Mormon church polygamy: Joseph Smith 'had up to 40 wives'

The Mormon church has admitted for the first time that its founder, Joseph Smith, took multiple wives.

In an essay published on its website, the church said "careful estimates" put the number at between 30 and 40, including a 14-year-old and others who were already married.

The Mormon church banned polygamy in 1890, and now excommunicates anyone who practises it.

Church leaders had previously portrayed Joseph Smith as married to one woman.

But the essay, entitled Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo, said: "Joseph married many additional wives and authorised other Latter-day Saints to practise plural marriage."

It said "plural marriage was difficult for all involved"; for Joseph Smith's first wife, Emma, it was an "excruciating ordeal".

Read More: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30009324

-- BBC 2014-11-11

Up to 40 wives ?

What a masochist.

Think l must get converted....................

I thought that already was common knowledge. I've known he had quite a few for about 50 years, even grew up with descendent of his... “Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.” -Mark Twain

One wife is one too many

Yes, he claimed GOD (whichever one you like) appeared to him and told him it was okay to have a slew of wives BUT it was a sin to drink Alcohol, Tea or Coffee.

God (whichever one you like) obviously didn't understand that a "Wife can Drive You To Drink" and had no concept, of what 40 of them could do to you.

One wife is one too many

But isn't it ones wish to chuck one out the door and try another, if that is just bring in another...?

Interesting subject. As one here commented it's been common knowledge for a long time. As part of my degree I studied Smith's life. An interesting study to say the least and perhaps polygamy was one of his lesser controversies. However it should be noted that Mormons believe that a woman cannot enter their 'highest' heavenly state without first having been sealed ( married ) in a temple. At this time many of the men were being slaughtered by anti-Mormon mobs and leaving widows who may not have undergone this ritual and also a shortage of men for women to marry. It is possible that 'perhaps' Smith took the wives as 'temple wives' only to satisfy their beliefs and when he realised there were going to be far too many to accommodate instructed other church 'officials- ( namely his closest friends) to do the same. This would certainly in their eyes ( if not ours) to be a just reason, and later when there was an abundance of men the practise was discarded. This of course does not explain why he married a 14 year old as she was in no need at that time for such a ritual to be undertaken being too young. Or it could be they were just a bunch of dirty old men. ?

A stupid and biased religion [if you can call it such]

This man lives on a planet further out than Pluto where no women are allowed.

religion is for the feeble.

He must have looked far and wide to find 40 decent marriageable women in America.

Religion?

All one big con trick.

The cause of some much grief in the world.

In America commercialised beyond belief.

In the Middle East continuing disputes that span a couple of thousand years.

For what?

Some belief in an afterworld that no one has any proof exists beyond the mind.

Up to 40 wives ?

What a masochist.

As long as they're not Thai wives he's ok, can you imagine 40 wives asking for money every day?

and bridging their relatives to the house to sleep and eat free?//

If i remember correctly, American voters nearly inflicted onto the rest of the world a senior follower of this "cult" by almost electing him to one of the world's most powerful positions.

Scary thought for the rest of the world.

If i remember correctly, American voters nearly inflicted onto the rest of the world a senior follower of this "cult" by almost electing him to one of the world's most powerful positions.

Scary thought for the rest of the world.

So instead they elected an amateur follower of an even more dangerous cult (founded by a fellow named Karl instead of a fellow named Joe). Not quite so scary though for the much of the rest of the world which has already jumped off this cliff, and, well, misery surely lives company.

BTW, just wait until you try & tell muslims they're going to have to give up their polygyny...

Interesting subject. As one here commented it's been common knowledge for a long time. As part of my degree I studied Smith's life. An interesting study to say the least and perhaps polygamy was one of his lesser controversies. However it should be noted that Mormons believe that a woman cannot enter their 'highest' heavenly state without first having been sealed ( married ) in a temple. At this time many of the men were being slaughtered by anti-Mormon mobs and leaving widows who may not have undergone this ritual and also a shortage of men for women to marry. It is possible that 'perhaps' Smith took the wives as 'temple wives' only to satisfy their beliefs and when he realised there were going to be far too many to accommodate instructed other church 'officials- ( namely his closest friends) to do the same. This would certainly in their eyes ( if not ours) to be a just reason, and later when there was an abundance of men the practise was discarded. This of course does not explain why he married a 14 year old as she was in no need at that time for such a ritual to be undertaken being too young. Or it could be they were just a bunch of dirty old men. ?

"Satisfy their believes" My ass,,More like his believes,,,satisfy himself,,,

Interesting subject. As one here commented it's been common knowledge for a long time. As part of my degree I studied Smith's life. An interesting study to say the least and perhaps polygamy was one of his lesser controversies. However it should be noted that Mormons believe that a woman cannot enter their 'highest' heavenly state without first having been sealed ( married ) in a temple. At this time many of the men were being slaughtered by anti-Mormon mobs and leaving widows who may not have undergone this ritual and also a shortage of men for women to marry. It is possible that 'perhaps' Smith took the wives as 'temple wives' only to satisfy their beliefs and when he realised there were going to be far too many to accommodate instructed other church 'officials- ( namely his closest friends) to do the same. This would certainly in their eyes ( if not ours) to be a just reason, and later when there was an abundance of men the practise was discarded. This of course does not explain why he married a 14 year old as she was in no need at that time for such a ritual to be undertaken being too young. Or it could be they were just a bunch of dirty old men. ?

He also 'married' wives who were still married to their husbands.... Weird morals/beliefs.

Yesterday I was talking to my sister in Law (a Thai Lady) and said that I noticed she had some new lady staff working for her. Yes she said I have. That one there is married to a Muslim man who has 3 other wives.

Interesting I said, is that legal in Thailand and she said I don't know but thats what he has...4 wives.

This is Thailand.

Yes, he claimed GOD (whichever one you like) appeared to him and told him it was okay to have a slew of wives BUT it was a sin to drink Alcohol, Tea or Coffee.

God (whichever one you like) obviously didn't understand that a "Wife can Drive You To Drink" and had no concept, of what 40 of them could do to you.

Actually according to the Mormon polygamists (there are still quite a few around, excommunication or no), the more wives the better the man is in the eyes of God.

Am I correct in believing they only gave this up officially in order to be accepted as a state in the union?.

I still can't figure out, who after reading the Mormon "bible", would join these morons? Not one coherent page in the whole book. Try it and see.

I hear that women living together soon experience synchronized menstrual cycles.

That must have been a hell of a time for Joe.

One wife is one too many

I sort of agree, one wife is not the right number as she will drive you crazy. About 10 is more spot on as they can all work, pay all the bills and drive each other crazy...... and you ? Well you just take care of their intimate needs !!!

What a joy and happy after all comfortable setting !!!

PS: My Thainess will slaughter me if she reads this..

Interesting subject. As one here commented it's been common knowledge for a long time. As part of my degree I studied Smith's life. An interesting study to say the least and perhaps polygamy was one of his lesser controversies. However it should be noted that Mormons believe that a woman cannot enter their 'highest' heavenly state without first having been sealed ( married ) in a temple. At this time many of the men were being slaughtered by anti-Mormon mobs and leaving widows who may not have undergone this ritual and also a shortage of men for women to marry. It is possible that 'perhaps' Smith took the wives as 'temple wives' only to satisfy their beliefs and when he realised there were going to be far too many to accommodate instructed other church 'officials- ( namely his closest friends) to do the same. This would certainly in their eyes ( if not ours) to be a just reason, and later when there was an abundance of men the practise was discarded. This of course does not explain why he married a 14 year old as she was in no need at that time for such a ritual to be undertaken being too young. Or it could be they were just a bunch of dirty old men. ?

Other religions have married them at 6 years old in the years, before years, not to mention any such specific religion, but some religions educated them selves, and some did not

It's strange how the apparent strongest of religeons and beliefs are built on lies and ultra hypocracy,in this case some credit (but not much) must be given to finally to admitting the truth! it makes one wonder if the worst is yet to be revealed.

Considering what these nutjacks believe, having a few dozen wives is pretty tame

It's strange how the apparent strongest of religeons and beliefs are built on lies and ultra hypocracy,in this case some credit (but not much) must be given to finally to admitting the truth! it makes one wonder if the worst is yet to be revealed.

Sam Harris put it quite well when he said that Mormonism was just Christianity with some more stupid ideas tacked on.

Imaging the nagging, 40 wives + MILs.

Are you telling me that Thai men do not have more than one wife?

Off-topic posts and replies removed.

I have had 40 wived too just not my own ; )