For nearly two centuries, Joseph Smith’s involvement in polygamy has been a point of controversy. Historians and more recently, LDS leaders, have affirmed that the Mormon prophet took dozens of wives. But a growing movement within the Church is challenging that narrative, arguing that Smith was a monogamist—and that polygamy was a later invention used to justify the actions of Brigham Young and other church leaders.

One of the most vocal advocates of this perspective is Michelle Stone, creator of 132 Problems: Revisiting Mormon Polygamy, a YouTube channel with nearly 120,000 subscribers. A lifelong member of the LDS Church, Michelle once had a strong testimony of polygamy, believing it was divinely inspired. But everything changed ten years ago when her husband questioned whether polygamy was ever truly of God. Determined to prove him wrong, Michelle embarked on a deep dive into historical records—only to find herself questioning whether Joseph Smith practiced polygamy at all.

Now, she joins Mormon Stories to share her research, her faith journey, and why she believes the Church has it wrong on one of the most controversial chapters in its history.

Show Notes

YouTube

00:05:22 Why we want to have Michelle on

00:15:48 Michelle’s great-grandfather was told by the president of the church to go to Mexico to get a second wife

00:35:07 Her grandfather was called to be a mission president in Tonga, leaving behind other wives

00:48:56 She was never taught that Joseph didn’t practice polygamy

01:05:00 Things made more sense once she realized there was problems in church history

01:14:00 Trauma of losing a child at the hospital in 2020 during the pandemic

01:24:00 Had an experience where she felt that she saw her daughter grown up

01:56:48 Michelle was devastated by the Nov 2015 LGBTQ Policy

02:04:50 Discussion of polygamy in the BOM

02:14:50 Michelle had a second faith crisis in 2020

02:32:33 When did she start her YouTube channel “132 Problems”?

02:43:34 God saying in the BoM that polygamy is an abomination

02:56:01 Has she ever decided differently than what god “commanded”?

03:18:15 Discussion on RLDS church and why they split from the LDS church

03:19:41 Michelle is asking individuals to “hold a little space” for this new theory

03:31:54 Her episode on Emma changed her mind

03:49:20 “I have become more confident in my stance since I started speaking out”

04:16:57 Michelle’s thoughts on Fanny Alger

04:39:45 Why were there rumors of polygamy going on in the church in 1835?

05:00:40 Questions on the Nauvoo Expositor

05:33:00 How can the church be true if the original men made so many mistakes?

05:40:50 What are her thoughts on the church maybe excommunicating her?

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