Who wrote the Happiness Letter? #mormon #exmormon #lds #polygamy

Who Really Wrote the Happiness Letter? Examining the Document at the Heart of Mormon Polygamy Controversy

The so-called "Happiness Letter" ranks among the most contentious documents in Mormon history. Written in 1842, this letter purports to offer theological justification for plural marriage, and its authorship has become a flashpoint in debates about Joseph Smith's role in establishing polygamy within the early LDS movement. For members seeking to understand the historical record and for researchers examining the origins of Mormon polygamist doctrine, identifying who wrote this letter carries real significance, it determines whether we're reading Smith's own theological reasoning or someone else's attempt to persuade him toward the practice.

The question of the Happiness Letter's authorship sits at the intersection of faith, history, and institutional integrity. How we answer it shapes our understanding of a foundational moment in Mormon polygamy's history and reveals something crucial about the reliability of early LDS documentation.

Background: The Letter in Historical Context

In the spring of 1842, an unsigned letter circulated among select members of the LDS leadership in Nauvoo, Illinois. The letter's author argued that plural marriage was biblically sanctioned, spiritually elevating, and necessary for spiritual progression, particularly for women. The missive became known colloquially as the "Happiness Letter" because it promised women that entering into plural marriage would bring them eternal happiness and exaltation.

Joseph Smith was actively consolidating power during this period and had reportedly begun taking additional wives in secret. The timing of this letter, combined with its content, made it appear to many historical observers as theological cover for Smith's emerging polygamist practice.