![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
< Joseph Smith | Polygamy
m |
m |
||
Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
|link=Joseph Smith/Polygamy/Emma Smith/Sealing | |link=Joseph Smith/Polygamy/Emma Smith/Sealing | ||
|subject=Sealing of Emma to Joseph|summary=Critics contend that although Emma Hale Smith was Joseph's first wife, that Joseph was sealed to other wives before being sealed to Emma. The assumption follows that Emma was not in a position to consent to Joseph's other marriages, since she was not longer the "first wife." | |subject=Sealing of Emma to Joseph|summary=Critics contend that although Emma Hale Smith was Joseph's first wife, that Joseph was sealed to other wives before being sealed to Emma. The assumption follows that Emma was not in a position to consent to Joseph's other marriages, since she was not longer the "first wife." | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{SummaryHeader | ||
+ | |link=Joseph Smith/Polygamy/Emma Smith/Wife swap with William Law | ||
+ | |subject=Did Joseph Smith attempt to offer William Law a wife swap? | ||
+ | |summary=A persistent claim from the Nauvoo period has Joseph Smith offering to swap wives, trading Jane Law for Emma Smith. What are the facts? | ||
}} | }} | ||
</onlyinclude> | </onlyinclude> |
Answers portal |
Plural marriage |
![]() |
![]() |
---|
Joseph Smith era:
Post-Joseph Smith:
Post-Manifesto–present |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Did Emma Hale Smith either did not approve of the Prophet Joseph Smith having plural wives or know of the revelation concerning celestial marriage(s)?
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Emma was aware of plural marriage; it is not clear at exactly what point she was made aware, partly due to there being relatively few early sources on the matter. Emma was generally opposed to the practice of plural marriage, and did much to try and thwart it. There were times, however, when Emma gave permission for Joseph's plural marriages, though she soon changed her mind.[1] Emma was troubled by plural marriage, but her difficulties arose partly from her conviction that Joseph was a prophet:
Emma never denied Joseph's prophetic calling; she did, however, teach her children that Joseph had never taught the doctrine of plural marriage, and blamed its introduction on Brigham Young. Torn between two certitudes—her conviction of Joseph's prophetic calling, and her hatred of plural marriage—Emma had difficult choices to make for which we ought not to judge her.
But, the critics ought to let all of Emma speak for herself—she had a great trial, but also had great knowledge. That she continued to support Joseph's calling and remain with him, despite her feelings about plural marriage, speaks much of her convictions. As she told Parley P. Pratt years later:
Summary: Critics contend that Emma Hale Smith either did not approve of the Prophet Joseph Smith having plural wives or know of the revelation concerning celestial marriage(s).
Summary: A persistent claim from the Nauvoo period has Joseph Smith offering to swap wives, trading Jane Law for Emma Smith. What are the facts?
Critics often neglect to provide citations from eye-witnesses who reported Emma's attitude toward plural marriage at other times:
Emma's inner conflict was also dramatized in another report:
Emma asked Joseph for a blessing not long before he went to Carthage. Joseph told her to write the best blessing she could, and he would sign it upon his return. Wrote Emma:
Notes
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now