Choice Tidbits from the Book: Page 211
“the attempt to repudiate polygamy is to take a stand against God.”
Smith believed that the Law of Moses “sought to bring the people up to the pure standard of moral law.” To which it must be asked: Does Exodus 21:10 make an attempt to bring the people up to the pure moral standard of monogamy? Or Deuteronomy 21:15-17? Or Deuteronomy 25:5-10? Or Exodus 22:16-17? Or Deuteronomy 22:28-29? Or Deuteronomy 21:10-14? No, rather it is clear that each of these laws establishes a standard of morality which includes the institution of polygamy as integral to God’s Law. And since this is so, the attempt to repudiate polygamy is to take a stand against God.
Exodus 21:10
21:10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.Deuteronomy 21:15-17
21:15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.Deuteronomy 25:5-10
25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.
25:6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
25:7 And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.
25:8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;
25:9 Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.
25:10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.Exodus 22:16-17
22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
22:17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.Deuteronomy 21:10-14
21:10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
21:11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
21:12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
21:13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.