Hales (author of the 3-volume Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology) and Laura H. Hales wade through the murky waters of history to help bring some clarity to this episode of Mormonism's past. As Joseph Smith's participation in plural marriage involved more than just the Prophet and his first wife Emma, this volume also includes short biographical sketches of the 35 other women who were sealed to Joseph but whose stories of faith, struggle, and courage have been largely forgotten and ignored over time. While we may never fully understand the details and reasons surrounding this practice, Brian and Laura Hales provide readers with an accessible, forthright, and faithful look into this challenging topic so that we can at least come toward a better understanding. Praise for Joseph Smith's Polygamy: Toward a Better Understanding "Few matters of LDS history have proven to be as faith-sensitive as Joseph Smith's plural marriages. While a number of efforts have been made in recent years to shed light on this challenging phenomenon, nothing has brought greater clarity, enlightenment, and, particularly for believing Saints, spiritual reassurance, than has the work of researcher Brian Hales. He and his wife Laura have now rendered a monumental service to Mormons and interested observers by bringing clarity and better understanding to this topic. I for one am grateful for the context, perspective, and both straightforward and faithful answers provided for so many of the questions surrounding Nauvoo polygamy. It is a book that will be read and discussed for years to come." - Robert L. Millet, Professor Emeritus of Religious Education, Brigham Young University

This book delves into the controversial practice of polygamy in the Latter-Day Saints beliefs, which was publicly practiced from 1852 to 1890 by between 20 and 30 percent of Latter-day Saint families, and continues to be practiced by various denominations of fundamentalist Mormonism today. The topic is explored through a series of letters between Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church and a practitioner of plural marriage, and Richard C. Evans, the founder of the RLDS Church, who denounced the practice. A fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in the history of the Latter-Day Saints and the debate around polygamy.