The Dark History of Mormon Polygamy: Joseph Smith's 84 Wives & the Secrets of Plural Marriage
Mormon polygamy is one of the most controversial and consequential chapters in early Latter-day Saint history.
In this episode, we examine the origins, development, theology, and human consequences of plural marriage—from the earliest reported revelations in the 1830s to the massive posthumous sealing practices of the late 19th century.
We explore:
• The reported 1831 revelation and its connection to Native Americans
• Ezra Booth’s 1831 account published in the *Ohio Star*
• Joseph Smith’s plural marriages and the later emergence of Section 132
• The contradiction between Section 132 and the Book of Mormon’s condemnation of David and Solomon’s polygamy
• The 1835 Doctrine and Covenants and its public rejection of plural marriage
• Emma Smith’s resistance and the turmoil within early Mormon households
• Brigham Young’s public comments about the misery surrounding plural marriage
• Zina Huntington and the emotional detachment sometimes advocated within polygamous relationships
• The Kimball family and the controversial loyalty-test account
• Plural marriages involving sisters and other unconventional relationships
• Estimates that Joseph Smith was sealed or married to as many as 84 women
• Posthumous sealings involving Joseph Smith, Wilford Woodruff, and Moses Franklin Farnsworth
• The broader question of how institutional authority and religious obedience shaped the development of Mormon polygamy
This episode examines the historical record and asks a difficult question: How did a religious movement sustain a system that appeared to conflict with some of its own foundational teachings while demanding extraordinary obedience from its followers?
If you enjoy historical analysis, Mormon history, and critical examination of Latter-day Saint origins, subscribe for more episodes.
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