Joseph Smith’s Trial and Error Approach to Plural Marriage

Title

Joseph Smith’s Trial and Error Approach to Plural Marriage

Publication Type

Podcast

Publication Date

May 30, 2023

Authors

Griffiths, Casey Paul (Primary), and Woodward, Scott (Primary)

Terms of use

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

Did you know that Joseph Smith’s first attempt to obey the Lord’s command to him to practice plural marriage ended quite badly and ended up straining his relationships, both with his first wife, Emma, and with his close friend Oliver Cowdery? And have you ever heard that Joseph was sealed to several women who already had living husbands? Was this a scandalous practice or was something else going on? And have you heard that Joseph was also sealed to Helen Kimball, who was only 14 years old at the time? You might be both surprised and relieved to learn the reasons behind this. And have you ever wondered if Joseph had any children with any of his other 35 wives besides Emma? In this episode of Church History Matters, we do a deep dive into all of these topics and more as we trace Joseph Smith’s creative, trial-and-error approach to personally living the practice of plural marriage, including some innovative uses of the sealing power, to accomplish God’s will the best he understood it.

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