The church of jesus christ of latterday saints praises the balanced analysis in the book. Just saying it aloud elicits a variety of emotions from those who recognize the name of the leader of the largest polygamist sect in the world. Reemerging mormon feminism, and has been published in the american journal of philology, dialogue. Did joseph smith have children by his plural wives. These were passionate relationships which also had some longevity, except in cases such as that of two young sisters, one of whom was discovered by josephs first wife, emma, in a. This won best book awards from the mormon history association and the john whitmer historical association. I first became aware of this in conversation with one of hannahs descendants. While the huntingtons heard of joseph smith in 1831, they did not join the church until 1835 after they had read the book of mormon several times.
Understandably, it is difficult to remain neutral when faced with the fact that joseph smith took at least thirty women as wives, that he physically consummated many of those. I was under the impression that there wasnt much evidence for polygamy in nauvoo, but there is and todd compton provides it in great detail. The plural wives of joseph smith signature books, 1997 788 pages, cloth, isbn 156085085x. In his next book, he edited the diaries of helen mar kimball whitney, one of the women in his former book. John whitmer historical association best book award mormon history association best book award december, 1997. How to cope with loneliness how to home mental health. The plural wives of joseph smith, a work by author. We who enjoy the benefits of the modern church forget how much joseph smith still had left to do at the dawn of 1843. How to cope with loneliness if you experience this deeper type of loneliness, you may try to avoid being on your own and spend a lot of time socialising. Studies show that loneliness is a major risk factor for health issues in later life. Healing wounded hearts notes in early 1843, joseph smith reached out to a handful of men and women to invite them to enter into plural marriage. Formerly at ucla and now the editor of mormonism and early christianity, compton has compiled a meticulously researched and masterly study of mormon joseph smiths 33.
Of 883 married individuals, there were 219 men and 201 women with exact birth and marriage dates. The plural wives of joseph smith, signature books, salt lake city, ut, 1997, p. Frances ward fanny alger custer september 30, 1816 november 29, 1889 was possibly the first plural wife of joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, although scholars have disagreed about whether smiths relationship with alger was. While researching, and trying to note people identified in snows journals, compton found that he needed a good list of joseph smiths plural wives. In my recent book the fate of the apostles, i make the historical case that the apostles were all willing to suffer and. The plural wives of joseph smith by todd compton pp.
He is one of the editors of mormonism and early christianity by hugh nibley the most famous defender of the church. The plural wives of joseph smith pdf file from our online library. Publicly mention the religion of mormonism and the first thought to come to mind is polygamy or, as it is also called, plural marriage. The plural wives of joseph smith get in sacred loneliness. Although many mormons know that second lds president brigham young was a practicing polygamist, some may not realize that joseph smith had many wives as well. This common perception linking mormonism with the practice of one man marrying two or more women has caused the public relations department of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds, mormon great consternation over the years, even. Although research suggests that religious involvement can protect against loneliness, explanations for this general pattern are underdeveloped and undertested. The following is a slightly abbreviated and updated version as of 6 dec. But did joseph smith obey the commandment and have sex with his wives. A recent example is todd comptons in sacred loneliness. Young, by the interpretation thereof, promised that child playing on the. Compton, in sacred loneliness, 33, 347349, 464, 497502.
All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. Specific worksin sacred loneliness sacred loneliness. The plural wives of joseph smith, published by signature books. Records left by women who became plural wives in early 1843 indicate the woman had serious reservations based on. The joseph smithsylvia sessions plural sealing 41 br i a n c. The woodbased tar the attackers used would have been a deep red, the color of dried blood. The topic of joseph smiths polygamy 1 tends to polarize those who grapple with it. A journal of mormon thought, classical quarterly, and the journal. The 32nd annual lecture dixie state university library. These were passionate relationships which also had some longevity, except in cases such as that of two young sisters, one of whom was discovered by josephs first wife, emma, in a locked bedroom with the prophet. The plural wives of joseph smith, todd compton, pg. Sacred loneliness, fawn brodies no man knows my history, and richard van wagoners mormon polygamy are examples of published works where circumstantial events were subjectively analyzed in an attempt to attribute the paternity of certain children to the prophet figure. Or you may react in the opposite way, hiding away on your own so you dont have to face a world of people you feel unconnected to. Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirtythree women married joseph smith, the founder of mormonism.
Pdf version of remembering the wives of joseph smith. Wellresearched book on the founder of the mormon church that shows he was a practicing polygamist with thirtythree wives. Please click button to get in sacred loneliness book now. The part she that supposedly came from in sacred loneliness was also from the pdf. The plural wives of joseph smith from the publisher. These articles cover a variety of topics and attempt to confront the checkered history of mormonism while smoothing out the rough edges. You get a clearer picture what the early church in nauvoo and utah was like. Warren jeffs and his prophecies from prison christian. You can roll your eyes until they get stuck that way. Zina diantha huntington was born on january 31, 1821, in watertown, new york, the fourth of ten children of william huntington and zina baker. What do latterday saint churches believe and teach about polygamy today 3.
Compton wrote regarding the ad hominem attach launched against in sacred loneliness a book about the plural wives of joseph smith. Not finding one, he began researching his own list, which eventually grew into his 1997 book, in sacred loneliness. The plural wives of joseph smith, editor of mormonism and early christianity, a contributor to the encyclopedia of mormonism and women and authority. The plural wives of joseph smith from the worlds largest community of readers. A journal of mormon thought, classical quarterly, and the. I will now refer you to one case where it was said by the girls grandmother that your father.
In josephs quest to restore the marriage system described in the old testament and hinted at in the book of mormon he had secured the support of his apostles and several close associates male and female. Jeremy runnells wrote a significant rebuttal to the fairproduced rebuttal to the ces letter. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The plural wives of joseph smith in my book, in sacred loneliness. Did joseph smith father any children from his polygamous wives. Kingsbury was born 2 may 1812, and married sarah whitney on 29 april 1843.
The plural wives of joseph smith an honest but unsettling account of the isolation and emotional toil endured by the polygamous wives of joseph smith. While i acknowledge and applaud the enormous effort that is exhibited in this extensive collective biography, my concerns are with its thesis as it relates to the origin of the mormon doctrine of plural marriage. I started writing the book because i was fascinated by the puzzle of trying to work out their complex marriage histories many. The plural wives of joseph smith, i look at the 33 women who married the first mormon prophet, taking them from birth to death. Written by lds scholars, the gospel topics essays are available on the official website.
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