Today we live in an age that has yielded some of the most
spectacular scriptures known to man. We have the Book of Mormon, The Book of
Jeraneck, soon to be added upon and we have the D&C. These books along with
the Bible have allowed us to more fully understand the mind of God and what he
wants of us. At the start of this year we are studying the Inspired Version if the
Bible and it is to that book that I want to focus my sermon on today. Throughout
the history of recorded scriptures we have been told that God is the same
yesterday today and forever. He gives us commandments and a code of ethics to
live by. In the restoration some of these things were forgotten or
misunderstood, that is why we needed Joseph Smith and the book of Mormon to
help us more fully understand what our place was and what God wanted for us.
However even in this time of great enlightenment there came those who wished to
do things their own way and as a result practices were introduced in to the
church like polygamy for example. I know that you know that God forbids such
things and that Joseph himself fought tirelessly all his life to stop the church
from falling in to this sin. Josephs fight ended with his death.
Today I want us to look at what the Bible says about
polygamy. I often thought whilst studying that Joseph must have had such a hard
time trying to teach unreachable wilful people and he must have quoted these scriptures
time and time gain along with the new revealed word of God to try and get the
people to be righteous. So for our own sake as we study the Bible lets see what
it says about polygamy and what we can do to strengthen our testimonies that
this is not a policy given to us by God but by corrupt men.
1 Kings 11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses,
and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 1 Timothy
3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober–minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach .
As we look at the Bible, it is clear that polygamous
relationships are presented in the Bible. But, does that mean that they are
acceptable in God’s eyes? We also see instances of lying, murder, and rape in
the Bible, but these are clearly not acceptable. Just because the events are
described does not mean they are condoned. There is no passage in the Bible
that condones polygamy. From the beginning in Genesis it is clear that God
intended marriage to be between one woman and one man. Genesis 2 records the
creation of one woman for Adam, and in verse 24 we see that because of this “a
man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall
become one flesh.” If two makes one flesh, then three or more cannot
also make one flesh. This is confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:3–9 as He is
being questioned about divorce. Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 as support for the
idea of marriage being between one man and one woman “from the beginning.”
God’s plan, from the beginning, was not for polygamous relationships. As the
Israelites were in the desert after the Exodus, God announces a prophecy
through Moses. The Israelites will eventually call for a king to be set over
them (Deuteronomy 17:14). Following that, God pronounces standards for the
kings to come. In Deuteronomy 17:17 we see the command that the king shall not “multiply
wives for himself, lest his heart turn away.” God clearly commands that
the king should not practice polygamy. So, why would He condone its practice
for anyone else?
Many Jewish leaders and patriarchs, including kings, were
recorded to have polygamous relationships. However, these relationships brought
about judgment and hardship. David was punished for his relationship with
Bathsheba; Abraham’s relationship with Hagar brought strife into the family;
and other examples would also bear out this point. Some may argue that Jacob’s
polygamous lifestyle was blessed by God, but just because God used a sinful
relationship to fulfil His plan does not mean that that action was right.
Likewise, Jesus’s lineage can be traced back to Bathsheba. Polygamy was popular
in many cultures, and still is today but that does not mean that it was or is
right in God’s eyes. Divorce was also allowed because of the hardness of the
hearts of the Israelites (Matthew 19:8), but it was not part of God’s “very
good” creation. Jesus called the Jews of the day an “adulterous
generation” who chose to live outside of God’s rules and, instead, made
their own. Just because the Jews (or any other peoples) tolerated polygamy does
not mean that God condoned it. We must never lose sight of what is important.
We must realise that God has given us scriptures to help us in our lives to
help us walk the paths that the Lord wants us to walk. We must never allow ourselves
to think that we know better than God or that social sins that have become acceptable
are right in his sight. Even if the law of the land allowed the practice of polygamy
God doesn't not and never will, and so it is up to us as his chosen people to always
look to what he wants for us and then to the scriptures for in them is our
salvation, in them lies Zion and if we are ever to be able to be ready to build
Zion we must be one in thought an din spirit.
So study the word of God, only God has the answers and he
is and was and will always be our God.
Matthew P Gill
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