Heart of the Matter: July 14, 2009 Broadcast

LIVE! From the “Mecca of Mormonism” Salt Lake City, Utah – THIS . . . is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. . . . “Where Mormonism Meets Biblical Christianity Face to Face.”

Streaming and New Initiatives

Show 28 Preface to Polygamy July 14th 2009

And I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host. If you have family or friends who cannot get Heart through television, give them a call and tell them to go to www.hotm.tv. They can watch through streaming video from anywhere in the world!

Now listen closely – our streaming video capabilities have truly been ramped up of late and we believe that we can handle tenfold the traffic we could before – with greater clarity and flow. We’ll make a deal with you – you tell everyone you know about the show and how they can watch it live through streaming and we’ll throw everything we’ve got in making it one of the most informative and entertaining programs on television today. Deal? www.hotm.tv

“I was a Born-Again Mormon” We are in back order getting hard copies back out in the stores, but we are offering the book in downloadable PDF form. Go to www.hotm.tv and you can have the book in your hands within minutes.

Upcoming Filming and Events

Now, please, listen up closely. We are in the process of creating a very important television program – a program that is going to reach out to teens who have been influenced by this world. And on Saturday, August first, at 8am, we are meeting at West High School in North Salt Lake City to film the show opener. That’s what will be played every week on the air at the start of the show. We MUST have at least a couple hundred teens present to make this show opener “work.” Please – if you own a teen, are trying to get rid of your teen, or love your teen to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. – get them to grab their friends and come join us. We’re asking them to dress in clothes that represent their style – you know, jocks, geeks, punks, wild men – whatever – but ONLY dress in gray, white, black or a combination of these colors. Please go to www.greygeneration.tv for more information. Sat. Aug. 1st 8am to 3pm.

Then mark thy calendars, friends, for Burning Heart 09 The Big Tent Revival Bands including Adams Road from Florida. Box Lunches from Subway. Cotton Candy Popcorn Big inflated slides for the kids. Booths for the adults. Baptism pool for any and all. When: Saturday Sept 5th 2009 Where: Sugarhouse Park Time: 5 to 8 pm Who: Everyone but disruptors Why: Worship, gather, meet and greet, and say goodbye to summer. This is an outreach to the lost and seeking. Come hear the Word preached.

Burning Heart 09 The Big Tent Revival Saturday, September 5th 5-8pm.

Community and Sharing Faith

I want to tell you all something from the bottom of my heart – I am a very blessed man, and I live a life that is full of abundant blessings – because of you. The Lord has placed me in a position to see and experience things that you couldn’t make up, you couldn’t buy, you couldn’t script.

Last Saturday we had an absolutely fantastic time at our second annual open water baptism up in Cache Valley. Around ninety people attended – from as far away as California and Cedar City – and seventeen were baptized NOT into a church, not in the name of a man, but because they have come to a true and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and wanted to publicly pronounce their desire to follow Him and be identified with Him. What a blessing. Join with me for a minute as we give you a brief photographic review of this fantastic day. (Show photos)

After the baptisms, we gathered at C & L’s home there in Cache Valley and enjoyed some wonderful food and fellowship. We thank C and L for their great support of the ministry and their love for people longing to know Jesus.

Then, yesterday, I was invited to go south to the Spanish Fork area and meet with three couples – six people – who have all been on a journey out of Mormonism in one way or another. Eldon, Jody, Doug, Arleen, Chris, and Launa. We met at this gorgeous home Chris had built and after talking for a while, went outside to a pool and I had the honor of baptizing each of them. I was told how some of them were ready to walk from religion altogether. I heard how some have suffered with questions and LDS facts for years. But Jesus has been received by each of them, abandon ship letters have been sent, and entire generations

Baptism at Logan

I have been thoroughly blessed to have been involved in the baptisms in Spanish Fork and Logan – it was such an honor – and each of you have a permanent place in my heart and memory. But there was one moment that struck true to the heart of this ministry.

After the last man had been baptized up in Logan, a young boy stood on the shore with a towel for him – for this man was his Dad. From the middle of the river, I said to the boy, “Well, are you coming out too?” He had a green mohawk running down the middle of his head and a smile that would melt the world. As a knee jerk response he replied, “No way.” I said, “Well, okay then.” Then all of a sudden he sort of jumped and with great exuberance said, “Okay, I want to!” And he came tromping out into the water. Now this boy is a boy after my own heart because he physically looked like I felt as a kid.

We took a minute out there in the water and I was able to speak with him about what he was doing – about accepting Jesus as the Lord and King of His life. I had him take a minute and look at all the people lined up on the railroad tracks watching him. I told him to look at them, and I explained to him that they were all there to witness to his public commitment to following Jesus – to His identifying himself with our Lord. He smiled brightly and said he was ready to take such a step.

A good friend of the ministry, another Shawn, who took all these wonderful photographs, sent me with this one with all the others which will forever be dear to my heart, to this ministry, and to our efforts of helping everyone know the True and Living God loves them just as they are.

Sunday Bible Study in Logan

At our Sunday Bible study in Logan the next day, this young man came with his family, carrying with him the Bible he was given at the river the day before. He was with his sister who had been baptized. He was with his father Tonn, who had been baptized, and his mother. The Lord is at work, my friends. I praise Him and Him alone.

And with that, let’s have a prayer.

The Doctrine of Mormon Polygamy

There is perhaps no issue that has more tenaciously attached itself to Mormonism past and present as that of their doctrine and practice of polygamy. And while we have discussed it before here on our program, our reviews were for the most part limited to the founding prophet Joseph Smith Jr. introducing it, secretly practicing it, and what happened to the women he had secretly wed after he died.

Tonight, we are going to embark on a much more extensive look at the LDS practice of polygamy and we’re going to pick it up from the death of Joseph Smith to the present.

I firmly believe two things can or will occur through our presentation of this information: first, I believe that the information we will cover will blow you away if you open your mind and just listen to the whole matter. Secondly, I personally think that if you are a female member of the church, you cannot, if you truly listen to the information presented, consciously continue to believe these LDS leaders were inspired by God in the construction of this practice, and therefore in the construction of most everything else that is at odds with God’s truth.

Thomas Hobbes, the great mind of ages past, once said something to the effect that, “organized religion is like a large bitter pill that if swallowed whole, it can cure many pains, but if chewed up and before being swallowed, it will only cause a person to regurgitate.”

We hope this information will cause you to chew on your religion before swallowing it whole, with the hopeful end being a wholesale regurgitation of such man-made beliefs.

There is always present the salacious but understandable idea that the primary purpose of Mormon polygamy was lust. I.e. men getting “lots o chicks.” I think this idea needs some clarification. Where Mormon polygamy may have been initiated by lust on the part of Joseph Smith (who once stated that “when.

The History of Polygamy in Early Mormonism

He looks upon a pretty woman he could only pray for grace”) the practice, by the time it became open and acceptable in Utah, was far more utilitarian – purposeful, pragmatic, and doctrinally based. In either case, women were treated as chattel. In Brigham Young and John Tayor’s Utah, polygamy was out in the open and even promoted as a means for an LDS man to reach a “greater state of glory,” Joseph Smith kept the practice hidden throughout his entire life, with the exception of sharing it only with those “who could bear it.”

Like many, many things LDS, Joseph publicly denied his ever having more than one wife while privately practicing it with at least thirty-three females . . . I say females because “women” would not be an appropriate title as Joseph secretly made female of all child-bearing ages his – including several teenagers. In order to keep the practice secret, Ebenezer Robinson, who was approached with the opportunity to embrace polygamy in Nauvoo, Illinois, said a secret location existed twelve miles outside of Nauvoo where impregnated plural wives were sent to be kept from the eyes of inquisitive gentiles.

And while Joseph didn’t restrict himself to only single women (he married a number of other men’s wives) not all women approached with the “advanced theological practice” accepted it from him. Orson Pratt, early church leader who was at one time married to one Sarah Pratt, who ultimately left Mormonism and Orson, was propositioned by Joseph Smith to become his wife while married to Pratt.

Accounts and Denials

In an 1886 interview she said: “Joseph used to state to his intended victims, as he did to me: ‘God does not care if we have a good time, if only other people do not know it.’” She continued: “He only introduced a marriage ceremony when he found out he could not get certain women without it . . . if any woman, like me, opposed his wishes, he used to say: ‘Be silent, or I shall ruin your character. My character must be sustained in the interest of the church.’”

If and when Joseph was confronted by those who wanted to investigate “the Principle,” as it came to be known, Joseph would vehemently deny it. On May 26th of 1844, Joseph said in a public response to accusations of his practicing polygamy: “William Law swears that I have committed adultery. I wish the grand jury would tell me who they (meaning his wives) are . . . I am quite tired of fools asking me. A man asked me if the commandment was given that a man may have seven wives . . . I am innocent of these charges . . . what a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, where I can only find one! I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago; and I can prove them all perjurers.”

When Joseph Smith made this public claim, it is true that he didn’t have seven wives – he had at least thirty three.

Public Acceptance in Utah

After Smith was killed, and the Saints headed west, Mormon polygamy began to break from the shadows and find acceptance under the desert sun. Like Jim Jones after him, who in the jungles of Guayana introduced his far fetched doctrines, Brigham Young, once he got the Saints secluded from the rest of civilization by 800 miles in any direction, made plural marriage THE standard for faithful living, for following the prophet, and for being obedient to God.

It all started becoming publicly accepted when in 1851 Brigham Young made his first public reference to the principle when he mentioned “his wives” from the pulpit. Travelers and gentiles passing through the territory would report seeing “unusual living arrangements” which ultimately lead the Mormons to finally admitting the practice more openly. Finally, in 1852, five years after the Mormons arrived in Salt Lake City, Joseph Smith Juniors official revelation on plural marriage – which he “received from God” in 1843 – was published and embraced openly.

Evolution of Doctrines

Now, an 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants has a revelation Joseph said he “received from God,” that actually condemned the practice of plural marriage and promoted monogamy. In time, however, this revelation from God was removed from the Doctrine and Covenants and replaced with Joseph’s more “advanced revelation on matrimony” which in my mind can be called the “lot’s O Chicks” doctrine.

So what really is behind the Lot’s-O-chicks doctrine found in Mormonism? Why this focus? What would drive a

Polygamy in Mormon Doctrine

From a male perspective, from my personal heart of flesh, polygamy might appear beneficial for the following reasons: It could make me feel powerful. It could keep me young and moving and virile. It could make me the center of attention to many females instead of one, which would stoke my pride. It could help me play God here on earth. It would give me variety in the flesh. I could pit different wives against each other to have my way. I could impregnate more women than one, again feeling more alive, powerful, and virile. I could corral them into a giant work force. I would not be beholden to any single female. I would be served.

However, as the father of three daughters, I have to say – what is the benefit to the females? Is this the way God would want any of His daughters to live? Would I recommend my daughters to get involved in such a set up?

Understanding Mormon Polygamy History

In order to fully understand Mormon polygamy, we have to go back a ways. Now this going back is really very important because if you understand how polygamy was ultimately justified doctrinally and theologically, you will also understand why Mormonism today – Salt Lake City Mormonism – has not apologized for the practice of the past, has not removed the doctrine in the present, and how it believes the doctrine has a place in the future of all faithful LDS men. Lot’s O chicks.

From a biblical perspective, monogamy is logical, not polygamy. In the beginning, God created heaven and the earth and from the earth, Adam. From Adam he formed one woman – Eve. Not two or three or fifty three – he formed one woman. Adam had a full rib cage left when God was done creating his mate.

Theologically, monogamy also makes sense within the confines of Bible believing Christians because New Testament Christianity makes it very clear that marriage is not necessarily the end all of human existence, but to know and serve the only true and living God.

New Testament Perspective on Marriage

Jesus set marriage in proper perspective when He said that people: Matthew 22:30 “. . .in the resurrection neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

In Luke 20 (34-35), he further shed light on the function and scope of marriage when He said: “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.”

In other words, while marriage is ordained of God, and is a good and permissible thing, according to Jesus, it is an institution for earth life and not part of post resurrection life.

Paul, who was single, added in 1st Corinthians 7:7-9 (listen, now):

1Co 7:7 “For I would that all men were even as I myself am. But each has his proper gift from God, one according to this manner and another according to that. I say therefore to the unmarried and the widows, “It is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.”

This biblical, Christian view of the earthly institution of marriage is far afield from the revised LDS view Joseph Smith presented. Where Jesus said the children of this world marry and are given in marriage, Mormonism makes marriage, in some senses, their god, the end-al, the highest state of human existence because it is only in this state that a person can become a God. This is the view that must be understood – on becoming a god – before we can truly reason with the practice and purpose of polygamy.

So next week, we are going to explain the LDS myths relative to the make-up of God, the pre-existence, the creation of spirit children, which will enable us to then understand practice of polygamy in Mormon history and the present doctrine about it WHICH REMAINS part of Mormonism today.

Let’s open up the phone lines –

(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20

Please, LDS callers. First time callers appreciated. Have your questions or comments ready. And let’s run a spot for our Partner’s Program. Be right back.

CONCLUSION

ANNOUNCE THE SHOOT!

Sat. Aug 1st 8am
What it is:
Who:
What to wear:
Need:
Lunch:

Now remember, if the Bible is true, Mormonism is a lie – you choose.

We’ll see you next week, here on Heart of the Matter.