“Polygamy is one of the biggest criticisms of Joseph Smith.

But here’s the uncomfortable question most people avoid—

Why did so many of God’s chosen men in the Bible have multiple wives… and God never condemned them for it?”

‍Chapter 17 - Polygamy

Welcome to the Mormon Mann YouTube channel. I am Kendall, the Mormon Mann.

In this playlist “Joseph Smith and the Bible,” I am challenging over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings, and I am doing it using only the Bible.

In this video we’re tackling one of the most controversial topics of all: polygamy, or plural marriage—the practice of one man having multiple wives.

This is where one man may be married to not just one but two and maybe even more wives.

Do to the high demand to challenge this particular teaching on polygamy, I’ve skipped over several other chapters in order to address it directly.

A Warning from Christ

This issue falls directly under Christ’s warning:

Mark 13:21,22

21.And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

22. For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Throughout this series, I’ve emphasized that Christ warned believers to beware of false prophets.

And since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to have a living prophet, this warning becomes especially relevant. If that claim is true, it must stand up to biblical scrutiny.

Make sure that you press the Subscribe button so that you can follow all of these challenges.

“Let’s set opinions aside for a moment.
No traditions. No assumptions.
Just one question—
What does the Bible actually say about polygamy?”

Modern LDS Position on Polygamy

Today, the official position of the Church is clear:

• Polygamy is not practiced

• It has been prohibited since September 24, 1890

• Anyone who practices it is excommunicated

At first glance, that might seem to settle the issue.

…but it doesn’t.

Because historically, polygamy absolutely was practiced in the early Church. There’s no way around that.

The Core Question

So here’s the real issue:

Does the Bible support the idea that polygamy could come from God?

Because if Joseph Smith restored a true principle, we should expect to see biblical precedent or support.

Important Observation

Guess what folks!...In all of my searches and reading of the Holy Bible, I could not find where it was directed by Jesus Christ…or Jehovah, who was Jesus Christ (See Chapter 9 – The Personality of God)…that He nor Heavenly Father commanded their people, the Jews, to participate in plural marriage.

Not wanting to apologize or offer any side steps around the early years of the Church where Joseph Smith practiced polygamy, I would like to quickly elaborate on the history.  Although the Lord restored the law of polygamy to the early saints, this law was revoked on October 6, 1890 when President Wilford Woodruff declared the “Manifesto.” 

President Wilford Woodruff received a vision from the Lord of what would happen to the Church leadership, the temples, many members of the Church and their property if the Church did not renounce the practice of polygamy. 

In short, the leaders and many members of the church would be jailed, the temples would be taken away, and the work for our dead ancestors would be stopped. 

This all would happen by the United States government after congress made laws that made polygamy illegal in the United States of America. These anti-polygamy laws appeared after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had already started to practice it. Polygamy was not against the law when Jesus Christ restored that particular teaching and practice.

So in keeping with the twelfth Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

…the Church officially ended the law of taking multiple wives.

Important Principle

The important principle to understand is that the Lord would “restore all things” which He did.  The Lord did not say that everything would necessarily have to stay on earth until He came again for His Second Coming.

If this principle was from the Lord, there would be some kind of support in the Bible for the practice of multiple wives being from or condoned by God. 

Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about those Biblical prophets who just happened to have taken multiple wives.

In following the theme of this Joseph Smith and the Bible playlist…of “every jot and tittle” will be fulfilled and the fact that the Lord will “restore all things,” if indeed the practice of polygamy was of God, then polygamy would have to be restored on the earth along with the fullness of the gospel.

A search of church history reveals that Joseph Smith, personally, did not want to institute the practice of having multiple wives.  But Joseph Smith was commanded by Jesus Christ to institute the law of multiple wives.  It was on July 12, 1843 that the first official commandment was written on multiple wives.  It is recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 132. This revelation goes into detail about the Old Testament history of polygamy.  This section also details the restoration of the “New and Everlasting Covenant” or eternal marriage to one’s spouse. You can find those details in the verses 1-20.

Then the Lord picks up on the situation of Joseph Smith’s wife, Emma, and the official account of restoring the law of multiple wifes. It reads:

D&C 132:51-56

51. Verily, I say unto you: A commandment give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice. 

Here, the Lord indicates that one of the reasons He restored polygamy was to prove Joseph Smith and Emma, like He proved Abraham. All of us have to pass through some kind of test before we can return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. The Lord continues…

D&C 132:52.

And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me…

D&C 132:54.

And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else…

Here is where Emma Smith was commanded to live the law of polygamy.

Biblical Case Studies

Admitting that there is no firm writing in the Bible that indicates that polygamy was a commandment from God or Jesus Christ there is a lot that the Bible does say about the practice of polygamy and the people who practiced polygamy. 

I will go over what the circumstances were concerning the main families who participated in polygamy and the relationships that these people had with God and Jesus Christ.  The first polygamist prophet who we will study is Abraham.

1. Abraham

Genesis 16:1-3

1. Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 

2. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.  And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 

3. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and give her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Abraham’s Fate for Having Multiple Wives

Let’s see what Abraham’s fate with God. 

Question: Was Abraham punished for having more than one wife?

The answer is no! 

In fact, Abraham became the father of what is currently around three billion people. 

The Christians, the Moslems, and the Jews all trace their spiritual lineage back to Father Abraham! 

God Appears to Abraham and Talks With Him

Not only did Abraham become the father of all these religions, but Jehovah appeared to Abraham and talked with him on several occasions and God established His everlasting covenant with Abraham and his seed.

Genesis 17:2-4

2.And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Genesis 12:7

And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

This is very important!

This is when the Lord established His everlasting covenant between Him and Abraham and all of Abraham’s descendants.

Genesis 17:7

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Looking at the timeline on this everlasting covenant that was made between Jehovah and Abraham, Abraham’s wife had already given her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abraham to have children.

‍ 2. Jacob

Moving on to another polygamist Old Testament prophet, is Jacob. Jacob was given the blessing of being “fruitful” and being a “multitude of people.”

Genesis 28:2,3

2. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. 

3. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

Jacob did as he was commanded and ended up marrying two daughters of Laban. This is kind of a long story of beguile and trickery. But it is worth it!

Genesis 29:15-23

17. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter…

20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 

21. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her….

23. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.  

Jacob sure had a big surprise when he woke up the next morning!

Genesis 29:25-27

27. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me?  Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 

26. And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 

27. Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

Genesis 29:28

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Genesis 29:30

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Wow, wouldn’t it be nice for us fathers with daughters, that we could get seven years of service from our future son-in-laws!

How about five years? Two years? One year?

Well, I am happy with the few days and maybe weeks of help and service from our son-in-laws.

After the marriages to Leah and Rachel, there became a competition for Jacob’s attention. 

This competition was in the form of who could bare Jacob some sons. 

It is evident that the Lord had His hand in this “multiple wife” relationship when He opened up Leah’s womb.

Genesis 29:31

And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 

Leah went on to have her first four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah.

With Leah having four sons with Jacob, Rachel became very jealous.

Genesis 30:1,2

1. And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. 

2. And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

This is where it gets interesting! Believing that Rachel was unable to have any children, she gave Jacob her maid, Bilhah, to wife so the children from Bilhah could be those of Rachel.  Bilhah went on to have two sons Dan and Naphtali.

Believing that she was unable to have more children, Leah, not wanting to be outdone by Rachel, gave Jacob her maid Zilpah.  Jacob married Zilpah and had two more sons, Gad and Asher.

Later on, God answered Leah’s prayers to have more children, and Leah was able to bare her fifth and sixth sons, who were called Issachar and Zebulum.

What is most interesting with Leah’s last two son’s that she had for Jacob, was that she gave thanks to God for these two sons, and that she thought she was blessed from God because she gave her maid to Jacob to wife.

Genesis 30:18

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband:

Not only was Leah blessed by God, but Rachel was also blessed.  God answered Rachel’s prayers also by opening her womb where she had another son called Joseph.

Genesis 30:22-24

22. And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 

23. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

24. And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

Rachel did have another son who was called Benjamin. It was sad…because Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin.

Jacob’s Fate for Having Multiple Wives

Let’s talk about this polygamist Jacob and his fate with God.

First let me ask this question:

Who was this Jacob dude?

A lot of Christians are not fully aware of who he was. Jehovah changed Jacob’s name. Where He changed his name can be found in Genesis 32:28 and 35:10

Genesis 32:28

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Genesis 35:10

And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

This polygamist, Jacob, was no other than Israel, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel!

Question:  What was God’s response to Jacob, or Israel, taking these two sisters to wife, and their sister’s maids to wife?

The answer is that God blessed Jacob, Israel, abundantly with the following:

(1)   The first blessing was that the sons of these four wives, Leah had six sons, Leah’s maid Zilpah had two sons, Rachel had two sons, and Rachel’s maid Bilhah had two sons. These twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel.

(2)   The second blessing was that, on multiple occasions, Jehovah appeared to Jacob.

Jacob (Israel) Sees God Face-to-Face

Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Genesis 35:9And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

3. Moses

Now we are jumping to the third major polygamist prophet…his name was Moses.

Did you know that Moses had more than one wife?

Moses was first married after he fled Egypt. 

He married Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel.  Zipporah had a son called Gershom.

Exodus 2:21,22

21. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 

22. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land.

There is a second marriage recorded where Moses married an Ethiopian woman.

Numbers 12:1

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Here we have Aaron and Miriam, Miriam was Moses’ sister, speaking out against Moses because he married out of the Jewish faith.

Mose’s Fate for Having Multiple Wives

Did Jehovah get mad at Moses for marrying out of the faith? Nope!

Jehovah came down to the tabernacle and spoke with Moses, Aaron and Miriam.  

Jehovah chastised Aaron and Miriam for speaking against Moses! Miriam even contracted leprosy.

They were punished for criticizing Moses’ second marriage to an out of faith Ethiopian woman!

Question:  What was this polygamist prophet’s fate with Jehovah for taking Zipporah and the Ethiopian woman to wife?

The answer is that the polygamist Moses became one of the greatest prophets Israel has ever known!

Moses knew God face to face.

Deuteronomy 34:10

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

4. David

Moving on. Remember David? The young man who slew the giant Goliath?...Well, he became a polygamist.

He was the great king of Israel. David first married the daughter of Saul, the first king of Israel.

1 Samuel 18:20

And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David:…Therefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of twain.

David then took Abigail and Ahinoam of Jezreel to wife.

1 Samuel 25: 42,43

42. And Abigail hasted…and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43. David also took Ahinoam of Jesreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

Immediately after David had become king over Israel, which was appointed by the Lord, David took more wives and concubines.

2 Samuel 5:12,13

12. And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. 

13. And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem…

David’s Downfall Was Not Taking More Wives

David’s downfall was his lusting after Bathsheba and conceiving a child with her.

Then David arranged for Bathsheba’s husband to be killed.

After learning that Bathsheba was with David’s child, David called in her husband Uriah from the war front. 

David wanted Uriah to lie with Bathsheba, but Uriah, being a great military leader did not feel he could indulge in the luxuries of being with his wife, while his soldiers were in the field without their wives. 

David, who could not entice Uriah to go sleep with his wife, devised another plan. 

David sent Uriah to be at the forefront of the hottest battle.

After the death of Uriah, Bathsheba mourned for Uriah, and then was made David’s wife.

2 Samuel 11:26,27

26. And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 

27. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

The Lord was very ”displeased” with David for having Uriah killed in battle.

The God of Israel was mad at David because David broke the Lord’s commandments, not because he was a polygamist!

The Lord severely punished David. He lost his kingdom and his son from Bathsheba died.

David’s Repentence

There are signs that David was very remorseful and repented of his sins.

He eventually received his kingdom back and he slept again with Bathsheba.

She gave birth to another son named Solomon. This son “was loved by the Lord.”

5. Solomon

It was through Solomon that the Lord built the Solomon Temple.

In David’s last days, he made his son, Solomon, the son of Bathsheba who the “Lord loved,” king of Israel.

In the end, King Solomon was a polygamist on steroids!

Solomon ended up having seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.

1 Kings 11:3

3. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

Solomon’s Fate for Having Multiple Wives

Was the God of Israel mad at Solomon for having taken seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines?

NO!

The sin that Solomon committed was not having plural wives, it was Solomon turning his heart away from God and worshiping the idols and false gods of the strange wives and concubines.

God Appears to Solomon Two Times

1 Kings 11:9-10

9. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 

10. And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

The punishment for not repenting and not stopping the worship of false gods was that Solomon was to lose the kingdom. 

Summary of Biblical Evidence

Now, I am going to do a review of these great polygamist prophets.

Five Prophets and Kings That Practiced Polygamy

From the King James version of the Bible, we have most of the great prophets and kings of the Old Testament having plural wives.  These include the following:

1.     Abraham (2 wives and concubines)

2.     Jacob (4 wives)

3.     Moses (2 wives)

4.     David (many wives and concubines)

5.     Solomon (700 wives and 300 concubines)

The Accomplishments of These Prophets and Kings

1.     Abraham – Father of the “Covenant Race” or “House of Israel.”

2.     Jacob (Israel) – Continued the “convenant” from Abraham, father of the 12 tribes of Israel.

3.     Moses – Great prophet who freed Israel from slavery, set up the “Law of Moses,” received the keys of the priesthood and the keys for the gathering of Israel.

4.     David – Great king over Israel.  

5.     Solomon – Great king over Israel and built the House of the Lord, which is known as the Solomon Temple.

The Prophet’s Relationships to God

1.     Abraham – The Lord appeared to Abraham and talked with him several times.

Genesis 12:7

And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

2.     Jacob or Israel – Knew God “face to face.”

Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

3.     Moses – Knew God “face to face.”

Exodus 33:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend…

Deuteronomy 34:10

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

4.     David – Was a prophet and conversed many times with the Lord.

1 Samuel 23:2

Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?  And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

1 Samuel 23:4

Then David enquired of the Lord yet again.  And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

5.     Solomon – had two accounts where the Lord appeared unto him and talked with him. 

Each of these appearances are recorded twice in the Bible. 

The first appearance was for God to give Solomon whatever he wanted.

1 Kings 3:5-15

5. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

2 Chronicles 1:7

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

The second appearance was when Solomon finished the “House of the Lord.” 

The Lord appeared unto Solomon because the Lord was pleased with the temple.   

1 Kings 9:1,2

1. And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, 

2. That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

Review

We have here five great prophets of the Old Testament who actually saw God “face to face.” 

Each conversed with God on a regular basis, they all had multiple wives.

With the exception of David and Solomon, they all were still in good standing with God.

David and Solomon were in trouble with the God of Israel…but not for having multiple wives.

They were in trouble because they did not keep the Lord’s commandments!

Comparison to Joseph Smith

In comparing these great Old Testament prophets with the prophet Joseph Smith we have several similarities.  These similarities are:

1.  Like the Old Testament prophets, Joseph Smith saw God “face to face.”

Joseph Smith—History 17.

…When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!

2.  Like the Old Testament prophets, Joseph Smith was able to talk to God on a regular basis.

The Doctrine and Covenants are full of examples where Jesus Christ appeared to and would talk with Joseph Smith to give him instructions on how to organize and direct the Church.

3. Joseph Smith was commanded to restore plural marriage.

Many of the Old Testament prophets practiced plural marriage.

The Critical Question

Jesus said:

Matthew 7:15,16

15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

16. Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

One must ask him/herself a very important question:

Was Joseph Smith a false prophet—or was he restoring something that already existed in biblical history?

Final Conclusion

Based on the Old Testament record:

• Polygamy existed among God’s people

• God interacted with and blessed those individuals

• Punishment came from sin, not from plural marriage itself

Therefore:

It is biblically supportable that polygamy could exist within God’s dealings with His people.

From these experiences in the Old Testament, it can be supported that Joseph Smith, also a great prophet, who saw both Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, was given the law of polygamy by Jesus Christ Himself.

The Biblical Support Chart

Is the following topic supported in the Bible? Yes or No

1. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that polygamy, or the taking of more than one wife, could be from God?  Yes

(Gen 16:1; 25:5,6; 22:23,24; 26:34,35; 28:2,3; 29:15-35; 30:3-20; 35:11,17,18; Exo 2:21,22; Num 12:1-16; Deu 34:10-12; 1 Sam 18:20,21; 25:42-44; 2 Sam 5:12,13; 11:2-5, 14-17,26,27; 12:7-18; 16: 20-22; 1 Kings 1:30; 2:1-4; 3:1; 11:1-6)

Next Chapter

My next video will be another very controversial topic.

It will deal with the policy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ on not allowing the black race to receive the priesthood.

This will be Chapter 18 – Blacks and the Priesthood. I will be answering the questions…

1.     Why were the blacks denied the priesthood of God?

2.     Was it from the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or was it from God?

Closing

Thank you for joining me on this very controversial topic of polygamy.

If you liked what you learned, please click the “like” button below.

If you want to make sure you have access to the entire series of my biblical challenges to Joseph Smith’s teachings, please click on the Table of Contents button below.

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you have a great rest of your day and week. I hope to see you in my next video. Bye!