Why did the early Mormons believe in plural marriage?

Answer

The Book of Mormon establishes monogamy as the norm, similar to the Bible. However, the Book of Mormon allows for exceptions in cases specifically commanded by God. The practice of plural marriage, or polygamy, in Mormonism dates back to Joseph Smith, who claimed in 1843 to have received a commandment from God that men should marry multiple wives. Official Mormon sources have recently acknowledged that Smith had up to 33 wives, though some researchers suggest there may have been more. His successor, Brigham Young, who had 55 wives, stated, “The only men who become gods, even the sons of God, are those who practice polygamy” (Journal of Discourses). However, it appears that he also believed that some could enter heaven without having multiple wives. Young made this declaration during a time when Mormons were facing pressure from the American government and society to discontinue the practice of plural marriage. For Young, it was a matter of faith and obedience.

Mormon theology teaches that God was once similar to us and that we can become like Him by adhering to Mormon doctrine. Devout Mormon men are expected to achieve godlike status and eventually have their own worlds to create and populate. They populate these worlds by having numerous children, which necessitates having multiple wives in heaven. These “many wives” in heaven must first be sealed to a husband while on earth.

Presently, the official Mormon stance continues to endorse monogamy. In response to legal and social pressures, Mormon leaders prohibited the practice of plural marriage in 1890. Nevertheless, many Mormons still engage in plural “spiritual” marriages, believed to hold the same significance in heaven as physical marriages. In such arrangements, a Mormon man lives monogamously with one wife on earth, but he is spiritually sealed to several other women who will be his companions in heaven. It is worth noting that there are “fundamentalist” Mormon factions that uphold the practice of plural marriage.

Still practice plural marriage openly.