How many wives did Joseph Smith have?

In an essay posted without fanfare to its website in late October, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said for the first time that Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, had as many as 40 wives. Some of those women were also married to friends of his.

Who was Joseph Smith's favorite wife?

On January 18, 1827, Joseph Smith married Emma Hale₁ in South Bainbridge, New York. In 1842, Joseph reflected, “What transports of joy swelled my bosom, when I took by the hand on that night, my beloved Emma[,] . . . even the wife of my youth: and the choice of my heart.”

What happened to Joseph Smith's wife after he died?

After the killing of Joseph Smith, Emma remained in Nauvoo rather than following Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers to the Utah Territory.

How old was Emma Smith when she married Joseph Smith?

Her name was Emma; his was Joseph. They married when she was 22 and he was 21. Despite trials and persecution, they stayed close through 17 years of marriage, until Joseph's death in 1844. Emma Hale, who had eight brothers and sisters, grew up in the untamed Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania.

Which Mormon had the most wives?

Brigham Young (1801–1877), second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), was perhaps the most famous polygamist of the early Latter Day Saint movement, marrying a total of fifty-six wives during his lifetime.

How Many Wives Did Joseph Smith Have? — polygamy & polyandry

Did Joseph Smith have any children with his polygamous wives?

Science has eliminated most of the possibilities that had long been rumored to be descendants of Joseph Smith. There are a couple for which DNA can tell us nothing either way and that rest on dubious historical reasoning. Thus critics cannot claim in honesty that Joseph had any children by his polygamous wives.

What happened to Joseph Smith's first wife?

Emma Hale Smith Bidamon passed away in Nauvoo on April 30, 1879, and is buried next to Joseph. Her name and character have been both revered and misunderstood in Latter-day Saint memory, but her actions and influence cannot be erased.

Who was the youngest wife of Joseph Smith?

Helen Mar Kimball (August 22, 1828 – November 13, 1896) was one of 30 to 40 plural wives of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She was sealed in marriage to him when she was 14 years old.

How many children did Joseph and Emma Smith lose?

'Emma, be patient, you shall have all of your children,' he assured her gently.” Six of 11 children had died: Alvin, twins Thadeus and Louisa, Joseph Murdock, Don Carlos and Thomas. Five of her children survived to adulthood: Julia, Joseph III, Freddie, Alexander and David Hyrum.

What happened to Joseph Smith's sons?

Joseph Murdock Smith, adopted son, died on March 30, 1832, in Hiram, Ohio, from exposure caused when a mob attacked the Prophet. Don Carlos Smith was born on June 13, 1840, in Nauvoo, Illinois. He died on August 15, 1841, in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Who was the last living person to know Joseph Smith?

Garner died on July 20, 1943, in Hooper. At the time of her death, she was the oldest Utah resident and the eldest member of the church. She was also the last living acquaintance of Joseph Smith. She left behind over 600 lineal descendants, and four of her children were still living when she died.

How many wives can Mormons have?

Mormon men can lawfully have one wife. The practice of polygamy (polygyny or plural marriage), the marriage of more than one woman to the same man, was practiced by Church members from the 1830s to the early 1900s.

How many wives did Jesus have?

"Christian tradition has long held that Jesus was not married, even though no reliable historical evidence exists to support that claim," King said in a press release.

When did polygamy end in the Mormon Church?

In 1890, church president Wilford Woodruff, fearful that the continuation of the practice of plural marriage would lead to the destruction of all Mormon temples, announced an end to official support for polygamy.

How many children did Joseph Smith lose?

The Joseph and Emma Smith family weathered tremendous opposition and tragedy, including political and religious persecution, forced homelessness, the untimely deaths of seven children, and Joseph's own martyrdom.

What does the Bible say about polygamy?

New Testament. Three passages in the pastoral epistles (1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:12 and Titus 1:6) state that church leaders should be the "husband of one wife." This has been read by some Christian denominations as a prohibition of polygamy.

Who started the Mormon religion and why?

On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became its first president. Joseph married Emma Hale on January 18, 1827, and was described as a loving and devoted husband.

Are there any photographs of Joseph Smith?

Born in 1805, there has been no known photo of the first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ, perhaps until now. Joseph Smith's great, great grandson, Daniel Larsen, discovered a photograph he believes to be of Joseph Smith.

Why can a man be sealed to more than one wife LDS?

“Latter-day Saints believe that the marriage of one man and one woman is the Lord's standing law of marriage. In biblical times, the Lord commanded some to practice plural marriage—the marriage of one man and more than one woman.

What is sacred loneliness?

These "key women have been comparatively forgotten," surprisingly so considering the reverence Mormons hold for their founding prophet and how important polygamy was to Smith. The "sacred loneliness" refers to Smith's promise of salvation combined with the solitude of the forsaken multiple wives.

What is the law of Sarah polygamy?

D&C 132 - The Law of Sarah

If she (Emma) accepts plural marriage, she guides future polygamous additions to the family. If she rejects plural marriage, the husband is not bound to remain monogamous due to her disobedience. Emma rejected plural marriage in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836.

How many wives can Amish have?

An Amish man may only have one wife. Should that wife pass away, he is free to remarry. The same goes for Amish women. They may remarry in the event of their husband's death.

What states allow polygamy?

No state permits its citizens to enter into more than one concurrent, legally-licensed marriage. People who attempt to, or are able to, secure a second marriage license are generally prosecuted for bigamy. The terms "bigamy" and "polygamy" are sometimes confused or used interchangeably.