brrgilbert Messages: 282 Registered: December 2012 Location: Nampa, Idaho
Senior Member
This controversy always surfaces and I think it fitting that it be put to rest. Polygamy is not necessary, period. To illustrate the point, consider the "Law of Sarah" as established by the suspect Doctrine and Covenants 132. The "Law," in and of itself infers that the first wife has precedence, and always will. What this establishes is an immediate hierarchy with the "First Lady" having priority; therefore, the wives could NEVER be on equal footing. This is further elaborated upon in scripture in the following citation:
Quote:
Galatians 5:
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
The "second or third or fourth or hundreth" will always be a "bondwoman" by virtue of order and The Law of Sarah. It cannot be said that there is any other order or precedent than this. The notion of "equal footing" and "no respecter of persons" cannot be established under this pretense of union. It is of a "lower" nature than monogamy, wherein, (monogamy,) the "playing field" and footing is level by virtue of partnership.
Further, it is very apparent that in the case of Sarah, she had the right to evict the bondwoman.
The following excerpt was taken from the Larry King Live show:
The entirety of which can be viewed below, so that it is received in context: (The excerpt occurs at about the 14:30 min. mark)
"I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies."