Episode 17: "She wasn't a wife for me": Polygamy in Mainstream Mormonism

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Polygamy has been a part of the Mormon church almost from the beginning. Current church policy prohibits the practice of marrying and living with multiple wives, although there are still men who are sealed to multiple women.

This episode is the story of a woman who grew up in mainstream Mormonism and how she and her husband searched for a way to practice the doctrine of the plurality of wives inside the dictates of the church and the law of the land.

Michelle will be watching the comments so she can respond to questions and discuss issues brought up in her story. 

As you leave comments, remember that Daughter of Mormonism seeks to provide a safe place for women to share their stories. This is a real story from a real person. Please see the Comment Policy for further details.

If you would like to learn more about polygamy in the early Mormon church, here are some resources.

Websites

• Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith 
• Family Search Record for Joseph Smith
• LDS.org entry for Polygamy (Plural Marriage)

Books

• Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery 
• In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Todd Compton 
• Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman

Podcasts

• Mormon Stories: Intro to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 1
• Mormon Stories: Intro to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 2
• Mormon Stories: Intro to Mormon Polygamy with Todd Compton Pt. 3
• Mormon Expression: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith 
• Mormon Expression: Book Club: Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith
• Mormon Expression: Polygamy Manifesto for Dummies Part 1 
• Mormon Expression: Polygamy Manifesto for Dummies Part 2 

Episode 16: Finding Her Everywhere: Symbols of the Divine Feminine

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Female Symbol

Asherah Statue

Recently we did a two part panel discussion about the Divine Feminine. As part of continuing this conversation, this podcast presents different symbols that can remind us of Goddess, Heavenly Mother, and the Female Divine.

In this episode, Jenni takes us on a tour of nature symbols, ancient goddess lore, and elements found inside of Mormonism.


If you have a symbol that helps you connect with the Divine Feminine, please share it in the comments.

Jenni will be watching the comments to answer questions or discuss issues raised in this discussion.

Maiden, Mother, Matriarch

Links on Symbolism & the Divine Feminine

• When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone
• Contemplating Mother Goddess from Mother Wheel by Jenni
• Nephi and His Asherah by Daniel Peterson  
• How to Worship Our Mother In Heaven (Without Getting Excommunicated) by Kevin Barney
• Sophia of the Proverbs at Mormon Matters by Bored in Vernal
• Serpent Mythology from Mother Wheel by RasJane

Episode 15: "Not in Conflict" — Jenni's Story

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Part of the aim of this podcast is to give voice to our stories as Daughters of Mormonism. This episode is an interview with Jenni, one of our panelists. She shares her journey through marrying a divorced man with a child, her miscarriages, and her integrated belief system of paganism and Mormonism.

Jenni will be watching the comments to answer questions or discuss issues raised in her interview.


Links from Jenni's interview:

• Integrated Path post on Jenni's Blog
• Mormon Stories Podcast on Masonry and Mormonism
• MO 2.0 Facebook Group 
• LDS WAVE: Women Advocating for Voice and Equality
• The Crunchy Mormon Forum (also "The Coven" inside that form)
• The Mother Wheel
• Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
• Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

Episode 14: "Replanting My Garden" — Heather's Story

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Part of the aim of this podcast is to give voice to our stories as Daughters of Mormonism. This episode is an interview with Heather, one of our panelists. She shares her experiences with unassisted childbirth, "lactivism," the garden of her testimony, and more.

Heather will be watching the comments to answer questions or discuss issues raised in her interview.

Links from Heather's interview:

• The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
• Applebee's Nurse In 
• Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding isn't Obscene (Official Petition to Facebook)
• Laura Shanley, author of Unassisted Childbirth
• Zelophehad's Daughters
• The Exponent
• Feminist Mormon Housewives
• Dance of the Dissident Daughter
• Mother Wove the Morning
• With Your Mutual Approbation

Heather's Blog Posts:

• Modesty and Breastfeeding 
• Breastfeeding in Church
• Margaret's Birth Story (also published in the book Simply Give Birth)
• Isaac's Birth Story
• Green Garment Campaign

Episode 13: Finding the Divine Feminine, Part II

PART II
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Art by Francene Hart

This is the second half of our panel discussion on the female divine. In this discussion, Sybil, Sara, Amelia, Juliane, Heather, and Katrina continue their conversation about Mother in Heaven, Heavenly Mother, Goddess, the Divine Feminine.

The panelists will be watching the comments to answer questions and discuss issues raised during the discussion.

If you have ideas for a second panel discussion on the Divine Feminine, please share your thoughts in the comments.

For resources and references, see Part I of this discussion.  

Episode 12: Finding the Divine Feminine, Part I

PART I
Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Francene Hart

In this panel discussion, you'll hear Sybil, Sara, Amelia, Juliane, Heather, and Katrina talk about Mother in Heaven, Heavenly Mother, Goddess, the Divine Feminine.

The panelists will be watching the comments to answer questions and discuss issues raised during the discussion.

Here are references and resources for this topic, several of which were cited or mentioned in the panel discussion.

• "A Mother There" A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven by David L. Paulsen and Martin Pulido
• Mormon Matters podcast Heavenly Mother in Today's Mormonism: Discussing the BYU Studies article "A Mother There"
• Review of Paulsen and Pulido's "A Mother There" by RT at Faith Promoting Rumor 
• Is There a Place for Heavenly Mother in Mormon Theology?: An Investigation into Discourses of Power by Margaret Toscano
• How to Worship Our Mother in Heaven (Without Getting Excommunicated) by Kevin L. Barney 
• God As Mother by Carrie A. Miles
• The Mormon Concept of a Mother in Heaven by Linda Wilcox
• The Genesis of Gender, or Why Mother in Heaven Can't Save You by Carrie A. Miles (followed by) If I Hate My Mother, Can I Love the Heavenly Mother? Personal Identity, Parental Relationships and Perceptions of God by Margaret Toscano
• Reflections On God The Mother by Julie Nicholes (followed by) Native American Concepts of a Mother in Heaven Bonnie Mitchelle (followed by) A Response by Suzanne Lundquist
• Feminist Episcopalian podcast: Circle Connections 
• Mother Wove the Morning by Carol Lynn Pearson
• Introduction from Mother Wove the Morning by Carol Lynn Pearson 
• Emerging Discourse on the Divine Feminine compiled by Maxine Hanks
• Personal Discourse on the God the Mother by Martha Pierce
• Daughters of God by Gordon B. Hinckley