Family Friday ~ Price Polygamy (part 1)

Matilda Kelsey and Robert Price

I am choosing Fridays to talk about my ancestors' Mormon lives to show their mindset when they decided to convert to Mormonism to better understand why they would even consider it. Plus, I think it might be a little therapeutic because I experienced a little anger and disappointment that my 2nd great-grandfathers would even consider polygamy let alone participate in it.

This good-looking couple is my 2nd great-grandparents. When I was a child my grandmother told me quite often that great-grandpa Price used to say about great-grandma, "You could walk the streets of London all day and never find a more beautiful woman." I always thought that was so sweet. When I got older it made me scratch my head a little trying to figure out why he would be so cruel to her and take multiple wives. She died young and I always blamed him because according to even his own writings, she was a frail woman and didn't really like the idea, but what's a young Mormon wife to do but remain obedient.

The following are excerpts from his biography:

Robert had long studied the principle and practice of plural marriage. Despite its clash with current beliefs, he found it amply sustained by the scriptures; and since it was accepted by the Church as a revelation and a commandment, he came to the conclusion, after prayerful consideration, that the Lord had a purpose in revealing it, and that it’s practice in good faith would serve a righteous purpose, though it may involve great trials, and tribulations.

Matilda was very hesitant on the subject, but she was also a faithful Latter-day Saint, and gave her consent. To her it was much easier, knowing Robert had selected Susannah Juchau, the girl who for years had been very close to them, to be his second wife. And once the decision was made, she felt it was completely right.-page 74

There were six years between Robert's first marriage in 1855 to my 2nd great-grandmother Matilda and his second marriage in 1862 to Susannah.

The institution of plural marriage had been a striking and dramatic test to him and both his wives. There had been moments of profound questioning of his own motives. There had been times when fear and doubt had arisen, particularly when he had contemplated his status as it would be regarded by his loved ones in England. Sometimes, he asked himself, could he face his father and justify his actions? Could he face his mother? There had been moments when he admitted it would be hard. Nevertheless, he had stood up to their opposition, as well as that of his brothers and sisters, and friends, in accepting the gospel, in coming to America. Plural marriage to him was part of the gospel. He had obeyed the principle in good faith and could face the world, regardless of its clash with traditional standards. It may not be for everyone, he reasoned, nor for every age, but it had a place in the eternal plan of life. It had a part in the revelation God had given to the world through Joseph Smith, the Prophet; and though outside the Latter-day Saint communities, a black and threatening storm was arising, he was willing to stand firm, facing with a clear conscience whatever difficulties may arise. -page 110

According to the Doctrine and Covenants which is a collection of divine revelations and inspired declarations, the reasons for the institutionalization of plural marriage in the church are as follows:

1. It is an Abrahamic test.
2. It is part of the restoration of all things.
3. It would serve to multiply and replenish the earth.
4. It would provide an opportunity for women to be married in the New and Everlasting Covenant (a requirement for exaltation) who would otherwise not have that opportunity.

The Doctrine and Covenants section 132, verse 34 says: God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises. 

Now this has me scratching my head because nowhere in the bible does it say that Abraham was commanded to take Hagar as a wife. That was all on Rebecca:

Genesis 16:1-3 

1.  Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3. And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

God definitely does not want men to have more than one wife. Check Deuteronomy 17:17

Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

Robert was proud of his second family. In his cogitations on the highly emotional subject of Plural Marriage, he was profoundly grateful for Susannah, who he felt was better qualified than any other woman he had ever known to live in the status of plural marriage with him and Matilda. It was no secret between the three that Matilda had regarded the sharing her husband with another woman as the most severe test she had ever had to meet. Yet once she had accepted the principle, Susannah was the one person who met her unconditional approval.-page 115

So wait, is he saying that he was proud of his second family because they were better at sharing a husband and father than his first wife?

Each wife had their own home where they took care of their own children. Between three wives they each had their own designated time with their husband and "on such matters there was a strict code —no exceptions, and no misunderstandings."

There is more I want to share about Grandpa Robert and his life of polygamy but it's going to have to keep for another day. 

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If you are an x-Mormon and have a testimony of how Jesus saved you from the grips of Mormonism please consider sharing your story to glorify God. Drop me a line at AwakeOSleeper@currently.com

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