Polygamy joseph smith book

Joseph smiths polygamy denials introduction joseph smith denied the practice of polygamy1 on several occasions. A complete listing of early church leader polygamy denials up to 1850 is available here. Joseph smiths polygamy was all about sex, in other words, multiply and replenish the earth. According to several of his associates, smith taught that polygamy was a divine commandment and practiced it personally, by some accounts marrying more than 30 women, some of whom had existing marriages to other men. The question of children from smiths alleged plural wives has been raised since his death. While i disagree with some of haless conclusions, i admire his willingness to confront difficult topics and the depth of. Joseph smith was married to at least 34 women, as now verified in the churchs 2014 polygamy essays.

In this article, ill look at revelations through joseph smith regarding polygamy. Joseph smith and polygamy latterday commentary last. Most of the apostles were in england and thus were unavailable for an introduction to the practice. Joseph smiths polygamy, the first thorough treatment of joseph smiths plural marriages written by a conservative mormon scholar, is a landmark in the historiography of mormon polygamy. Joseph smith fought against polygamy all of his public life, but brigham young managed to bring it into the church in spite of joseph s efforts to keep it out. Sometime in 1840 joseph smith first broached the topic of plural marriage privately to trusted friends. Bachman, mormon practice of polygamy, 140141 citing lucy m. Joseph smith is frequently criticized for his introduction and practice of polygamy. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. From a secular perspective, it is asserted that the practice of polygamy sprung from joseph s. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Joseph smith and the origins of mormon polygamy bringhurst, newell g. Hales wade through the murky waters of history to help. At that time, he allegedly received a revelation in 1843 that living the principle of plural or celestial marriage in this life was a prerequisite to receiving the fullness of gods celestial glory in the next.

That the prophet joseph told him that the doctrine of celestial marriage was revealed to him while he was engaged on the work of translation of the scriptures joseph smith s revision of the bible, but when the communication was first made, the lord stated that the time for the practice of that principle had not arrived. This subject when first communicated to me tried me to the very core all my former traditions and every natural feeling of my heart rose in opposition to this principle. However, until his death, smith and the leading church quorums denied that he preached or practiced polygamy. Furthermore, because he bore false witness about his practice of polygamy, and coveted other mens wives, he broke the most clear and basic expression of gods moral law. Joseph smiths polygamy denials a careful examination. Apr 22, 2016 illustration from from darkness unto light. Nov 14, 2014 mormon expert richard bushman and nyts laurie goodstein discuss her article on mormon leaders acknowledgement of details of joseph smiths polygamy practices. Plural marriage in kirtland and nauvoo church of jesus christ. In the last several years a wealth of information has been published on joseph smith s practice of polygamy.

While i disagree with some of haless conclusions, i admire his willingness to confront difficult topics and the depth of his research. Polygamy revelations of joseph smith worlds without end. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. Joseph smiths polygamy denials by bwv549 mormon bandwagon. A comprehensive pdf many were teenagers, as young as years old. The information on fanny alger and joseph smith s involvement in polyandry were especially valuable as these have always been difficult topics in this area. Joseph smith fought polygamy restoration bookstore. Joseph smiths polygamy toward a better understanding by. Many critics have theorized many reasons for this, but since there is nothing in the book of mormon that portrays plura. Apr 20, 2014 joseph shrouded polygamy in great secrecy, for several obvious reasons.

Jacob, a non member of the church, writes a pro polygamy tract titled the peace maker. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. Joseph smith and later brigham young, also were even married to women who, at the time of marriage, were still other mens wives. For some who were already well aware of this aspect of early mormon history, the availability of new research and discovered documents has been a.

As previously reported in joseph smith fought polygamy, volume 1, the article on marriage was accepted by a special general assembly at kirtland and placed in the 1835 edition of the doctrine and. These articles have been compiled into three books, joseph smith fought polygamy volumes 1, 2, and 3, which you can purchase online, by telephone 816. Top a deep sorrow in her heart emma hale smith, in heroines of the. Discusses joseph smith s introduction of polygamy into early mormon church. Join lindsay as she interviews american historian ben park who talks about the exciting and shocking confirmation of joseph smith s polygamy found in a blessing given to sarah ann whitney by joseph smith and written in his own hand. New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous roots. Mar 10, 2020 orson pratt, polygamy, journal of discourses 6. None of joseph smiths plural marriages were nonsexual eternityonly sealings. Smith remembered that he joseph smith recognized that it would be a troubling doctrine. Joseph smith of new york founded the mormon church in 1830 after having earlier experienced a series of visions, one of which directed him to ancient hidden golden tablets that. Smith s polygamy even deviated from the way it was. What was the reasoning for polygamy in mormonism as stated by.

They pointed to the historical record that joseph smith publicly opposed the practice of polygamy. All three volumes may be purchased in either paper or ebook format. Two chapters on plural marriage with fifteen others on controversies in lds doctrine and church history. Careful estimates put the number between 30 and 40. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon, excerpted by fairmormon. Hales admits that joseph lies, but he defends these lies every time they get a reference. The prophets contemporaries recorded that joseph smith reacted to the command to practice polygamy with dismay, and he afterwards sympathized with the challenge that plural marriage represented to church members. The extract is from the book of doctrine and covenants, and is the only rule allowed by the church. Of those 34 women, 11 of them were married women of other living men. Weve all heard the stories that joseph smith was a polygamist. The beginnings of mormon polygamy joseph smiths polygamy.

Jul 06, 2008 the mystery which was had in secret chambers for years was now made public. Nov 09, 2014 there are a number of references to revelations by joseph smith having to do with polygamy in addition to the 1831 and 1843 revelations some of which may have informed joseph smith as he dictated 1843 revelation from memory. Joseph smith was a great christian thinker, a religious revolutionary, and a controversial figure. 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.

He was also responsible for the publication or distribution of several additional denials. In 1844, after smith was imprisoned in carthage, illinois, he was shot and killed when a mob stormed the jailhouse. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of. Joseph smith denied the practice of polygamy 1 on several occasions. Feb 26, 2012 joseph smith lied continually about polygamy. Historical records of these strange marriages are available. William law was a member of the first presidency from 1841 through 1844. The life of joseph smith from 1839 to 1844, when he was 3438 years old, covers the period of smith s life when he lived in nauvoo, an eventful and highly controversial period of the latter day saint movement. For a more indepth treatment, i consider this book by brian and laura hales to be the single best book length introduction to joseph smith s polygamy for those who want solid and frank research presented through a lens of faith. Polygamy bookchildren of polygamous marriages fairmormon. Mar 22, 2020 the book is called joseph smiths polygamy. The book recounts founder joseph smiths introduction of plural marriage after he received what he believed was a revelation from the lord. However, the private writings of nauvoo participants and other polygamy.

Mormon church acknowledges joseph smiths polygamy practices. Polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints for more than half of the 19th century in semisecrecy and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by up to 30 percent of church families. This revelation would not be canonized until 1876 as section 2 of the doctrine and covenants. Joseph smith and plural marriage, church history topic, online at 7. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Laying it out this way in the book allows the reader the draw his own conclusion. From a christian perspective, these attacks usually focus on arguing that polygamy is unchristian or unbiblical, and that joseph hid the truth from the world. Top 25 problems with joseph smiths first vision story. Nov 14, 2014 mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smith s polygamy the mormon churchs founder was married to as many as 40 women in the years before his murder in 1844, the church acknowledged in. One of the things that also truly disturbed me in my research was discovering the real origins of polygamy and how joseph smith really practiced it. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. I very much appreciated this approach and wish all lds history books were. Not only was the practice morally shocking and contradicted by passages in both the new testament and the book of mormon, it. Joseph smith s personal polygamy many are quick to declare that joseph s polygamy sprang from religious extremism andor sexual desire.

Articles on this subject continue to be published in vision magazine, which also can be purchased at the restoration bookstore or online. In march 1843, smith took additional steps to solidify the secret arrangement, providing sarah a handwritten blessing assuring the salvation of her extended family, provided that she remain in the everlasting covenant, a term used to describe the churchs practice of polygamy, as sanctioned by joseph smith. Did joseph smith use polygamy just to get with women. Toward a better understanding, authors brian and laura hales provide readers with a concise history of joseph smiths. Hales author of the 3volume joseph smiths polygamy set and laura h. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Hales wade through the murky waters of history to help bring some clarity to this episode of mormonisms past, examining both the theological explanations of the practice and the accounts of those who experienced it first hand. Joseph smiths sermon against polygamy book of mormon. Smith s son joseph smith iii, his widow emma smith, and the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints rlds church, now called community of christ challenged the evidence and taught that joseph smith had opposed polygamy.

How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. This would be consistent with the book of mormon prohibition on polygamy except in the case where god commands it to raise up seed. Polygamy, or plural marriage, in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is generally believed to have originated with the founder of mormonism, joseph smith. Joseph smith and plural marriage church of jesus christ. Why would joseph smith create polygamy when its strictly.

Sep 04, 2018 mormon church founder joseph smith insisted on introducing polygamy in the early 1800s despite knowing the societal risks and getting pushback from other leaders and his first wife, recounts a new. All of these individuals were involved with nauvoo polygamy, and several were undoubtedly aware of joseph smith s sealings to legally married women, yet they made no effort to condone sexual polyandry, nor is there any evidence that any man but joseph smith engaged in polyandry in nauvoo. Smith, written statement 18 may 1892, in papers of george a. Joseph smith had sexual relations with 14 year olds. The first in a threevolume anthology in which top scholars examine the entire range and history of mormon polygamy. Joseph smith dictates a revelation requiring the practice of polygamy to obtain exaltation. That fact that latterday saints practiced polygamy in the early days of the church is well known. But even to the sensibilities of those in joseph smith s time, polygamy was an unsettling practice. Those essays outline the basic issues in relatively few pages. He and others made charges about joseph smith s spiritual wifeism.

Wikipedia book book v t e joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and. 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. Joseph smith s polygamy, the first thorough treatment of joseph smith s plural marriages written by a conservative mormon scholar, is a landmark in the historiography of mormon polygamy. Polygamy was started by joseph smith not brigham young. In fact, joseph can be proven to be a liar when it comes to monogamy, the book of abraham, and polytheism. For the range of topics related to plural marriage narrated in the first volume of saints, see plural marriage in the books index. Joseph smith fought polygamy volume i, by richard and pamela price, can be purchased at the restoration bookstore or from our online store. Joseph smith iii prophetpresident of the church june 6, 1860 18600606 december 10, 1914 19141210 predecessor. Polygamy bookinitiation of the practice fairmormon. Subjects include polyandry, young brides, theology, children, and emma smith. Of all the things attributed to him, polygamy is one of the most controversial. Joseph smith, founder of mormonism, was the first mormon prophet to practice polygamy. Young went so far as to say that joseph and oliver were given a revelation on polygamy while they worked at translating the book of mormon in 1829. Polygamy books goodreads meet your next favorite book.

Called plural marriage by mormons in the 19th century, polygamy began in nauvoo, illinois, where joseph smith established the religious practice in the early 1840s. Hales is a boardcertified anesthesiologist in layton, utah, and graduated from utah state university. New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous. Richard and pamela price, joseph smith fought polygamy vision articles from vision magazine, vol. At the time, joseph smith was in hiding and the tract was published the tract through the times and seasons office and since joseph was the owner of that press, his name can be seen on the front cover of the book. This is something that i have felt to say on more than one occasion. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy.

Brians entire database of polygamy related documents may be accessed at. Navigating lds doctrine and church history edited by laura harris hales. Victorian america saw plural marriage as immoral and joseph smith as acting on libido. Joseph smith repented of his connection with this doctrine polygamy, and said it was of the devil. Although rumors and exposes multiplied, it was not until 1852 that mormons in brigham youngs utah took a public stand. He is the awardwinning author of six books on mormon polygamy, including a threevolume series on the history and theology of joseph smith s polygamy. Plural marriages was a revelation given to joseph smith as early as 1831 1, but was not acted upon before a few years later. Joseph was secretive about his practice of polygamy, even lying about it. It is one of the most discussed issues in mormon history and continues to be the center of ongoing controversy and debate. Feb 19, 2020 many people will come up with reasons that sound plausible, and are even based on scripture. Regardless of an authors position on whether or not joseph was a polygamist, most if not all will.

Apr 01, 2016 this makes the polygamy of joseph smith altogether different than polygamy in other times and cultures in which it was already socially acceptable. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. In recent years there have been several novels and at least three. What a lot of people dont know, though, is that polygamy was first practiced by joseph smith and not brigham young. In a book and an online series they attempt solid investigative methodology to support their thesis. Wonderfully referenced and easy to understand, the book will prove to be a valuable asset to all those who want to know more about the history of polygamy in the church.