Joseph SmithPolygamy scholar argues against 'false narratives' about Joseph Smith
Public Square Magazine published an essay defending the historical evidence for Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage while arguing against what it calls "false narratives" that have emerged in recent scholarship. The piece contends that some recent academic work has overstated uncertainty about which relationships were polyandrous or consummated, and argues that "faith in his prophetic calling need not depend on a different history." The essay engages with arguments from both critics and defenders of Smith, asserting that the documentary record supports traditional LDS acknowledgment that Smith practiced polygamy while rejecting interpretations the author considers exaggerated or unsupported by primary sources.
November 2, 2026 at 9:02 AM MT · via Public Square Magazine · 3 sources