Joseph Smith Polygamy: Understanding Time-And-Eternity Plural Marriages

The practice of plural marriage in the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains one of the most debated and misunderstood aspects of Mormon history. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, introduced polygamy to his followers as a commandment from God. While the practice became a defining feature of early Mormonism, it also sparked conflict with both society and the government, leading to legal battles and significant changes within the Church. In this blog post, we explore the complexities of Joseph Smith’s polygamy, its religious and social implications, and the broader impact it had on the early Saints.

The Doctrine of Plural Marriage

Joseph Smith’s introduction of plural marriage was grounded in his belief that it was a divine commandment, meant to fulfill God’s purposes for both time and eternity. While the details surrounding the origins of this practice remain controversial, it is clear that Joseph Smith received the doctrine through divine revelation. The practice was initially secret, known only to a few close associates of Smith. However, over time, it became more widely practiced, particularly after the Church’s migration to Utah. This period is an important part of the Joseph Smith polygamy timeline, marking the first recorded instances of plural marriages that would spread among his followers.

Plural marriage was a deeply religious practice for those who adhered to it. It was viewed not merely as a societal arrangement, but as a means of following God’s will, ensuring the growth of the faithful, and preparing for eternal families in the afterlife. This belief was reinforced by Joseph Smith’s teachings, which emphasized the eternal nature of family relationships, wherein plural marriage was believed to play a crucial role in building up the kingdom of God on earth.

Social and Legal Implications

Despite its religious significance, plural marriage was highly controversial in the broader society. For many in 19th-century America, polygamy represented a violation of accepted social norms. The practice was perceived as an affront to monogamy and the established family structure, and it fueled animosity towards the Mormons. This tension led to questions such as did Joseph Smith have multiple wives, a question that many outsiders sought to answer with suspicion and disdain.

In Utah, where many Latter-day Saints had settled, plural marriage was legally allowed and even encouraged. The territory’s laws, particularly in the mid-1800s, provided a somewhat lenient approach to divorce, which contributed to the practice’s spread. Interestingly, the Church’s leaders were also quite generous when it came to granting divorces, particularly for women in unhappy plural marriages. This leniency allowed individuals to leave these marriages without facing societal stigma, which was uncommon in other parts of the country at the time.

However, plural marriage was not without its challenges. Some women, like Emeline B. Wells, expressed feelings of loneliness and isolation within the system. On the other hand, some men and women, such as Joseph Merrill, viewed plural marriage as a positive aspect of their religious practice. Merrill, for example, grew up in a polygamous household and believed that his mother thrived in the system, running her own farm and enjoying a strong, loving relationship with his father.

This spectrum of experiences reflects the complexity of plural marriage. It was neither uniformly positive nor negative; rather, it was shaped by the individuals involved, their circumstances, and their personal beliefs.

Government Intervention and Legal Challenges

While plural marriage was practiced by many Latter-day Saints, it was never the majority experience. As the 19th century progressed, the U.S. government began to intervene, seeing polygamy as a threat to the nation’s moral fabric. The Republican Party, founded in 1856, made the eradication of polygamy one of its central goals, viewing it alongside slavery as a “twin relic of barbarism.” President Abraham Lincoln, despite being preoccupied with the Civil War, took a hands-off approach to the issue, offering a somewhat ambivalent stance towards the Saints and their practice of polygamy.

However, the government’s interest in polygamy intensified after the Civil War. The first federal law aimed at curbing polygamy, the 1862 Morality Act, imposed heavy fines and imprisonment for those involved in plural marriages. Yet, this law lacked effective enforcement due to the ongoing conflict. The most significant legislative pressure came in the 1870s and 1880s, when the government passed increasingly stringent laws aimed at dismantling the practice.

The Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1882 was particularly harsh, stripping the Church of its legal status, disenfranchising Mormons, and even threatening to seize church property. It also made cohabitation with multiple wives illegal and barred polygamists from serving on juries or holding public office. The government’s legal actions were not only an attack on the practice of polygamy but also sought to undermine the very institution of the Church itself.

The Role of Women in Plural Marriage and the Suffrage Movement

A fascinating and often overlooked aspect of plural marriage is the role that women played in the early suffrage movement. Contrary to popular belief, many women in polygamous marriages were not oppressed by their circumstances. Instead, plural marriage offered them unique opportunities for personal growth and involvement in public life. Women like Emmeline B. Wells, Martha Hughes Cannon, and Alice Shipp used their positions as plural wives to advocate for women’s rights, including the right to vote.

Martha Hughes Cannon, for example, became the first woman elected to a state legislature, while Emmeline B. Wells worked tirelessly to secure suffrage for women in Utah. Wells, who would later serve as the president of the Relief Society, believed in the importance of women speaking out against the negative stereotypes surrounding Latter-day Saint women. At a suffragette rally, she declared, “We don’t only speak because we have the right, but justice and humanity demand that we should.” This was a direct challenge to the mainstream portrayal of Mormon women as oppressed and submissive.

The End of Plural Marriage

The relentless pressure from the U.S. government, along with the declining practice of plural marriage within the Church itself, ultimately led to the official renouncement of plural marriage in 1890. The Church’s Manifesto, issued by President Wilford Woodruff, marked the end of the practice as a doctrine of the Church, though some individuals continued to practice it in secret for years afterward.

In the years leading up to the Manifesto, Church leaders and members alike wrestled with the tension between their religious beliefs and the laws of the land. The George Reynolds trial, a legal challenge to the anti-polygamy laws, ultimately resulted in the conviction of Reynolds and the Supreme Court’s ruling that polygamy could be outlawed despite the First Amendment’s protection of religious beliefs. This was a significant blow to the Church’s defense of plural marriage, but it also led to the eventual realization that the practice could not continue in the face of mounting legal and social opposition.

Joseph Smith Escaping Polygamy Tree

A deeply emotional aspect of Joseph Smith’s polygamous legacy is the notion of Joseph Smith escaping polygamy tree, an idea that symbolizes the tension between Smith’s religious obligations and the societal pressures of his time. As Smith’s followers grappled with the emotional and social ramifications of plural marriage, it is evident that many saw their faithfulness to the principle of polygamy as an essential component of their religious identity.

Conclusion

Joseph Smith’s introduction of plural marriage was a pivotal moment in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the practice was rooted in deep religious conviction, it also led to significant challenges for the Church and its members. Over time, plural marriage declined, both due to internal shifts within the community and external pressures from the U.S. government. Despite the legal battles and controversies, the experience of plural marriage remains a complex and integral part of Mormon history, with lasting implications for the Church and its teachings on family, faith, and freedom of religion.

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Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.

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