Polygamy, Part 5

Shawn McCraney hosts "Heart of the Matter," a platform where Mormonism and Biblical Christianity interact, providing resources and discussions about faith, including online access to his book and various events to engage with biblical teachings. His ministry, Alathea, aims to reach, teach, and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ, focusing on sharing faith rather than attacking organized religion, and inviting those disillusioned by it to reconsider their belief in God as a foundation of faith.

Shawn emphasizes the importance of fostering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for everyone, including LDS members, by moving beyond rigid doctrines and practices, and warns against dogmatic attitudes prevalent in both LDS and radical Christian circles. He also reflects on the historical challenges of the LDS Church, particularly regarding polygamy and its prohibition, highlighting Wilford Woodruff’s 1890 manifesto to discontinue the practice due to legal pressures like the Edmunds-Tucker Act.

LDS Church leaders, including figures like Wilford Woodruff, have historically engaged in practices of deception, particularly related to the continuation of polygamous marriages, even after publicly testifying against such practices to enable Utah's statehood. These deceptions were not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader, tacitly accepted strategy within Mormonism to achieve certain religious and political goals, highlighting a recurring theme of misleading statements by early LDS prophets.

Mormonism often portrays an image of openness and honesty through public relations campaigns, yet there is a tendency to communicate selectively, holding back the complete truth, which is evident in both missionary work and media initiatives. This practice of saying one thing publicly and acting differently privately is ingrained in the Mormon lifestyle and communicated through their outreach efforts.