Granted - context is everything -- when showing God meant "husband of one wife" in that case.
Duet 17
16 Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ 17
He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.
(
multiply.. as in "more than one" in the case of the wives". not "you must have none")
So then
Titus 1
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6
namely, if any man is above reproach,
the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Gen 2
“And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they
shall become one flesh. ” | Genesis 2:23-25
“Let the
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” | 1 Timothy 3:12
Cain was the father of the wicked in the book of Genesis - it is one of his wicked descendants that started the practice of polygamy.
Gen 4
17
Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. 18 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19
Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah
23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah,
Listen to my voice,
You wives of Lamech,
Give heed to my speech,
For
I have killed a man for wounding me;
And a boy for striking me;
24 If
Cain is avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
These are not "polygamy for all" texts.
IF I were talking with someone that did not read the Book of Mormon that might be confusing.
1. He did not even have the wives of Saul as his wives. All that was Saul's fell into David's hands at Saul's death but he treated them with respect not as "stolen wives" - but as friends.
2 Samuel 12:8 "I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s
wives into your care
Does not say " your master's wives to have as your own wife". Details matter.
=====================================
And for those who read the Book of Mormon:
Jacob 1:15
[
15] And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in
wicked practices, such as like unto David of old
desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.
=====================================
Would it be fair to say that LDS members don't actually read all of the BoM?
Jacob 2:24-29 states:
24 Behold,
David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines,
which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
25
Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
[
31] For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people,
because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
[
32] And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have
led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
[
33] For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
[
34] And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.
[
35] Behold,
ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and
the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.
=========================== begin quote D&C
Doctrine and Cov chpt 42:22 49:15-16
42:22
22 Thou
shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.
========================
So then are you really trying to resurrect the abomination of polygamy that your own BoM condemns??