It’s Official: Mormon Founder Had Up to 40 Wives

NY Times ^ | November 10, 2014 | Laurie Goodstein

[Zakeet]

Mormon leaders have acknowledged for the first time that the church’s founder and prophet, Joseph Smith, portrayed in church materials as a loyal partner to his loving spouse Emma, took as many as 40 wives, some already married and one only 14 years old.

The church’s disclosures, in a series of essays online, are part of an effort to be transparent about its history at a time when church members are increasingly encountering disturbing claims about the faith on the Internet. Many Mormons, especially those with polygamous ancestors, say they were well aware that Smith’s successor, Brigham Young, practiced polygamy when he led the flock in Salt Lake City. But they did not know the full truth about Smith.

[Zakeet]

Several interesting points raised in the article:

1. The Mormon Church has lied about this and many other subjects for years.
   
2. The Church admitted the truth after a time when church members are increasingly encountering disturbing claims about the faith on the Internet.
   
3. The Church admitted that one of Smith's wives was 14 years old -- making Smith a pedophile and a statutory rapist.
   
4. The Church admitted that some of Smith's wives were were already married, some to men who were Smith’s friends and followers.
   
5. Reactions of some Church members has followed the five stages of grief, including: denial and anger.

According to Dr. Richard Bushman, a prominent historian, church leaders: “Somewhere along the line they decided they were just going to tell the whole story, not to be defensive, not to try to hide anything. And there’s no single fact that’s more unsettling than Joseph Smith’s marriage to other men’s wives.

“It’s a recognition of maturity,” said Dr. Bushman, who is a Mormon. “There are lots of church leaders who say: ‘We can take anything, just let us know how it really happened. We’re a church that is secure.’ ”

[Zakeet]

Ping to an article of interest.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Mohammed

[colorcountry]

The official line within the Mormon community is “I knew that....”

Cognitive dissonance at its finest. We have proof even here on FR of Mormons vehemently denying that Smith was a polygamist in anything other than name. It boggles the mind.

[tumblindice]

Hey Joe! Where you going ...
With that gun in your hand?

“I’m goin’ to shoot my old ladies,
Shoot ‘em down to the ground.”

Did you take the trash out, Joseph? X 40

[bray]

Sounds like he invented the cult to get the ladies.

Pray America is waking

[DJ Frisat]

Just in case Mitt Romney is is even daydreaming about a 2016 run, NYT has to put the ‘radicalism’ of Mormons back in the spotlight...

[Travis McGee]

At least he didn’t order his followers to behead anybody who didn’t join up.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Sounds like he invented the cult to get the ladies.

Sounds familiar in history.

[CynicalBear]

>>We’re a church that is secure.’ ”<<

That sounds like another religion we see often here.

[BwanaNdege]

How many “wives” (serial) has Bill Clinton had, or, for that matter, did JFK have, just while they were in the White House?

(not defending Joseph Smith, just asking that the NYT apply the same indignant standard to THEIR saints that the Times is applying to the Morman’s)

[metmom]

So the church has been lying to them all these years?

Kind of makes you wonder what else they’ve been lying about, doesn’t it?

[Diogenesis]

The New York Times supports Romney’s agendae
of gay marriage, polygamy, and more.

[sphinx]

The Methodists?

[rawcatslyentist]

The similarities and disparities between Joehoeseph and Mohamed (Pigs be inseminating him) are remarkable.

Lucy has quite a range of deception!

If you're not following Jesus, guess where you're headed!

[ameribbean expat]

Orson Welles said something similar once, along the lines that we men invented civilization to impress our girlfriends.

[Politicalkiddo]

My brain inserted “Muslim” instead of “Mormon”.

[T. P. Pole]

We have proof even here on FR Got to admit I haven't seen that one. Can you give a few examples?

[CynicalBear]

Nope, don’t ever remember them with the moniker “shall not prevail against it” as referring to their church only.

[11th Commandment]

I just did a quick search on "Joseph Smith not a polygamist"- Several authors, websites and Mormon apologist have some explaining to do.