PLURAL MARRIAGE, FACT OR FICTION

            Susan Ray was raised in the Church of the Firstborn, a Mormon fundamentalist group with headquarters at Colonial LeBaron, Mexico.  At age 15 she was married to Verlan LeBaron, a man in his forties. As a plural wife she was compelled to live mostly in primitive or pioneer conditions that by today’s standards would be considered squalor.

            Verlan was a General Authority in the Church of the Firstborn presiding over the Twelve Apostles. Verlan’s brother, Ervil LeBaron, became a mass murderer.  Susan had been indoctrinated to believe that the Church of the Firstborn was God’s one and only church.  However, the following circumstances caused her to doubt that this church was really God’s true church or that plural marriage was really a correct principle: 

            The squalled conditions she and her sisterwives were compelled to live under.

            Her husband’s lack of financial support

            Her husband’s continual absence, away doing church work.

            The jealousy, envy and resentment of the plural wives towards each other.

            Her husband’s perpetual chasing pubescent females to wed.

            The senseless murders perpetrated by Ervil LeBaron.

            By the time she mustered enough courage to seek out answers to her questions she was a mother in her early twenties with five children.  She couldn’t go to the church authorities for answers because to question the church’s authority was taboo, so she turned to the scriptures.

            She found where the Book of Mormon said that man should have “but one wife.”  She found in the New Testament where Paul said the same thing, “one wife.”  She reread Section 132 realizing it was coercive and women had no more standing than chattel.  In the Church of the Firstborn women were expected to submit to extremely sever living conditions.  Her inner self told her “God’s alleged polygamy commandment” was all wrong.  She apostatized.  (See His Favorite Wife by Susan Ray Schmidt)

            Today, Susan and her children are living normal, highly productive lives taking advantage of all the wonderful opportunities a free society has to offer.

            Most every Mormon fundamentalist knows of women and children that are being abused or oppressed but generally blame the oppressor rather than the principle.  The indoctrination that plural marriage is a “sacred religious belief” is so strong that until either a loved one or themselves have been victimized they don’t seem to lack the fortitude to rebel.  Even then some women are manipulated into being so dependent upon their husbands and priesthood that they resign themselves to their ignoble fate. That is because Mormonism is designed, like Islam and some forms of Christianity, to turn women into impotent servants and brood mares. 

            There is enough clear and convincing evidence in the scriptures, along with the research of historians, to make a convincing argument that God does not compel women to become plural wives.  There is also enough clear and convincing testimony from Mormon leaders to make a compelling argument that plural marriage is required for a celestial exaltation. 

            The questions concerning Mormon plural marriage are so emotion packed that it is almost impossible to scripturally and objectively get to the truth – especially if the scrutiny is predicated on a belief in God or Joseph Smith. 

            Scripturally scrutinizing Mormon plural marriage is seldom objective.  For example, we can approach Mormon polygamy from the premise that it is false and then attempt to prove it; or we can stipulate Section 132 is true and hope to prove it.  In the latter case especially, irrational data (that which is accepted on faith rather than fact) cannot be avoided. 

            The only rational way to get to the truth of Section 132 is the scientific method – in other words, by secular methods and not spiritual necromancy. (See soon to be published, Mormon Polygamy, Virus of the Mind)

            True Believers are reluctant to go the secular route to find truth because what is bound to happen is not only that plural marriage and Mormonism, but religion in general, will be found to be an invention of man that exists only in the mind. 

            This does not mean there are no social redeeming values to religion.  On the contrary – religion has made the lives of millions more meaningful. My contention is with the prophets, popes, priests and clerics responsible for religious wars, torture, deception, murder, tyranny and the wholesale oppression of women. I deplore so-called pious men who are enriched by the tithes and alms of others. I rank men who use religion to beguile women for sexual pleasure among the most ruthless and loathsome criminals.  Men who merchandise plural wives are nothing more than “holy pimps.” These irrational atrocities have declined over the years in direct proportion to scientific based facts that contradict irrational beliefs, but atrocities are still a long way from being eradicated from the human condition as we plainly see in fanatical fundamentalism. 

            The human brain has evolved a spiritual component that some geneticists refer to as the “God Gene.”  Inherent spirituality (supernatural beliefs) helped our primitive ancestors make sense of the unknown, making life more survivable.  Consequently, ever since the beginning of recorded history, unsavory men claiming divine authority have exploited man’s predisposition for irrational beliefs.   

            A note to the apologists who believe the Pentateuch is the express word of God: You can’t bring the dead back to life. You can’t turn the clock back and restore dignity and respect.  You can’t undo the humiliation and pain suffered by pubescent Muslim girls during circumcision. I could go on and on but I think you get my point.  In my opinion, the atrocities outweigh the benefits of religion.  If religion had had its way we would still be living in the Dark Ages, still believing the world was flat.