Mormon Church Admits For First Time That Founder Joseph Smith Had A 14-Year-Old Bride

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Mormon Church Admits For First Time That Founder Joseph Smith Had A 14-Year-Old Bride

The Associated Press | By BRADY McCOMBS

Posted: 10/27/2014 10:26 am EDT Updated: 1 hour ago

Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), Mormon Prophet And Founder Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. (Photo By Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG Via Getty Images) | Encyclopaedia Britannica via Getty Images

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon church acknowledges in a new essay that founder Joseph Smith had a teenage bride and was married to other men's wives during the faith's early polygamous days, a recognition of an unflattering part of its roots that historians have chronicled for years.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says most of Smith's wives were between 20 and 40 years old. One of them, however, was a 14-year-old girl who was the daughter of Smith's close friends.

The essay posted this week on the church's website marked the first time the Salt Lake City-based religion has officially acknowledged those facts, though it also has not denied them.

The article is part of a recent push by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to open up about sensitive issues within the faith, many of which are uncomfortable to discuss.

Other writings posted in the past couple of years have addressed sacred undergarments worn by devout members; a past ban on black men in the lay clergy; and the misconception that Mormons are taught they'll get their own planet in the afterlife.

The new article about Smith's wives during the 1830s and 1840s in Kirtland, Ohio, and Nauvoo, Illinois, comes about 10 months after the church acknowledged polygamy was widely practiced among its members in the late 19th century.

"As a collection, these are remarkably revealing articles, continuing the new open and transparent philosophy of historical writing," said Armand Mauss, a retired professor of sociology and religious studies at Washington State University.

The information will be surprising to many Latter-day Saints who either didn't know or were encouraged to dismiss speculation as anti-Mormon propaganda, Mauss said.

Mormons don't practice polygamy today. Splinter groups who call themselves fundamentalist Mormons still practice plural marriage, including Warren Jeffs' sect on the Utah-Arizona border.

Latter-day Saints began practicing polygamy after Smith received a revelation from God. He took his first plural wife in 1830 in Ohio, three years after he married his first wife, Emma, the article shows. He and his first plural wife separated, but he renewed the practice a decade later in Illinois. That's where he married the teenager.

The essay noted that while inappropriate by today's standards, marriage among teen girls was legal and somewhat common during that time.

The article acknowledges that many details about polygamy in early Mormonism are hazy because members were taught to keep their actions confidential. But, research has indicated that Smith's marriage to the young girl might not have involved sex.

Some plural marriages were designed to seal the man to the woman for eternity only, and not life and eternity as Mormons believe, the article says. Those types of marriages didn't seem to involve sex.

Little is known about Smith's marriages to the already-married women, the article says. They also might have been the type of unions that didn't involve sex.

Plural marriage was an "excruciating ordeal" for Emma Smith and confounding for some men, too, the article says. Some people left the faith, and others refused to take multiple wives while remaining Latter-day Saints.

When Latter-day Saints trekked cross-country to Utah in 1847, nearly 200 men and more than 500 women were in plural marriage, it says.

"Difficult as it was, the introduction of plural marriage in Nauvoo did indeed 'raise up seed' unto God," the article says. "A substantial number of today's members descend through faithful Latter-day Saints who practiced plural marriage."

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/mormon-joseph-smith-teen-bride_n_6054272.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

[Robby999 1,024]

Count me out, I only believe in keeping one woman at a time mad at me!

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Count me out, I only believe in keeping one woman at a time mad at me!

If you know what is good for you! lol

My husband says I am enough. If he had another wife he would go crazy. He says he never met any woman like me before. And I said he never will. lol

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

As part of a society that condones gay marriages, divorce, illegal immigrants, who are we to judge a man for having multiple wives? If he's crazy enough (as Robby pointed out), then go for it. Considering that all of us came from Noah and his wife or his kids and their wives, who are we to judge a little young love inside a family?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

As part of a society that condones gay marriages, divorce, illegal immigrants, who are we to judge a man for having multiple wives? If he's crazy enough (as Robby pointed out), then go for it. Considering that all of us came from Noah and his wife or his kids and their wives, who are we to judge a little young love inside a family?

Not judging.

But, one of his wives was 14. A little too young don't you think? I see having multiple wives as a way of oppressing women and trying to keep us in line. No way the man can treat all of the women fairly. Someone will always feel left out and lonely. Inevitable. This is how women always know when their man is cheating. He cannot treat both households the same. He always end up favoring one over the other.

[rlogan 2,036]

Thank you for these lessons in manipulation, and most importantly for proving that it doesn't take intelligence. It takes a lack of scruples.

Manipulative people like to deny what they are doing at the very time they are doing it. Like being extremely judgmental and claiming you aren't judging. Relentless dishonestly.

and no, it isn't young for the time at all.

At this time (early 1800's) the age of consent was as low as 9 years old, depending on the state. Even long afterwards it was 10 or 12 in a lot of states. Here is 1880 for example:

http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/230?section=primarysources&source=24

Look at all the states with ten year age of consent - the vast majority of states! Youths of today are coddled as if they were frail little pieces of glass that would shatter into a million pieces if they ever worked or had sex.

Edited October 28, 2014 by rlogan

[GandD 5,966]

As part of a society that condones gay marriages, divorce, illegal immigrants, who are we to judge a man for having multiple wives? If he's crazy enough (as Robby pointed out), then go for it. Considering that all of us came from Noah and his wife or his kids and their wives, who are we to judge a little young love inside a family?

Not all of us believe we came from Noah. The US govt actually defines this type of relationship as rape. And that's just what it is. A 14 year old? Smh.

[Merle 458]

Not judging.

But, one of his wives was 14. A little too young don't you think? I see having multiple wives as a way of oppressing women and trying to keep us in line. No way the man can treat all of the women fairly. Someone will always feel left out and lonely. Inevitable. This is how women always know when their man is cheating. He cannot treat both households the same. He always end up favoring one over the other.

Different times. All the way up to the 20th century it was not unusual for women as well as men to be married at a young age. The prophet Muhammad's wife Aisha was 6 years old when he married her supposedly..

[GandD 5,966]

Look at all the states with ten year age of consent - the vast majority of states! Youths of today are coddled as if they were frail little pieces of glass that would shatter into a million pieces if they ever worked or had sex.

This is a frightening statement. Are you suggesting 10 year olds are being unnecessarily coddled from sex?

[JohnR! 5,495]

However, in several states the age of consent is as low as 16.

http://www.ageofconsent.us/

It is part of our Judeo-Christian heritage. In Europe, during the middle ages, it was not unusual for girls to be married at the age of 12. All sanctioned by the Holy Roman Empire. The Mormons just took it back to biblical times when polygamy was common.

Not all of us believe we came from Noah. The US govt actually defines this type of relationship as rape. And that's just what it is. A 14 year old? Smh.

Edited October 28, 2014 by JohnR!

[rlogan 2,036]

This is a frightening statement. Are you suggesting 10 year olds are being unnecessarily coddled from sex?

Thanks!

Perfect example of modern PC bullying. In one era, the vast majority of states have 10 year age of consent. In another, people are harassed for even pointing it out.

It is so interesting that in the age of increasing acceptance of gays, lesbians, plural relationships, etc. that the opposite has occurred with youth - the age of consent has steadily been raised as the bar is lowered for everyone else.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Different times. All the way up to the 20th century it was not unusual for women as well as men to be married at a young age. The prophet Muhammad's wife Aisha was 6 years old when he married her supposedly..

I definitely don''t agree with 6. I understand this was a different time, but still too young.

[aaydrian 479]

Thanks!

Perfect example of modern PC bullying. In one era, the vast majority of states have 10 year age of consent. In another, people are harassed for even pointing it out.

It is so interesting that in the age of increasing acceptance of gays, lesbians, plural relationships, etc. that the opposite has occurred with youth - the age of consent has steadily been raised as the bar is lowered for everyone else.

I am Speechless.

[GandD 5,966]

Thanks!

Perfect example of modern PC bullying. In one era, the vast majority of states have 10 year age of consent. In another, people are harassed for even pointing it out.

It is so interesting that in the age of increasing acceptance of gays, lesbians, plural relationships, etc. that the opposite has occurred with youth - the age of consent has steadily been raised as the bar is lowered for everyone else.

Is that what you're saying? Are you suggesting 10 year old minors should be able to have sex with adults?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Thank you for these lessons in manipulation, and most importantly for proving that it doesn't take intelligence. It takes a lack of scruples.

Manipulative people like to deny what they are doing at the very time they are doing it. Like being extremely judgmental and claiming you aren't judging. Relentless dishonestly.

and no, it isn't young for the time at all.

At this time (early 1800's) the age of consent was as low as 9 years old, depending on the state. Even long afterwards it was 10 or 12 in a lot of states. Here is 1880 for example:

http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/teaching-modules/230?section=primarysources&source=24

Look at all the states with ten year age of consent - the vast majority of states! Youths of today are coddled as if they were frail little pieces of glass that would shatter into a million pieces if they ever worked or had sex.

Where is the face for What tha Fock? VJ, can we please add this?