Polygamy

-Joseph Smith had around 34 plural wives possibly more (34 were documented), out of the 34 wives, 11 were already married to a living husband, 11 were teenage girls as young as 14 yrs. old (average age for woman to marry in that time was 21-22). He was married to two sets of sisters and a mother daughter set (in old testament, law of God forbids marriage to a mother & her daughter, Lev. 18:17).
-Joseph Smith started practicing polygamy in 1833, yet recieved the revelation for polygamy 10 yrs. later in 1843.
-In 1844 Joseph Smith said: "What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago."(History of the Church vol.6, p408-412).---At the time Joseph Smith said this he had over 30 wives.---"Lying for the Lord"??? Joseph Smith continually lied about having plural wives to non-members & some member.
-plural marriage supposedly ended in the 1890 manifesto that ended plural marriage. The church publicly pretended that it was over but continued to secretly practice it amoung the leaders and those who could "handle the truth". They continued plural marriage for decades while lying to the public and some members.
-While the LDS don't practice polygamy today (here on earth) they still believe in it spiritually. A man can be sealed to his wife, if she passes he can be sealed to another, in heaven he will be married to as many wives as he has been sealed to on earth. Yet the church claims to have NOTHING to do with polygamy.
-The pluralty of wives is still in their doctrine today. Doctrine & Covenants 132.
A contradiction in mormon scripture:
Recorded in the BoM in 1830, Jacob 2:24--Behold David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
Later in 1843...D&C 132:1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines-

 To see a list of the 34 wives of Joseph Smith and read an autobiography of them click on this link: Wives of Joseph Smith

 

Video about Joseph's youngest wife (14 yrs. Helen Mar Kimball)

 

Video about a 16 yr. old wife of Joseph Smith (Lucy Walker)

To learn more about this subject you can read the book: In sacred lonliness, the plural wives of Joseph Smith. By Todd Compton.

Todd Compton is an LDS Historian in good standing with the church, he served an LDS mission in Ireland, graduated from BYU, was awarded the Best Book Award by the John Whitmer Historical Assoc. & the Mormon Historical Assoc., he serves on the board of editors Journal of Mormon History.