Joseph Smith And His Life Of Polygamy

In this message, we will look into the polygamist life of Joseph Smith. And in doing so, we will determine if this type of lifestyle substantiates his claim of being a prophet of God. In looking at polygamy, we will examine four different things that stem from such a practice. Then we will determine if he is who he says he is or a false prophet. The Bible does warn against such people that are only here to lie and deceive, so we must know the truth of any person that claims to be a true prophet.

Matthew 24:11-13 (KJV)
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

In order to know the truth of Joseph Smith or expose him for what he really is, we will look at four things that stem from his practice of polygamy that easily proves that fact. Those different aspects are listed below. Please know that if the Bible is against such things, then they are also crimes against God. After listing these things, we will explain these items in detail, on how they relate to Joseph Smith, his books and the bible. Those four things are:

  1. Pedophile
  2. Polygamist
  3. Adulterer – Married other men’s wives
  4. Married a mother and her daughter

1. Pedophile
Meririam-Webster Definition of pedophilia
: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
specifically : a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child

Three are two example of Joseph Smith’s relations with woman at the age of 14. And they are the following… In 1842, he married Nancy Mariah Winchester, who was 14 years old, while Joseph was 36 years old. In 1843, he married Helen Mar Kimball, who was 14 years old, while Joseph was 37 years old.

That reference comes from “List of Joseph Smith’s wives” (Wikipedia)

Even the “Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo” Essay confirms the relationship of two woman that were younger than 15 years old when Joseph Smith married them. A portion of that essay is below:

“Most of those sealed to Joseph Smith were between 20 and 40 years of age at the time of their sealing to him. The oldest, Fanny Young, was 56 years old. The youngest was Helen Mar Kimball, daughter of Joseph’s close friends Heber C. and Vilate Murray Kimball, who was sealed to Joseph several months before her 15th birthday. Marriage at such an age, inappropriate by today’s standards, was legal in that era, and some women married in their mid-teens. Helen Mar Kimball spoke of her sealing to Joseph as being “for eternity alone,” suggesting that the relationship did not involve sexual relations. After Joseph’s death, Helen remarried and became an articulate defender of him and of plural marriage.”

2. Polygamist
Meririam-Webster Definition of polygamy
: marriage in which a spouse of either sex may have more than one mate at the same time

An example is Joseph Smith having more than 40 something wives. This stems from him marrying women of all ages. He even married children from the ages of 14 and up, while he was in his late 30’s. He also married other men’s wives. And a mother and her daughter.

That reference comes from “List of Joseph Smith’s wives” (Wikipedia)

Polygamy was practiced, even when their own Book of Mormon said that having multiple wives was abominable to God. See below from Jacob, chapter 2.

Jacob 2:23,24
23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

An interesting thing to note here is that the Book of Mormon passage above agrees with the Bible verse in Deuteronomy 17:17, but in direct contradiction to LDS church’s book Doctrine and Covenants 132:58-66. In which it states that God justified the act of polygamy in the Mormon Church.

Doctrine and Covenants 132:61
61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.

As you can see above, Joseph Smith’s god permitted him to have more than one wife. Which is in contradiction to his book of Mormon and the Bible. On that note, Joseph Smith had forty something wives. Even though God counseled against having more than one wife in the Bible. However, Joseph said that his god told him he was able to practice polygamy. This is in direct contraction of what is taught in God’s Word.

Deuteronomy 17:17 (KJV)
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away.

1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.

In both of these verses, God says that men are to have one wife. However, God allows people to choose to live as they want, as He never force our hand, but those that choose to live contrary to His teachings are considered an unbeliever and not a follower of Christ. Only by following God’s commands are we living in His perfect will. Therefore, Joseph Smith’s teaching on plural marriage and his many wives are contrary to God.

3. Adulterer
Meririam-Webster Definition of adultery
: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than that person’s current spouse or partner

Here some examples of Joseph Smith’s life of adultery. In 1838, he married Lucinda Pendleton Morgan Harris, who was 37 years old, while Joseph Smith was 32 years old. That happened while she was still married to George Washington Harris. In 1841, he married Zina Diantha Huntington (Jacobs), who was 20, while Joseph Smith was 35 years old. That happened while she was still married to Henry Bailey Jacobs. In 1842, he married Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, who was 23 years old, while Joseph Smith was 36 years old. That happened while she was married to Adam Lightner. In 1842, he married Marinda Nancy Johnson (Hyde), who was 27 years old, while Joseph Smith was 36 years old. This happened while she was already married to Orson Hyde.

That reference comes from “List of Joseph Smith’s wives” (Wikipedia)

Now let us define what an adulterer is in the Bible:

• Lying with another man’s wife:

Deuteronomy 22:22 (KJV)
22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

• Having sexual relations with a married person, Lusting after another person, and divorcing your wife if she has not committed fornication:

Matthew 5:27-32 (KJV)
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Joseph Smith did all those things mentioned above. He looked upon other women to lust, while even pursing other women that were married. He married other women that were currently in a marriage relationship. This caused some of the women’s first marriages to split up. And in looking at this in context, according to what we just read above, we see the following take place. Joseph committed adultery when he lusted after other women. He committed adultery when he had sexual relations with another man’s wife. He committed adultery when he married another person’s wife. He caused the woman that were already married to commit adultery, when they divorced their current husband, in order to marry him.

4. Married a mother and her daughter
Here is an example of Joseph Smith marrying a daughter and a mother. What is really sick about Joseph Smith and his polygamist relationships was his marriage with Patty Bartlett (Sessions), who was 47 years old, in 1842, when Joseph Smith was 36 years old. The reason why this was so bad, was that in the same year, he also married her daughter Sylvia Porter Sessions, who was 23 years old. This mother daughter relationship is wickedness in the sight of God.

That reference comes from “List of Joseph Smith’s wives” (Wikipedia)

Here is what the Bible says about this type of relationship:

Leviticus 20:14 (KJV)
14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

In conclusion, the day that Joseph Smith became sexually perverse and needed to have more wives was the day that he was exposed for who he really was, a False Prophet. Joseph Smith’s involvement with Polygamy tells the true story of this adulterous man. He was not a prophet of God but a False Prophet in every way. God would never use a person that was a polygamist, pedophile, adulterer and married to a mother and daughter for His good. All of these things are contrary to God and this makes Joseph a hypocrite and a liar at best. He did not obey God but blatantly lived contrary to the Lord, our God. And to His death, none of the things mentioned above was repented of. He was involved with everything that was described above till the day he died in jail. Therefore, there was no forgiveness for this man by God. And anyone who believes that he was a prophet is now deceived because of him. Surely, millions of people that have lived and died as a Mormon are now on a path to destruction because of this man. God’s wrath is upon Joseph Smith and will forever hold him accountable for creating the LDS or Mormon cult. God’s punishments for this wicked man is hell. Do not be deceived! If you are involved with this church then I invite you to Resign Today, using the following LINK. Start reading the Bible and pray that Jesus will forgive You. The Lord God is waiting for You to come to Him fully.

Let us pray:
Lord, I pray that the Mormon people will come to the knowledge of Joseph Smith, being a false prophet. Surely, what he was involved with sexually was perverse and contrary to Your will. Unfortunately, this knowledge has been kept from these people and they do not know the lies. So open the hearts of every LDS member today. Help them have a heart to discover what is truth, through Your words in the Bible, and be willing to follow Your teachings above all things. So that when they learn that polygamy is contrary to Your will, help them know that it also pertains to the early members of their church and Joseph Smith, there first prophet. When you teach that we are to have one wife and none others, lest we fall into sexual sin, may we truly understand this and know how this affects our current beliefs. As these people lift up marriage so much, may they begin to lift You up and Your will also. In this, will the light bulb finally come on that if any person teaches contrary to Your words, that they are a false teacher or false prophet? I am so happy that You have taught me such things and have brought me out of this church. It was the greatest day ever when I finally resigned and gave my whole heart to You, Jesus. Now, I am saved and have been reborn in Your love. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

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If you have been convicted of the truth of God through God's Word and are a Mormon, then I invite you to resign from the Mormon Church. No longer be deceived, but come to know the real Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the Bible. His teachings will set you on the straight and narrow path to God. Click Here to Resign from the Mormon Church today.
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