Polygamy and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo
The official statement of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on polygamy / plural marriage as instituted by the Prophet Joseph Smith as part of the restoration of all things in the final dispensation of our time.
New Discoveries of Nauvoo Polygamy! (feat. Don Bradley) (38 min)
Don Bradley, one of the most experienced researchers on the planet when it comes to LDS Polygamy history, shares his incites and research findings on this challenging topic. The evidence is clear that Joseph Smith only instituted the practice of polygamy because it was God’s will that all things be restored in this final dispensation, no matter how hard they are for us or him to understand in our current society.
Joseph Smith's Polygamy with Brian Hales (1 hr)
Brian C. Hales will discuss Polygamy and Polyandry. Brian Hales is the foremost authority on Joseph Smith and Polygamy. This interview sheds light from a true historical perspective on the events and history regarding the ancient practice of Polygamy that Joseph Smith was directed by God himself to restore in these Latter-Days.
Q&R! Tough Polygamy Questions with Dr. Brian Hales! (58 min)
Did Joseph Smith have any regrets about plural marriage? Like, with full hindsight, if he could go back and change anything about the way he implemented plural marriage, what might he do differently? Also, more and more people are denying that Joseph Smith ever practiced polygamy or that he lied about doing so. Is there even a shred of truth to either of these claims? Did Joseph ever send men on missions and marry their wives while they were gone? Were there any women who denied Joseph’s proposals for plural marriage? If so, what happened to them? What was Emma’s relationship to plural marriage after the Saints left Nauvoo for Utah? And is there any truth to the idea that plural marriage existed because there are more faithful women than men? In this episode of Church History Matters, we tackle all of these questions and more with Dr. Brian Hales.
Why Did Plural Marriage Begin in the Church? (41 min)
Plural marriage—a form of religious polygamy (or polygyny to be technical)—is one of the most controversial and faith-challenging aspects of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was difficult when it was first introduced in the early Church and, although it was discontinued over 130 years ago, it is still a difficult issue for many both within and outside of the Church to reckon with. So why was it introduced into the Church in the first place? When did Joseph Smith first learn that this practice would be restored? Why did he delay practicing it? How did he and others who were asked to live it initially respond? And what were the four theological reasons given by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants to justify the practice of plural marriage? This episode explores the best answers to these questions.
How was polygamy once ordained of God, but not anymore? (45 min)
In today's episode we talk about polygamy with Brian Hales. Brian is an author of seven books about Mormon polygamy. We tried to answer as many of your questions as possible, so here are some of the questions that will be answered in the video. What was the reason for polygamy between 1840 and 1890? Were there more women than men at the time? Did Joseph use his role and status to pressure women into polygamous relationships? Why did Joseph marry sisters or women who already had husbands? Did Joseph marry a 14 year old? Who was Fanny Alger? Why did Joseph keep some of the marriages from his first wife, Emma? Did Joseph write loveletters to any other women other than Emma? Were there any children that came from Joseph's other wives? How many of the wives lived with Joseph? Will there be polygamy in heaven? Please watch to hear the answers to these questions.
Was Joseph Smith actually a polygamist?? | with Brian Hales (45 min)
For many decades, there has been speculation that Joseph Smith (first prophet of the LDS Church) did not practice polygamy. The speculation has ebbed and flowed over the years, though the conspiracy has picked up steam more recently. LDS scholar and friend of Saints Unscripted, Brian Hales, agreed to address the controversy on today’s episode. Brian addresses accounts of polygamy, how different types of scholars navigate history, and how to address specific claims made against Joseph Smith’s polygamy. While the subject of polygamy is uncomfortable and might be happily dismissed altogether, the truth is that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy as ordained by God.
Does Warren Jeffs practice the same polygamy as Joseph Smith? | with Brian Hales (33 min)
We’re so grateful for Brian Hales, one of our favorite scholars, for sharing his research with us today on the differences in FLDS polygamy and Joseph Smith polygamy.
Polygamy - The Beginnings (25 min)
This video discusses the beginnings of polygamy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While we often avoid this painful topic, faithful members who seek a better understanding of it, will have tools to answer the avalanche of criticisms leveled against us regarding this charged and sensitive topic. This video explains why polygamy was practiced, how to avoid judging its history through our present day eyes, better understanding for the criticisms leveled against Joseph Smith for how he started the practice, and how participants who struggled to live it were buoyed up by miraculous manifestations leading them to know it was, indeed, from God for that particular time, and for His particular purposes.
Did the church hide the 1886 John Taylor revelation? Is polygamy the new & everlasting covenant? (1 hr 45 min)
In this episode Brian Hales and Stephen Smoot talk about the 1886 John Taylor revelation which the church history department has recently added to their archives. We discuss the context of the revelation, the provenance, the theology of the revelation, whether plural marriage is the everlasting covenant and if the church hid the revelation. Because it wasn't canonized or presented to the church is it not binding or authoritative?
