Question 1. Part 1: From the Scriptures or, the internet path to search on the Official Mormon website will be: lds.org (then at the very bottom left side of that page select) Go to Classic LDS.org (then select from the top left menu, Gospel Library, then Scriptures, then Doctrine and Covenants, then within the Jump to Section 132), then scroll down to Verse 61, for the highlighted information below.
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61: And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood–if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.
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Clearly the “Law of the Priesthood” concerning the practice of Polygamy (Plural Marriage) is condition upon three unyielding requirements found within the Official Mormon Scriptures:
1 – The first wife must give her consent for the man to take another virgin wife.
2 – That the next wife or wives must be a virgin, and
3 – That the next wife or wives must not be vowed or belong to another man.
The Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. did not meet these “Laws of the Priesthood” with many of his 33 wives, but most graphically with the wives of other men, who were both not virgins and were vowed to another man with no divorces required to any of the sharing of these wives. In fact, not only did Joseph’s first wife, Emma, not know of the majority, neither did the majority of the shared husbands know that Joseph had taken their wives. Could this truly have been a deed commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ that you have come to know?
Question 1, Part 2 : The internet path to search on the Official Mormon website will be: lds.org (then at the very bottom left side of that page select) Go to Classic LDS.org (then select from there) About the Church (then select) Church History (then select) BYU Resources (then select) FARMS (then within the search window type) Plural Wives of Joseph Smith (and select Go), the first item will be: The Prophet Joseph Smith and His Plural Wives (select that item and scroll down to the following two headings for the highlighted comments)
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General Observations about the Book
Overall, In Sacred Loneliness is extremely informative. The book features a high level of research, generally good judgment in the use of source materials, and a fairly comprehensive collection of known data pertaining to the wives of Joseph Smith. No biographer in Mormon history has ever been ambitious enough to write a group biography as extensive as this. Because of the complexity of the subject and an obvious lack of detailed primary sources, the job of compiling full-chapter biographies of Joseph Smith’s plural wives could be insurmountable. In Sacred Loneliness was recently honored with the annual best book award from the Mormon History Association. This recognition is deserved because it is the most detailed study of the lifetime experiences of the women sealed to Joseph Smith.
Status of Women at the Time They Were Sealed to Joseph Smith # %
Single with no prior marriage 17 59
Single and widowed 4 14
Married to a husband with good church standing 4 14
Married to a disaffected or nonmember husband 4 14

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Clearly the Official website of the Mormon Church recognizes that Joseph Smith took eight women, who were already married to other men, as his own wives. How is this disgraceful action NOT in violation of the “Laws of the Priesthood” found within the Mormon Doctrine and Covenants?
Question 1. Part 3: The internet path to search on the Official Mormon website will be: lds.org (then at the very bottom left side of that page select) Go to Classic LDS.org (then select from the very top of the page, A-Z Index), scroll down to Articles of Faith, specifically the 12th Article of Faith for the highlighted information below.
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Articles of Faith
Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
History of the Church, Vol.4, pp. 535-41, 1843, Joseph Smith, Jr.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
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At the very time that Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith in 1843, he was married to 33 wives, and 8 of them were clearly the wives of other men. His actions were in clear violation of the Laws of the United States and the Laws of the State of Illinois, how then could he claim that both he and the Mormon Church believed in honoring and sustaining the Law? Additionally, after his death in 1844, the Mormon Church went on for some 60 plus years to actively disobey, violate and avoid many Federal and State Laws, and yet still claim to obey, honor and sustain the Law, as recorded in the Mormon 12th Article of Faith?
Question 1. Part 4: The internet path to search on the Official Mormon website will be: lds.org (then at the very bottom left side of that page select) Go to Classic LDS.org (then select from there, within the search box to the right) Polygamy (Plural Marriage) – (and click search, the first item will contain the information highlighted below)
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Polygamy (Plural Marriage)
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. At certain times and for His specific purposes, God, through His prophets, has directed the practice of plural marriage (sometimes called polygamy), which means one man having more than one living wife at the same time. In obedience to direction from God, Latter-day Saints followed this practice for about 50 years during the 1800s but officially ceased the practice of such marriages after the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff in 1890. Since that time, plural marriage has not been approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any member adopting this practice is subject to losing his or her membership in the Church.
Additional Information
The Bible indicates that Abraham, Jacob, and others of the Lord’s servants had multiple wives (see Genesis 16:1–3; 29:23–30; 30:4, 9; Judges 8:30; 1 Samuel 1:1–2). Joseph Smith asked God why He had permitted this practice and was told that God had commanded it for specific purposes. One reason given by the Lord for plural marriage is mentioned in the Book of Mormon: “If I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall [have only one wife]” (Jacob 2:30; see also v. 27).
After God revealed the doctrine of plural marriage to Joseph Smith in 1831 and commanded him to live it, the Prophet, over a period of years, cautiously taught the doctrine to some close associates. Eventually, he and a small number of Church leaders entered into plural marriages in the early years of the Church. Those who practiced plural marriage at that time, both male and female, experienced a significant trial of their faith. The practice was so foreign to them that they needed and received personal inspiration from God to help them obey the commandment.
When the Saints moved west under the direction of Brigham Young, more Latter-day Saints entered into plural marriages.
Influenced by rumors and exaggerated reports, the United States Congress, beginning in 1862, enacted a series of laws against polygamy that became increasingly harsh. By the 1880s many Latter-day Saint men were imprisoned or went into hiding.
In 1889 in the face of increasing hardships and the threat of government confiscation of Church property, including temples, Wilford Woodruff, President of the Church at the time, prayed for guidance. He was inspired to issue a document that officially ended the sanction of plural marriage by the Church. The document, called the Manifesto, was accepted by Church members in a general conference held in October 1890 and is published in the Doctrine and Covenants as Official Declaration 1 (see also “Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff Regarding the Manifesto” following Official Declaration 1).
Just as the practice of plural marriage among the Latter-day Saints began gradually, the ending of the practice after the Manifesto was also gradual. Some plural marriages were performed after the Manifesto, particularly in Mexico and Canada. In 1904, President Joseph F. Smith called for a vote from the Church membership that all post-Manifesto plural marriages be prohibited worldwide.
More recently, President Gordon B. Hinckley has reiterated that plural marriage is “against the law of God. Even in countries where civil or religious law allows [the practice of a man having more than one wife], the Church teaches that marriage must be monogamous and does not accept into its membership those practicing plural marriage” (“What Are People Asking about Us?” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 72).
Groups who teach polygamy today are not part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Again, at the very time that Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith in 1843, he was married to 33 wives, and 8 of them were clearly the wives of other men. His actions were in clear violation of the Laws of the United States and the Laws of the State of Illinois, how then could he claim that both he and the Mormon Church believed in honoring and sustain the Law? Additionally, after his death in 1844, the Mormon Church went on for some 60 plus years to actively disobey, violate and avoid many Federal and State Laws, and yet still claim to obey, honor and sustain the Law?

As outerwear, I think thongs would fall under the category of immodest dress, and immodesty is considered sinful. When Christ came and fulfilled the law of Moses, introducing the Law of Christ, a higher law, he taught a great principle, that it is not only in action that we sin, but that we’ll additionally be held accountable for our thoughts and intents.

“Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already in his heart”, was one of the things he taught.

Since thought is the origin of action, LDS are encouraged to always dress modestly. This is why you’ll usually see LDS women in full piece bathing suits at the beach, as opposed to bikinis.

Does that answer your question?

Sherry – When the Lord established the Law of moses, was it sacred? Certainly. When he came to the earth and fulfilled the law of Moses, and ushered in a new, higher law, uniquely tailored now to the changing (more spiritually evolved) needs of the world, did that mean that the law of Moses was therefore no longer sacred? Nope, just no longer necessary. God’s kingdom is one that progresses “line upon line, precept upon precept”. Such progression doesn’t diminish the value of what preceded it.

As for the sacred nature of the temple ceremony, and therefore the need to not “cast your pearls before swine”, this kind of gatekeeping is not new. The same protection was given to the sacred ceremonies conducted in the temples of the Old Testament.

Thanks for commenting.

I hope your still posting, there hasnt been anything done recently, and I miss your posts.

I personally would prefer warm cookies and milk for our sacrament service, but maybe my eye isn’t exactly “single to the glory of God” yet.

The official name of the church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” That’s a mouthful to say–”I’m a memeber of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” every time. Back in the days of Joseph Smith, the followers were called “Mormons” by opposers of the church. This obviously came from “The Book of Mormon.” The term, “Mormon,” had a negative connotation to it for over a hundred years so members would go by their official name. It was too long so they called themselves, “Latter-Day Saints.” and this now has been shortened to LDS.

Few of us take offense at the term, “Mormon,” anymore, so you may refer to us as that. A more politically correct term would be “LDS”, “Latter-Day Saint”, or if you feel up to it, “a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”

It might help to realize that by calling ourselves LDS we are not meaning that we have all acheived sainthood. I have some neighbors . . .

Thanks for the post.

ryan