Smith explained that spiritual wifery was the practice. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. Brodie went on and on about buell, talking about the timing and the picture everything seems to indicate buell was joseph smith s son. Please note that supportive evidence for each of these sealings varies, with some being highly reliable and others based upon a single attestation or sources of lesser credibility. The diaries and journals of joseph smith salt lake city. While jfs had collected records of over a hundred affidavits attesting to the reality and circumstances of joseph smith jr. The plural wives of joseph smith compton, signature books, salt lake city, 1997. What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when i can. In conclusion, though it is possible that joseph had some marriages in which there were no sexual relations, there is no explicit or convincing evidence for this except, perhaps, in the cases of the older wives, judging from later mormon polygamy. Books archives online store joseph smith foundation store.
Currently, historians disagree as to the number of plural wives which smith had and their names. Did joseph smith have sexual relations with wives other than emma. In recent years, the church acknowledged that joseph smith wed as many as 40 wives, some as young as age 14. Understandably, it is difficult to remain neutral when faced with the fact that joseph smith took at least thirty women as wives, that he physically consummated many. Oct 05, 2009 joseph smith s life an authentic religious genius joseph smith, founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, has been described by professor harold bloom as an authentic. Two chapters on plural marriage with fifteen others on controversies in lds doctrine and church history. No record exists of the exact date of the marriage or the giftgiving of the watch. The plural wives of joseph smith signature books, 1997 788 pages, cloth, isbn 156085085x. Citing the book of mormon, smith ended his pamphlet emphasizing that the book of mormon, while generally. The doubting mormon might be convinced, after reading brodie, that joseph smith was a complete fraud who perpetrated a hoax on a willing audience, on the other hand, brodies book might be dismissed as the rant of an embittered feminist bent on destroying the reputation of joseph smith. Dec 01, 1997 beginning in the 1830s, at least thirtythree women married joseph smith, the founder of mormonism. Marks also affirmed that joseph smith had repented of the practice two to three weeks before his death in 1844. When people write something in a book, many people refer to that almost as a fact.
This book gets quite dry in places because the author tries to tell us everything there is to know about the wives of joseph smith and for many of them there is not much interesting to know. Snow is known to have been sealed to joseph at sarahs home. After receiving a revelation commanding him to practice plural marriage, joseph smith married multiple wives and introduced the practice to close associates. Joseph had been sealed to sarah ann three weeks prior to this time.
Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirtythree women married joseph smith, the founder of mormonism. Discusses joseph smith s introduction of polygamy into early mormon church. The plural wives of joseph smith authored by mormon todd compton signature books, 1997. Rough stone rolling kindle edition by bushman, richard l download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The 34 wives of joseph smith and their 11 husbands, by. Reemerging mormon feminism, and has been published in the american journal of philology, dialogue. Joseph smith s letter to the whitney family summary. Todd compton argues for sarahs inclusion, since she is included on andrew jensons list of plural wives, had a proxy marriage to joseph smith in the temple following the martyrdom, and because eliza r. Noble, stating he officiated at the wedding, william clayton said smith told him in february 1843 that beaman was one of his plural wives.
Nov 11, 2014 the founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The plural wives of joseph smith kindle edition by compton, todd m download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Feb 19, 2020 joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith. This conviction was four years before he published the book of mormon. All products joseph smith s plural wives, volume 1. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Joseph smith jr 34 wives at manti sharing their stories. Two of my greatgreat grandmothers were polygamist wives and they knew joseph smith. Bennett, some have charged that joseph would send men on missions in order to marry their wives. For 160 years people have been writing in books or speculating that these people could have been joseph smith s children. The first publication of a list of smiths alleged plural wives was in 1887, by assistant mormon church historian andrew jenson.
Joseph smithpolygamychildren of polygamous marriagesdid. The topic of joseph smiths polygamy 1 tends to polarize those who grapple with it. The lds church and joseph smith s polygamy doug fabrizios interview of assistant lds church historian richard turley and scholars patrick q. Is it true that on 18 august 1842 joseph smith wrote a love letter to sarah ann whitney requesting a secret rendezvous or tryst. Yet all this time he denied polygamy and said it was a false and corrupt doctrine. The newly published cases include a case involving the plundering of joseph smiths house in far west, a case in which smith served as a witness in a dispute over a cow, a complaint he made against thomas j. Compton provides the names of 33 women who were married to smith, giving complete biographies on each. For another list of josephs wives as recorded by lds scholar todd compton, go here. Some of these were church leaders who had become polygamists as a result of doing missionary work among members of a polygamous sect in maine called cochranites. Top ten books the lds mormon church doesnt want you to. God declared in the book of mormon that monogamy was the standard. Feb 16, 2017 three of the essays were dedicated to different aspects of plural marriage, including the 4,800word plural marriage in kirtland and nauvoo published on october 22, 2014, which acknowledged how careful estimates put the number of smiths wives between 30 and 40. Hunter for maligning both his character and the church, and three debt cases. The plural wives of joseph smith, is a calmly crafted work designed to bring truth and understanding to this segment.
The founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged. For a summary article of these women after the death of joseph smith, read joseph smith s plural wives after the martyrdom. Contains a detailed study of the mormon doctrine of plural marriage, the spiritual wife doctrine, the john c. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. These were passionate relationships which also had some. Then fanny, who, when asked by her brother about the rumors that she was also married to smith. Immediately upon his return to salt lake city in february 1858, joseph f. Joseph smithpolygamysent husbands on missions to steal wives. Historians say smith was married to as many as 30 women before he was killed by a mob in june 1844.
Perego also has gathered dna samples on about 120 descendants of josephine rosetta lyon. In fact, joseph can be proven to be a liar when it comes to monogamy, the book of abraham, and polytheism. Why did joseph smith marry women who were already married. This principle was among the most challenging aspects of the restoration. Brodie also offered as evidence a photo of buell resembling two of joseph and emma smith s sons, writing that his physiognomy seems to weigh the balance overwhelmingly on the side of joseph s paternity. Volumes of information prove polygamy was attached to joseph smith s name by men nearest him in order to cover their own adultery. I was a little disappointed on some of the limitations of comptons research on hannah ann dubois dibble and some of the other more controversial extramarital relationships of joseph smith, jr. Jun 25, 2008 the lds church lies by 1 not educating the common mormon people about the nature of joseph smith s polygyny and polyandry, and 2 allowing gigantic faithpromoting rumors concerning polygamy to. Joseph smith was born on december 23, 1805 in sharon, vermont. Also available at, benchmark books, and greg kofford books. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom. In response to the often ignored and usually biased.
These were passionate relationships which also had some longevity, except in cases such as that of two young sisters, one of whom was discovered by josephs first wife, emma, in a locked bedroom with the prophet. One of the best resources available about the plural wives of joseph smith. The plural wives of joseph smith, editor of mormonism and early christianity, a contributor to the encyclopedia of mormonism and women and authority. Joseph smiths sealings to women already married may have been an early version of. Bennett book, the nancy rigdon affair, the sarah pratt affair and also the martha h. Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirtythree women married j. Smith s list of joseph smith s wives and when mormonisms founder metmarried these women that was originally published on page 36 of his book.
Two chapters on plural marriage with fifteen others on controversies in lds. Joseph smiths letter to the whitney family summary. The plural wives of joseph smith compton, signature books, salt lake city, 1997 doctrine and covenants the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, salt lake city all books available through deseret book and corrections, comments and questions are welcome. After his death when she was 16, she married horace whitney for time, brother to another of smith s wives. The plural wives of joseph smith from the worlds largest community of readers. She was the author of five biographies, four of which incorporate freudian psychology, including no man knows my history. Joseph smith wives of joseph smith brigham young wives of brigham young. Brodie went on and on about buell, talking about the timing and the picture everything seems to indicate buell was joseph smiths son. Includes a list of 84 women who may have been married to joseph smith. Aug 11, 2011 listed as a smith plural wife by joseph f.
December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith and his legions plural wives of joseph smith book. The topic of joseph smith s polygamy 1 tends to polarize those who grapple with it. Due to the sacred nature of the topics discussed in this article, all irreverent or disrespectful. July 19, 1876 july 2, 1972 was an american religious leader and writer who served as the tenth president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church from 1970 until his death in 1972.
Wikipedia book book v t e joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and. Joseph smith fought polygamy restoration bookstore. When he was a child his family moved to palmyra in western new york where there was a lot of revivalism and religious fervor due to the second great awakening. Joseph smith and his legions plural wives of joseph smith book 1 kindle edition by speckman, ray, hamilton, linda, bloom mitchell, joyce, denny savage, cyndy, savage baker, romney. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. Perego, joseph smith, the question of polygamous offspring, and dna analysis, in newell g. Dna rules out joseph smith has descendants from polygamist wives. William law was a member of the first presidency from 1841 through 1844. In summary, joseph smith knew about polygamy in 1831, he practiced it long before 1842. Dec 20, 2019 for 160 years people have been writing in books or speculating that these people could have been joseph smiths children. The church made the disclosure about joseph smith to show.
Biographies of josephs plural wives joseph smiths polygamy. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints praises the balanced analysis in the book. Did joseph smith send men on missions in order to steal their wives. What do latterday saint churches believe and teach about polygamy today 3. Smith tells his readers that until decisive dna testing of possible joseph smith descendantsdaughters as well as sonsfrom plural wives can be accomplished, ascertaining whether smith fathered children with any of his plural wives remains hypothetical pp.
Polygamy wasnt a theological debate for early mormon. Daynes shows that plural marriage encompassed several forms of marriage endorsed by the church, each with its own. Many who know about smiths philanderous ways may assume that these women must have been widows or old maids and their prophet was doing a favor to them by marrying them. Subjects include polyandry, young brides, theology, children, and emma smith. Joseph smith taught his polygamy doctrines only in secret and dictated a revelation. Lds church history documents that their mormon founder, joseph smith, lied to a large group of people about his having multiple wives.
Frances ward fanny alger custer september 30, 1816 november 29, 1889 was possibly the first plural wife of joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, although scholars have disagreed about whether smith s relationship with alger was an early plural marriage or simply a sexual indiscretion. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy. She was sealed in marriage to him when she was 14 years old. Dna rules out joseph smith has descendants from polygamist. Joseph smith, hyrum smith, presidents of said church. Snow, mary elizabeth rollins, helen mar kimball, rachel ivins grant. Lds answers encourages civil, constructive, online discussion examining the important issues involving the life of the prophet joseph smith. Media related to wives of joseph smith at wikimedia commons.
Focusing on the small community of manti, utah, kathryn m. Despite claims that joseph smith fathered children within plural marriage, genetic testing has so far been negative, though it is possible he fathered two or three children with plural wives. Pdf version of remembering the wives of joseph smith. Ruth vose sayers was sealed to joseph smith for eternity with the knowledge and blessing of her legal husband and emma smith. Similarly, james whitehead, an rlds church member and clerk for smith, affirmed that emma smith gave plural wives to smith on several occasions that he witnessed.
Probably the best overall historical look at the individual lives of these women. More wives than one offers the first indepth look at the longterm interaction between belief and the practice of polygamy, or plural marriage, among the latterday saints. The first mormon prophet, joseph smith, was arrested and convicted in new york and was found guilty of being a conartist, an impostorhe was a necromancer and a charlatan. A journal of mormon thought, classical quarterly, and the journal. Helen mar kimball august 22, 1828 november, 1896 was one of at least 27 plural wives of joseph smith, founder of the latter day saint movement. A well written book about a shameful period of history. How could joseph smiths polyandrous marriages be explained. Navigating lds doctrine and church history edited by laura harris hales. Smith, who noted 1869 affidavit of beamans brotherinlaw joseph b. That said, it is quite moving to know about the lives of these women, many of whom have received no attention in other mormon history. Mar 30, 2015 while jfs had collected records of over a hundred affidavits attesting to the reality and circumstances of joseph smith jr.
When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Joseph smith was a conartist, impostor, necromancer. Chart of joseph smiths plural wives mormons in transition. He and others made charges about joseph smith s spiritual wifeism. Joseph smith and plural marriage church of jesus christ. The prophet joseph smith and his plural wives this is a landmark recent publication, an ambitious first book by todd m. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading in sacred loneliness. Smith mormonisms founder, joseph smith, was married to more than 30 women, meaning that emma was not his one and only wife. The plural wives of joseph smith compton, signature books, salt lake city, 1997 doctrine and covenants the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, salt lake city available at the deseret book special order desk. In his book nauvoo polygamy, smith provides a list of joseph smith s future wives. Joseph smith and his legions plural wives of joseph smith.