Polygamy in Colorado City Arizona

¶ … polygamy with specific reference to its practice in the city of Colorado Arizona. Polygamy is defined as the practice of keeping one or more wives at one time, the history and studies regarding polygamy signifies the fact that early leaders used to keep one or more wives at one time, ordinary individuals also adopted this practice. Hence, polygamy became a custom and a rule in many countries of the world. The facts regarding polygamy practices state "Polygamy has been practiced by mankind for thousands of years. Many of the ancient Israelites were polygamous, some having hundreds of wives. King Solomon (peace be upon him) is said to have had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. David (Dawood) had ninety-nine and Jacob (Yacub, peace be upon them both) had four. Advice given by some Jewish wise men state that no man should marry more than four wives. No early society put any restrictions on the number of wives or put any conditions about how they were to be treated." http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations/womeninislam/polygamy.html

The researches and historical evidences prove the fact that polygamy is regarded as getting married to one or more spouses at one time. It is a marital practice and should be differentiated from the idea of multiple affairs, which means that if a man has one or more wives than he is known to be a polygamist whereas keeping one or more partners without marriage is not regarded as polygamy. The paper will define the practice of polygamy in Colorado; Arizona.According to the relative evidences and detail we can find out that the people belonging to Colorado practiced polygamy because of the following advantages:

Polygamy removes the pressure on a husband to commit adultery, and removes damaging deceit from a marriage.

Polygamy provides a method where a woman can have a female friend for life as well as a husband.

Polygamy therefore provides more people and a better chance of meeting diverse needs.

Polygamy provides a potential for at least three adult incomes, reducing state dependence and the fear of unemployment." http://www.polygamy.com/Practical/Practical-Aspects-of-Polygamy.htm

Before the period of 1880 the people of Colorado practiced polygamy as they thought it to be an effective act to safeguard the rights of the women. But later on, the authorities and the religious leaders of Colorado started condemning these practices. Because, it destroyed the future of many young girls. Inspite of saving the rights of women polygamy deprived the young girls of their rights as a woman. Further, it has been noticed and observed that the young women, who were made the wives of males, were not given proper treatments from their husbands and they were completely dominated by them. This pressure gave rise to many problems with in the society and thus strong protests were made in the Colorado city against the act of polygamy.

POLYGAMY IN THE CITY OF COLORADO, ARIZONA:

During the 1860's, several Mormon families came to Short Creek to build a community. The town was known as Short Creek because of a nearby stream that sank into the sand before it had traveled very far. It wasn't until 1890, when the community became a topic of conversation. The Mormon Church declared that polygamy was no longer tolerated. This stand was made, in order to help gain statehood for Utah.

A group of religious fundamentalists from Utah were unhappy with the decree and began a search for refuge. They found Short Creek. Short Creek also had the community of Hilldale, Utah just across the border. These two towns held onto the same religious beliefs." http://www.arizonan.com/ColoradoCity/

Gradually the religious authorities and leaders observed the situation then they realized that these problems were the result of polygamy; therefore they raised objections on this practice and banned this act of polygamy. In order to feed one or more wives a man should have financial resources which could help them to fulfill these responsibilities, the information regarding the city of Colorado points out that men of the society were not capable of feeding one or more wives and hence, the women suffered a lot in this society where the act of polygamy was encouraged.

When John Taylor became (the third) President of the Mormon Church in 1880, there was a spirit of revolt among its members against polygamy. The Church had accepted polygamy in 1852 as a law pertaining to salvation in heaven, but the price of salvation became very high for the majority of the members. The desire for statehood was uppermost in the hearts of many members of the church, polygamist and non-polygamist as well. When John Taylor became (the third) President of the Mormon Church in 1880, there was a spirit of revolt among its members against polygamy. The Church had accepted polygamy in 1852 as a law pertaining to salvation in heaven, but the price of salvation became very high for the majority of the members. The desire for statehood was uppermost in the hearts of many members of the church, polygamist and non-polygamist as well." http://utahbooks.com/polygamists_of_colorado_city_2.htm

Keeping in view all the related problems and difficulties, the religious leaders raised objections to stop individuals from keeping one or more wives. They held meetings to discuss these problems in detail and they finally found out the solution that the individuals living in the Colorado city should stop this act of polygamy because it was a serious threat to the survival of the women of their society. Such actions and restrictions rsetricted the individual of the city to end these practices and to consider the rights of the women. Finally, it so happened that the number of polygamists began to decrease gradually, and the women gained their original position in the society.