My Goodness, WashiChiisai! eek How could you still feel stupid? Look at the number of fellow members that have answered differently than each other! There is a LOT that we do not know about the church, especially church history.

NOW, okay, the Questions...


WashiChiisai
(1) Did Joseph Smith have one wife? Or did he have more? I thought he only married Emma. If he only married Emma then where do antimormons get the idea he had more? Or are they just mixing up Brigham Young and Joseph Smith?


Yes, Joseph Smith did have plural wives besides his beloved Emma. Some of these lived with Emma and Joseph, with Emma's permission.

Quote:
An example of what at times is Emma's receptive awareness of Joseph's marriages is found in his marriage to Melissa Lott, which occurred not in secret but in the presence of her parents and with Emma's consent and permission. Emma also gave permission for Joseph to marry Emily and Eliza Partridge and permitted them to live in the Smith home. While this instance was an after-the-fact approval, she not only selected them but lived with them. There is still no secret. When the Partridge sisters moved out at Emma's request, the Lawrence sisters, whose marriages to Joseph were approved by Emma, continued to live in the Smith home.

Lucy Walker, seeing the challenges that Emma faced in accepting plural marriage, chose to remain silent about her marriage to Joseph, but she noted a number of other marriages that Emma was well aware of and consented to, saying that Emma "was well aware that [Joseph] associated with them as wives... This is proven by the fact that [Emma] herself, on several occasions, kept guard at the door to prevent disinterested persons from intruding, when these ladies were in the house."

While Emma at times did indeed have difficulty accepting plural marriage, she did not have the authority to override what God had given and commanded. In these instances, the principle and practice of plural marriage went on in spite of her feelings to the contrary and Joseph was allowed to proceed without her consent. Joseph delicately balanced his obligation to fulfilling God's commands while doing his best to preserve the tender feelings of a wife whom he loved. There can be little blame for Emma's jealous guard over Joseph. Emily Partridge expressed sympathy in 1883 for the trials of plural marriage that Emma endured and noted that her feelings were no different than anyone else's had they been in a similar situation, with it ultimately being a matter for the Lord to judge

(from Mormonism 201 on the FAIR website http://www.fairlds.org/Mormonism_201/m20117b.html)

Some did not live with them at all. And some were likely only sealed to him "for eternity" and NOT "for time." That is they would have part of those blessings in Heaven but not be a "wife" as we might think of it. (A lot of long time Mormon Pioneers might find such connections in your own genealogy, but it is VERY unlikley that you will find any actual biological decent unless you are under EMMA)

Remember, while we don't know the details of how it all worked for them, we do know that God-Allowed Polygomy was *not* about sex.

Quote:
They cannot understand it, because they are governed by their passions, and not by principles; and it is the hardest thing in the world for them to be convinced that this people are governed by principle...The world of mankind may soon know that God is with us, and that he is at the helm, that he is the founder of this work, and that the women as well as the men are the best upon the earth, and that we are determined to live and be governed by principle and not passion. ~Erastus Snow, 1857.


I do not believe we can nessicarily say the same for the polygamy of modern day apostates.


WashiChiisai
(2) Have temple ceremonies changed in any significant way?

Yes. I do not know all about it, but I know my roommates' parents had a very hard time when it first changed and almost left the church. Also, I asked my mom about it. (I am endowed, by the way, and so have had the chance to ask things I won't discuss here. You can get an answer to just about ANYTHING about the temple by asking a temple worker while IN the Temple, just don't be shy. You can learn a lot.) But some things I CAN say are these: Some of the wording has been made simpler and clearer. Some things have been made easier to do for those who are old or handicapped. (Like there used to be much more kneeling and standing.) And because for some a trip to the temple is so rare, geographically, ceremonies that used to be much longer and spread out over days is done shorter and at the same time.

But here is the thing... THE BLESSINGS ARE THE SAME. The physical details may have been changed for different reasons, but the purpose and magnificance of the temple has not been altered ONE BIT.

WashiChiisai
I've heard some really weird things that made me double take about temple ceremonies ... but I'm afraid to ask my parents (they get angry when I read nonmormon literature that talks about Mormonism).

I am totally with your parents on this one. Take notice of the way that literature and those websites make you feel. Hollow. Yucky. A lot of the INFORMATION there is true... but presented in a twisted yucky way. If you wanted to know what your friend wanted for her birthday, would you ask her enemy? No way. Go to the source.

Also, if you have any questions that you are not sure are appropriate to ask, especially in public, feel free to PM me. I may say I do not know. I may say I can't tell you. I may say ask your bishop. Or I may answer, if it is appropriate. Just depends on the question.

WashiChiisai
(3) Why is the church doing stuff with the malls in downtown salt lake? It doesn't make sense to me.


I know this is old, but the reason they did it was to offer those around the Temple area a safe haven, a nice place to walk around and not be chased by stupid protestors. They bought land, they made it like a park/walkway . It is nothing too nefarious, I promise. ANd they made some exhibits of interest in close buildings. They just made the area AROUND the temple a little nicer, safer, more peaceful place... sort of prepares you spiritually before even entering the grounds. I like it! mrgreen