There is a lot to unpack here, but I will try my best. As far as testimony, called to live it, and the higher law, I would respond by saying yes it is a direct revelation that we both have received that let us know that this is the correct way for our family. It is a higher law because it requires more giving and more selflessness on the part of everyone. So while it is multiple monogamous marriages with the same husband in each marriage, it still does require everyone to be closer to God in order to understand the needs of everyone in a bigger family and be willing to give more of oneself.
I would definitely agree with you 100% that the Bible allows for plural marriage. It’s as biblical as it gets. In fact, I have really been dissecting the history of how, where, and why plural marriage a.k.a. biblical marriage ever got lost in the first place. There is so much history and corruption over the last couple of millennia which accounts for why we find ourselves in the position today where polygyny is shunned and why a majority of people reject it either out of fear or anger and hatred because they don’t understand the doctrine or know their biblical and world history.
We may not disagree as much as we might originally think. But we certainly do have some doctrinal differences. And that’s totally OK. I don’t expect everyone to believe the same way I do. I do come from a latter-day Saint background. But you should know that mainstream latter-day Saints are not allowed to practice plural marriage, which unfortunately would separate me, not by my own doing, but by virtue of current church policies in place in which the mainstream LDS church more or less had to promise the federal government in the late 1800s that it would no longer institutionalize or sanction plural marriage. The church as you know stood on the brink of annihilation. I do not come from an FLDS background. I have some major problems with fundamentalists within any break off as I don’t feel they live plural marriage correctly. Many of them carry the wrong spirit of protest against the mainstream church and live plural marriage more as if it’s some religious obligation in which no one seems to be happy. Just misery for the women. I have a major problem with the marriage of underage girls, or manipulating and forcing women to be married or betrothed with their spiritual welfare held up on the line.
I know you disrespect and don’t care for Joseph Smith. I do understand that over the last century, there has been a lot of false narratives and accusatory things said or written about him. I will humbly tell you that I don’t believe many of those things are true and of the things that might be true, they are very misunderstood. The testimony given by many of Joseph’s plural wives describe a man who was very gentle and loving, a man who is very close with Jesus Christ. Each one of his wives were honored to be his wife. They weren’t forced. I have complete respect for him and will stand by him. But again, I don’t expect everyone to understand or feel the same. That’s where we can respectfully agree to disagree. I try to be considerate of everyone’s religion and find common ground. I have great respect for many within both the protestant and evangelical faith as I served a two-year LDS mission in the south and came to love so many of the people there, including their traditions, religious traditions, and rich culture. We live in a day and age where we will soon all be persecuted for our belief not just for plural marriage, but in liberty and our founding principles we hold with regard to this nation. Christianity in general will be the most persecuted group of people in the world. We have each other if everyone can reach out and set aside differences. We don’t all have to believe 100% alike, but we should be willing to have each other‘s back and stand on our founding principles and support each other’s rights as recognized by God in the Bill of Rights.
My position I have argued several times before is one of the loneliest positions to be in. I can’t be a part of my own religion due to policy, which is a consequence of unconstitutional federal laws, which aren’t even enforceable in this day and age. Most of the people within my religion are so far removed from plural marriage by multiple generations that they do not understand it any better than much of mainstream Christianity. Many of them hate it and will shun people who even kind of support it much less practice. I’m also shunned by most of the fundamentalist LDS groups and break offs because I’m willing to stand up for what is right and call them out on their manipulative abuse of women and underage trafficking of women as being property instead of a wife to live and cherish. That is not what the Lord had in mind when it comes to plural marriage, or monogamous marriage for that matter. I am shunned by most Protestant and evangelical Christians because I somehow worship a different Jesus Christ and because I also support plural marriage, which is something that Christianity in general has really struggled with. I am shunned by the worldly eat drink and be merry crowd of people who support LGBTQ, polyamory, swinging, and all the other perversions out there who just happen to also hate patriarchy, and in doing such will support anything except for a righteous marriage of one man and one woman in each instance, whether plural or monogamous. So I do hope you can take a little pity on my position and realize that I am here of the purest heart that I know how given that I am a mortal and highly imperfect man who constantly needs Jesus. I am trying to do what the Lord wants me to do. I am trying to be a good husband. I am trying to love the best way I know how, as well as love and give additional women in this fallen world the opportunity to also be a wife and have children.
I thank you so much for your graciousness in wishing my family well. My wife Natalie is a wonderful person and I am very blessed to have her in my life. Blessings like her happen for a reason and I fully believe the Lord is in the details. Things didn’t go according to plan with Chloe, but we learned a lot. I believe the next time will work correctly the way it’s meant to be.
God speed brother
