My wife and I, for example, would explain to our children about their own ancestors from the time when they were able to understand. Joseph engaged in one plural marriage with Fanny Alger in the 1830s. While others shared what kept them going: I wonder if I would have continued going to church if I [didnt] have children. Not all members of the Church have been members since their childhood, and too many new converts have stumbled upon the Churchs history of plural marriage and have been shocked and even angered they were not told of it before their baptism. There is gospel wisdom in Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way they should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This gospel principle certainly includes learning about Church history and doctrine. Separated but not Divorced: The LDS Churchs At the 2011 FAIR Conference, Hudson gave a presentation describing plural marriage as an Abrahamic sacrifice, or an exception to Gods law rather than an eternal principle.52 Her conference presentation, titled A Reconciliation of Polygamy, was based on an earlier article of hers titled Polygamy. Hudson claimed that in the eternities we will have the privilege of living under the law, not the exception to the law.53 She further referred to the belief, which she felt was mostly held by male members of the Church, as nothing more than celestial lust.54 In her article, she also made comments regarding modern Latter-day Saint beliefs about the eternal nature of plural marriage: If cultural misinterpretations cause the women and men of the Church to mourn over polygamy, either because they mistakenly believe that God is indifferent between sacrifice and non-sacrifice and so no escape from this sacrifice will be provided by God or because they are led to believe that they are selfish and not [Page 66]righteous if they feel pain at the thought of polygamy, then these cultural interpretations are actively harming our people. Indeed, in the minds of [Page 75]many people, 19th-century Mormon polygamy defines western polygamy.69 Accepting that the twain are inseparable does not mean the Church must acquiesce to the negative stereotyping used by its critics. There were approximately 400 people who participated in the survey with an almost even mix of men and women.32, In spite of the limited number of respondents, there actually was a good variety of people from different ages and backgrounds in terms of marriage status and activity in the LDS Church. Dr. Swinton says, [In Church culture], divorce is a bit of a taboo issue that many don't know how to deal with, so the result is to avoid.However, avoiding divorced members only adds to their troubles. 24. Ultimately, the hope for Saints who struggle emotionally and spiritually with plural marriage is that a better understanding of the history [Page 76]and doctrine of plural marriage will encourage greater faith and bring solace to the soul. Webwesterly kitchen discount code have any lds apostles been divorced As one woman noted, speaking of her Latter-day Saint friends, [I had] great support from my friends, who were divorced as well.. Most of them have never been members. I worry that discomfort with the situation unnecessarily impacts many from engaging in providing needed support.. On a positive note, the LDS Church has recently taken a more active approach to interpreting and defining its polygamous past. They interpret this lack of information as a species of lyingabout Joseph Smith, about other Church members polygamous past, or about the events which surrounded the cessation of Church-sanctioned plural marriage. 46. Counsel with your quorum president, bishop, or stake president and consider professional counseling, such as with LDS Family Services, if available. To find out more about how Latter-day Saints experience divorce, I surveyed more than 1,000 active members who have been divorced or are currently going through the process. The mother said she divorced her husband, who later re-married. I was sad to see that ward members and [ministering brothers and sisters] were so far down on the list of where support comes from, he says. Pay attention to the children who are going through a really bad time. They likely dont know what to do or say. However, some participants didnt have that same support system from their church friends. (You didn't see President Hinckley rushing off to get married after the death of his wife Marjorie, right?). I tried to understand that they just didn't know how to deal with a situation like this., Divorce may be more taboo for many, explains Dr. Swinton. (Respondents could select more than one answer.). Questions & Answers: My parents were married in the temple, but now theyre divorced. With the comforting doctrine that we can be sealed to our loved ones for eternity, divorce is a conclusion drawn with heavy hearts. Divorce - Mormonism, The Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion Children. Raised on Essentials in Church History and similar volumes and never hearing of Joseph Smiths own plural relationships in general conferences or in other official publications, the new public memory began to take root.22. When he was 5 years old, Elder Baxter's mother and father divorced. For the very first time, I am seeing outright no in response to will there be celestial polygamy.