"Follow the Prophet" leftovers and Polygamy

When we stop looking at prophets as being infallible and we consider Polygamy on its own merits, it fails the test of truth.

Exhibit 1: We know that "the prophet will never lead you astray" teaching is not based in truth and leads to spiritual laziness.

Exhibit 2: We know that though the scriptures contain a collection of some of the most inspired writings available on the planet, that they are not "innerant" as some fundamentalist Christians would like to think. This is true of the Book of Mormon and the D&C as well. As a result, all teachings need to be reflected independently and passed by the soul to determine how closely they align to eternal truth.

Exhibit 3: There is no doubt that the early LDS leaders taught adamantly about polygamy. So what. That does not make polygamy what they say it was, just because they said it.

Summary: We must be willing to look at this one (polygamy) afresh -- look at the fruits, consider the ramifications. I did this back in 1996 and came to the conclusion that polygamy is not the highest order of relationship between a man and woman. It is a deception. Sure, people who live it in earnestness will grow; but it is not the ideal relationship between man and woman.

Postscript: Ironically, it was Wilford Woodruff's manifesto regarding the giving up of polygamy where the statement "the prophet will never lead this people astray" first surfaced.  So it is fitting that the coming to terms with the fallacy of that statement should also invite a coming to terms with the fallacy that polygamy is the most exalted institution of marriage.

Sterling D. Allan
Jan. 18, 2003

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