Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage: Trials, Challenges, and the Early Years

Joseph Smith polygamy timeline remains one of the most contentious and intriguing aspects of the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church, stands as a central figure in the religious history of the 19th century. One of the most controversial aspects of his life and leadership was his practice of plural marriage, often known as polygamy. The topic remains a source of intense discussion, with varying interpretations of the motivations, struggles, and consequences of Joseph Smith polygamy timeline. What are the circumstances surrounding these marriages, and how did the prophet navigate the complexities of living and teaching this principle? In this article, we’ll explore the essential aspects of Joseph Smith’s plural marriages, the early challenges, and the motivations that shaped his decisions, all while diving into the historical records available.

Joseph Smith’s Early Life and the Beginnings of Plural Marriage

Joseph Smith’s first attempts to live plural marriage began during the 1830s, a period when he received revelations regarding this practice. It was between 1834 and 1836 when the first official steps were taken. But why the delay? Though Joseph knew about plural marriage from as early as 1831, he did not begin implementing it until later. According to an account by Mary Elizabeth Rollins, an angel appeared to Joseph three times between 1834 and 1842, urging him to practice plural marriage, warning that he would face divine consequences if he did not comply. The urgency of this message was clear: Joseph needed to begin living plural marriage, though how it would be practiced remained unclear. In his response to these angelic visits, Joseph was left with the task of figuring out how to incorporate this principle into the life of the Church.

One of the key factors contributing to this delay was likely the absence of specific instructions. In the early years, Joseph Smith was not given a detailed manual on how to practice plural marriage. Instead, he had to rely on his own understanding of the general principles outlined in the doctrine and revelations, particularly those found in Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. As a result, Joseph was left to navigate the practice on his own, often experiencing trial and error. The idea of plural marriage was far from simple for Joseph and his followers, as it required adapting to a system that was neither understood nor accepted by the broader society or even by many within the Church.

The Four Reasons for Plural Marriage

Joseph Smith’s practice of plural marriage was not arbitrary, nor was it meant to be an act of indulgence. Instead, there were four main reasons for it, as outlined in later revelations and teachings. These four reasons form a theological framework for understanding why plural marriage was instituted in the first place.

1. A Test of Faithfulness: The first and most commonly understood reason for plural marriage is that it acted as a test of faithfulness. Drawing parallels with the Abrahamic sacrifice, this reason emphasizes the idea that God asked his faithful servants to make sacrifices for the benefit of His plan. For Joseph and his followers, practicing plural marriage became a test of their commitment to obeying God’s commandments, even when those commandments were difficult or countercultural.
   
2. Restitution of All Things: The second reason for plural marriage was tied to the restoration of all things in the latter days. It was believed that, in restoring the true gospel, Joseph Smith needed to re-establish practices that had existed in ancient times, including plural marriage, which was a common practice among patriarchs in the Old Testament.
   
3. Multiplying and Replenishing the Earth: The third reason is perhaps the most straightforward: to multiply and replenish the earth. By marrying multiple wives, the intention was to help increase the population of the earth in accordance with God’s commandment to Adam and Eve.
   
4. Exaltation of Faithful Women: The fourth reason was to provide a path for the exaltation of all faithful women. This principle became clearer later, particularly in Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The idea was that in order for individuals to attain the highest degree of glory in the afterlife, they had to be sealed in eternal marriage. For women who were unable to achieve a monogamous marriage, plural marriage provided a way for them to obtain a celestial marriage and, ultimately, eternal exaltation.
   

These reasons, grounded in doctrine, were meant to support the practice of plural marriage. However, it is important to note that these were not universally accepted at the time, and many individuals struggled with the implications of these revelations. Joseph Smith himself found the principle difficult to fully embrace, as evidenced by his hesitations and struggles in the early years of its practice.

The First Marriage: Fanny Alger

Did Joseph Smith have multiple wives? Yes, his first plural marriage occurred sometime between 1834 and 1836, and the woman involved was Fanny Alger. Fanny was a young woman who had come to live with Joseph and his wife, Emma, and helped with household chores. According to various accounts, Joseph proposed to Fanny through her uncle, Levi Hancock. The marriage itself appears to have been conducted in a private manner, with Levi Hancock relaying Joseph’s words during the ceremony. At the time, the union between Joseph and Fanny was not widely acknowledged, but it is now considered the first official plural marriage of Joseph Smith.

However, tensions surrounding this marriage quickly surfaced. Emma Smith, Joseph’s first wife, reportedly discovered the marriage and reacted with great anger. One version of the story, according to the apostate William McLellin, claimed that Emma saw Joseph and Fanny getting married through a crack in the barn. While McLellin’s account is highly questionable, what is clear is that Emma’s reaction was negative, and she expelled Fanny from the home in 1836. Eliza R. Snow, who later became one of Joseph’s plural wives, also testified to Fanny’s expulsion, confirming that the relationship between Joseph and Fanny ended abruptly.

This created significant tension between Joseph and Emma, and Joseph found himself in a difficult position, both as a husband and as a religious leader. Seeking help from his close friend, Oliver Cowdery, Joseph sought mediation, but the situation only worsened. Oliver, who had previously supported Joseph in many matters, sided with Emma, and this led to further alienation between the two. The conflict over Fanny Alger’s expulsion marked the beginning of strained relations not only between Joseph and Emma but also with Oliver Cowdery, who would later become an outspoken critic of Joseph’s practice of plural marriage.

Oliver Cowdery’s Accusations and the Church Trial

Oliver Cowdery’s role in the narrative of Joseph Smith polygamy timeline is complex. While Joseph and Oliver had once been close friends and co-leaders in the early church, their relationship soured due to disagreements over Joseph’s practice of plural marriage. In one of the most contentious episodes in their relationship, Oliver publicly accused Joseph of committing adultery with Fanny Alger, labeling the relationship as a “dirty, nasty, filthy affair.”

These accusations surfaced during a letter Oliver wrote to his brother, Warren Cowdery, in January 1838. In the letter, Oliver continued to affirm the truthfulness of his claims about the affair, even suggesting that Joseph had confessed to Emma about the relationship. Later, during Oliver’s church trial in 1838, witnesses testified about Oliver’s insinuations, and some suggested that Oliver had been complicit in the affair or had even performed the marriage ceremony between Joseph and Fanny.

However, when Joseph Smith took the stand at Oliver’s trial, he denied the accusations of adultery. Joseph testified that Oliver had been entrusted with many sensitive matters, including the practice of plural marriage, and that no such affair had taken place. The church council, after hearing Joseph’s testimony, concluded that there was no evidence of adultery, and Oliver was excommunicated.

Oliver, for his part, did not address the charges directly. Instead, he claimed that his decision to leave the church was based on issues related to church leadership and property disputes, rather than any personal grievances with Joseph. His failure to publicly elaborate on the accusations of adultery has led many historians to question the true nature of his disagreements with Joseph.

The Legacy of Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriages

Joseph Smith’s plural marriages left a complex legacy. The practice of polygamy, while discontinued by the LDS Church over a century ago, remains an integral part of the history of Mormonism. The motivations behind plural marriage were not easily understood by Joseph’s contemporaries, and they are still the subject of debate today. However, one thing is clear: Joseph Smith’s actions were motivated by his understanding of divine commandments and the need to restore ancient practices that he believed were part of God’s plan for the salvation of His children.

In the years following Joseph’s death, the practice of polygamy would continue within the LDS Church, though it was eventually discontinued in 1890. Today, plural marriage remains a sensitive topic for many members of the Church, and the history surrounding Joseph Smith polygamy timeline continues to be examined and discussed with great interest. What we can glean from Joseph Smith’s experience is the complexity of navigating divine commandments in a world that may not understand or accept them. His journey, full of trial and error, ultimately shaped the course of the early church and left a lasting impact on the doctrine and history of the Latter-day Saints.

Interestingly, some historical documents, such as the infamous Joseph Smith escaping polygamy tree, trace the belief that he may have struggled to reconcile his public role with his private life, often trying to escape the overwhelming public criticism associated with plural marriage. However, his commitment to the principle remained steadfast, despite facing personal and social challenges.The controversy surrounding Joseph Smith polygamy timeline raises important questions about the intersection of faith, obedience, and agency. As the first prophet to introduce the principle of plural marriage to the Latter-day Saints, Joseph faced tremendous personal and social challenges. His relationships with Emma and other church leaders were strained, and his actions were not universally accepted. Nonetheless, Joseph remained steadfast in his belief that the practice was necessary for the completion of God’s work.

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