In the standard practice of a Mormon polygamist marriage ceremony, the ritual includes the involvement of an already married wife in the couple's union, where she joins the soon-to-be husband and wife prior to their vow exchange. Prior to the marital ceremony, this wife is integrated into the home of the couple about to be wed. Only those girls who have received approval from the Order's leaders to court men are eligible for marriage. Val Snow serves as an example, having been expelled from the Order due to her homosexuality. Rather than participating in religious services, she opted for employment at the Order's school as a culinary expert, specializing in the creation of wedding cakes for polygamous ceremonies.
Joseph Smith’s multiple marriages
The Mormon polygamist wedding ceremony recorded the sealing of fourteen women as Joseph Smith's legal spouses. This practice is unique in that it appears to have created an unprecedented type of marital dynamic. According to the Mormon polygamist marriage ceremony, each woman was sealed with two husbands at one time, a practice known as polyandry. Whether Joseph treated these women as wives or merely sexual partners is unclear.
There are some critics who claim that Joseph invented plural marriage and that he had an affair with Fanny. But we cannot be sure that Joseph acted honorably because we do not know the details of the relationship. However, it is plausible to assume that he did not commit adultery in the marriage ceremony. Moreover, the Mormon polygamist wedding ceremony has numerous flaws that warrant further study.
Some have suggested that polygamy was not an entirely secret practice and that many leaders of the Mormon church were unaware of it. However, in an essay published on the Mormon Church website, Andrew Jenson acknowledged that Smith had as many as 27 wives before his death. Fawn Brodie claimed to have a list of 48 women he married before his death, while another writer stated that he could document over sixty plural wives taken by Joseph Smith while he was alive.
Warren Jeffs’ arranged marriages
Warren Jeffs' arranged marriages in Mormon polygamist wedding ceremony is an example of a rape-as-accomplice case that is dragging down a religious leader. A woman in Utah testified that she was forced into a marriage with her first cousin at the age of 14. She told the court that she was convinced that the relationship was commanded by God. However, prosecutors say her age was a major factor in her decision to marry Jeffs.
Although he is revered as a prophet, he was later charged with assisting a statutory rape. The woman in question, Jane Doe IV, spent four hours explaining why she had married her first cousin at the age of 14. She protested, saying that she was too young to marry her cousin, but Mr Jeffs said it was God's plan for them to be married.
In the years following the arranged marriages, Warren Jeffs was put on the FBI's most-wanted list. The FBI's most-wanted list said that Jeffs had arranged a marriage between an adult follower and a teenage girl. He was jailed for life in 2011 after two trials. He was found guilty of rape and incest, as well as sexually abusing a minor.
Joseph Smith’s sealings
The importance of sealing ordinances in the Mormon polygamist wedding ceremony has led to some interesting theories. One theory is that Joseph hoped that sealing non-member husbands would strengthen their covenants with the church. These theories have been tested by DNA tests. Regardless of their validity, it's interesting to note that at least six of Joseph's polyandrous marriages involved wives who were already married to faithful LDS men.
The problem with Joseph Smith's polyandrous sealings is that they are not recognized by American law as polygamous marriages. This means that the polyandrous marriage could have been a risky proposition for Joseph, particularly if the women were not Latter-day Saints. In addition, the sealings could have caused a public scandal, as neither the law nor frontier justice recognized polyandrous marriages.
A further concern regarding the plural marriages of Joseph Smith is whether or not he had sexual relations with his wives. One of Joseph's plural wives, Martha McBride, lived in Hooper, Utah. The relationship between the two women is poorly documented, and the Prophet did not explicitly state the sexual relations that took place. Nevertheless, Helen Mar Kimball, Joseph's second wife, was a polyandrous Mormon who wrote two books defending the doctrine.
As the polyandrous wives of Joseph Smith did not seem to disturb their faithful husbands, these marriages did not appear to cause any problems. In fact, the couple seemed to enjoy a close relationship despite their polyandrous ties. While the Polygamy of Joseph Smith did cause some problems, they ultimately did not threaten their close relationship. The first marriage of Joseph Smith, Sylvia Sessions, had married Windsor Lyon on 21 April 1838. She had married another Mormon man two months later.
Latter-day Saint polygamists’ authority lineage
The authority lineage of Latter-day Saint polygamists is not entirely clear. Most of the evidence is impressionistic, based on family histories and genealogical records. But there is some evidence that "most" polygamists followed the pattern of general authorities, such as Joseph Smith, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These polygamists, in turn, are known as "Apostles" within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Latter-day Saint polygamy was not uncommon in the early 19th century. However, most polygamist families were in Utah. After the Second Manifesto was issued in 1904, the church president, Joseph F. Smith, excommunicated Latter-day Saint members who entered polygamous marriages. In 1911, apostle John W. Taylor was also excommunicated.
Non-Mormons can’t attend a sealing
Mormons may be surprised to learn that non-Mormons are not allowed to attend a sealing ceremony at a polygameist wedding. However, it's not a complete ban. Couples may wish to get married outside of the church if they want to have a civil ceremony. A year's gap is required between two ceremonies for couples to avoid violating the law.
Mormons and non-Mormons cannot attend a sealing ceremony at a polygynist wedding ceremony. The Mormon Church has strict rules and regulations regarding marriages. Mormons are required to marry in temples. While non-Mormons can attend a wedding and a sealing ceremony, they cannot be present at either ceremony.
The Mormon church makes a big deal of abhorring polygyny, but in reality, this practice is not completely banned. The temple/celestial kingdom is still considered polygyny, even though it's outlawed in the LDS church. In some countries, Latter-day Saints must have a civil wedding before getting married in a temple. In others, polygyny is permitted to continue after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
In Utah, polygamy is legal. A polygamist wedding ceremony is not recognized by the LDS Church. However, the LDS Church does recognize polygamy and civil marriages. However, Mormons believe that civil marriages dissolve when a couple dies. Temple marriages, on the other hand, last beyond physical death. Thus, they and their spouses will remain together forever in the afterlife.
Latter-day Saint converts struggled with plural marriage
The doctrine of plural marriage was one that many Mormon polygamist converts were forced to endure. The polygamous lifestyle resulted in a stripped of civil rights, forced from their homes and in some cases, even the loss of material possessions. The ensuing persecution was hard to bear, but the believers did not give up. Many Mormon polygamist converts eventually escaped the polygamy lifestyle, but many struggled with its consequences.
The LDS Church argues that plural marriage was common in biblical times, but they fail to mention the fact that Joseph Smith practiced it for years before he made the revelation. In fact, he married additional wives without Emma's consent. Even though Joseph Smith practiced polygamy prior to this revelation, he acted without Emma's consent afterward. It was hard to reconcile the contradictions between the LDS Church's view of plural marriage and its teachings.
Mormon polygamy was designed to support many women and children. It was important to support the Saints wherever they traveled. Teenage girls were forced to marry men who were older than their fathers. The practice resulted in a few men with multiple wives, which led to torn families and patriarchal favoritism. The LDS Church's doctrinal stance was criticized by many who were converted to the polygamy doctrine.
