The Mormons have thrown their weight behind proposition 8, a law that would effectively ban gay marriage in California. By taking this position, the Mormons have opened themselves up to scrutiny. I have, thus, taken a historical overview of the U.S. government, the Mormons, and marriage. It's a long, weird history, folks.
The highlights:
Joseph Smith's second wife was Fanny Alger, a sixteen year old girl. He had married several other wives including two fourteen year old girls in Nauvoo, Illinois.
The Mormons officially gave up polygamy 1890, partly as a way of getting statehood for Utah. Secret polygamous marriages went on for awhile.
Mormons still believe in polygamy, and in their way of seeing the world, they still practice it in the following limited way: Mormon men can marry again if the first wife dies, but both wives are "sealed" to him in the temple to be his wives in this life and the next one.
Modern Mormons haven't really come to grips with the doctrine or history of polygamy. If you don't believe me, try asking one of your Mormon friends about it. Up front, I'd like to see them catch some flack over their bullshit support for Proposition 8. The best way might be to remind them of their own history.
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