Did Joseph Smith have 40 wives?

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.

Can you have multiple wives in Utah?

Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. This practice is illegal across the United States – Utah included – yet tens of thousands are still living in such communities and continue to fight for their rights to do so. There has been a ban on polygamy since Utah became a state.

What is Mormon fundamentalism?

Mormon fundamentalism (also called fundamentalist Mormonism) is a belief in the validity of selected fundamental aspects of Mormonism as taught and practiced in the nineteenth century, particularly during the administrations of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, the first two presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Does the LDS Church excommunicate people who practice plural marriage?

Today, the LDS Church excommunicates any of its members who practice plural marriage or who otherwise closely associate themselves with Mormon fundamentalist practices. There is no single authority accepted by all Mormon fundamentalists; viewpoints and practices of individual groups vary.

What is the origin of polygamy in Mormonism?

Mormonism and polygamy. Polygamy (called plural marriage by Mormons in the 19th century or the Principle by modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy) was practiced by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church or Mormons) for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852…

What are the principles of Mormonism?

The principle most often associated with Mormon fundamentalism is plural marriage, a form of polygyny first taught in the Latter Day Saint movement by the movement’s founder, Smith. A second and closely associated principle is that of the United Order, a form of egalitarian communalism.