Did Joseph Smith Have Sex With His Plural Wives? | LDS Discussions 62 | Ep. 1992

Did Joseph Smith have sex with his plural wives? The evidence says yes, and the list of women involved is longer than many members realize. This question sits at the center of the Mormon polygamy debate, not because the answer remains unclear, but because admitting it forces a confrontation with the nature of Smith's prophetic claims. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gradually shifted from blanket denial to partial acknowledgment, now admitting sexual relations with at least ten of Smith's plural wives. Yet the historical record suggests the number may be higher, and the circumstances more complicated than official narratives allow.

Background and Scriptural Context

The scriptural foundation for Mormon polygamy rests on Doctrine and Covenants 132, a revelation recorded in 1843 that commands plural marriage specifically for the purpose of raising up seed unto God. The text leaves little room for ambiguity about the physical nature of these unions. For decades, church apologists argued that Smith's marriages were spiritual sealings only, devoid of sexual content. This position has collapsed under the weight of contemporary documentation and the church's own Gospel Topics essays, which concede that Smith practiced both polygyny and polyandry, including with women who remained legally married to other men.

Documented Evidence of Sexual Relationships

The Mormon Stories Podcast episode featuring researcher Julia and historian Dan Vogel lays out the documentary trail in specific detail. The cases are not vague rumors but concrete incidents with multiple witnesses.

• Fanny Alger: Emma Smith reportedly witnessed the relationship through a barn wall, seeing what witness William McLellin called a "transaction" that occurred years before the official 1843 revelation.