Plural marriage

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Mormonism and polygamy

Important introductory material on plural marriage available here

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Plural marriage
RESOURCES
Joseph Smith era: Joseph Smith & intro When did it start? Spiritual witnesses BoM & polygamy D&C vs. Jacob 2 1835 D&C denial Polyandry Children? Emma Smith Marriages to young women Lustful motives? Not Biblical? Wives already married? Early Christian attitudes Post-Joseph Smith: Required for exaltation? Brigham in JD 11:269 Difficulties? Hiding Brigham's history? Law of Adoption Manifesto & politics? Post-Manifesto–present Post-Manifesto marriages Modern Church
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Joseph Smith, Jr. Temples

Questions

Joseph Smith initiated the practice of plural marriage in the early days of the Church. Plural marriage was practiced in secret during Joseph's lifetime, and was not publicly announced until the Saints had moved to Utah. There are no contemporaneous records which tell us when Joseph first taught plural marriage, or when he first had a revelation endorsing it. A number of questions arise regarding the practice of plural marriage in the Church.

• Why was the practice initiated?
• How was it practiced among Latter-day Saints?
• Why did the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants state that monogamy was the practice of the Church?
• Why did the Church deny that polygamy was practiced prior to the time that it was revealed to the world?
• Was divorce available if one was not happy in a plural marriage?
• What effect did the Manifesto have on the practice of plural marriage?

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here

Gospel Topics, "Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah"

Gospel Topics, (2013)

In accordance with a revelation to Joseph Smith, the practice of plural marriage—the marriage of one man to two or more women—was instituted among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1840s. Thereafter, for more than half a century, plural marriage was practiced by some Latter-day Saints. Only the Church President held the keys authorizing the performance of new plural marriages. In 1890, the Lord inspired Church President Wilford Woodruff to issue a statement that led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church. In this statement, known as the Manifesto, President Woodruff declared his intention to abide by U.S. law forbidding plural marriage and to use his influence to convince members of the Church to do likewise.

After the Manifesto, monogamy was advocated in the Church both over the pulpit and through the press. On an exceptional basis, some new plural marriages were performed between 1890 and 1904, especially in Mexico and Canada, outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law; a small number of plural marriages were performed within the United States during those years. In 1904, the Church strictly prohibited new plural marriages. Today, any person who practices plural marriage cannot become or remain a member of the Church.

Valerie Hudson, "A Reconciliation of Polygamy"

Valerie Hudson,  Proceedings of the 2011 FAIR Conference, (August 2011)

During the period of time when the restored Church was commanded by the Lord to practice polygamy, some practiced it without any discernible hardship and still others with great pain. Contemporary Church members may look back upon that period with acceptance, or indifference, or discomfort, and I would like to say at the outset that I don’t see that diversity of feelings is harmful that people differ in their reactions to polygamy I don’t think is the issue. Rather, since the New and everlasting covenant of marriage is at the heart of the work of eternal life and godhood; confusion about the nature and form of lawful marriage ordained by God is harmful.

Polygamy in Latter-day Saint scripture

Jump to Subtopic:

• Doctrine and Covenants Section 132 and plural marriage
• 1835 Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy—D&C 101 (original)
• Book of Mormon statements about the practice of polygamy
• Does Joseph Smith's lack of children through polygamy contradict the commandment to "multiply and replenish the earth"?

Polygamy in the 19th Century

Summary: Video published by the Church History Department.

Jump to Subtopic:

• The purpose of plural marriage
• Plural marriage as a requirement for exaltation
• 19th century statements from Church leaders regarding the practice of plural marriage
• John Taylor's statements regarding polygamy
• Brigham Young's statements regarding polygamy
• Early Church leaders' comments about the difficulties of plural marriage
• Reports that the Lamanites were to become "white and delightsome" through polygamous marriage
• Divorce among Mormons in the 19th century
• Divine manifestions to plural wives and families
• Polygamy practiced after the Manifesto
• Prevalence of polygamy in Utah
• The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders
• Parley P. Pratt's marriage and murder
• Lorenzo Snow's statements about polygamy during the Temple Lot case

1. REDIRECT The Church of Jesus Christ and plural marriage today

Polygamy as practiced anciently

Jump to Subtopic:

• Early Christians on plural marriage
• Why was Joseph Smith sealed to mothers, daughters and sisters? Did this not violate a biblical prohibition?

Joseph Smith and Plural Marriage (Polygamy)

Summary: Joseph Smith is frequently criticized for his introduction and practice of plural marriage (often called polygamy). From a Christian perspective, these attacks usually focus on arguing that polygamy is unchristian or unbiblical, and that Joseph hid the truth from the world. From a secular perspective, it is asserted that the practice of polygamy sprung from Joseph's carnal desires to marry young women. Of particular interest is the fact that Joseph was sealed to women who were already married to other men (polyandry).

Video published by the Church History Department.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Plural wives of Joseph Smith, Jr.
• Implementation of plural marriage
• Doctrinal issues related to plural marriage
• Critics' claimed motivations for Joseph's implementation of plural marriage
• Keeping plural marriage a secret
• Entering into plural marriage
• Joseph Smith and polyandry
• Emma Smith and polygamy
• Children of Joseph Smith by polygamous marriages
• Mormonism and divorce in the nineteenth century

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Essays on various topics in Joseph Smith's plural marriages

When did plural marriage start?

Joseph Smith and plural marriage

• Beginnings of plural marriage
• Fanny Alger: Joseph's first plural wife
• Early womanizer?
• Illegal marriages in Ohio?
• Age of wives
• Children of polygamous unions
• Marrying other men's wives?
• Polyandry
• John C. Bennett

John C. Bennett and plural marriage

• John C. Bennett prior to Nauvoo
• Bennett's brothel in Nauvoo
• Rise and Fall of Bennett
• Sarah Pratt
• Bennett and Prostitution
• Nancy Rigdon
• Sidney Rigdon and Bennett's charges
• Stealing missionary wives?