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Question: If polygamy was commanded of God in order to "raise seed," then why were Adam and Noah not commanded to practice polygamy?
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Question: If polygamy was commanded of God in order to "raise seed," then why were Adam and Noah not commanded to practice polygamy?
We do not suspect that many marriage choices were available to Adam or Noah
Oddly enough, one critic of the Church actually asks the question: "If God commands polygamy in situations where a high birth rate is necessary, why is there no mention of God commanding Adam or Noah and/or their immediate male children to have many wives?"[1].
We do not suspect that many marriage choices were available to Adam (descendants from two individuals) and Noah (descendants from eight individuals).
With regard to their immediate children, we simply have no information to indicate whether or not they were commanded to practice plural marriage.
In any case, LDS doctrine in no way anticipates that plural marriage will be universal, or even common. It is, in fact, forbidden save when God specifically commands it.
Notes
- ↑ Jeremy Runnells, "Letter to a CES Director" (Original version). The author removed this claim in a 19 May 2014 update of the Letter.