gizzy2000 said:

Something I'm curious about, and I hope I don't offend you because this is a genuine question, but how is the history of polygamy in the church (and with Joseph Smith specifically) viewed by mormons today?

I know that mormons don't practice this now, and I'm not accusing anyone of that, but I'm curious about how it is viewed by the church. Like, does the church say that it's wrong now but it wasn't back then, or do they condemn it altogether, even in the case of Joseph Smith? etc. etc.

No offense taken. We certainly acknowledge it as a practice. We believe it was divinely inspired for a temporary period of time, but that most of the time it is contrary to the commandments of God. We now oppose it, and any practitioner today is swiftly excommunicated.

EDIT: Oh, I should add that some have a hard time coming to grips with it. My wife, for instance, really doesn't like the idea that it was ever practiced. But historical record is clear: it was.

Also, it is worth noting that for a long time, the Community of Christ, formerly called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (second largest, though substantially smaller, branch in the LDS movement) spent years denying it was ever practiced. I am not sure if they still do, but if they have changed their tune, it would only be a recent thing. But they honestly are pretty prone to gloss over our common movement's history while we are more willing to embrace it, the good and the bad and the ugly.