Why We’ve Opened Our Doors For Polygamy USA

[cbayer]

Last edited Mon May 20, 2013, 11:11 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/sexandgender/7114/why_we_ve_opened_our_doors_for_polygamy_usa/

May 19, 2013
By CLAUDE CAWLEY
Claude Cawley is a spiritual leader in Centennial Park, Arizona. He has a Doctorate degree in Education from the University of Utah. Claude is an educator and businessman with a passion for his faith, family and community.

While the vast majority of Mormons belong to the LDS Church, which renounced polygamy at the end of the 19th century, a number of independent groups have since broken from the Church over various doctrinal differences—including plural marriage. “Polygamy, USA,” which debuted on the National Geographic Channel earlier this month [Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT], follows the fundamentalist Mormons of Centennial Park, Arizona, population 1,500. The following commentary from Centennial Park spiritual leader Claude Cawley does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of RD. –eds



Anyone who makes an in-depth study of Mormonism would know that there is a very extensive body of material explicating the doctrines and tenets that Joseph Smith revealed. Certainly, the basic ideals of Christianity are part of these, but Joseph Smith also advocated many things that go beyond common Christian tradition.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or mainstream Mormon Church, has abandoned or severely modified many of these things, including the practice of plural marriage, the practice of communal living (called the United Order), the wearing of the garments as outlined by Joseph Smith, and the preservation of original temple ordinances recorded by Brigham Young from those taught by Joseph Smith. People in Centennial Park, Arizona. are striving to preserve plural marriage and many other tenets from Joseph Smith, including the authority he received to perform ordinances. Most other organizations have perverted or abandoned these things.

The creation of Centennial Park is an outcome of events that have occurred over nearly 130 years. The community strives to function in the original tradition of the Mormon fundamentalist movement that began in 1886. That era marked the height of Congress’s movement against the LDS Church over the Church’s practice of plural marriage. Through these years, offshoots from the movement’s original group of people have occurred, many of them claiming to be the genuine movement. We believe that the practices of Centennial Park are more true to the original movement than any of these other groups, including the FLDS, or Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which during the leadership of Warren Jeffs became the most prominent of these offshoots represented in the media. The intent of gathering in Centennial Park is to preserve and practice the principles established by Joseph Smith, when he originated the LDS Church.

more at link

[Jim__]

1. Link?

[cbayer]

2. Drat, I did it again. Sorry about that - edited to add.

[Jim__]

3. thanks.

[hrmjustin]

4. I hate when I do that.

I post in the New York room a lot and I sometimes forget the link.

[cbayer]

5. It generally happens to me when I post before my coffee, lol.

[dimbear]

6. Polygamy isn't the problem. Child abuse is the problem. If your prospective mate

is fully mature, marry as often as you like. Remember the old Mormon proverb, ladies, half a man is better than none. Men, leave the children alone.

[Lordquinton]

7. Can women marry multiple men?

Are all the people tied to each other? or is it just one man and however many wives he can get?

[cbayer]

8. It's just plural wives, but that's an interesting question.

[LostOne4Ever]

9. So long

So long as both men and women have equal rights to multiple marriages (ie group marriage) and it does not lead to child abuse like it does with the flds, then im fine with it.

If its men or women only, or if it leads to child abuse then thats not right.