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The Persistence of Polygamy: Joseph Smith and the Origins of Mormon Polygamy
The first in a three-volume anthology in which top scholars examine the entire range and history of Mormon polygamy.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 14, 2022
Super informative essays that help develop and better understand the history that is polygamy. I particularly like Bradley's essay on polygamy before Nauvoo. Hales' treatment of polyandry was thorough (though digested with a grain of salt). Also enjoyed the joint effort essay on situating the ages of Joseph's wives within the social and demographic context of his day. Not a thorough treatment of Joseph's polygamy, but a great deep dive into some of the more controversial, overlooked aspects of it.
May 6, 2020
This first in three volumes on "the principle," The Persistence of Polygamy is a great collection of essays from some of the top researchers on the topic (including Todd M. Compton and Brian Hales C. Hales).
The practice of "spiritual wifery" is such a puzzling and fascinating topic in American religious history. Though research has been conducted on it for decades, we're truly only beginning to see a more complete picture of its origins.
A few questions considered in this book:
-Was polygamy practiced before Nauvoo?
-What was the nature of Joseph Smith's relationship with Fanny Alger?
-How common was polyandry in the early Mormonism?
-What were the ages of Joseph Smith's plural wives and how many would be considered "very early" in the context of the time and place?
-Who are Joseph Smith's potential offspring from plural wives?
-How does the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS church) differ from the LDS church (among other branches of the Mormon movement) in their response to plural marriage in the early days of the church?
Some of these are perennial questions but many are framed in refreshing ways (and buttressed by new historical sources and evidence, including DNA-testing). This book is another welcome contribution to Mormon Studies.
(An aside: it's astounding how little orthodox Latter-day Saints, as well as members of the broader Mormon movement, know about "plural marriage." Get the history out there. It's time to break free of the deceptive approaches to history spearheaded by Joseph Fielding Smith and Boyd K. Packer, among others.)
The practice of "spiritual wifery" is such a puzzling and fascinating topic in American religious history. Though research has been conducted on it for decades, we're truly only beginning to see a more complete picture of its origins.
A few questions considered in this book:
-Was polygamy practiced before Nauvoo?
-What was the nature of Joseph Smith's relationship with Fanny Alger?
-How common was polyandry in the early Mormonism?
-What were the ages of Joseph Smith's plural wives and how many would be considered "very early" in the context of the time and place?
-Who are Joseph Smith's potential offspring from plural wives?
-How does the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS church) differ from the LDS church (among other branches of the Mormon movement) in their response to plural marriage in the early days of the church?
Some of these are perennial questions but many are framed in refreshing ways (and buttressed by new historical sources and evidence, including DNA-testing). This book is another welcome contribution to Mormon Studies.
(An aside: it's astounding how little orthodox Latter-day Saints, as well as members of the broader Mormon movement, know about "plural marriage." Get the history out there. It's time to break free of the deceptive approaches to history spearheaded by Joseph Fielding Smith and Boyd K. Packer, among others.)
July 23, 2014
Really fascinating. Articles on Fanny and polyandry were complex and fantastic.
October 28, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed each article. There are some challenging themes discussed but each is well researched, practical, supported by the evidence presented, and thoughtful.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews