Polygamy book

From FAIRMormon
Jump to: navigation, search
The FAIR Wiki

Defending Mormonism by providing well-researched answers to challenging questions within a faithful context


Polygamy book

Note: This is an excerpt from a work in preparation on LDS plural marriage. This chapter draft is provided for the use of FAIR and its readers. (C) 2007-2012 GL Smith. No other reproduction is authorized.

Polygamy book (draft chapters)

  • Initiation of plural marriage
    When and how did plural marriage begin in the Church? (Link)
  • Introduction of eternal marriage
    This chapter also discusses Fanny Alger (Link)
  • Early womanizer
    Critics charge that Joseph Smith had a long history of "womanizing" before practicing plural marriage. This chapter includes Eliza Winters and Marinda Nancy Johnson. (Link)
  • Illegal marriages in Ohio?
    Critics charge that Joseph Smith's early plural marriage(s) cannot have been "real" marriages, since the doctrine of "eternal marriage" (i.e., marriages which last beyond the grave) was not introduced until 1841. (Link)
  • Age of wives
    Critics of Joseph Smith are sometimes filled with righteous indignation when they raise the issue of his wives' ages. (Link)
  • Children of polygamous marriages
    While the record is frustratingly incomplete regarding sexuality, it does little but tease us when we consider whether Joseph fathered children by his plural wives. Fawn Brodie was the first to consider this question in any detail, though her standard of evidence was depressingly low. Subsequent authors have returned to the problem, though unanimity has been elusive. (Link)
  • Polyandry
    Nothing in plural marriage mystifies—or troubles—members of the Church more than Joseph's polyandrous sealings. Marriage to multiple wives may seem strange, but at least it intrudes on our historical awareness, while many remain unaware of polyandry's existence in LDS history. (Link)
  • John C. Bennett
    John C. Bennett material is in three draft chapters. Given their length and difficulty of converting them to wiki format, they are presented here in downloadable PDF. (Link)


Copyright © 2005–2013 Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research. This is not an official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The content of this page may not be copied, published, or redistributed without the prior written consent of FAIR. The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR) is a non-profit organization formed in late 1997 for the purpose of defending the Church. FAIR is staffed completely by volunteers, all of whom are dedicated to defending the Church. FAIR is not owned, controlled by, or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief, or practice.
If you have a question or feedback on this article, please feel free to pose your question to the FAIR Apologetics list at "Ask the Apologist"

Personal tools
In other languages