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. Discusses joseph smiths introduction of polygamy into early mormon church. Dna rules out joseph smith has descendants from polygamist. Joseph, emma and hyrum all had their own copies, as well as the members of the quorum of the twelve and their wives. Midgley has pointed out that alternate theories on the authorship of the book fall into four main categories. What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when i can.
For joseph smiths wife emma, it was an excruciating ordeal. A well written book about a shameful period of history. After receiving a revelation commanding him to practice plural marriage, joseph smith married multiple wives and introduced the practice to close associates. The plural wives of joseph smith from the publisher. Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirtythree women married joseph smith, the founder of mormonism.
One of the interesting questions i like to pose to faithful latterday saints is this. Dec 23, 2016 did you know joseph smiths famous leg surgery was the fourth in a series of surgeries. The reported exception is recorded in a newspaper article and two letters written by excommunicated latterday saint apostle william e. Subjects include polyandry, young brides, theology, children, and emma smith. 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. This is an interesting book for both mormon and nonmormon women. Is it possible that joseph smith fathered children with some of his plural wives, and that he covered up the evidence of pregnancies. Did joseph smith have children by his plural wives. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. Plural marriage in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, gospel topics essays, topics related topics. Jul 12, 2017 was the book of mormon a great american novel. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph smith. Misrepresenting polygamy, especially that of joseph. 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.
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. Aug 25, 2019 joseph, emma and hyrum all had their own copies, as well as the members of the quorum of the twelve and their wives. Joseph smith and plural marriage church of jesus christ. The book of mormon, along with his revelations, then became fundamental tenets of the mormon church. All these data taken together make a strong case for elizabeth as one of joseph smiths plural wives. In 1852, leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints acknowledged that smith had practiced plural marriage and produced a written revelation of smiths that authorizes its practice. Joseph smiths famous leg surgery was actually the fourth in a series of surgeries. Joseph smith was a conartist, impostor, necromancer.
Dna rules out joseph smith has descendants from polygamist wives. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. With a lone exception, there is no account after josephs death of emma admitting josephs plural marriages in any source. Latter day saints portal book v t e joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and practiced polygamy during his ministry, and married multiple women during his lifetime. After the book of mormon was published, mormonism began to spread and grow rapidly. The mormon church says for the first time that its founder joseph smith took up to 40 wives, including a 14yearold and others who were already married. Nov 12, 2014 the mormon church says for the first time that its founder joseph smith took up to 40 wives, including a 14yearold and others who were already married. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths 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. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. As we celebrate joseph smiths birthday, heres a list of 15 other interesting facts about joseph smith. The lds church and joseph smiths polygamy doug fabrizios interview of. The churchs public affairs department directed huffpost to todd compton, a mormon researcher whose 1997 book in sacred loneliness compiles a list of 33 welldocumented wives of joseph smith although the total number is likely as high as 40. Born on december 23, 1805, in sharon, vermont, to joseph and lucy mack smith, joseph smith jr.
Most of smiths wives were between the ages of 20 and 40, the essay says, but he married helen mar kimball, a daughter of two close friends. Polygamy wasnt a theological debate for early mormon women. Dec 20, 2019 perego has mapped smiths dna by retrieving samples from living descendants of two sons he had with emma smith joseph smith iii and alexander hale smith. An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to find an ancient record. What do latterday saint churches believe and teach about polygamy today 3. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints praises the balanced analysis in the book. Many reject joseph smith s claims that he received and translated the book of mormon through divine direction and assistance. The beginnings of mormon polygamy joseph smiths polygamy. Did joseph smith have intimate relations with other mens wives to whom he had been sealed, and. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. Pdf version of remembering the 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. This principle was among the most challenging aspects of the restoration. You will have a solid foundation of the early mormon church and its charismatic leader, joseph smith, after reading this book.
Fun mormon life book of mormon joseph smith church history church h istory book of mormon,joseph smith,church history,church h istory. Joseph smiths mormon defenders have generally avoided addressing their prophets glasslooking career. Joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and. 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 history van wagoner, signature books, salt lake city, 1989. Joseph smith sees a vision of god and jesus christ. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Not one with official pay stubs that the irs could tax or anything. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. Mormon historian todd compton, whos written a book on smiths polygamy, says theres good evidence smith married at least 33 women by. Did joseph smith receive an income from the book of mormon.
Finally, elizabeth received a very early proxy marriage to the mormon prophet in the nauvoo temple. Joseph smith s mormon defenders have generally avoided addressing their prophets glasslooking career. Polygamy wasnt a theological debate for early mormon. As a leading woman of early mormonisma poet, female activist, secret polygamous wife to latterday saint lds church founder joseph smith, and later a. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. Did joseph smith study and master the nephite language. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Discusses joseph smith s introduction of polygamy into early mormon church. If there is a book that says this person was josephs son, and i have evidence thats not right, its important for me to offer an alternative explanation from science that people can refer to.
Reemerging mormon feminism, and has been published in the american journal of philology. Nov 26, 2014 the churchs public affairs department directed huffpost to todd compton, a mormon researcher whose 1997 book in sacred loneliness compiles a list of 33 welldocumented wives of joseph smith although the total number is likely as high as 40. Perego, a geneticist and member of the lds church, has shown that a number of children of smiths alleged polygamous. What is known about possible children through joseph smith s polygamous marriages.
Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon makes it clear that the lord may, under some circumstances, command the practice of plural marriage. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. A motion picture about the life and legacy of joseph smith, the founding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who translated the book of mormon.
The book, which included an appendix of smiths 48 wives she wrote that there were probably more, resulted in brodies excommunication for. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. In his book nauvoo polygamy, smith provides a list of joseph smiths future wives and the interval between the first encounter with the mormon found and the navuoo marriage. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. The church made the disclosure about joseph smith to show. Book of mormon, 1830, page 128 the joseph smith papers. 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.
Lds church history documents that their mormon founder, joseph smith, lied to a large group of people about his having multiple wives. One of these tenets was polygamy, which his contemporaries said came as a result of smith having been commanded by an angel to marry. Did joseph smith have sexual relations with wives other than emma. Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons. Joseph smithpolygamychildren of polygamous marriagesdid. During the translation of the book of mormon, joseph and oliver cowdery translated about 12 pages a day. Somebody might have an 1841 copy of the book of mormon with the name joseph smith engraved on it and not realize it was his personal.
Urim and thummim places the book of mormon translation on trial, presenting the latest research in one of the most comprehensive treatments of the translation process to date providing encouragement for latterday saints who fear they have been betrayed by the translation history taught by the church for over 190 years. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. In his essay titled the coming of the manifesto, mormon writer kenneth godfrey notes andrew jenson, one of the most revered of the latterday saint historians, officially acknowledged that joseph smith had taken twentyseven wives before his death. Joseph smith came to kirtland prior to their move to independence at about the time she finished reading the book of mormon i. She has been called the first plural wife of the prophet joseph smith. Very interesting book documenting the lives and views of the polygamous and polyandrous wives of joseph smith. Fanny alger was joseph smiths first plural wife summary. Mormon church admits founder joseph smith had up to 40 wives. Joseph smith was often known for his sense of humor. What is known about possible children through joseph smiths polygamous marriages. Nov, 2014 the book, which included an appendix of smiths 48 wives she wrote that there were probably more, resulted in brodies excommunication for apostasy by the lds church after its release.
The mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward with the first published pictures of a small sacred stone it believes founder joseph smith used. This conviction was four years before he published the book of mormon. 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. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. Mar 28, 2011 a motion picture about the life and legacy of joseph smith, the founding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who translated the book of mormon. 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. Mormon founder joseph smith took his first plural wife, fanny alger, in the mid1830s. The plural wives of joseph smith, is a calmly crafted work designed to bring truth and understanding to this segment of latterday saint history which too often has been characterized by either deliberate obfuscation or shameless sensationalism. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph. Two of my greatgreat grandmothers were polygamist wives and they knew joseph smith. They went through all the beginning years of the mormon church and suffered the consequences.
Feb 19, 2020 joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if joseph s story about golden plates is true. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was twentythree and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirtyeight. 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. Joseph smithpolygamychildren of polygamous marriagesdid he. As john bennett left nauvoo in june 1842, we can date the marriage as taking place before that time. The history of joseph smith as told by his wives and their journalized views. In recent years, the church acknowledged that joseph smith wed as many as 40 wives.
Smith remembered that he joseph smith recognized that it would be a troubling doctrine. When the apologists responded to such accusations during the 20th century, one tactic they employed was to blame the 1820s upstate new york moneydigging commotion on persons other than smith. In 1830, he completed an english translation of these plates called the book of mormon and formed the church. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. God declared in the book of mormon that monogamy was the standard. 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. Their y chromosomes were identical, so we know for 100 percent sure what joseph smiths y chromosome looked like. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes.
Perego, joseph smith, the question of polygamous offspring, and dna analysis, in newell g. Media related to wives of joseph smith at wikimedia commons. Smith and some of the leading quorums of his church publicly denied he taught or practiced it. The lds church and joseph smith s polygamy doug fabrizios interview of assistant lds church historian richard turley and scholars patrick q. What do we know about mormon leader joseph smiths wives.
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