Joseph Smith introduced the practice of plural marriage, or polygamy, among the early LDS members in the 1840s. This practice was controversial both within and outside the church and led to significant debate and conflict. While some women accepted Joseph Smith polygamy, others resisted it, contributing to the complex history of plural marriage in early LDS history.
One of the questions that often comes up when discussing Joseph Smith and the topic of plural marriage is what were Joseph Smith’s motives for introducing polygamy? Since the 1840s, those opposed to Joseph Smith and polygamy, have accused him of being motivated by predatory behavior and using his power to coerce women into a plural marriage. However, there is ample evidence that Joseph Smith did not have sexual relations with many of his wives and did not ever coerce women into plural marriages. There are several well-documented instances of women who rejected plural marriage proposals from Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
In summary, while Joseph Smith introduced and practiced plural marriage, not all women in the early LDS community accepted or embraced this practice. The reasons for rejection varied and were influenced by personal, social, and doctrinal factors. The history of these women and their responses to plural marriage remains an important aspect of understanding the broader context of early LDS church practices.
Key Figures and Context
Scholars of polygamy, Brian and Laura Hales state on their website, Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, that there were at least seven women who rejected a plural marriage proposal from Joseph Smith. First, they note that Joseph Smith’s response to these rejections was to let the matter go. Joseph Smtih had no intention to force these women to marry him or retaliate against them after they rejected his proposal.
The seven women who declined to become Joseph Smith’s wife were Sarah Granger Kimball, Rachel Ivins (Grant), Lydia Moon, Cordelia C. Morley (Cox), Esther M. Johnson, Nancy Rigdon (daughter of Sidney Rigdon), and Sarah Pratt. Cordelia C. Morley explained her experience like this: “In the spring of forty-four, plural marriage was introduced to me by my parents from Joseph Smith, asking their consent and a request to me to be his wife. Imagine if you can my feelings, to be a plural wife, something I never thought I ever could. I knew nothing of such religion and could not accept it. Neither did I.” Cordelia would go on to regret her decision and was sealed to Joseph Smith after his death.
One of the people most affected by polygamy was Emma Smith. Later in life, Emma would deny that Joseph Smith introduced the practice of plural marriage to the church and its community. However, there is evidence to suggest that Emma Smith knew and accepted plural marriage for a small window of time in the spring of 1843.
By Todd Noall, Source Expert
Todd Noall is an author and religious scholar at Mormonism Explained with a focus on the history and theology of religion.
Fact Checked by Mr. Kevin Prince, Source Expert
Kevin Prince is a religious scholar and host of the Gospel Learning Youtube channel. His channel has garnered over 41,000 subscribers and accumulated over 4.5 million views. Mr. Prince also created the Gospel Learning App, a reliable platform where individuals seeking truth can access trustworthy answers to religious questions from top educators worldwide.
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