Joseph Smith’s Polygamy and His Run for US President

01 February

Deuteronomy 17:17; “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away…”

Joseph Smith General of NauvooToday we’re looking at the once busy, and always questionable, life of Joseph Smith, Jr. A good friend of the ministry, Lee Baker, posted an open letter/question on ourFacebook page to a prominent LDS attorney asking a vital question, which in reality all Mormons should concern themselves with.

 

“Did God Himself (Yahweh, Elohim, The Great I Am that I Am) direct and/or command the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. to take the wives of other men (approximately 10) as additional wives for himself and then to subsequently lie about his actions to his first wife (Emma Hale Smith Bidamon), to the Husbands of his additional wives, to his Church Congregations, to the Public in general, and then to the United State Government specifically at precisely the same time he was an active Candidate for President of The United States of America in 1844?” See Official Documentation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo

If you’d like to find the answer to Lee’s question, you can read an in-depth timeline of Joe Smith’s polygamous lifestyle in our series Polygamy and Mormon Church Leaders, Joseph Smith, Jr., and also Exploring Mormonism. There’s ample evidence of Lee’s observations showing Smith was definitely lying about his nefarious deeds during his run for the US presidency.

Compounding the problem, in March 1843 Smith and the Church published one of many articles denying any involvement with plural marriage, however, when they wrote the aforesaid article he was married to 43 women. Overall, from March 1843 – May 1844, the Church publicly decried the allegations eight times in local papers.

As for Smith’s polyandrous marriages…many Mormons are unaware of the fact at least 15% of Smith’s polygamous marriages were actually polyandrous marriages, meaning the wives were still married to other men.

Illinois Anti Bigamy LawNow according to LDS.org, Smith ran for president in January 1844, making his involvement with other women far too big of an issue to hide, or ignore. According to Illinois state laws, Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr. was in violation of said laws, disqualifying him from holding the office of the US Presidency.

We’re praying Mormons will see Smith’s behavioral problems for what they are, as it all speaks for itself. It wasn’t just that Smith practiced polygamy. The problem in addition to that, is how he lied to everyone about it, and still expected his adherents and society at large to play his game without questioning him.

Where in the Bible does God say this is acceptable?

Lee closed his request with the following comments, which to my understanding, he’s still awaiting their response –

“The purpose of this request is to build the foundation of a unique comparative study to recognize some of the most successful intellectuals within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The focus of this study will be to compare and contrast the unique Doctrines of the Mormon Faith with the thoughts of other professionals within your discipline. As a collection of exceptionally well-educated Mormon Priesthood holders who are currently progressing to become Gods, it is a reasonable supposition that this fundamental Doctrinal Question will not require a significant effort on your part.”

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