Joseph Smith's Wives



Joseph Smith secretly married numerous wives while outwardly denying the practice of polygamy and preaching against it. Joseph knew of the doctrine of polygamy since 1831 and began practicing it as early as 1841, but it was not publicly announced until 1852

According to FamilySearch.org, an LDS sponsored genealogy website , Joseph married 24 women. Among those he married during his life were a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old, and two 17-year-olds when he was 37-38 years old.

Joseph received a revelation in 1843 that contained a warning of damnation if the "new and everlasting" covenant is not observed (D&C 132:4) along with the demand that Smith's wife, Emma, accept all of Smith's plural wives (D&C 132:52).

There is some dispute as to whether Joseph had sexual relations with his plural wives. Occasional denials that Joseph had sexual relations with his plural wives are puzzling given that it is generally accepted that the next six leaders of the Mormon church all had sexual relations with their plural wives.

Furthermore, it would be difficult to argue that sexual relations with plural wives is inappropriate given D&C 132:62-63: And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified...for they are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth.

ATTENTION: The following has not been verified to be using Mormon-supported sources.

According to sources not approved by the LDS church, at least nine of Joseph Smith's several wives were practicing polyandry (the practice of a woman having more than one husband at one time). Most of these polyandrous marriages were with the first husband's consent, while others were done behind the first husband's back. Smith used warnings of eternal damnation and promises of eternal rewards to secure consent to his proposals.

According to Joseph Smith's close confidant and LDS Church First Councilor, William Law

Joseph was very free in his talk about his women. He told me one day of a certain girl and remarked, that she had given him more pleasure than any girl he had ever enjoyed. I told him it was horrible to talk like this.

Some people propagate a myth that in the 1840's women typically married in their teenage years. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average age at first marriage for women in 1840 was likely between 21 and 22 years of age.

Recommended Reading

 * Wikipedia article on Joseph Smith and Polygamy
 * Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith