Larisa Golovko

RCL Section 12
OHara
11/12/12
Mormon Polygamy: A Paradigm Shift

Over the last 100 years or so, acceptance of polygamy within the
Church of Latter-Day Saints has changed greatly. A controversial idea since its
inception, the constituents of the LDS church began to view polygamy in the
sme fashion as their non-Mormon counterparts The shift from the acceptance
of polygamous behavior within the Mormon community in earlier American
history to its rejection by most mainstream Americans as well as modern-day
Mormons reflects a continuous effort on the part of religious minorities in the
United States to express themselves as normal members of their communities
and to fit in with social norms which dictate the level of positive public
reception among non-Mormons.

In the origins of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, a fundamentalist
religious branch of Christianity, the concept of polygamy was embraced. For
a man to keep several wives was not only encouraged, but also staunchly
endorsed by high-ranking members of the religious community. From the
years 1852 to 1890, polygamy was publically acknowledged as a legitimate
form of marriage (Douthat). In its early days the LDS church thrived in certain
areas of the country, namely the territory which is now Utah. Freedom of
religion allowed families to choose how they raised children and even though
polygamists were not widely positively received, it was legal in most states.

That changed in 1890 with a new law imposed by the US government
which federally outlawed any form of polygamous behavior, regardless of
religious leanings. The church of Latter-Day Saints followed soon after:

This Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy.
They are not members of this Church.... If any of our members are found to be
practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty
the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the
civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church.

This quote from the prior president of the LDS church, Gordon B.
Hinckley, examines the consequences that would result in somebody
breaking the newly imposed law and continuing to pursue polygamist
marriages (Do Mormons). It shows the drastic switch of beliefs within
their community following governmental action.

The portrayal of plural marriage through the medium of television is quite
new, however. In recent years, there has been a distinct representation of the
Mormon community on networks such as TLC and HBO. These programs
serve to showcase a different perception of polygamy; one that tries to mend
the gap between how such lifestyles are perceived by outsiders and how they
are viewed by those personally involved.

Shows such as the 2006 hit Big Love, which is a fictionalized account
of a Mormon polygamist family living in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah,
try to work on the premise that polygamy is just one of a multitude of choices
that can still result in a functioning family household. Though the family
hides the fact that they engage in plural marriage, the characters themselves;
a man named Bill who has 3 wives and several kids, could be mistaken for any
other regular people in their community. Bill maintains a steady job and also
harbors political ambitions. Barb is the quintessential soccer mom who
makes sure everything in the household functions properly. While the initial
shock of the shows premise wears off, its clear that the aim of the program is
to create a sort of connection and an ability to relate to the viewer.

In contrast, the TLC reality show Sister Wives (Turley) brings a
genuine perspective to the continued polygamous lifestyles of those who
stray from the re-vamped teachings of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. The
program represents a family living in the calm suburbs of Nevada after
relocating from Utah. It focuses on the way that each family member
transitions to their new life in a place where their home decisions are not as
accepted within their community. Cameras follow the husband, his four
wives, and several children day to day to document the challenges they face in
adapting to a new environment where not as many people are open to
understanding the way that they lead their lives. Though criticized by some
for misrepresenting the true nature of modern Mormonism, the show
continues to be watched by many.

I think that the paradigm shift of most Mormons refusing to
acknowledge plural marriage as a legitimate interpretation of their religion is
a direct effect of trying to mold with society and the lasting fear of being
outcast and ostracized from others (Harris). Many are afraid of a repeat of
history and want to do everything in their power to assimilate well enough
into mainstream culture to avoid those types of consequences. So the intense
refusal to accept polygamy as still being a fundamental aspect of Mormonism
I think is to make sure that they stick out as little as possible for fear of once
again being shunned or worse, having to deal with legal action. The laws
against polygamy in the LDS church were probably made as safety measures
against the possibilities of getting caught.

Mot interestingly to think about, well never know for sure how much
of the decision to revoke polygamy was based on societal pressure in the
America of the late nineteenth century, and how much of it was affected
solely by legal incentives. Regardless, its clear that conflict exists between the
truth laid out by Joseph Smith and the ideals accepted by the large majority
of Mormons today who occupy areas such as Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.
Today s followers may never know what truly made the LDS Church sway
from its highly controversial origins, but the modification certainly reflected a
level of synchronicity with the alterations in values being embraced by
Americans.








Works Cited

"Do Mormons Practice Polygamy?" Mormon.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
13 Nov. 2012. <http://mormon.org/faq/practice-of-polygamy>.

Douthat, Ross. "Does Mormonism Have a Marriage Problem?"
NewYorkTimes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.

Harris, Dan. "Mormonism: A Peek Inside Temple, Rituals and
Family Life." ABC News. ABC News Network, 23 Aug. 2012. Web. 13
Nov. 2012.

Turley, Jonathan. "OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR; One Big, Happy
Polygamous Family." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 July
2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
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