Does Warren Jeffs practice the same polygamy as Joseph Smith? | with Brian Hales

**If you’re unfamiliar with the LDS Church’s previous practice of polygamy, it might be useful to read this article before watching this video: http://bit.ly/3Emt4fx **

We’re so grateful for Brian Hales, one of our favorite scholars, for sharing his research with us today on the differences in FLDS polygamy and Joseph Smith polygamy.

2:42 - Brian begins the episode by talking about the new and everlasting covenant of marriage as found in the Doctrine and Covenants and how the interpretation of marriage and polygamy differs between the FLDS church and the LDS church.

5:42 - Brian discusses the sealing ordinance and the authority to perform the ordinance. In the LDS Church, we believe that the president of the Church holds the keys of the sealing ordinance.

9:42 - Brian contrasts the actions of Joseph Smith and Warren Jeffs (the leader of the FLDS Church). In LDS temples, no sexual activity is performed. In FLDS temples, the progression throughout the temple leads to sexual activity.

15:20 - Brian talks about how the emphasis on sexuality started with Warren Jeffs.

16:46 - The FLDS Church and the LDS Church have different ideas of the Law of Consecration (or giving all that one has to the Church).

17:47 - Brian discusses the Law of Placement, as practiced in the FLDS Church. This law chooses whom marries whom and there can be no dispute.

19:05 - In the FLDS Church, Warren Jeffs has significant control over the sexuality of the members of the church (specifically if they are allowed sexual relations with their spouse), unlike Joseph Smith’s teachings. He also talks about how the FLDS Church emphasizes the importance of many wives, which was not emphasized by Joseph Smith.

21:45 - Brian talks about Joseph Smith’s marriage to Helen Kimball, a teenage girl. There was no evidence that Joseph Smith was ever with Helen Kimball, only that he was married to her (see this video:    • Joseph Smith married a 14-year-old???...  ). In contrast, Warren Jeffs married many teenage girls and even consummated the marriages. Warren Jeffs’ interest in sex seems to be the emphasis for plural marriage, very unlike the plural marriage of Joseph Smith.

24:00 - Historically, marriage has been a means of survival. But as time has progressed, into the 18th-20th centuries, marriage has been more romantic. In the time of Joseph Smith, there was still an idea of marriage being more of a covenant that one keeps.

27:00 - Find more info about Joseph’s sealing to married women from this video:    • Did some of Joseph Smith's wives prac...  

29:58 - Brian explains how one should navigate the information circulating about Joseph Smith’s polygamy and polygamy in the FLDS Church.

Follow more from Brian Hales:
Mormon Fundamentalism: https://mormonfundamentalism.com/
Joseph Smith Polygamy: https://josephsmithspolygamy.org/
Mormon Polygamy Documents: https://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/

For more about polygamy from Saints Unscripted, watch the videos in this playlist:    • Mormon Polygamy (LDS Polygamy)  

Watch our other interviews with Brian Hales below!!
Mormon Polygamy Scholar Stays in the Church:    • Did some of Joseph Smith's wives prac...  
Did Joseph Smith take psychedelic drugs?    • Did some of Joseph Smith's wives prac...  
Being Transparent about Polygamy:    • Being Transparent about Mormon Polyga...  

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