Obviously Brigham had to be aware of this, since his marrying 50 wives would leave 49 men 49 fewer women eligable for marriage. Then he has the audacity to preach that any man not married by a certain age is a menace to society. What an asshat.

Thanks for the comment, and for putting that quote in better context. I agree with your point (if I got it right), that the actual practice of polygamy was not necessary if there was no opportunity for a person to practice it. I was hoping that the last part of the quote I used (”because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them”) would indicate that rationale for his statement. I think the same idea exists today in the Church with respect to temple marriage.

-PWM

I just thought I’d add in the entire quote from Brigham Young (the first one you reference) since this one often gets taken out of context:

“We wish to obtain all that father Abraham obtained. I wish here to say to the Elders of Israel, and to all the members of this Church and kingdom, that it is in the hearts of many of them to wish that the doctrine of polygamy was not taught and practiced by us…It is the word of the Lord, and I wish to say to you, and all the world, that if you desire with all your hearts to obtain the blessings which Abraham obtained, you will be polygamists AT LEAST IN YOUR FAITH, or you will come short of enjoying the salvation and the glory which Abraham has obtained. This is as true as that God lives. You who wish that there were no such thing in existence, if you have in your hearts to say: “We will pass along in the Church without obeying or submitting to it in our faith or believing this order, because, for aught that we know, this community may be broken up yet, and we may have lucrative offices offered to us; we will not, therefore, be polygamists lest we should fail in obtaining some earthly honor, character and office, etc,”—the man that has that in his heart, and will continue to persist in pursuing that policy, will come short of dwelling in the presence of the Father and the Son, in celestial glory. The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them.” (emphasis added)
Brigham Young, “Remarks by President Brigham Young, in the Bowery, in G.S.L. City,” (19 August 1866) Journal of Discourses 11:268-269.

It seems that Brigham was not necessarily requiring everyone PRACTICE polygamy as a pre-req for exaltation, but rather was requiring assent to the teaching on principles of general obedience to Priesthood authority.

Which is a good thing, since the vast majority of Mormon settlers in Deseret were not polygamous and not in a position to ever become so. Brigham had to be aware of this.

Just thought I’d add that in.