Study and Faith Joseph Smith's Polygamy with Brian Hales
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Jul 23, 2024 Join Brian Hales, a noted author specializing in early Latter-day Saints' polygamy, as he navigates the intricate world of Joseph Smith's controversial marriages. He shares his scholarly journey into church history and tackles the complexities surrounding key figures like Fanny Alger, Smith's first plural wife. Hales emphasizes the spiritual motivations behind Smith's polygamous practices, dispels common misconceptions, and delves into the ethical dilemmas that have intrigued and puzzled followers for generations.
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Family History and Polygamy Research
- Brian Hales's interest in polygamy stemmed from a family member's excommunication for practicing it.
- This led him to research Mormon fundamentalism and eventually Joseph Smith's polygamy.
Fanny Alger's Marriage
- Fanny Alger's marriage to Joseph Smith, possibly the first sealing in the church, remains controversial due to Emma's disapproval.
- Conflicting accounts exist regarding its nature, with some suggesting adultery while others view it as a plural marriage.
Early Nauvoo Sealings
- It's speculated that Fanny Alger may have been pregnant when she left Kirtland, but no evidence confirms this.
- Joseph Smith's early Nauvoo polygamous marriages were primarily non-sexual, eternity-only sealings to legally married women.
