Really? (That's suppose to be breaking news that politicians, govt officials & the media are hypocritical? What? You're telling us that our "idols" are fallen creatures? Oh, no, I'm heartsick & crestfallen & can bear no more "bad news" today. Please refrain.) /sarc off
Or a married person using prostitutes?..
Pssst. ("y - e - a - h y - o - u" [I whisper] I didn't want to embarrass you in front of everybody, but just wanted to make sure you understand that prostitution is illegal & if caught in the act, johns are arrested & even in some localities, their names & pictures are posted in newspapers or online for extra embarrassment sake)
...how much worse is polygamy than a philandering husband ...
Since I would venture that a small % of polygamists haven't jump-started their "homy" harem until their wives were of legal age, then in these polygamy IS "a philandering husband"--only in this case, it's putting a religious veneer on it to sanction it and export it for others to buy into it. (So I think it's always worse when folks try to dress up & "pretty-fy" something that it's not for sake of justification)
I think non-Mormonfolk should actually take the time to go and read the mainstream & fundamentalist Mormons' justification for polygamy. And what they need to do is to look very closely for the word "Emma" to pop up. (I mean here we have old testament figures like David, Joseph, Isaac, Abraham, Solomon, Moses mentioned [Even though Joseph & Isaac weren't polygamists & Moses likely married serially & not simulteously & Solomon's 1,000 partner escapades is hardly worth emulating, etc.], and all of a sudden we see "Emma.")
Who's Emma? Well, "Emma Smith" pops up three times in verses 51-54: Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice. And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God." (D&C 132:51-52)
(I find it interesting after this last phrase was inserted into the Lord's mouth, that Joseph Smith was dead less than a year later)
And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law." (D&C 132:54)
It's pretty obvious that Joseph & Emma had already been going at it verbally before this came down the pike, and that Emma had already threatened a "tit for tat" arrangement. What? You can have many wives? (Then I can take many husbands!)
In fact, verse 55 which mentions "she" (Emma), verse 56, which mentions "mine handmaid", and then v. 63 which says that if a plural woman sleeps with another man she has committed adultery, are all aimed at Emma as well.
D&C 132, pure & simple, was an apologetic written for one person, Emma Smith, masquerading as a religious revelation for all for all time: For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory...Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain this glory. (D&C 132:4,21)
If you want to know why the fundamentalist Mormons will never willingly give up household polygamy, it's right here. If you want to know why their cousins, the mainstream Mormons will never give up temple ritual polygamy and celestial polygamy and temple ritual proxy polyandry, it's also right here.
HOW on earth can an entire religion get started this way?
Talk about BLIND faith!
Talk about a CRANK phone call!