Latter-day Saints and divorce in the nineteenth century

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Articles about plural marriage

Doctrinal foundation of plural marriage	Purpose of plural marriage Plural marriage as a requirement for exaltation Plural marriage in early Christianity Plural marriage in the Book of Mormon Plural marriage and the Bible
Introduction of plural marriage	Initiation of the practice of plural marriage 1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy Fanny Alger was Joseph Smith's first plural wife Joseph Smith hid polygamy from the general Church membership Divine manifestions to plural wives and families Plural marriage and the law
Questions about Joseph Smith and plural marriage	Joseph Smith's marriage to young women Did Joseph Smith coerce women to marry him? Mormon women refusing offers of plural marriage Joseph Smith and children through plural marriage Joseph Smith was sealed to other men's wives Joseph Smith hiding plural marriages from his first wife, Emma Emma Smith's reaction to Joseph Smith's plural marriages Emma Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 132 Did Joseph have lustful motives for practicing polygamy? Did Joseph Smith send men on missions in order to steal their wives? Did Joseph Smith practice polygamy for the purpose of monetary gain?
Notable plural wives of Joseph Smith	Fanny Alger Prescindia Lathrop Huntington Buell Marinda Nancy Johnson Hyde Zina Diantha Huntington Jacobs Helen Mar Kimball
Plural marriage in Utah	Difficulties with plural marriage Brigham Young's statements regarding plural marriage John Taylor's statements regarding polygamy Latter-day Saints and divorce in the nineteenth century Prevalence of plural marriage in Utah
End of plural marriage	The First Manifesto Plural marriage practiced after the First Manifesto The Church of Jesus Christ and plural marriage today

Latter-day Saints and divorce in the nineteenth century

Divorce among Mormons in the 19th century

Summary: Some critics like to emphasize that some LDS members did not receive civil divorces before remarrying—either monogamously or polygamously. They either state or imply that this shows the Saints' cavalier attitude toward the law.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Gospel Topics: "Divorce was therefore available to women who were unhappy in their marriages"
• Question: How were divorces formalized among Mormons on the frontier in the 19th century?
• Question: Was it normal not to obtain a formal civil divorce in 19th century America?

Some 19th century Mormons did not receive civil divorces before remarrying

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Was it normal not to obtain a formal civil divorce in 19th century America?
• Question: How were divorces formalized among Mormons on the frontier in the 19th century?

Joseph Smith's performance of marriages in Ohio

Summary: Critics charge that Joseph Smith performed monogamous marriages for time of already-married members, violating Ohio law in Kirtland. Such claims are false and represent a misunderstanding about the marriage and divorce law of the day.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did Joseph Smith violate marriage laws in Ohio by performing marriages?
• Question: When Joseph Smith performed the marriage of Newel Knight and Lydia Bailey, were they guilty of bigamy since Lydia had not been formally divorced from her previous husband?

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