Storm over the Mormons - for Non-Mormons

[Autodidact]

Bear in mind that Salt Lake County wasn't the only area with Mormons at the time. It was common practice for the men to be assigned to a colony city as far away as California, Mexico, and even Canada. The practice was so prevalent that it took the Utah War (also known as Buchanon's Blunder) to have everyone recalled to the Salt Lake area, though once it was over "colonization" happened again but at a reduced level.

It was even a somewhat common practice for men to go on a mission, come back home for a little while then go right back out.

Now granted, I wasn't around back then so I can't say for sure just what was going on with marriage practices, ratios, standards, and whatnot. All I can say is that it was a different time and things were quite different.

And what bearing would any of this speculation have on the question before us?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And what bearing would any of this speculation have on the question before us?

I suppose if a large number of men make their permanent residence in, say, Salt Lake County but spend long periods of time away on missions, they'd be reflected in the census while being generally unavailable for marriage to women in the Salt Lake area.

 

[Katzpur]

One point nobody has mentioned is that when polygamy was at its height, only about 5% of all LDS men had more than one wife and only a very small number had more than two or at the very, very most three wives. It's not as if it was all that widely practiced. Some 95% of LDS men never had any more than one wife.

 

[Autodidact]

That is the case in most polygamous societies, polygamy is permitted, but few men are able to practice it. Generally, those at the top of the social hierarchy get the most wives.

 

[Duck]

Well, it says that this commandment (monogamy) would be the case unless the Lord decided to "raise up seed unto me." This would suggest it is primarily for reproductive purposes.

Really? Cause what I got out of that was that monogamy was the only game in town, and if there needed to be more babies they would all be immaculately conceived...

 

[Katzpur]

Really? Cause what I got out of that was that monogamy was the only game in town, and if there needed to be more babies they would all be immaculately conceived...

LOL! We don't do that immaculate stuff. That's no fun at all.