Apostle joseph fielding smith is generally given credit for editing the book, although he had extensive help from fellow researchers. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. In recent years there have been several novels and at least three pseudoscholarly books by prominent lds apostates depicting plural marriage as adultery and the prophet joseph smith. Polygamy revelations of joseph smith worlds without end. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith is a valuable reference tool that belongs in the library of every latterday saint, to be referred to and read for its insights into the subtleties of gospel principles. Mormon leader joseph smiths 34 wives inspire utah artist.
Joseph smith repeatedly testified during his lifetime that he translated the book of mormon through the gift and power of god. Joseph smith himself was not excited about the idea of practicing polygamy and put off as long as possible sharing the doctrine that had been revealed to him about restoring the principle. And when joseph smith did get those keys, he waited for. Joseph smiths bible revision, 18301835 7 earlier dating of this revelation was midmarch, but the recently available revelations book 1 specifies may 7th. Smith, who noted an 1869 affidavit of beamans brother in law joseph b. From a christian perspective, these attacks usually focus on arguing that polygamy is unchristian or unbiblical, and that joseph hid the truth from the world.
Did joseph smith receive an income from the book of mormon. Smith corresponded with orson pratt in 1875 about his efforts to obtain evidence regarding joseph smith s polygamy and stated he was astonished at the lack of existing evidence. Since that name sounds so book of mormon, it might be fun to check. Since that name sounds so book of mormon, it might be fun to check a very old rock book for common words used pre1850. Is the book of mormon too complex to have been written by. Amianthus, not a book of mormon name, is an old name for a form of asbestos. When arranging a plural marriage for his brother william smith, joseph reflected this standard by inviting the woman, mary ann covington, to participate only if she felt willing to consent to it. Joseph smith, brigham young and their associates were guilty of sexual transgression. Since joseph smith was interested in stones, he easily could have looked at books about rocks and minerals. While i disagree with some of haless conclusions, i admire his willingness to confront difficult topics and the depth of his research. Hales author of the 3volume joseph smith s polygamy set and laura h.
Joseph smiths commentary on the bible kindle edition. Joseph smith s sermon in which he denied being a polygamist is a fitting closing for this volume, even though there are many more conclusive proofs of his innocence in the long and complicated story of utah mormon polygamy. With very few exceptions, such as the practice of marrying older women in order to provide for them or to form an alliance in the next life, polygamy was oriented toward childbearing. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith taken from his sermons and writings as they are found in the documentary history and other publications of the. The marriage was done without informing joseph s first wife emma.
Born in 1805 and silenced thirtynine years later by assassins bullets, he dictated more than onehundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple, organized several new cities, and became the proclaimed prophet to tens of thousands during his. The lord jesus christ called joseph smith as a prophet to prepare the way for his coming in glory. Jan 29, 2017 in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s joseph f. The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise. Joseph smith juniors book of mormon bom, since the time of its first publication in palmyra, n. Joseph smith, inspired author of the book of mormon by robert. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smiths. Many mormons have mixed feelings about a a recent disclosure from the church, acknowledging for the first time that the religions founder joseph smith.
Joseph smith, iii, prophetpresident of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter days until his death 1914 condemned polygamy and proclaims his fathers innocence with not being the author of the claimed lds doctrine and covenants 2, july 12, 1843. The digital book download link is sent to your email address used to place the order, usually within 24 hours or next business day. Don carlos smiths last request to joseph smith, jr. As a young man in new york im sure he was exposed to many things where he might be able to write stories about fictional characters but i dont really think he had access to thinks like the geography of the area that lehi and his family traveled. Smith corresponded with orson pratt in 1875 about his efforts to obtain evidence regarding joseph smiths polygamy and stated he was astonished at the lack of existing evidence.
Smith received these golden plates from mormons son moroni who was dead but considered. The topic was already on josephs mind, even in the 1820s. Joseph smith s bible revision, 18301835 7 earlier dating of this revelation was midmarch, but the recently available revelations book 1 specifies may 7th. Was the prophet joseph smith commanded to practice plural. Michael, the four gospels according to joseph smith, publisher. Joseph smith declared that an angel appeared unto him with a drawn sword, threatening to slay him if he did not proceed to fulfill the law that had been given to him. Order the alreadypublished volumes from each series of the joseph smith papers, including documents, journals, histories, and revelations and translations. All three volumes may be purchased in either paper or ebook format. He did, however, make some attempt to teach the doctrine to the saints. From a secular perspective, it is asserted that the practice of polygamy sprung from joseph s. These articles have been compiled into three books, joseph smith fought polygamy volumes 1, 2, and 3, which you can purchase online, by telephone 816. In all this, joseph smith was again following in the tradition of the biblical writers, as when the writers of exodus 18 and numbers 11 ascribed to moses the pedigree for their own councils of elders. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon. One of my biggest concerns with polygamy is the inconsistent relationship it had with the sealing keys.
In a series of encounters, god revealed to him that all religions since the death of christs disciples had strayed from the true church of christ, which smith was. This unique book compiles excerpts from newspapers, journals, diaries, and transcripts of sermons. During joseph smith s lifetime, polygamy was taught and practiced in intense secrecy, with the result that he never fully explained its doctrinal underpinnings or systematized its practice. In it, the author makes the case that joseph smith authored the book of mormon himself, and inadvertently used many occurrences and individuals from his own life history as prototypes for the events and characters in the book of mormon. And when joseph smith did get those keys, he waited for a very long time before even getting sealed to emma. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Joseph smith fought polygamy restoration bookstore. Born in 1805 and silenced thirtynine years later by assassins bullets, he dictated more than onehundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple.
October 1st is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historicity research. For some who were already well aware of this aspect of early mormon history, the availability of new research and discovered documents has been a wellspring of further insight and knowledge into this topic. Volumes of information prove polygamy was attached to joseph smith s name by men nearest him in order to cover their own adultery. However, several of joseph smith s associates later wrote that he repudiated the plural marriage system and began to try to stop its practice shortly before his death in june 1844. The truth about the practice of polygamy in the mormon church. Smith and some of the leading quorums of his church publicly denied he taught or practiced it in 1852, leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church acknowledged that smith had practiced. Joseph smith experimented with polyandry, as well, by marrying eleven women who were already civilly married to other men. If you want this digital book download link sent to a different email, please indicate in the special instructionscomments section at checkout purchasing grants one user license for the. Born in 1805 and silenced thirtynine years later by assassins bullets, he dictated more than onehundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple, organized several new cities, and became the proclaimed prophet to tens of thousands during his abbreviated life. Smith said he experienced a series of visions, including one in 1820 during which he saw two personages. Not one with official pay stubs that the irs could tax or anything.
At the bottom of the title page and in the testimony of the eight witnesses of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon, joseph smith is identified as author and proprietor, and the publishers line reads. History few american religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than joseph smith. The story, as pieced together here, begins with joseph smith as a teenager in new york state, where he courted and eloped with his first wife, emma, and published the book of mormon, which mentioned the possibility of polygamy. Joseph smiths historical enterprise the joseph smith papers. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith book wikipedia. Book of mormon 1920 by joseph smith, 97807663334, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The book is published by deseret book and is a widely used reference work among membership of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Some of these were church leaders who had become polygamists as a result of doing missionary work among members of a polygamous sect in maine called cochranites. It is true that joseph did not always tell others about plural marriage. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith deseret book. It is thus important to realize that the public preaching of polygamyor announcing it to the general church membership, thereby informing the public by proxywas simply not a. If you want this digital book download link sent to a different email, please indicate in the special instructionscomments section at checkout. Mormon church publishes essay on founder joseph smith s polygamy the mormon churchs founder was married to as many as 40 women in the years before his murder in 1844, the church acknowledged in. Smith began a search for documentation in an effort to prove joseph smith was a polygamist. The mormon church finally acknowledges founder joseph.
Joseph smith hid polygamy from the general church membership summary. Lorenzo snow, who became the fifth president of the church recorded the first time joseph smith revealed the doctrine to him, which gives some insight into. Joseph smiths polygamy, the first thorough treatment of joseph smiths plural marriages written by a conservative mormon scholar, is a landmark in the historiography of mormon polygamy. As such, i propose josephs initial study of stephens in the times and seasons in 1842 was the beginning of book of mormon archaeology, and may have even been the first invitation to pursue archaeological investigations of stephens ruins in middle america. One of the interesting questions i like to pose to faithful latterday saints is this. Joseph lee robinson circa 1853 the lord instead of releasing joseph smith from that burden, he sent an holy angel with a drawn sword unto him, saying unto him, joseph, unless you go to and immediately teach that principle namely polygamy or plural marriage and put the same in practice, that he, joseph, should. The wording of sarah ann whitneys sealing to joseph smith asked if they both mutually agree to be each others companion. So john, james, and peter are now made, in effect, to constitute an apostolic first presidency by direct order of jesus. Gary james bergera, identifying the earliest mormon polygamists, 184144, dialogue. In recent years there have been several novels and at least three pseudoscholarly books by prominent lds apostates depicting plural marriage as adultery and the prophet joseph smith as the most debauched of libertines.
Teachings of the prophet joseph smith makes a great gift for missionaries, new converts. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith is a book compiling selected sermons and portions of sermons and sundry teachings of joseph smith, the first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints the title page reads as follows. Joseph smith 18051844, the founder of the latter day saint movement, secretly taught and practiced polygamy during his ministry, and married multiple women during his lifetime. God commanded joseph smith to start practicing polygamy before he even restored the sealing keys. Born on december 23, 1805, in sharon, vermont, to joseph and lucy mack smith, joseph smith jr. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study. Joseph possibly had an affair of some sort and may have practiced polygamy to a degree or this book may be accurate and lots of women jumped on the im a wife of the dead any claim it is simply propaganda hasnt read the recent lds brigham young manual that has had polygamy washed out of it and supporting faithful marriage. Polygamy, or plural marriage, in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is generally believed to have originated with the founder of mormonism, joseph smith.
My story of growing up in a polygamous sect, becoming a teenage bride, and breakin. As a result, reconstructing joseph smith s theology of plurality is a task that has seldom been undertaken. Initially published in 1997, this was to be the first book from joseph kanon as an author to reach the market. The topic was already on joseph s mind, even in the 1820s. The research findings seem to increasingly point to joseph smith jr. In 1999, signature books published inside the mind of joseph smith psychobiography and the book of mormon by psychiatrist robert d. Based on joseph sabins famed bibliography, bibliotheca americana, sabin americana, 15001926 contains a collection of books, pamphlets, serials and other works about the americas, from the time of their discovery to the early 1900s. In the last several years a wealth of information has been published on joseph smith s practice of polygamy.
Joseph smith is frequently criticized for his introduction and practice of polygamy. Smith insists that the senate consider what is now jacob 2. Few american religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than joseph smith. The book of mormon is a translation of golden tablets given to joseph smith who wrote of their account of a plan for salvation and what men must do to gain peace in this life and eternal redemption in the life to come. Hales wade through the murky waters of history to help bring some clarity to this episode of mormonisms past, examining both the theological explanations of the practice and the accounts of those who experienced it first hand.