D&C 132 I How Messy Was Plural Marriage? I Lynne Hilton Wilson I Come Follow Church History

Scripture Central

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 852 Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

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Summary

In this episode of Come Follow Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson, Dr. Wilson sits down with historian Dr. Janiece Johnson to explore one of the most complex and often misunderstood chapters in Latter-day Saint history—the introduction of plural marriage in Nauvoo. Together, they discuss the deep faith, sacrifice, and obedience of early Saints who strove to follow what they sincerely believed was a divine commandment revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Despite the personal heartache and social challenges that came with practicing plural marriage, figures like Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and many faithful women and men sought to live this principle with devotion, humility, and integrity. Dr. Wilson and Dr. Johnson also delve into the eternal perspectives behind the doctrine of eternal marriage, exploring how the Saints in Nauvoo viewed family, sealing, and covenant relationships as essential parts of God’s plan of salvation. Though plural marriage was a defining test of faith for the early Church, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not practice this principle today. This episode invites viewers to look at this sensitive topic with empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the faith and courage of those who lived it.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Joseph is introducing the idea of being family sealed together.
0:03.0	Plural marriage is messy.
0:05.0	Why was Joseph asked to marry other women who are already married?
0:10.0	John Taylor said it made my flesh crawl.
0:12.0	I think this was the greatest trial Joseph underwent because he was so in love with his wife.
0:17.0	And they almost get divorced over.
0:19.0	But in the Garden of Eden, it was one and one. Yeah.
0:24.2	You know, it's monogony. The real law of God is monogony. There are hard questions to be asked here.
0:29.8	I haven't found anybody who wanted to live in my readings. You can't just decide that you want to
0:35.6	enter into polygamy. Polygamy only works if God commands it.
0:39.3	By having something this difficult is a good schoolmaster, but it is a hard education.
0:45.3	And he will take hold of you and wrench your very hard strings.
0:49.3	And if you cannot stand it, you will not be fit for an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God. But no woman is going to do this and the angel gives him names.
0:58.0	The angel appeared to him the third time with a drawn sword in his hand and threatened his life
1:03.0	if he did not fulfill the commandment.
1:05.0	This was absolutely a thorn in their relationship for years and years. Joseph is not making romantic gestures or romantic promises,
1:15.6	oh, we're going to have a wonderful life together.
1:18.6	He's saying, God revealed this to me. Go ask God.
1:21.6	It's the Lord who can soften my heart.
1:23.6	When I'm in a difficult situation, and I go to the Lord and say,
1:26.6	change these hard feelings.
1:28.8	Plural marriage is messy, messy, messy.
	...

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