Asking the Mormon Girl

As I began my research on this topic I asked myself  "what first comes to mind when I hear the word polygamy?"

My answer: Mormons.

Now I know that this answer is a product of inherent stereotyping in combination with faulty advertising, a few SNL skits, the occasional South Park clip, and maybe even some comments that have been made with regard to the current presidential election - but nevertheless, I decided that the Mormon religion would be a good place to start my investigation into the topic of polygamy. 

Joanna Brooks (aka Mormon Girl)

While doing my research I came across a fellow blogger who happens to be not only an award winning author but also a Mormon woman who provides "an unorthodox but friendly perspective on Mormon thought and culture" - the perfect source for my quest to get to the bottom of polygamy and Mormonism!  Of course, she has made posted several articles on the controversial subject and here I have linked my favorite of the bunch.    

In this article, Joanna Brooks (better known as "Mormon Girl"), recounts a brief history of the Mormon religion and its connection to polygamy.  In addition she writes about the opinions of the current Mormon Church, influential Mormons (like Mitt Romney), as well as her own opinion on the subject.  Throughout the article Mormon Girl makes a point to reiterate that "we need to talk about polygamy."  She believes that people will not truly understand the reasons why/if those of the Mormon faith believe in polygamy if Mormons do all that they can to avoid the subject. 

As it turns out, whether or not Mormons of today truly believe that a man should take more than one wife is incredibly debatable.  

After reading the article, I got the sense that the doctrines of the religion state that it is a man's duty to wed more than one wife so he can have many children and increase the Mormon population.  It also states that unless a Mormon is married, he or she will not be accepted into Heaven.  Since, at the time these religious documents were written, there were significantly more women practicing Mormonism than men, the only way for them to ensure that all members of the faith  would have a place in Heaven  would be to practice polygamy. 

After learning this I assumed that the current members must still believe the same things. I was wrong.  Apparently many "progressive" Mormons (aka women who don't want to share their husbands and/or men who don't want to have a bunch of children) reject the idea of polygamy.  Mormon Girl also rejects the act because, as a feminist, she believes in equality between the genders and that polygamy ultimately places the man in a higher position than his wife and her sister-wives.  Even the Republican presidential nominee and the current face of Mormons, Mitt Romney, claims he does not support polygamy (although Mormon Girl is not fully sure she believes him). 

Although many Mormons do not support polygamy, there are some who still choose to follow the dogmas of Mormonism and do. These members who, according to the article, will deny that they are polygamists, practice it in an "underground" way, with the fear of being caught and judged by their fellow Americans.  

The bottom line is that while some Mormons do, in fact, practice the act of taking on several wives, the majority of Mormons do not (or at least claim not to).  I found this to be surprising considering the hype around the Mormon religion and polygamy but as it turns out polygamy is not such a big facet of the faith and most Mormons would rather not address the topic of polygamy or even better have it eradicated all together.