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The Unfolding Restoration Lesson 22: Plural Marriage
Anthony Sweat explores how Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage unfolded as part of the Restoration, why it remains difficult for many, and the theology behind it.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: The Law of Marriage
How Doctrine and Covenants 49 and Jacob 2 frame the Lord's law of marriage — and the exception that set the stage for the doctrine of plural marriage.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: Official Declarations 1 and 2 (Part 3)
Joseph Smith prepared the Articles of Faith as a summary of Church beliefs for audiences outside the faith, emphasizing the principle of living revelation.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: Official Declarations 1 and 2 (Part 2)
Official Declarations 1 and 2 clarify the Church's positions on polygamy and the priesthood restriction, providing context for understanding both Joseph Smith's wives and Blacks in Mormonism.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: Official Declarations 1 and 2 (Part 1)
President Wilford Woodruff issued Official Declaration 1 in response to federal pressure, fundamentally changing the Church's stance on plural marriage.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: Why Did God Command Polygamy?
A deep dive into the theological and practical reasons Joseph Smith taught that God commanded the practice of polygamy in the early Church.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: Law of Marriage and Polygamy
Jacob's teachings cut through confusion about marriage, establishing the fundamental law and explaining the historical exception of plural marriage.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Wives: Sources on Early Church Polygamy
Historians rely on affidavits, journal entries, and contemporary accounts to piece together what is known about Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage in Nauvoo.
By Todd Noall
Mormon Polygamy: A Battle of Reluctance
The Mormon Church has gradually shifted from reluctance to openness about its polygamous past, though questions about its origins, scope, and theology persist.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Polygamy: Latter-day Saint Polygamy Q&A
Explore the origins, timeline, and legacy of plural marriage in the early Church through questions answered by historical experts.
By Todd Noall
Joseph Smith Polygamy: Malachi's Prophecy of the Priesthood
The angel Moroni's appearance to Joseph Smith in 1823 centered on Elijah's coming and the sealing keys that would restore eternal marriage.
By Todd Noall
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Polygamy?
Jacob's condemnation of unauthorized polygamy reveals divine principles about marriage and proper authority.
By Todd Noall