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I think your sister is referring to Brigham Young rather than Joseph Smith; however, it is true that the Lord did command Joseph and later, Brigham, that they should introduce the practice of plural marriage. It is difficult for most of us in our day to try to justify this practice; however, I believe that those men were prophets of God and that the Lord had his reasons.
First of all, so there's no confusion, because this question comes up all the time, the Book of Mormon states clearly, "...For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;" (Jacob 2:27) But Jacob continues, "For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things." (Jacob 2:30)
The reason members of the Church, myself included, can accept the practice of plural marriage in those early days, was that we believe Christ had restored his Church again to the earth and that just like in ancient days with Abraham and Jacob there was a need, thus a commandment, to "raise up seed unto" the Lord. It was a way to have the most righteous families be large and get a good start on rearing strong members of the church. Even though an extremely small percentage of the families in the early days of the Church practiced plural marriage, many of the leaders and strong members of the church today are descended from these families.
After those first generations, and the law of the land prohibited it, the Lord gave President Wilford Woodruff a new directive by revelation in1890 to discontinue plural marriage and that the law outlined in the Book of Mormon commanding that each man have no more than one wife should apply from that time on. Anyone now trying to practice plural marriage is breaking this commandment and is excommunicated from the church.
Tell your sister if she is really wondering if Jesus Christ restored his Church and if these men were prophets, to pray about it and see if Heavenly Father will let her know. Read her Matthew 7:7, James 1:5 and Matthew 10:40-41.
[BEV'S THOUGHTS: There are many Eternal Laws, like polygamy, that the Lord commands His people to practice on the earth but only in His timetable. At one time Christ's disciples were told to ONLY take the Gospel to the Jews. This was revoked when Peter was given the vision of the sheet with all the creatures on it, that he was commanded to eat… Read Acts 10:11-16 and 28 is the interpretation. He was then told to eat all foods, including what had been preciously forbidden, pork and so forth, and he was to eat them with the Gentiles.
We do not know the timetables of our Father in Heaven, and we do not always know the exact purposes for His commandments, but that is why it is so important to listen to His servants, the Prophets, to pray and ask for ourselves and to follow God's commands.]
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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