DELETED SCRIPTURE: “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.” -excerpt from Doctrine and Covenants 101:4, 1835 edition. [source]
HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS: This was officially Mormon doctrine when polygamy was being practiced by Joseph Smith and other top leaders. Brigham Young publicly admitted that polygamy was an officially recognized and divinely approved practice in 1852, but this statement on marriage remained in the D&C for an additional 24 years. It was removed from the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876, just 14 years before the Church reversed its official policy to once again disallow polygamy. Yet this section is still missing from the D&C, while section 132, which allows for polygamy, still boldly declares that polygamy is endorsed by god.
COMMENTARY: The LDS Church may publish false doctrine, but thank god for a prophet who can tell us to believe in god’s only true doctrine, despite what’s in the scriptures. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
