Joseph Smith/Polygamy/Emma Smith

FAIR Answers—back to home page

Emma Smith and polygamy

Emma Smith and polygamy

Emma Smith's reaction to Joseph Smith's plural marriages

Summary: Critics contend that Emma Hale Smith either did not approve of the Prophet Joseph Smith having plural wives or know of the revelation concerning celestial marriage(s).

Joseph Smith hiding plural marriages from his first wife, Emma

Summary: Joseph Smith did not always disclose his plural marriages to his first wife, Emma. How might we understand his decision?

Emma to be annihilated

Summary: In the revelation D&C 132 Emma was promised annihilation if she failed to 'abide this commandment.'

Sealing of Emma to Joseph

Summary: Critics contend that although Emma Hale Smith was Joseph's first wife, that Joseph was sealed to other wives before being sealed to Emma. The assumption follows that Emma was not in a position to consent to Joseph's other marriages, since she was not longer the "first wife."

Did Joseph Smith attempt to offer William Law a wife swap?

Summary: A persistent claim from the Nauvoo period has Joseph Smith offering to swap wives, trading Jane Law for Emma Smith. What are the facts?

Doctrine and Covenants 132

Summary: Hyrum Smith hoped that if Joseph wrote down his revelation(s) on plural marriage, that he could persuade Emma to accept the doctrine.