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Robert Kirby: The eternal — and infernal — questions surrounding Mormon polygamy

Like many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a pioneer background, I am a byproduct of plural marriage. At last count, I have about 42 great-great-sister grandmas.

Not all of my Mormon ancestors indulged in the practice of taking multiple wives but enough defended it to the extent that they were willing to go to prison and even get shot for taking on extra wives.

Although aware of polygamy being a former church practice, I never gave it much thought. It didn’t seem to matter.

First, because my understanding was that only people worthy of going to the Celestial Kingdom would be permitted to practice it in the next life.