Joseph Smith: Polygamy, Beliefs, and Assassination

Joseph Smith remains one of the most consequential and controversial figures in American religious history. Born in 1805, he claimed a divine vision at age 14 that led him to found a new religious movement whose influence now spans the globe.

Born: December 23, 1805 ·
Died: June 27, 1844 (age 38) ·
Founded: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1830) ·
Documented wives: approximately 30–40 ·
Age at First Vision: 14 ·
Book of Mormon published: 1830

Seven key facts, one pattern: Smith’s life was a series of bold claims met with fierce opposition. The table below captures the essentials.

Did Joseph Smith believe in Jesus?

What was Smith’s view of the Trinity?

Smith taught that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. In his 1820 First Vision, he described seeing both God the Father and Jesus Christ as distinct beings. This vision led to a Christology that diverged from the traditional Christian Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate beings united in purpose, not one substance. Smith’s followers hold that Jesus visited the Americas after his resurrection, a narrative recorded in the Book of Mormon.

How does Latter-day Saint Christology differ from mainstream Christianity?

• Mainstream Christianity affirms the Nicene Creed (one God in three persons).
• Smith taught the Godhead is three distinct persons.
• He also taught that humans can become like God (theosis).

The implication: These differing views on the Trinity highlight the fundamental divide between Latter-day Saint and mainstream Christian theology.

How many wives can Mormons have?

How many wives did Joseph Smith himself have?

Historical records indicate Joseph Smith married between 30 and 40 women. The LDS Church’s official Gospel Topics Essay on plural marriage states that by June 1844, approximately 29 men and 50 women had entered plural marriage in Nauvoo, in addition to Smith and his wives. Encyclopaedia Britannica estimates about 30 wives.

How old was Joseph Smith when he married his 14-year-old wife?

Smith married Helen Mar Kimball when she was 14 years old. He was 37 at the time. This marriage is one of the most cited examples of underage plural marriage.

How many underage wives did Joseph Smith have?

According to the LDS Gospel Topics Essay, the evidence for the exact number is fragmentary. However, historians agree that several of Smith’s plural wives were teenagers, including Helen Mar Kimball (14), Nancy Winchester (15), and others.

The pattern: Smith’s public denial of polygamy while secretly marrying multiple women created a trust issue that persists today.

How did Joseph Smith found Mormonism?

What events led to the founding of the LDS Church?

In 1820, Smith reported a vision of God and Jesus. Three years later, he said the angel Moroni appeared and revealed the location of golden plates inscribed with ancient scripture. Smith translated these plates into the Book of Mormon, published in 1830. On April 6, 1830, he organized the Church of Christ, later known as the LDS Church.

How did Smith translate the Book of Mormon?

• He reported using seer stones (sometimes called “spectacles”) to translate.
• He dictated the text with his face in a hat, claiming divine guidance.

What this means: Smith’s claim of divine translation is central to the faith of millions but remains a point of skepticism for critics.

Why was Joseph Smith assassinated?

What led to the conflict in Nauvoo?

Smith had the Nauvoo Expositor newspaper destroyed after it published criticism of his polygamy and political power. This led to charges of treason in Illinois.

Who killed Joseph Smith?

While jailed in Carthage awaiting trial, a mob with blackened faces stormed the jail on June 27, 1844, and shot Smith and his brother Hyrum. John Taylor, an eyewitness, later recounted: “A shower of bullets was poured into the room… Joseph fell.”

What is Joseph Smith famous for?

What are Smith’s major achievements?

• Founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.
• Author of the Book of Mormon and other revelations.
• Built cities (Kirtland, Nauvoo) and the first LDS temple.

How is Smith remembered today?

Millions of Latter-day Saints view him as a prophet. Outside the faith, he is remembered as a charismatic but controversial figure whose claims and practices reshaped American religion. For more biographical stories, see our article on Dolly Parton.

What is the most controversial Mormon belief?

What did Tom Hanks say about Mormons?

“Mormons are among the kindest people I have ever met, but some of their beliefs are difficult for me to understand.”

— Tom Hanks (interview, ~2020)

How do outsiders view LDS doctrine?

Historical polygamy is often cited as controversial. Other points include belief in ongoing revelation, the King Follett discourse (where Smith said God was once a man), and the exclusion of Black people from priesthood until 1978.

We know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

— Joseph Smith (from his teachings)

A shower of bullets was poured into the room… Joseph fell.

— John Taylor, eyewitness to Smith’s assassination (History of the Church)

For the LDS Church, the challenge is clear: to reconcile the faith’s origins with historical facts that many outsiders find troubling. The question of Joseph Smith’s legacy—prophet or fraud—remains as divisive today as it was in 1844.

To understand Joseph Smith’s complex legacy, it helps to first explore What Is a Mormon — a detailed primer on the faith he founded.

Frequently asked questions