The Transcendental Temptation by Kurtz Paul

Author:Kurtz, Paul
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publisher Services
Published: 2013-08-19T04:00:00+00:00

Polygamy

It was during the Nauvoo period that the issue of polygamy came to a head. Rumors that the leading Mormons practiced plural marriage broke into the open. Fawn Brodie has provided a list of Smith's wives; she recorded forty-nine women who were “sealed to the prophet,” many of whom were currently married to other men.30 Brodie says that her list is incomplete and that there were many more who were not sealed by a ceremony. Marriages could be performed either “for time” (this life) or “sealed for eternity.” The marriages of these women to Joseph were not simply in this life but lasted throughout eternity. If his wives were married to others, this was merely “for time.” A large number of Joseph's marriages permitted sexual relations; others were merely “sealed” to him for the afterlife. As Joseph's power and influence grew, he seemed to take new wives with complete abandon. Other church leaders, such as Brigham Young and Heber Kimball, likewise took dozens of wives.

In the Book of Mormon, polygamy had been expressly forbidden. There is some intimation, however, that as early as 1831 Joseph had a revelation foreshadowing plural marriage. After many years of denying charges of polygamy, Joseph finally came forth with an explicit revelation in 1843 justifying plural marriages on biblical grounds. It was no doubt concocted to legitimize his way of life. After all, if Abraham, Solomon, David, and the ancient patriarchs had many wives, why not Joseph Smith and his brethren? His first wife, Emma, witnessed many of the affairs he engaged in with other women, and she was even forced to be present during the special sealing ceremonies. She objected strenuously to Joseph's philandering. Joseph replied through the voice of revelation, commanding Emma to “receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph” and “to cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to no one else.”31 The penalty for disobedience, he admonished her, was that she would be destroyed. Joseph then proclaimed a new law:

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