Joseph Smith's Introduction and Practice of Plural Marriage

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Polygamy Sandbox > Joseph Smith's Introduction and Practice of Plural Marriage

Joseph Smith's Introduction and Practice of Plural Marriage

Summary: Joseph Smith's introduction and practice of plural marriage have been the source of speculation and criticism since he first introduced plural marriage. This page gathers all the questions that have arisen and responds to them.

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The Reality of Joseph Smith Practicing Plural Marriage

Did Joseph Smith actually teach and practice polygamy? * Why did Joseph Smith keep the doctrine of plural marriage private? * Why did Joseph Smith say "I had not been married scarcely five minutes...before it was reported that I had seven wives"?

The Origins of the Plural Marriage Revelation

• When and how did plural marriage begin in the Church?
• When did Joseph Smith receive the revelation on plural marriage?
• Under what circumstances was D&C 132 committed to writing?

Joseph Smith's Motives in Starting Plural Marriage

• Did Joseph Smith initiate polygamy because of a voracious sexual appetite?
• Did Joseph Smith have youthful struggle with chastity?
• Did Joseph Smith have a long history of womanizing before practicing plural marriage?
• Did Joseph Smith send men on missions in order to steal their wives?
• Did Joseph Smith marry the Lawrence Sisters to inherit their estate and become rich?
• What do we know about Joseph Smith’s polyandrous sealings or plural marriages?
• What did Sylvia Lions’ husband know about Joseph Smith’s sealing to her?

Bios of Joseph Smith's Wives

Joseph and Emma Smith's Struggle With Polygamy

• Was Emma Smith not told about some of Joseph Smith's wives?
• Was Emma aware of the possibility that Joseph Smith could take additional wives without her consent?
• What modern lessons can we learn from Emma and Joseph Smith’s struggle with plural marriage?
• How did Emma react to plural marriage?
• Was Emma Smith promised “annihilation” if she didn’t accept plural marriage?
• Was a pregnant Eliza R. Snow pushed down the stairs by Emma Smith, resulting in a miscarriage?
• Since first wives were generally to grant permission for sealings to subsequent wives, did Joseph’s later sealing to Emma mean that Emma no longer held the role of “first wife?”
• Did Joseph Smith offer to trade Emma Smith for Jane Law to William Law?

Potential Children from Joseph Smith's Plural Marriages

If the only purpose of plural marriage was to “raise up seed,” why did Joseph Smith not have any children by his wives? * Did Joseph Smith father any children by his plural marriages? * Did Prescindia Buell not know who the father was of her child?

• Did Joseph Smith father a child by Prescindia Buell Did Joseph Smith hide plural marriages from Emma?

The Legality of Plural Marriage in Ohio and Nauvoo

Was polygamy illegal? Was Joseph Smith charged with adultery under Illinois Law? Did Joseph Smith violate marriage laws in Ohio by performing plural marriages? * Were there any similar cases under Illinois adultery statute which demonstrate that Joseph Smith was not breaking the law? * When Joseph Smith performed the marriage of Newel Knight and Lydia Bailey, were they guilty of bigamy since Lydia had not been formally divorced her previous husband?

Plural Marriage and the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants

• Does the 1835 statement contradict polygamy? * Was Oliver Cowdery aware that some in the Church were practicing plural marriage when he authored the statement in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants?
• Was plural marriage general knowledge when the 1835 D&C was authored?

Joseph Smith's Approach to Contracting Additional Marriages

• Did those that entered plural marriage only do so because Joseph Smith told them to?
• Were plural wives forced into the marriage?
• How many Mormon women refused offers of plural marriage?
• Did any women suffer consequences for turning down Joseph Smith’s proposals?
• Were women put under “tremendous pressure” to accept a proposal of plural marriage?
• Did Joseph Smith give a woman only one day to decide about entering a plural marriage, and would refusal mean terrible consequences? * Did Joseph Smith claim that an angel threatened him with a drawn sword or flaming sword if a woman refused to marry him?
• Were women “locked in a room” to get them to accept a proposal of plural marriage?