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. 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. This is an interesting book for both mormon and non mormon women. The founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged. This was one factor which did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the lord. Liliana corona plays king lamonis wife in the book of mormon videos. Apr 26, 2010 josephs place and influence in the tapestry of american and world history is undeniably significant, and his story is certainly one worth sharing on the screen. He is a direct descendant of asael and mary duty smith, the prophet joseph smith s grandparents, and other lds church history figures.
The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. However, this is not the first time that the church has admitted. Is it possible that joseph smith fathered children with some of his plural wives, and that he covered up the evidence of pregnancies. He has also played roles in other widely distributed lds church productions.
With joseph smith there were only four or five that even claimed to have had a physical relationship with. Joseph smith and the criminal justice system wikipedia. Joseph smithpolygamychildren of polygamous marriagesdid he. At age 20, smithdescribed in court records as joseph the glasslookerfaced his first criminal charge, a misdemeanor count of being a disorderly person. His path to the formation of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was influenced by this time period, while also becoming a. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Smith was the founding prophet and first president of the church. From the same papyri collection, smith produced the first part of the book of abraham, but was killed before any known part of the book of joseph was translated.
The refiners fire john brooke examines joseph smith s environment to try and discover why joseph smith accomplished what he did. William law was a member of the first presidency from 1841 through 1844. Resolving a 150yearold paternity case in mormon history using dtc autosomal dna testing of distant relatives. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints praises the balanced analysis in the book. A chapter from the dvd book of mormon archaeology in north america by wayne n. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints yes, joseph smith peered into a hat as he translated parts of the book of mormon. Aug 31, 2016 joseph smith was a sexual predator joseph smith, the mormon predator prophet has produced a legacy of abuse that continues to this day. The 1831 transcript of a revelation by joseph smith approving marriages between church members and native americans, stating for it is my will, that in time, ye should take unto you wives of the lamanites and nephites, that their posterity may become white, delightsome and just, for even now their females are more virtuous than the gentiles. Each filmmaker who undertakes telling his story by dramatic medium is faced with the challenge of finding a suitable actor to play the. The first mormon, was born in salt lake city, earned a masters degree in library science at columbia university, worked at the new york public library, and became an assistant professor and head of the teachers central laboratory at hunter college library, new york.
Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. What do we know about mormon leader joseph smiths wives. Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to joseph smith. Dna rules out joseph smith has descendants from polygamist. Further, thomas bullock, who inserted the happiness essay into their history to be published became a. In fact, joseph can be proven to be a liar when it comes to monogamy, the book of abraham, and polytheism. Did joseph smith have intimate relations with other mens wives to whom he had been sealed, and did any children result from. Nov 12, 2014 the mormon church says for the first time that its founder joseph smith took up to 40 wives, including a 14yearold and others who were already married. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom.
He was the son of former church president joseph f. Mormon church finally admits founder joseph smith had 40 wives. Bennett, some have charged that joseph would send men on missions in order to marry their wives. Born on december 23, 1805, in sharon, vermont, to joseph and lucy mack smith, joseph smith jr. The founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church. She has been called the first plural wife of the prophet joseph smith. Joseph smith, the founder and leader of the mormon religion, is murdered along with his brother hyrum when an anti mormon mob breaks into a jail. By 1817, he had moved with his family to the burnedover district of western new york.
Joseph smith taught that the text contains the writings of the ancient biblical patriarch joseph. The church has previously sought to portray smith as loyal to his first wife emma. Smith, who noted 1869 affidavit of beamans brotherinlaw joseph b. Plural marriage in kirtland and nauvoo, gospel topics, the. The lds church now officially admits that joseph smith had over 30 wives, that he had sex with some of them, and that some of his wives had legal husbands. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. The book was written by ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The prophet once taught that complainers cannot be exalted.
The lds church and joseph smith s polygamy doug fabrizios interview of assistant lds church historian richard turley and scholars patrick q. Kimball to join the mormon church, but get them to leave their families more than once travel to england and convert thousands to the fact that joseph smith was a prophet and that the book of mormon was true. Book of mormon armor and battle mounds joseph smith foundation. Citing the book of mormon, smith ended his pamphlet emphasizing that the book of mormon, while generally proscribing biblicaltype polygamy, does include the caveat, for if i will, saith the lord of hosts, raise up a seed unto me, i will command my people emphasis is smith s. 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. A theory of evolutionary development for the structure of the book of mormon find out how the book of mormon narrative evolved in joseph smith s mind during its creation. You will have a solid foundation of the early mormon church and its charismatic leader, joseph smith, after reading this book. Emma wouldnt let joseph into the garden because people would gather just to be around him and would trample the plants. After receiving a revelation commanding him to practice plural marriage, joseph smith married multiple wives and introduced the practice to close associates. Peterson with a portrait of joseph smiths first wife, emma, at a display of her paintings of his 34 wives in provo, utah, last month.
Do you know of any joseph smith documents that we might not have heard about. They were married on january 18, 1827 in south bainbridge, chenango county, new york. During this period, smith briefly attended methodist meetings with his wife, until a cousin of hers objected to. Misrepresenting polygamy, especially that of joseph.
Fanny was also smith s first confirmed plural wife. Mormon leader joseph smiths 34 wives inspire utah artist the. See smith came to knowher in kirtland during early 1833 when she, at the age of 16, stayed at his home as a housemaid. The book of joseph is an untranslated text identified by joseph smith after analyzing egyptian papyri that came into his possession in 1835. Did joseph smith have sexual relations with wives other than emma. She participated in sacred ordinances, and knew joseph and his calling in an intimate way that few if any others did, and continued to insist to her death that he had been a prophet.
How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy. Willard richards took charge of writing joseph smiths history in 1845 and remained in that work until his death in 1854 see dean c. Jessee, the writing of joseph smiths history sandy, utah. Nov 11, 2014 the founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Joseph smith characterized the book of mormon as the keystone of mormonism, and claimed that it was the most correct of any book on earth.
One of these tenets was polygamy, which his contemporaries said came as a result of smith having been commanded by an angel to marry plural wives. Joseph smith came of age during the second great awakening. During the translation of the book of mormon, joseph and oliver cowdery translated about 12 pages a day. Joseph smith and plural marriage church of jesus christ. Book of mormon, 1837, page 7 the joseph smith papers. First understand the difference between what was considered a spiritual wife verses a wife who you have a physical relationship. The book, which included an appendix of smith s 48 wives she wrote that there were probably more, resulted in brodies excommunication for apostasy by the lds church after its release. I have always loved the book of mormon, says jackson. This article examines how the mormon church is defending joseph s polygamy. Book of mormon, 1830, page 5 the joseph smith papers. For joseph smiths wife emma, it was an excruciating ordeal. About 55 percent were single at the time of marriage and were not allowed to enter civil marriages until joseph smith s death. Show me how smith, along with his coconspiritors, was able to not only convince brigham young and heber c.
Smith and the greatnephew of lds church founder joseph smith. Joseph smith was 14 when he saw god and jesus christ. Polygamy wasnt a theological debate for early mormon. However, behind the controversy, lies the untold history and inspiring stories of real women with their personal experiences, successes, failures, trials, and legacies. One of the most controversial facets of latterday saint history is joseph smith s practice of plural marriage. My greatgreatgrandmother, emma hale smith, ensign, aug. An account of lehi and his wife sariah, and his four sons, being called, beginning at the eldest, laman.
Unfortunately, later book of mormon peoples saw the rise of wicked kings such as noah, the son of zeniff, who did not keep the commandments of god by taking many wives and concubines mosiah 11. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. According to smith, an angel named moroni directed him to a buried book of golden plates hidden at the hill cumorah and as per the instruction of the angel he translated the book and published it as the book of mormon. Joseph s place and influence in the tapestry of american and world history is undeniably significant, and his story is certainly one worth sharing on the screen.
Dna rules out joseph smith has descendants from polygamist wives. Church admits for the first time how many wives founder joseph smith had. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas. After the book of mormon was published, mormonism began to spread and grow rapidly. Joseph smith was a sexual predator issues facing the mormon. God declared in the book of mormon that monogamy was the standard. July 19, 1876 july 2, 1972 was an american religious leader and writer who served as the tenth president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church from 1970 until his death in 1972. Mormon founder joseph smith took his first plural wife, fanny alger, in the mid1830s. The history of joseph smith as told by his wives and their journalized views. Franklyn richard rick macy born october 18, 1953 is a latterday saint actor who has played the role of joseph smith.
Joseph smithpolygamyhiding the practice from emma joseph smith. She wrote for him during the initial translation of the book of mormon. Mormon church admits founder joseph smith was a polygamist. How can joseph smith be a man of god when he had 40 wives. May showing examples of book of mormon armor and battle mound. The majority of smith s wives 11 out of the 33 documented by compton were between the ages of 14 and 20 when they wed the prophet. This conviction was four years before he published the book of mormon. Brief background of my life as a mormon leaving mormonism and some experiences as a mormon history of joseph smith book of mormon book of abraham the temple church members. The plural wives of joseph smith, is a calmly crafted work designed to bring truth and understanding to this segment of latterday saint history which too often has been characterized by either deliberate obfuscation or shameless sensationalism. The first mormon prophet, joseph smith, was arrested and convicted in new york and was found guilty of being a conartist, an impostorhe was a necromancer and a charlatan. Did joseph smith send men on missions in order to steal their wives. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible, used by latter day saints. A well written book about a shameful period of history.
Smith s first known sexual affair was with a teenager named fannie alger, who was living with smith and his first wife emma in their kirtland, ohio, home. This principle was among the most challenging aspects of the restoration. Heres a behindthescenes look at the filming of the book. Kirby heyborne is an lds actor best known for his role as elder calhoun in. After smiths death, beaman remarried, becoming the ninth wife of brigham young. An actor portrays the prophet joseph smith in the churchs 2005 movie, joseph smith. Joseph smiths first wife was emma hale 180479 the daughter of isaac and elizabeth lewis hale. What do latterday saint churches believe and teach about polygamy today 3. Chart of joseph smiths plural wives mormons in transition. The battle to control the public memory of joseph smith.
Additional articles answering the tough questions dealing with joseph smith and magic will be published by lds answers in the near future. He later married many additional women including young teens and some who already were wed to other men and introduced the practice of polygamy to select members in the 1840s. Biographies of josephs plural wives joseph smiths polygamy. They went through all the beginning years of the mormon church and suffered the consequences. Book of mormon north american geography joseph smith foundation. Joseph smith recovery from mormonism the mormon church. Interracial marriage and the church of jesus christ of. The lds church addresses joseph smiths polygamy mormons. Macy is married to marsha, and has three children with her.
Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord, has done more, save jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in. Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirtythree women married joseph smith, the founder of mormonism. The book of mormon, along with his revelations, then became fundamental tenets of the mormon church. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america. For a summary article of these women after the death of joseph smith, read joseph smiths plural wives after the martyrdom. However, if joseph smith was legally married to helen he. In recent years, the church acknowledged that joseph smith wed as many as 40 wives. Telling the story of joseph smith on film has been the ambition of many artists for a long time. Pdf version of remembering the wives of joseph smith. What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when i can only.
Joseph smith was an american religious leader and the founder of mormonism. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text. Aug 11, 2011 listed as a smith plural wife by joseph f. Jun 25, 2008 the lds church lies by 1 not educating the common mormon people about the nature of joseph smith s polygyny and polyandry, and 2 allowing gigantic faithpromoting rumors concerning polygamy to. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. Joseph smith was a conartist, impostor, necromancer. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Dec 26, 2016 for information addressing specific claims made by detractors of the prophet, please see the resources at the end of this article.
When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Church leaders, cast and crew express excitement for. Oct 24, 2014 joseph smith, who wrote the book of mormon and established the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, is thought to have married as many as 50 women, but for years the senior church. Kieth merrill discusses north american setting for book of mormon and mistake made in filming of the testaments. The plural wives of joseph smith from the publisher. Joseph smithpolygamychildren of polygamous marriages did. Media related to wives of joseph smith at wikimedia commons. Although emma remained estranged from brigham young and the latterday saints in utah, she maintained her belief in joseph smith s prophetic role and in the divine truth of the book of mormon. Noble, stating he officiated at the wedding, william clayton said smith told him in february 1843 that beaman was one of his plural wives. Most of smiths wives were between the ages of 20 and 40, the essay says, but he married helen mar kimball, a daughter of two close friends. Her son joseph smith iii became president of the reorganized church at its founding in 1860, with his brother alexander hale smith as his counselor. In conclusion, though it is possible that joseph had some marriages in which there were no sexual relations, there is no explicit or convincing evidence for this except, perhaps, in the cases of the older wives, judging from later mormon. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. At the age of 24, he married lucy mack in tunbridge, vermont on january 24, 1795.
It has left a remarkable impression on all those who have participated in it, from church leaders to the crew to the actors themselves. Concerning this record, the prophet joseph smith, who translated it by the gift and power of god, said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book see the introduction at the. Smith was born in vermont in 1805, and his family moved to new york in 1817. And it came to pass that coriantum took to wife, in his old age, a young maid, and begat sons and daughters. What is known about possible children through joseph smith s polygamous marriages. He was one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon s golden plates and was the first presiding patriarch of the early latter day. This was originally written as a letter to a friend, a mormon, who wanted to know why i left mormonism. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Joseph smith s toleration of homoeroticism in the mormon churchs highest leadership circles and charges against smith of committing immoral acts with men the first known instance of homoerotic behavior in the mormon church first presidency involved john c. Ever since the prophet joseph died as a martyr in carthage, illinois, some latterday saints have felt disappointment that joseph s wife emma did not go with the church in the westward exodus of the saints in 184647. Two of my greatgreat grandmothers were polygamist wives and they knew joseph smith. Joseph smithpolygamysent husbands on missions to steal wives. Lds church history documents that their mormon founder, joseph smith, lied to a large group of people about his having multiple wives. List of joseph smiths wives jump to navigation jump to search.
730 22 472 1213 1514 87 802 1437 1398 504 145 933 58 424 417 304 152 208 1606 770 986 698 1316 346 1597 1033 1052 129 1079 395 473 817 613 594 868