Church History
Church HistorypolygamyNauvooD&C 132

Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo

How can a prophet practice plural marriage, including sealings that trouble modern readers?

Bible

The Bible answers

Bible · Genesis 16:1–3; 25:1

KJV + NRSVUE

Patriarchs practiced it. If the practice damns a people, start in Genesis.

King James Version

And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid… and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

NRSVUE

So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl… and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.

Book of Mormon

Also restored

Doctrine and Covenants 132:34–37

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded.

God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law… Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac… Abraham did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness.

Faithful answers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo

Gospel Topics Essays

The essay is frank: Joseph was sealed to multiple women, including some already married (dynastic sealings) and some young by modern standards. Emma struggled. Many Saints obeyed with anguish. The practice is not a template for today. It is a historical commandment the Lord later withdrew.

Latter-day Saints believe that plural marriage was authorized, regulated, and when the Lord directed, ended by revelation.

  • Abrahamic precedent is how D&C 132 frames the command.
  • The Church now teaches monogamy as the standard of marriage.
  • Honesty about the history is part of a mature faith, not a threat to it.
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