Executive Brief: Did Joseph Smith Practice Polygamy?
Core question: Did Joseph Smith begin the practice of plural marriage, or did Brigham Young introduce it after Joseph’s death?
Timeline Overview
- 1830–1835: Public monogamy; possible sealing to Fanny Alger.
- 1841–1844: Joseph secretly seals to 30+ women in Nauvoo. D&C 132 dictated in 1843.
- June 1844: Nauvoo Expositor exposes polygamy. Joseph and Hyrum killed.
- 1852: Brigham Young announces polygamy and publishes D&C 132.
- 1860: RLDS founded under Joseph Smith III, denying Joseph practiced polygamy.
Evidence That Joseph Smith Originated Polygamy
- D&C 132: Dictated July 12, 1843 by Joseph Smith; scribed by William Clayton. Validated by Clayton, Hyrum Smith, and Kingsbury.
- Plural Wives: Sealed to 29–33 women including Eliza R. Snow, Emily Partridge, Helen Mar Kimball. (Compton, Hales)
- Sexual Relations: Emily Partridge and Melissa Lott testified under oath to conjugal relations with Joseph.
- Church Acknowledgment: The LDS Church confirmed Joseph practiced polygamy in the 2014 Gospel Topics essay.
- Scholarly Consensus: Confirmed by Bushman, Compton, Hales, and even modern RLDS historians.
The Case That Brigham Young Originated or Exaggerated Polygamy
- Public Denials: Joseph publicly said he had only one wife, even weeks before his death.
- Emma Smith: Denied Joseph ever practiced or taught polygamy.
- RLDS Tradition: Joseph Smith III gathered affidavits supporting his father’s innocence.
- D&C 132 Skepticism: Not published until 1852. Survives only in copies. Edits by Willard Richards raise timeline questions.
- Scriptural Conflicts: Book of Mormon (Jacob 2:24) and Joseph’s JST edits condemn David & Solomon’s plural marriages.
Comparative Analysis
| Category | Joseph Started It | Brigham Invented It |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Evidence | Dozens of journals, affidavits, and sealing records | No contemporary documents from Joseph; D&C 132 published posthumously |
| Witness Testimony | Emily Partridge, Malissa Lott, Eliza Snow, William Clayton | Emma Smith, Joseph Smith III, William Marks, RLDS statements |
| Church Position | LDS acknowledges Joseph introduced it | RLDS originally denied it, now acknowledges it historically |
| Conspiracy Burden | No whistleblowers from 70+ alleged participants | Requires massive, silent conspiracy by Brigham and all Utah leaders |
| Scriptural Support | D&C 132, patriarchal precedents | Jacob 2, JST changes, 1835 D&C monogamy clause |
Conclusion: What We Know and What Remains Uncertain
We know:
- Joseph Smith secretly practiced polygamy in Nauvoo.
- Brigham Young openly continued and expanded it in Utah.
- The LDS Church affirms Joseph’s involvement; RLDS once denied it but later conceded to the evidence.
Uncertain:
- Joseph’s private feelings and motivations
- Whether all sealings were consummated
- Emma’s true level of knowledge and emotional coping
- Why no children resulted from plural unions
“Joseph Smith did practice plural marriage—even if he kept it secret. Brigham Young didn’t invent it; he exposed it. That’s what the evidence shows.”
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