Is Polygamy a True Law of God?
by Trisha Woolley, Dustin Smith, and Dustin Grady
[this article still under construction]
Introduction
Jacob’s sermon about having multiple wives and concubines contains a phrase which has always been considered “the justification clause” for when polygamy is allowable by God. That statement comes from verse 30 of Jacob 2:
For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, 1.) raise up seed unto me [want my people to have lots of babies], 2.) I will command my people [to have many wives]; 3.) otherwise they shall hearken unto these things [obey the traditional commandment of one man and one wife].
Jacob 2:30
The following verse-by-verse breakdown of Jacob’s sermon, however, shows that this “justification clause” is actually the opposite of what Jacob was trying to communicate. Before we begin, here is a review of the 3 phrases and how they get misinterpreted:
- To “raise up seed unto me” allegedly means to “have lots of babies/children.”
- To “command my people” allegedly means to “allow polygamy/command polygamy.”
- “They shall hearken unto these things” allegedly means “without my command for polygamy, they must only have one wife/husband.”
As will be laid out in this article, the correct understanding of each of those phrases should be the following:
- To “raise up seed unto me” is a reference to the Lord raising up a righteous people who will obey his commandments.
- “Command my people” refers to the Lord’s strict command of what they are to observe in order to become a righteous people. More specifically, it was the command that they should have only one wife and zero concubines.
- “They shall hearken unto these things” is a statement of fact or observation and not a commandment. The phrase “these things” throughout this sermon consistently refers to the main topic of discussion of having multiple wives and concubines.
- In fact, Jacob’s sermon covers two topics, and the phrase “these things” is used consistently to reference them. First, it points to pride and greed for possessions and money (first topic, see v. 14, 21), then it refers to the main topic of the whoredoms and abomination of having many wives and concubines (second topic, see v. 23, 24, 30, 34).
When we put that together, we get the following as the appropriate rewording of Jacob 2:30
For if I (1.) want to have a righteous people, (2.) I must command them to not have many wives or concubines, saith the Lord of Hosts; (3.) otherwise, they will always degenerate into practicing the whoredoms of having many wives and concubines, which is an abomination.
Breakdown of Jacob’s Sermon
We can break down Jacob’s sermon verse by verse, paying attention to the overall message and the three main points he reiterates throughout it. The structure of the message forms a parallelism, where the entire sermon may be divided into two halves which mirror each other equally (such as ABBA). In this case, it forms the structure ABCDEEDCBA, with the “E” portion containing the apex of the message containing all of main elements of the entire structure. This structure is most commonly referred to in scriptures as a chiasmus, or chiasm. However, a chiasmus is simply one form of parallelism. The structure used in Jacob 2 is actually called antimetabole (an-tee-meh-TAH-boh-lee).
Pay special attention to the repeated use of the word thing in verses 23, 24, 30 and 34 — each instance refers to polygamy. Jacob says “this thing” or “these things” repeatedly because it’s a direct reference to the main topic of discussion: the whoredoms and abominations of polygamy.
What’s interesting is that this is a chiasmus structure where verses 23 and 34/35 are the outer support blocks for verse 30. So ironically, the verse that people use to justify polygamy is actually the center point of a chiasmus condemning it.
Furthermore, the phrase “saith the Lord” is used nine times throughout the chiasmus of only 13 verses. This is a remarkable emphasis not often found in the scriptures at such a high rate.
23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things [polygamy] which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
Jacob makes it clear that polygamy is a gross crime, or an iniquity.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing [polygamy] was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
This is the first use of the term “thing” which points to the main subject: having many wives and concubines (polygamy). Note that this statement directly conflicts with the assertion in D&C 132 that God gave David and Solomon all their wives and concubines (with the sole exception of Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba). There are a handful of reasons to reject the notion that section 132 was a revelation given to Joseph Smith (especially since it didn’t appear until 8 years after Joseph’s death), but this is one of the most blatant.
25 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.
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
The Lord introduces the idea of “raising up a righteous people” and he juxtaposes that idea with what the people in Jerusalem were doing — “like them of old.” In other words, the wicked people in Jerusalem at the time of Lehi were apparently engaged in this same practice of taking many wives and concubines as “they of old” had. This is what the Lord specifically led them AWAY FROM. He wants to raise up people unto him instead. And he will not allow these people to commit the same crimes without severe punishment.
Also notice that only David and Solomon were mentioned as the excuse for polygamy – they were not even attempting to “blame” Abraham. This might be because the brass plates had the correct version of the story, the one where Abraham had only one son (and not two), and was never married to Hagar (Gen. 22:12; Jacob 4:5; D&C 101:4).
27 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 states the simple yet strict command of God, and this command matches all known and confirmed statements from Joseph Smith’s own mouth and from the leaders of the church prior to his death, as well as from God’s revelations to him on the subject: men must have only one wife, and zero concubines.
15 And again, verily I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man.
16 Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation;
17 And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation.
D&C 49:15-17
Two people become one through marriage, and that was how mankind would answer “the end of their creation.” That means that one man and one woman is the “eternal law,” because that is the purpose or “end” of their existence or “creation.” This revelation was part of the law of Zion which was the law of the celestial kingdom.:
5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.
D&C 105:5
Notice that this statement also contradicts the teaching in section 132 and the teachings of Brigham Young which state that “the plurality of wives” is the law of the celestial kingdom.
4. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.
D&C 101:4 [1st & 2nd editions; removed by Brigham Young from 3rd edition in 1876]
Back to Jacob 2:
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
Multiple wives (polygamy) is a whoredom and an abomination. This is connected through verses 23, 24, 28, 31, and 33.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
Jacob refers again to what the Lord commanded: each man shall have but one wife, and concubines he shall have none (v.27).
30 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.
The statement that the people will hearken unto “these things” connects all references about “these things” to the main subject of the discourse: namely, the whoredom and abomination of taking many wives and concubines (polygamy).
Additionally, Jacob quotes God saying “raise up seed unto me,” which is a direct reference to “raising a righteous people” and not “producing as many children as possible.” It is a reference to the earlier statement that God specifically led Lehi away from the whoredoms of Jerusalem so that his descendants might righteously obey God’s commandments, including the one for men to have only one wife and zero concubines. Also reiterated again in verse 34.
This thought is capped with a statement of fact that serves as a lesson: if God does not explicitly and strictly command His people to be chaste by having only one wife and zero concubines, they fall into the whoredoms and abominations of having multiple wives and concubines (polygamy).
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me [a righteous branch – v. 25], I will command my people [one wife, zero concubines]; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things [whoredoms and abominations of multiple wives and concubines — polygamy].
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
The Lord specifically mentions his daughters because they are the ones who suffer under polygamy. It is again reiterated that it is an abomination and a wickedness of men. And it is again reiterated that not only Jerusalem was under the burden of this sin, but all the lands of his people, because, as he just mentioned, they always degenerate into this wickedness.
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
After bringing them away from Jeruslam to escape the whoredoms and abominations of polygamy, the Lord was not willing to allow the Nephite men to fall into the same pattern as outlined in verse 30.
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
The whoredom of polygamy is worthy of a curse: the threat of destruction. And he will not allow his people to be like unto “them of old” (again referring to David and Solomon). Notice there is no mention of Abraham — because Abraham did not practice polygamy. The record as contained in Genesis is entirely fallible on this matter, having been altered by the wicked Deuteronomists who wanted to justify polygamy. It is clearly an abomination, according to the Lord here.
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments [no polygamy; only one wife and no concubines] were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things [polygamy: many wives & concubines] which ye ought not to have done.
The Nephites knew better because God explicitly reiterated these commandments to Lehi. This is an extension of verse 30 — where he says that if he wants to raise up a righteous people, he has to explicitly and strictly command them to have only one wife and zero concubines. Yet the Nephites under Jacob were already beginning to do polygamy, anyway.
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God [see v. 27 – the word of God is only one wife, no concubines, or else face the threat of destruction], which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.
Polygamy is a selfish and a “gross crime,” and the victims are the wife/wives and the children. The Lord is more pleased with the Lamanites for sticking to “the commandment” of having only one wife and zero concubines. That is a bold statement considering the overall degenerate state of the Lamanites.
Parallel Structure of Jacob’s Sermon
Parallel Structure of Jacob’s Admonition Against PolygamyJacob 2
A) 23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. 24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
B) 25 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.
C) 26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. 27 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; 28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.
D) And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
E) 29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
E) 30 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.
D) 31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
C) 32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people,
B) which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts. 33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction;
A) for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts. 33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts. 34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done. 35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.
