What are “concubines” in the Book of Mormon?

Thomas R. Valletta

“Anciently [concubines] were considered to be secondary wives, that is, wives who did not have the same standing in the caste system then prevailing as did those wives who were not called concubines. There were no concubines connected with the practice of plural marriage in this dispensation, because the caste system which caused some wives to be so designated did not exist” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 154–55). During the time period of the Book of Mormon, the Lord made it clear through His servant Jacob that having concubines was not approved.

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