Joseph Smith Publicly Rejects Polygamy-No Secret There!

Joseph Smith Rejects Polygamy

Joseph Smith Rejects Polygamy

In March of 1844, Joseph Smith wrote, published, and signed a personal statement rejecting polygamy as a doctrine of the early LDS Church, together with his brother Hyrum Smith. The statement can be found in the early church newspaper publication, the Times and Season. The publication was personally edited by Joseph Smith himself. 

NOTICE. As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hyram Brown, has been preaching polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan. This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity; and he is further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the 6th of April next, to make answer to these charges. 

JOSEPH SMITH.
 HYRUM SMITH.

Presidents of said church. 
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5. pp.423.
March 15th, 1844

Hyrum Smith's Declaration Against A Polygamous Priesthood

"Whereas Brother Richard Hewitt has called on me today, to know if my views concerning some doctrines that are preached in your place, and states to me that some of your elders say, that a man having a certain priesthood, may have as many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here: I say unto you that that man teaches false doctrine, for there is no such doctrine taught here; neither is there any such thing practiced here. And any man that is found teaching privately or publicly any such doctrine, is culpable, and will stand a chance to be brot (brought) before the High Counsel, and loose his license and membershipalso; therefore he had better beware what he is about.

(Hyrum Smith April 1, 1844. Ibid. pp.474)

The Early LDS Church Effort To Root Out Polygamy

" We very frequently receive letters from elders and individuals abroad, inquiring of us whether certain statements that they hear, and have written to them, are true: Some pertaining to John C. Bennett's spiritual wife system; others in regard to the immoral conduct, practiced by individuals, and sanctioned by the church; and as it is impossible for us to answer all of them, we take this opportunity of answering them all, once for all..*****
"If any man write to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, Book of Mormon or the book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an impostor. You need not write to us to know what you ought to do with such men; you have the authority with you. Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches, and if they are belonging to any of the quorums  in the church, report them to the president of the quorum to which they belong, and if you can not find that out, if they are members of an official standing, belonging  to Nauvoo, report them to us".

(Editorial Ibid. p. 490 '1. Nov. 15, 1844)

The Book of Mormon Declaration Should Not Polygamize

He Should Have But 1 Wife

Jacob 2:36 Wherefore my brethren, hear me and hearken to the word of the Lord: "For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife, And concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women,

Jacob 2:55 For they have not forgotten the commandments of the Lord which were given unto our father that they should have save it were one wife and concubines they should have none, And there should not be whoredoms committed among them;

Did God Ever Command Polygamy "To Raise Up Seed"? 

2:39 For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people: otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

Yet When God Commanded Lehi To Leave Jerusalem,

Polygamy Was Not The Way, Rather Each of Lehi's Sons Took 1 Wife.

1 Nephi 2:7 And now I would that ye might know that after my father Lehi had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, It came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone, But that his sons should take daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the Land of Promise.

To Be Continued