Comments on: And we multiplied exceedingly http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/ Defending Mormonism Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:07:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Keller http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/#comment-184 Keller Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:19:42 +0000 http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/#comment-184 Steven, Thanks for challenging my theory that tries to resurrect the quantitative argument. By being selective about choosing favorable statistics, my analysis could be skewing the big picture and there is always the correlation-is-not-necessarily-causation factor that is difficult to deal with. I don't think my views that polygamy increased Mormon posterity more than monogamy would have will gain much traction. I think the Book of Mormon command of monogamy had the effect of increasing Nephite posterity. I think polygamy would have accentuated an elite class of Nephites that controlled most of the resources (women and riches) which can result in inefficient use of those resources and reduce posterity. The other part of polygamy is the Solomon factor. As Nephites were intermarrying with other cultures, too many foreign wives would have assimilated them quicker into a corrupt culture, whereas monogamy helped preserve their identity. In contrast, the elite Utah class, used their status to serve and bless the other classes, through leadership work or through the redistribution of wealth as polygamists married the fatherless and poor arriving immigrants. Steven,

Thanks for challenging my theory that tries to resurrect the quantitative argument. By being selective about choosing favorable statistics, my analysis could be skewing the big picture and there is always the correlation-is-not-necessarily-causation factor that is difficult to deal with. I don’t think my views that polygamy increased Mormon posterity more than monogamy would have will gain much traction.

I think the Book of Mormon command of monogamy had the effect of increasing Nephite posterity. I think polygamy would have accentuated an elite class of Nephites that controlled most of the resources (women and riches) which can result in inefficient use of those resources and reduce posterity. The other part of polygamy is the Solomon factor. As Nephites were intermarrying with other cultures, too many foreign wives would have assimilated them quicker into a corrupt culture, whereas monogamy helped preserve their identity.

In contrast, the elite Utah class, used their status to serve and bless the other classes, through leadership work or through the redistribution of wealth as polygamists married the fatherless and poor arriving immigrants.

]]> By: Steven Danderson http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/#comment-182 Steven Danderson Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:23:31 +0000 http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/#comment-182 Such population growth doesn't require polygamy. A market economy with laws guaranteeing property rights begets wealth, which begets longer life, which begets more kids (up to a point; at the affluence of modern-day western Europe and North America, fertility decreases because more kids aren't as needed.). The end result, of course, is a faster-than-normal population growth, which, over centuries, leads to "multitudes." See http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/Adding_Up_the_Book_of_Mormon_Peoples.html Such population growth doesn’t require polygamy. A market economy with laws guaranteeing property rights begets wealth, which begets longer life, which begets more kids (up to a point; at the affluence of modern-day western Europe and North America, fertility decreases because more kids aren’t as needed.). The end result, of course, is a faster-than-normal population growth, which, over centuries, leads to “multitudes.” See http://www.fairlds.org/Book_of_Mormon/Adding_Up_the_Book_of_Mormon_Peoples.html

]]> By: david littlefield http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/#comment-177 david littlefield Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:30:31 +0000 http://www.fairblog.org/2008/01/21/and-we-multiplied-exceedingly/#comment-177 I am going to let you work out the polygamy stuff with the feminist. But, Thank You for the great insight regarding the usage of the phrase "we multiplied exceedingly" originating from the Abrahamic Covenant. I need to take a closer look at this. Thanks, -David Littlefield I am going to let you work out the polygamy stuff with the feminist.

But, Thank You for the great insight regarding the usage of the phrase “we multiplied exceedingly” originating from the Abrahamic Covenant. I need to take a closer look at this.

Thanks,

-David Littlefield

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