Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was both respected as a religious leader and condemned for his polygamous marriages throughout his lifetime. This thorny issue continues to inspire controversy among academics, historians, and church members. However, diving deeply into the lives of Joseph Smith’s wives reveals unexpected details about the complex reality of their interactions with him. In this article, we’ll look at the ladies who married Joseph Smith, including their origins, motives, and contributions to the early Mormon community.
Emma Smith
Emma Hale was Joseph Smith’s first wife, whom he married at the age of 22. Emma was born into a wealthy household and acquired an excellent education. She also showed high intellectual abilities. Her attraction to Joseph stemmed from his charisma and spiritual skills, which she recognised as divinely inspired. Their marriage began at Nauvoo, Illinois, where Joseph founded his own city and temple, drawing thousands of followers around him. Emma was crucial in Joseph’s support throughout his life; she bore six children and maintained household matters during his many absences, often facing financial difficulties. Her unshakable commitment continued until Joseph died in Carthage Jail in 1844.
Fanny Alger
Fanny Alger was Joseph’s first officially acknowledged wife. Fanny was an adolescent house servant living with the Smiths when she piqued Joseph’s interest. Fanny initially refused to accept his proposal, but later agreed due to pressure from Joseph’s close colleagues. Shortly after, Fanny left the Smith household and relocated to Kirtland, Ohio, where she gave birth to twins father by Joseph. After divorcing Joseph, Fanny returned to her hometown and remarried, having eight more children. Given the variance in accounts supplied by various sources, Fanny’s connection with Joseph has long been a matter of contention.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ann Whitmer
Elizabeth Ann Whitmer was a fervent Mormon and the cousin of David Whitmer, another prominent person in Mormon history. Elizabeth first worked as a scribe for Joseph, assisting in the transcription of the Book of Mormon. When Elizabeth learnt of Joseph’s prophetic calling, she asked for permission to marry him to strengthen their bond even more. Joseph approved her request and sealed their union in Nauvoo. They had four children together, but Elizabeth died shortly after giving birth.
Louisa Beaman
Louisa Beaman grew up beside Brigham Young, who eventually succeeded Joseph as church president. At the age of eighteen, Louisa married James Adams, a fellow Mormon convert. Sadly, James died shortly after, leaving Louisa alone and defenceless. Seeking relief, Louisa confided in Brigham Young, confessing that she had a dream about being reunited with her deceased hubby in heaven. When Brigham heard this, he proposed that she marry Joseph Smith, arguing that doing so would help her realise her goals. Louisa eventually agreed, becoming Joseph’s thirteenth wife. During Joseph’s captivity, Louisa visited him frequently, bringing food and materials to assist him survive.
Sarah Anne Whitney
Sarah Ann Whitney was born in Vermont and moved to New York with her family after joining the Mormon Church. Sarah fell completely in love with Joseph after hearing his teachings, prompting her to propose marriage herself. Joseph was delighted by her offer and happily accepted. Sarah and Joseph had a strong emotional bond, with Sarah acting as a valued advisor and confidante. Following Joseph’s death, Sarah relocated to Utah Territory, where she reared her children and practiced her religion.
Jane Climpson McNaught
Jane was born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada at the age of fourteen. Jane converted to Mormonism shortly after her arrival and moved south to join the church group in Nauvoo. There, Jane drew Joseph’s attention, and he asked her to become his seventeenth wife. Despite her initial reservations, Jane finally agreed and went on to have three children with Joseph. Tragically, all three infants died from disease during their youth, creating much sorrow and distress for Jane and her remaining family members.
Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner
Mary Elizabeth Rollins descended from a wealthy and influential family. Mary, as a young girl, acquired a strong interest in spiritual topics and joined the Mormon church as a teenager. Mary met Joseph at one of his public speeches and was immediately smitten, asking him to marry her soon after. Joseph immediately agreed, welcome Mary into his fold. While married to Joseph, Mary gave birth to two sons, both of whom died within months of birth. Following Joseph’s incarceration and subsequent death, Mary relocated to Salt Lake City, where she spent most of her time advocating for women’s rights.
Finally, studying the lives of Joseph Smith wives provides a better understanding of the complex circumstances surrounding Joseph Smith’s polygamy practices. Each woman offered unique experiences and viewpoints to their connections with Joseph, which helped to shape the nascent Mormon movement. Their experiences also show some of the problems that women faced during that time period, such as limited educational options, cultural expectations of gender roles, and restricted access to resources and decision-making ability. These variables likely influenced how these women understood and responded to Joseph’s propositions, reflecting broader cultural norms and values that still shape our perception of historical events today.