LDS Church officials decline to answer specifically, saying only that "the Lord has not given answers to all the details of life after death. There are some things we simply don't know."
If we really do not know then stop letting men be sealed to more then one woman. Certainly celestial polygamy is alive and well.
I agree 100%. How can the Church have an actual written policy on this whole issue, and at the same time claim the "doctrine" is uncertain? It can't. The spokesperson lied. The "doctrine" is well understood, as Dallin Oaks very clearly stated in the Ensign quote above. in my opinion, the only way the Church can claim ignorance is to jettison the written policy differentiating between men and women on this issue, which means to stop allowing a living man to be sealed a second time (which will never happen because the "doctrine" is in fact very clear and established, despite what an LDS spokesperson may claim).
"Moving beyond apologist persuasion, LDS polemicists furiously (and often fraudulently) attack any non-traditional view of Mormonism. They don't mince words -- they mince the truth."
-- Mike Quinn, writing of the FARMSboys, in "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," p. x (Rev. ed. 1998)
LDS Church officials decline to answer specifically, saying only that "the Lord has not given answers to all the details of life after death. There are some things we simply don't know."
If we really do not know then stop letting men be sealed to more then one woman. Certainly celestial polygamy is alive and well.
I agree 100%. How can the Church have an actual written policy on this whole issue, and at the same time claim the "doctrine" is uncertain? It can't. The spokesperson lied. The "doctrine" is well understood, as Dallin Oaks very clearly stated in the Ensign quote above. in my opinion, the only way the Church can claim ignorance is to jettison the written policy differentiating between men and women on this issue, which means to stop allowing a living man to be sealed a second time (which will never happen because the "doctrine" is in fact very clear and established, despite what an LDS spokesperson may claim).
You know Harmony really made a point. Where are the strong bold declarations. Like BY or not you knew where he stood. It seems though the Church really is afraid of what people think. If sealings to more then one woman are still allowed for a man then the Church believes that there is polygamy in heaven. If not we really are not sure then drop it, as stated, or if it will just be all sorted out later then let women be sealed again after their spouse dies too. But nope. Only men can do this. By default then the church believes that men can be plurally married in heaven. But the PR guy just did a fancy dance spin. Really, I would rather he have said "yes, we believe that there is plural marriage in heaven."
Frankly, I don't see what would be wrong with allowing women to be sealed to more than one spouse just as men are. That, in my opinion, would be an easier way to resolve this issue than dis-allowing men to be sealed to more than one wife.
It it's simply the ordinance that is important, I think this would be an easier "revelation" for the Church to receive.
liz3564 wrote:Frankly, I don't see what would be wrong with allowing women to be sealed to more than one spouse just as men are. That, in my opinion, would be an easier way to resolve this issue than dis-allowing men to be sealed to more than one wife.
It it's simply the ordinance that is important, I think this would be an easier "revelation" for the Church to receive.
;)
The answer to that is very simple, Liz. The is not "we don't know". The answer is "Tradition! Tradition!"
We do what we have always done, because we have always done it. God hasn't talked to us in 30 years. He's not going to start now. What we have is smoke and mirrors, a shadow, a husk of the church Joseph created.
I wonder if the author of Elmer Gantry was acquainted with Joseph?
LDS Church officials decline to answer specifically, saying only that "the Lord has not given answers to all the details of life after death. There are some things we simply don't know."
From what I have read elsewhere, this out of not really knowing has allowed many Mormon women some peace of mind in contemplating the otherwise dreadful prospect of eternal polygamy.
Well realistically what do we know about Celestial Marriage and what it means? Next to nothing. People seem to just see it as people living together forever in a continuance of earth life with a few perks added. It's probably not. We know that marriage is eternal.....but since that version of marriage is the real thing and what we call it is a shadow of a shadow.
If there is Celestial Polygamy (and I expect there is) then it will be bliss for all involved. If it wouldn't it would not be allowed by God. We're projecting jealousy and possessiveness to creatures that will be beyond both and filled with charity for everyone.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
The Nehor wrote:Well realistically what do we know about Celestial Marriage and what it means? Next to nothing. People seem to just see it as people living together forever in a continuance of earth life with a few perks added. It's probably not. We know that marriage is eternal.....but since that version of marriage is the real thing and what we call it is a shadow of a shadow.
If there is Celestial Polygamy (and I expect there is) then it will be bliss for all involved. If it wouldn't it would not be allowed by God. We're projecting jealousy and possessiveness to creatures that will be beyond both and filled with charity for everyone.
Then if we know next to nothing about it, why have our prophets seen fit to talk about it? What business did Brigham have of condemning to hell all those women and men who refused to jump on the polygamy wagon? What business do we have in refusing to seal women to multiple men? Why can't we seal men to men and women to women, if we don't really know what Celestial Marriage means?!