Most all of the so called wife's of Joseph Smith were performed by proxy after his death. I know of one because of my genealogy research of a Lucinda Pendleton, wife of the late Capt. William Morgan who was killed by masons due to a book he wrote with illustrations of what went on in the secret fraternity. Lucinda became acquainted with Joseph when she and her then second husband, George W. Harris, joined the church and moved to Missouri in 1838. Joseph stayed with them on his travels back and forth from Kirkland and later asked Lucinda to come to Nauvoo where he had a place for her and George across the street from the Nauvoo House. Lucinda was suppose to be Joseph Smith's 2nd plural wife. Lucinda was the other women standing in grief with Emma at the foot of the murdered Prophet. But the marriage and sealing was not done until January 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple, performed by Brigham Young. Lucinda's husband - George W. Harris stood proxy for Joseph Smith where Lucinda was sealed to Joseph for eternity and George just for time. Lucinda divorced George because he would not go out West when the call was given by Brigham Young. Lucinda is the only plural wife who did not come out West with the Saints but later died in Memphis, TN in 1860 at her daughters home.
Dale-Dad of a DozenAugust 23, 2015
This book is fascinating to me. I started reading it today. I don't understand now nor will I ever understand all that went on back in the time of Joseph Smith. I just have faith that he was a prophet and was doing what he was commanded to do.
I wonder if I would have had that same faith if I had lived back then?
It is interesting that of the listed plural wives of Joseph Smith, 2 are gggg aunts. 1 is my gggg grandmother and 1 is a step ggg grandmother(long story there).
R G KingAugust 20, 2015
Carol you are spot on IMO. No study or wrestling out books that can't be proven accurate truth as opposed to oral tradition folklore will replace the peaceful assurance of the Comforter.
I have a tendency to do it all on my own reckoning but in one way i think i have found some reason to take a back through time look by what has been wrought.
So often the Lord has saved the church and people from disaster and for polygamy their had to be a good in it and a good reason to end it. Some things it seems have been allowed to be ended by outside forces. No error on God's part??
1. As a believer I have to believe polygamy began and ended for a reason. B H Roberts believed and then it took him overnight to believe in the ending of it. he said (I think it was he) Whom do you chose? Your most faithful or devoted wife? You most loved wife or somesuch more beautiful words.
2. As a believer in the Book of Mormon which hasn't been my strong suit, it says that polygamy is an abomination except in times to raise a righteous seed. So reason now says did that polygamy give us a righteous seed or deeply believing society and religious leaders?
They kept the church staffed and inspired and married each other and taught their children their ethics.
3. I have also noted that if New Englanders were asked to go directly through the Indian territories to Salt Lake City, how many woud have had the courage without the sifting and the absolute determination that Joseph Smith was a prophet?
I just read of a thing called Occam's Razor in which the man Occam postulated that in investigations maybe the simplest explanation is the correct one. Works for me if it also uses what did happen and was it in accordance with B o M or other scriptures?
kateAugust 20, 2015
Wow, Carol, really? Yes, follow the prophets but the more actual information we have and the better we understand our history, the doctrine, even the world around us, the better disciples we can be I do believe that the Lord instructed us to learn about such things (D&C 90:15 and 93:53, for example). The Bates' books on this important topic have been a great addition to LDS scholarship and I am excited to have this concise volume as a summary of all the detail in their previous books.
Jan HAugust 19, 2015
In Matthew 24, the Savior cautions his disciples to be on guard against false teachers, warning that in the last days, "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." That day is at hand. Rumors and sensational speculation about Joseph Smith and his wives are responsible for a great deal of malicious deception. I'm delighted that this long overdue work of scholarship challenges a century of myths and gossip by presenting facts in “truth and simplicity.” My sincere thanks to the authors.
Carol WightAugust 18, 2015
After reading this article I think I will not pursue reading the book. It seems that the authors go to a lot of trouble to present all issues, but in the end it just adds up to trusting our faith in the prophet.
Momx5August 17, 2015
To any who struggle and seek peace regarding the practice of polygamy or plural marriage I strongly recommend reading the chapter in the book by Dr Valerie Hudson Cassler. Book title is Women in Eternity, Women in Zion. I believe this chapter is available online at https://squaretwo.org/Sq2ArticleCasslerPolygamy.html
It is life changing!!!! Let there be peace on earth!
Comments | Return to Story
Clay PendletonAugust 30, 2015
Most all of the so called wife's of Joseph Smith were performed by proxy after his death. I know of one because of my genealogy research of a Lucinda Pendleton, wife of the late Capt. William Morgan who was killed by masons due to a book he wrote with illustrations of what went on in the secret fraternity. Lucinda became acquainted with Joseph when she and her then second husband, George W. Harris, joined the church and moved to Missouri in 1838. Joseph stayed with them on his travels back and forth from Kirkland and later asked Lucinda to come to Nauvoo where he had a place for her and George across the street from the Nauvoo House. Lucinda was suppose to be Joseph Smith's 2nd plural wife. Lucinda was the other women standing in grief with Emma at the foot of the murdered Prophet. But the marriage and sealing was not done until January 1846 in the Nauvoo Temple, performed by Brigham Young. Lucinda's husband - George W. Harris stood proxy for Joseph Smith where Lucinda was sealed to Joseph for eternity and George just for time. Lucinda divorced George because he would not go out West when the call was given by Brigham Young. Lucinda is the only plural wife who did not come out West with the Saints but later died in Memphis, TN in 1860 at her daughters home.
Dale-Dad of a DozenAugust 23, 2015
This book is fascinating to me. I started reading it today. I don't understand now nor will I ever understand all that went on back in the time of Joseph Smith. I just have faith that he was a prophet and was doing what he was commanded to do. I wonder if I would have had that same faith if I had lived back then? It is interesting that of the listed plural wives of Joseph Smith, 2 are gggg aunts. 1 is my gggg grandmother and 1 is a step ggg grandmother(long story there).
R G KingAugust 20, 2015
Carol you are spot on IMO. No study or wrestling out books that can't be proven accurate truth as opposed to oral tradition folklore will replace the peaceful assurance of the Comforter. I have a tendency to do it all on my own reckoning but in one way i think i have found some reason to take a back through time look by what has been wrought. So often the Lord has saved the church and people from disaster and for polygamy their had to be a good in it and a good reason to end it. Some things it seems have been allowed to be ended by outside forces. No error on God's part?? 1. As a believer I have to believe polygamy began and ended for a reason. B H Roberts believed and then it took him overnight to believe in the ending of it. he said (I think it was he) Whom do you chose? Your most faithful or devoted wife? You most loved wife or somesuch more beautiful words. 2. As a believer in the Book of Mormon which hasn't been my strong suit, it says that polygamy is an abomination except in times to raise a righteous seed. So reason now says did that polygamy give us a righteous seed or deeply believing society and religious leaders? They kept the church staffed and inspired and married each other and taught their children their ethics. 3. I have also noted that if New Englanders were asked to go directly through the Indian territories to Salt Lake City, how many woud have had the courage without the sifting and the absolute determination that Joseph Smith was a prophet? I just read of a thing called Occam's Razor in which the man Occam postulated that in investigations maybe the simplest explanation is the correct one. Works for me if it also uses what did happen and was it in accordance with B o M or other scriptures?
kateAugust 20, 2015
Wow, Carol, really? Yes, follow the prophets but the more actual information we have and the better we understand our history, the doctrine, even the world around us, the better disciples we can be I do believe that the Lord instructed us to learn about such things (D&C 90:15 and 93:53, for example). The Bates' books on this important topic have been a great addition to LDS scholarship and I am excited to have this concise volume as a summary of all the detail in their previous books.
Jan HAugust 19, 2015
In Matthew 24, the Savior cautions his disciples to be on guard against false teachers, warning that in the last days, "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." That day is at hand. Rumors and sensational speculation about Joseph Smith and his wives are responsible for a great deal of malicious deception. I'm delighted that this long overdue work of scholarship challenges a century of myths and gossip by presenting facts in “truth and simplicity.” My sincere thanks to the authors.
Carol WightAugust 18, 2015
After reading this article I think I will not pursue reading the book. It seems that the authors go to a lot of trouble to present all issues, but in the end it just adds up to trusting our faith in the prophet.
Momx5August 17, 2015
To any who struggle and seek peace regarding the practice of polygamy or plural marriage I strongly recommend reading the chapter in the book by Dr Valerie Hudson Cassler. Book title is Women in Eternity, Women in Zion. I believe this chapter is available online at https://squaretwo.org/Sq2ArticleCasslerPolygamy.html It is life changing!!!! Let there be peace on earth!
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