If God had sanctioned polygamy, he would not have thus directed Abraham to send away Hagar and her son. He would teach all a lesson in this, that the rights and happiness of the marriage relation are to be ever respected and guarded, even at a great sacrifice. Sarah was the first and only true wife of Abraham. She was entitled to rights, as a wife and mother, which no other could have in the family. She reverenced her husband, calling him lord; but she was jealous lest his affections should be divided with Hagar. God did not rebuke Sarah for the course she pursued. Abraham was reproved by the angels for distrusting God’s power, which had led him to take Hagar as his wife, and to think that through her the promise would be fulfilled. {1SP 98.2}

Dersom Gud havde sanktioneret flerkoneri, så ville han ikke således have befalet Abraham at sende Hagar og hendes søn bort. Heraf kunne vi alle lære, at det er Guds vilje at ægteskabets fred og rettigheder der respekteres og beskyttes, om end det koster megen opofrelse. Sara var Abrahams først og eneste sande hustru. hun havde rettigheder som hustru og moder, som ingen anden i familien kunne have. Hun ærede sin mand og kaldte ham herre; men hun var nidkær for at hans kærlighed ikke skulle deles mellem hende selv og Hagar. Gud irettesatte ikke Sara for den fremgangsmåde som hun fulgte. Abraham blev irettesat af Englene for sin mistillid til Guds magt, som havde ledt ham til at tage Hagar til hustru, og at tænke at forjættelsen ville blive opfyldt gennem hende.