2/16/2012
Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale T I M E L I N E o f M O R M O N P O L Y G A M Y
Book of Mormon Published, 28 year old Condemns Polygamy
"..behold David and Solomon truly had Joseph Smith many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me... Marries hearken to the word of the Lord: ...there shall no man among you have 16 year old save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none." Fanny Alger ~ Book of Mormon, Jacob 2:23-24,27
Official Church publication Doctrine and Covenants denies polygamy charges published - Section 101 condemns polygamy "Inasmuch as this Church of Christ “..this church of Christ has been reproached has been reproached with the crime of with the crime of .. polygamy: .. we believe, fornication and polygamy, we declare that that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband... the above rule of we believe that one man should have marriage as the only one practiced in this one wife and one woman but one husband.” church... We ... know of no other rule or ~Messenger and Advocate 1:163; also ~ History of the Church 2:247 system of marriage..
1 2/16/2012
General Authorities issue Joseph Smith statement condemning polygamy Marries …we will have no fellowship whatever with any Elder ... who is guilty of polygamy ... and who does not in Lucinda Harris all things conform to the laws of the church contained who was at the in the Bible and in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. time married to ~ Quorum of Seventies Resolution #1 ~ Messenger and Advocate 3:511 George Harris
Oliver Cowdery confronts Smith about his Polygamy Oliver Cowdery is A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of Excommunicated [Joseph Smith] and Fanny Alger’s… Oliver Cowdery – Asst President and Book of Mormon Witness Letter recorded by his brother, Warren Cowdery
Joseph Smith Denies Joseph Smith denies polygamy Polygamy th Joseph Smith, Question 7 : “We have heard that it is reported by some, ... Do the Mormons believe in having that we not only dedicated our property, but our more wives than one? families also to the Lord; and Satan, taking advantage of this, has perverted it into Answer: No, not at the same time. licentiousness such as a community of wives, Joseph Smith, Mormonism Founder which is an abomination in the sight of God.” Joseph Smith, Mormonism Founder Elder’s Journal, p. 43 Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 127 History of the Church 3:230
2 2/16/2012
Joseph Smith, 35, Joseph Smith marries 20 yr old, marries Zina Huntington Jacobs, who at the time Louisa Beaman was married to Henry Jacobs and WAS 7 MONTHS PREGNANT
Joseph Smith Joseph Smith marries marries Agnes Coolbrith, Presendia Buell she was the widow of his brother, Don Carlos
Joseph Smith, 36- Joseph Smith, 36, marries Sylvia Lyon, marries 23 yr old 23, who at the time Mary Lightner who was married to at the time was Windsor Lyon. married to Adam Joseph would also Lightner marry Sylvia’s mother: Patty the next month
3 2/16/2012
th Joseph Smith pens the 12 Joseph Smith, 36, Article of Faith marries 47 yr. old Patty Sessions “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in who at the time was married obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.” to David Sessions. Smith had married Patty’s Polygamy was a violation of the law. daughter Sylvia the previous month
36 Yr. old 36 yr. old Joseph Smith marries: Joseph Smith * Sarah Cleveland, 53 marries 27 yr old * Eliza Snow, 38 and Marinda Hyde * Elizabeth Durfee, 50 who at the time who at the time was was married to married to Orson Hyde Jabez Durfee
Official Church publication Joseph Smith, 36, denies polygamy marries Dulcena Johnson, “But for the information of those ... and 17 yr old foolish tales about two wives, we would Sarah Whitney say that no such principle ever existed among the Latter Day Saints…” ~ Millennial Star, Vol.3, No4, p.73
4 2/16/2012
Official Church publication Joseph Smith denies polygamy marries Martha “… inasmuch as this church of Christ McBride has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy; we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife....” ~Times and Seasons 4:909
37 year old Joseph Smith Joseph Smith, marries marries Ruth Sayers 16 year old Flora Woodworth
37 yr old Joseph Smith Joseph Smith, marries marries Almera sisters Emily, 19, Johnson and Eliza Partridge, 22
5 2/16/2012
37 year old 37 year old Joseph Smith Joseph Smith marries marries sisters 17 yr old Lucy Walker, Sarah, 17, and And Maria Lawrence, 19 14 yr old Helen Mar Kimball
37 year old Joseph Smith, 37, marries Joseph Smith Elvira Holmes who is marries already married to Hanna Ells, 29, Jonathan Holmes - AND Smith also marries 14 year old Rhoda Richards Nancy Winchester who is 58 years old.
“Revelation” on plurality of wives – D&C 132 Joseph Smith Smith dictates a "revelation" requiring the marries practice of polygamy to obtain exaltation: becoming gods (v.1-6, 20). Desdemona The revelation specifically states that if Emma rejects it she would be destroyed (v.54,64). But it Fullmer was Joseph who died within a year. Emma, who was 39 years … lived to be 75. Additional wives were to be virgins. (v.61-62). ~ Doctrine & Covenants 132
6 2/16/2012
37 year old Joseph Smith Joseph Smith, marries marries Olive G. Frost 19 year old, Melissa Lott
37 year old, Despite the July revelation Joseph Smith requiring polygamy, the marries Mormon Church publication 56 year old, Millennial Star continued to deny it. Fanny Young ~ Millennial Star, Vol. 4, No. 9, p.144
Joseph Smith denies polygamy Under the direction of Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of officiated a polygamous Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hyram wedding for Mormon Brown, has been preaching polygamy, … apostle Erastus Snow This is to notify him… that he has been cut off ~ Testimony of Erastus Snow, The Historical Record 6:232 from the church, for his iniquity. ~ Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder; Times and Seasons 5:423
7 2/16/2012
Joseph’s brother Hyrum Joseph Smith denies polygamy denies polygamy
“…some of your elders say, that a man having a “… pertaining to John C. Bennet’s spiritual wife certain priesthood, may have as many wives as system …we cannot but express our surprise… he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here: I say that anything like iniquity is practiced, much less … there is no such doctrine taught here. And any taught or sanctioned by the … LDS Church…” man that is found teaching privately or publicly ~ Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder; any such doctrine, …. had better beware Times and Seasons, Vol.5, No.7, p.491 what he is about. ~ Hyrum Smith - Assistant President,Times and Seasons 5:474
Presidency Counselors Joseph Smith Protest Smith's Behavior denies polygamy “I had not been married scarcely five minutes, After Jane Law rebuffs Joseph Smith’s before it was reported that I had seven wives. .. proposal .. Her husband William Law, This spiritual wifeism! Why, a man dares not Smith’s 2nd Counselor, is excommunicated. speak or wink, for fear of being accused of this...
st What a thing it is for a man to be accused of Austin Cowles, the 1 Counselor, quits the committing adultery, and having seven wives, church in protest. when I can only find one. I am .. as innocent as I was fourteen years ago.” ~Joseph Smith - Mormonism founder, History of the Church 6:410-11
William Law publishes Joseph Smith orders the newspaper condemning printing press destroyed Smith’s polygamy Smith is the Mayor of In the latter part of the summer, 1843, the Patriarch, Nauvoo when he Hyrum Smith, did in the High Council, of which I was orders the Expositor a member, introduce what he said was a revelation destroyed – the given through the Prophet...... the doctrine of a Governor has plurality of wives, or marrying virgins…. ~ Nauvoo Expositor, Vol. 1, No. 1, p.2 Joseph arrested..
8 2/16/2012
Joseph Smith is killed Sidney Rigdon admits church authorities An angry mob practice polygamy storms Joseph and Hyrum’s It is a fact, so well known, that the Twelve and their adherents have endeavored to carry jail cell - they are this spiritual wife business in secret... and have killed in a gone to the most shameful and desperate lengths, to keep it from the public. gun battle. ~ Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 1, No. 1
Official LDS Publication Official LDS Publication denies polygamy denies polygamy
The law of the land and the rules of the church do not The Latter-day Saints are charged by their allow one man to have enemies, with the blackest crimes. Treason, more than one wife murder, theft, polygamy, and adultery, are among the many crimes laid to their charge... alive at once. ~ Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 21, p.715 ~ Times and Seasons 6:894
John Taylor denies Public Acknowledgment polygamy while married to of polygamy! at least 7 plural wives In a special conference, the LDS “We are accused here of polygamy, and church publicly actions the most indelicate, obscene, and acknowledges the disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and practice of depraved heart could have contrived. These polygamy. things are too outrageous to admit of belief...” ~ Deseret News Extra, September 14, 1852 ~ John Taylor, Three Nights’ Public Discussion, p.8
9 2/16/2012
Mormon Authority encourages Official LDS publication polygamy condemns polygamy before 1843 “What would a man of God say, … when Joseph … came and said, "I want your wife?" "O yes," he would say, "here she is, there are plenty more"... The Latter-day Saints, from the rise of the Did the Prophet Joseph want every man's wife he Church in 1830, till the year 1843, had no asked for?... If such a man of God should come to authority to marry more than one wife each. me and say, "I want your gold & silver, or your To have done otherwise, would have wives," I should say, "Here they are, I wish I had been a great transgression. more to give you, take all I have got." ~ Millennial Star, Vol. 19, No. 30, p.475 ~ Jedediah M. Grant - First Presidency Counselor Journal of Discourses 2:13-13-14
Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act Mormon Prophet Brigham Young declares polygamy United States President Abraham a priority over Lincoln signs the obtaining statehood Morrill Anti-Bigamy "Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as Act targeting the a State into the Union without denying the LDS Church principle of polygamy?" If we are not admitted until, we shall never be admitted. ~ Journal of Discourses 11:269
Doctrine and Covenants Mormon Prophet John Section 101 removed, Taylor declares polygamy Section 132 inserted superior than obeying After 41 years as part of the LDS canon, federal law Section 101 condemning polygamy is removed “I was asked, “Do you believe in obeying the from the Doctrine and Covenants. laws of the United States?” Yes I do, in all except Section 132 requiring polygamy one.... “What law is that?” for exaltation is canonized. The law in relation to polygamy.” Section 132 remains part of the canon today. ~ John Taylor - Mormon prophet Journal of Discourses 20:317
10 2/16/2012
Edmunds-Tucker Act Andrew Jenson, Asst. Church Historian compiles The United States Congress passes the list of Smith’s plural wives Edmunds-Tucker Act which permits the government to seize assets and “… is considered the first list disincorporate the LDS church for of the wives of Joseph Smith. continuing to practice polygamy He documented 28 plural wives, against the law. The bill is enacted not including Emma. into law March 3 ~ The Historical Record 6:233-234
Manifesto – Mormon prophet Lorenzo Official Declaration-1 Snow condemns the practice Under increasing pressure from the federal of polygamy before 1843 government, the Woodruff issued a statement denying that the Mormon Church was practicing “Before the giving of that revelation in 1843 if a polygamy. I, ..do hereby, … declare that these man married more wives than one who were living at the same time, he would have been cut charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or off from the church. It would have been adultery plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice. under the laws of the church and ~ Wilford Woodruff - Mormon prophet D & C Official Declaration—1 under the laws of the State, too.” ~ Lorenzo Snow - Mormon prophet, The Temple Lot Case, pp.320-322
Reed Smoot Hearings Second Manifesto In response to the Reed Smoot Hearings, Hearings held by the Mormon Pres. Joseph F. Smith issued United States Congress ...another statement denying polygamy. reveal that polygamy “Inasmuch as there are numerous reports .. was still being practiced that plural marriages have been entered into I.. secretly among LDS affirm and declare that no such marriages have church general been solemnized with the sanction .. of the authorities Church.. all such marriages are prohibited, and if any .. member .. enter into any such marriage, he will be… excommunicated..” ~ Joseph F. Smith - Mormon prophet Conference Report, p.97
11 2/16/2012
In protest two Mormon Apostles resign Mormon Apostle Richard R. Lyman is John W. Taylor & Matthias F. Cowley excommunicated resigned from the for secretly Quorum of Twelve, practicing both continued to take plural wives. polygamy
Doctrinal Mormon Apostle Bruce R. teachings on polygamy McConkie anticipates polygamy will resume “ Obviously the holy practice [plural marriage] will commence again When polygamy was after the Second Coming of the Son of Man and the ushering in of the openly practiced, Mormon millennium.” authorities taught that: ~ Bruce R. McConkie - Mormon apostle, Mormon Doctrine, p.578
Those who reject it I want to prophesy that all men and women who oppose the revelation would be damned. which God has given in relation to “The Lord has said, that those polygamy will find themselves in who reject this principle reject darkness; the Spirit of God will their salvation, they shall be withdraw from them from the very damned, saith the Lord; moment of their opposition to that those to whom I reveal this law principle, until they will finally go and they do not receive it, down to hell and be damned, if they shall be damned.” Orson Pratt, Jod, 17 pg 224 do not repent. JoD, 17,pg 225 Orson Pratt
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Verily, thus saith the Lord... as touching the principle of... having It is a requirement to obtain many wives and concubines ..for the highest exaltation: all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey … becoming gods For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not “The only men who become Gods, that covenant, then are ye damned; for no even the Sons of God, are those who one can reject this covenant and be enter into polygamy.” permitted to enter into my glory... must and shall abide the law, or he shall be ~ Brigham Young - Mormon prophet, Journal of Discourses 11:269 damned, saith the Lord God. — Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132
Joseph F. Smith: “Some people have If polygamy is not true then supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of … nonessential neither is celestial marriage to the salvation or exaltation of mankind. .. If plurality of marriage is not true or ... if a some of the Saints have said .. that a man man has no divine right to marry two with one wife .. will receive an exaltation wives or more in this world, then as great and glorious,… as he possibly marriage for eternity is not true, and your could with more than one. I want here to faith is all vain, and all the sealing enter my solemn protest against this idea, ordinances and powers, pertaining to for I know it is false ... marriages for eternity are vain, ~ Joseph F. Smith - Mormon prophet; worthless, good for nothing; for as sure Journal of Discourses 20:28-30 as one is true the other also must be true. ~ Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt – JoD, 21:296
Polygamy will exist Brigham Young in the afterlife Mormon Prophet
I bear my solemn testimony that plural marriage is as true as any principle that has been revealed from the The Scripture says that He, the Lord, heavens. I bear my testimony that it is a necessity, and that the Church of Christ in its fullness never came walking in the Temple, with His existed without it. Where you have the eternity of train; I do no know who they were, marriage you are bound to have plural marriage; bound to; and it is one of the marks of the Church of unless His wives and children... Jesus Christ in its sealing ordinances. ~ Journal of Discourses 13:309 ~ George Teasdale - Mormon apostle; Journal of Discourses 25:21
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Brigham Young Mormon Prophet The first 7 Mormon prophets God the Father was a polygamist: had at least 136 wives “When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, Joseph Smith 34; Brigham Young 56 one of his wives with him.” John Taylor 18; Wilford Woodruff 10 Lorenzo Snow 9; Joseph F. Smith 6 ~ Journal of Discourses 1:50 Heber J. Grant 3
"... for a tree is known by it's fruit" ~ Matthew 12:37 ~
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