मॉरमॉन समुदाय में, इस दुनिया की चीज़ें हमेशा से पारलौकिक चीज़ों के साथ-साथ महत्वपूर्ण रही हैं, क्योंकि इस दुनिया और परलोक में मुक्ति को अंतहीन विकास की एक ही निरंतर प्रक्रिया के रूप में देखा जाता है। ज़ीयोन (परमेश्वर का राज्य) का निर्माण, यानी धरती पर भगवान के वास्तविक राज्य का निर्माण, का अर्थ धार्मिक और आर्थिक मूल्यों की एकरूपता रहा है: राज्य के दैनिक मामलों में, लेटर-डे सेंट (मॉरमॉन) के धर्मग्रंथ एकता, कल्याण और आर्थिक स्वतंत्रता का आह्वान करते हैं।
Among the Mormons, things temporal have always been important along with things eternal, for salvation in this world and the next is seen as one and the same continuing process of endless growth. Building Zion, a literal Kingdom of God on earth, has therefore meant an identity of religious and economic values: in the daily affairs of the Kingdom, Latter-day Saint scriptures call for unity, welfare, and economic independence.
Among the Mormons, things temporal have always been important along with things eternal, for salvation in this world and the next is seen as one and the same continuing process of endless growth. Building Zion, a literal Kingdom of God on earth, has therefore meant an identity of religious and economic values: in the daily affairs of the Kingdom, Latter-day Saint scriptures call for unity, welfare, and economic independence.
एक मॉरमॉन ने अपनी जीवनसंगिनी से यह सवाल पूछा, तो उसने बिना किसी लाग-लपेट के दो टूक जवाब दिया, 'अच्छा जोडी—तुम दूसरी पत्नी ले आओ और मैं दूसरा पति ले आऊँगी!'
One Mormon raised the question with his spouse, who minched no words in replying, 'All right Jody - you get another wife and I'll get another husband!'
One Mormon raised the question with his spouse, who minched no words in replying, 'All right Jody - you get another wife and I'll get another husband!'
1841 और 1846 के बीच बहुविवाह प्रथा में लाए गए पुरुषों की प्रतिक्रिया ज़रा भी उत्साहजनक नहीं थी। यही बात उन महिलाओं के भी सच थी जिन्हें बहुविवाह में पत्नी बनने का विकल्प दिया गया था। इस तथ्य के अलावा कि यह नई व्यवस्था उनके उन नैतिक संस्कारों से टकराती थी जिनके बीच वे बड़ी हुई थीं, इसमें कई ऐसी व्यावहारिक कठिनाइयाँ थीं जो बहुविवाह को कम आकर्षक बनाती थीं। पुरुषों के लिए अतिरिक्त पत्नियों का भरण-पोषण करना कभी भी आसान नहीं था।
The response of the men who were introduced into polygamy between 1841 and 1846 was anything but enthusiastic. The same was true of the women who were offered the chance of becoming plural wives. Apart from the fact that the new system collided with moral assumptions they had grown up with, there were practical difficulties that made polygamy less attractive. For the men to support additional wives was seldom easy.
The response of the men who were introduced into polygamy between 1841 and 1846 was anything but enthusiastic. The same was true of the women who were offered the chance of becoming plural wives. Apart from the fact that the new system collided with moral assumptions they had grown up with, there were practical difficulties that made polygamy less attractive. For the men to support additional wives was seldom easy.