Polyandry is an unfamiliar topic to most faithful members, as it is a form of polygamy where a woman has more than one husband. Victorian america saw plural marriage as immoral and joseph smith as acting on libido. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. Emma hale smith nauvoo polygamy is s a thorough investigation. In recent years there have been several novels and at least three. Polygamy was started by joseph smith not brigham young. Subjects include polyandry, young brides, theology, children, and emma smith. With access to texts not previously available, and certainly never in one collection, the joseph smith papers project provides new information and insights about joseph smith, early mormonism, and nineteenthcentury american religion. None of joseph smiths plural marriages were nonsexual eternityonly sealings. I started writing the book because i was fascinated by the puzzle of trying to work out their complex marriage histories many married four or five times, sometimes with. All three volumes may be purchased in either paper or ebook format. Discusses joseph smiths introduction of polygamy into early mormon church. These materials include affidavit books compiled by joseph f. Topics include the nature of smiths relationship to fanny alger in the mid1830s.
Two chapters on plural marriage with fifteen others on controversies in lds doctrine and church history. While i disagree with some of haless conclusions, i admire his willingness to confront difficult topics and the depth of. I very much appreciated this approach and wish all lds history books were. 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. Joseph smiths polygamy was all about sex, in other words, multiply and replenish the earth. By far the most shocking aspect of joseph smiths polygamy is the fact that a dozen or more of his plural wives were legally married to other men. Joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught. Hales wade through the murky waters of history to help. The joseph smith papers project will eventually constitute approximately 30 volumes, organized into six series. Joseph smith fought polygamy index affidavits and certificates disproving the statements and affidavits contained in john c. Andrew jensons plural marriage article that appeared in the historical record, july 1887. The digital book download link is sent to your email address used to place the order, usually within 24 hours or next business day. Plural marriage in kirtland and nauvoo church of jesus. Joseph smith, founder of mormonism, was the first mormon prophet to practice polygamy.
Hales author of the 3volume joseph smiths polygamy set and laura h. 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. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Joseph was secretive about his practice of polygamy, even lying about it. Marijuana, mormon racists, mexican bandidos, and crazy queen carlotta. It is thus important to realize that the public preaching of polygamyor announcing it to the general church membership, thereby informing the public by proxywas simply not a. Emma smith was publicly and privately opposed to the practice and joseph may have married some women without emma knowing beforehand. Hales is the author of seven books dealing with mormon polygamy. The 1843 polygamy revelation, published posthumously, counseled smith s wife emma to accept all of smith s plural wives, and warns of destruction if the new covenant is not observed. Emma publicly denied that her husband had ever preached or practiced polygamy.
That fact that latterday saints practiced polygamy in the early days of the church is well known. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. He did, however, make some attempt to teach the doctrine to the saints. Joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, taught and practiced polygamy during his ministry, and married multiple women during his lifetime. Twosided broadside published in nauvoo, illinois, august 31, 1842. A comprehensive pdf many were teenagers, as young as years old. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy. Navigating lds doctrine and church history edited by laura harris hales.
Toward a better understanding, is more than a condensation of those three volumes. Laying it out this way in the book allows the reader the draw his own conclusion. Wikipedia book book v t e joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and. 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. Joseph smith had sexual relations with 14 year olds. Gary james bergera, identifying the earliest mormon polygamists, 184144, dialogue. The plural wives of joseph smith, i look at the 33 women who married the first mormon prophet, taking them from birth to death. A history van wagoner, signature books, salt lake city, 1989 mormon enigma. However, the private writings of nauvoo participants and other polygamy. Join lindsay as she talks about the history of the word of wisdom, following the death of joseph smith to the modern observances of lds people today. Brians entire database of polygamyrelated documents may be accessed at. Within months of my aquaponics book being published, my husband told me about brian hales threevolume work regarding joseph smiths polygamy, a series of books professor millet at byu had told my husband about when my husband had conveyed my theory that joseph smith might have refrained from having sex with his plural wives. 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.
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. 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. 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. Brians entire database of polygamy related documents may be accessed at. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom. Joseph smiths polyandrous plural marriages mormons in. History few american religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than joseph smith. Joseph smith hid polygamy from the general church membership summary. They pointed to the historical record that joseph smith publicly opposed the practice of polygamy. Joseph smith fought polygamy restoration bookstore. Discusses joseph smith s introduction of polygamy into early mormon church. On july 12, 1843, hyrum smith asked joseph smith to provide a revelation to help convince emma smith to accept polygamy. Joseph smith and the origins of mormon polygamy kindle edition by don bradley author, brian c. Toward a better understanding greg kofford bookswere at benchmark books to.
Smith and some of the leading quorums of his church publicly denied he taught or practiced it in 1852, leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church acknowledged that smith had practiced plural. This is a series of articles on joseph smiths polygamy in light of the statement issued in october 2014 by the lds church on its official website. 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. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. For an overview, see our article the lds church addresses joseph smiths polygamy. Polygamy revelations of joseph smith worlds without end. What a lot of people dont know, though, is that polygamy was first practiced by joseph smith and not brigham young. Born in 1805 and silenced thirtynine years later by assassins bullets, he dictated more than onehundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple. The first in a threevolume anthology in which top scholars examine the entire range and history of mormon polygamy. On april 22, 2015, laura and brian halesauthors of joseph smiths polygamy. Mormon historian todd compton, whos written a book on smiths polygamy, says theres good evidence smith married at least 33 women by. At only 175 pages in length, excluding endnotes and the index, the haless work will be both easy to read and informative for the general public. The author does not take sides in this tangled web of theology and practice, but instead has produced what may well be the definitive work on polygamy.
The plural wives of joseph smith in my book, in sacred loneliness. He is the awardwinning author of six books on mormon polygamy, including a threevolume series on the history and theology of joseph smiths polygamy. 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. He has presented at numerous meetings and symposia and published articles in the journal of mormon history, mormon historical studies, and dialogue, as well the persistence of polygamy series.
Mary elizabeth rollins lightner, utah genealogical and historical magazine july 1926. Careful estimates put the number between 30 and 40. The lds churchs simplistic description of polygamy is complicated by the reality of josephs smiths practice of polyandry. In a book and an online series they attempt solid investigative methodology to support their thesis. Joseph smith and the origins of mormon polygamy 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. It is true that joseph did not always tell others about plural marriage. A distinctly different view of joseph smiths polygamy. Org the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, salt lake city mormon polygamy. If you want this digital book download link sent to a different email, please indicate in the special instructionscomments section at checkout purchasing grants one user license for the. Description nauvoo polygamy is a meticulously researched and skillfully written work on mormon polygamy. A valuable collection of scholarly essays by preeminent researchers and historians concerning the origins of mormon polygamy and joseph smiths involvement in itimplementation of it.
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. Biographies of josephs plural wives joseph smiths polygamy. 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. Toward a better understanding, authors brian and laura hales provide readers with a concise history of joseph smiths practice of plural matrimony. Hales admits that joseph lies, but he defends these lies every time they get a reference. 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.
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