In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith

by Todd M. Compton

Beginning in the 1830s, at least thirty-three women married Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. These were passionate relationships which also had some longevity, except in cases such as that of two young sisters, one of whom was discovered by Joseph's first wife, Emma, in a locked bedroom with the prophet. Emma remained a steadfast opponent of polygamy throughout her life.

The majority of Smith's wives were younger than he, and one-third...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156085085X
• ISBN13: 9781560850854
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Signature Books
• Length: 824 Pages
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Unmentioned truths.

I am an active Latter Day Saint, and I ordered this book because despite being LDS, I had no understanding of polygamy, especially as it related to Joseph Smith. I was never taught that Joseph had other wives, and I cannot recall it ever being mentioned in church despite my life-long activity in the church. We are not encouraged to look into this issue, and in many ways we are dissuaded from looking. I purchased the book because of reviews saying it was an unbiased factual analysis of Joseph Smith's plural wives, and their lives. It was definately worth the money, and I got more than I paid for. It is objective and factual. The author goes to lengths to scruitinize sources, and uses multiple sources for information. The book is not for the weak of faith because it explains the problems that the women had because of polygamy (Emma's hostility to the doctrine, Joseph's denial that it was being practiced after a number of early marriages, and the alienation of women who shared a husband with a number of wives), but truth is truth and should be pursued. The information in the book is detailed, documented, from contemorary journals, and most sources are friendly to the church. The focus of the book is on the women themselves. It not only documents what information there is about their marriage to Joseph Smith, but also documents the rest of their lives including subsequent spouses. Much of the information comes from the women themselves as given in their journals or autobiographies. It is clear the book is meant as a survey of the lives of these women and not an effort to disparage Joseph Smith, although it will be seen as somewhat troubling to some because polygamy often offends our modern notions of morality. Many would rather push such historical facts out of their mind rather than study it and have a new perspective on church history, and an explanation of why polygamy was so important to Brigham Young and other prophets. I actually found it to be very uplifting. There was so much for these women to overcome. Joseph died, and they were left without a husband facing the prospect of crossing the plains. Many remarried into other polygamous and monogomous relationships. Many lost children crossing the plains. Their lives are both tragic and encouraging because of the great trials they faced and overcame. Three of his wives became presidents of the church Relief Society program: Emma Smith, Eliza Snow, and Zina Huntington. The only problem I have with the book is the difficult endnote system. With something this grand, footnotes on the same page would have been better. That being said, the book is wonderful if you want a biography of the wives of Joseph Smith, including the courtship, relationship, what they did after Joseph Smith died, and the wives views on the marriage years later. I highly recommend the book.

Balanced and sympathetic

Compton focuses on the devotion and inner lives of women involved directly with the development of polygamous marriage within Mormon theology.I found the stories of these women absolutely amazing. Regardless of where you stand in relation to the theology, their individual biographies reveal interesting, sincere women. Given the potential controversy of this book, the author is always careful to explain the available data. In areas of conflicting reports, he presents all available data, and leaves judgment to the reader.If you are interested in early Mormon polygamy, and the philosophy/theology behind it, this book is the mother lode.

Simply a great read!

I am sure many people will comment on this book for religious reasons, originally Mormon social history was the reason that I read In Sacred Loneliness, and religion seems to breed ridiculous arguments where no grounds for arguments really exist. I found the book particularly even - at different times in the book I thought he was shamelessly praising the church and other times too harsh, soon though the sway of the characters took over, and the emotional involvement with the lives of such powerful, pitiful and human women really pulls you in. Regardless of what you think about polygamy, this book gives you an appriciation for the dedication of the integrity of some of these people to follow it, and for some a deep respect for those who chose to leave it. I really had a hard time with this book as some of these character really are heroic, like Patty Sessions, and Zina Huntington. I think that Compton leaves the reader to decide about polygamy, or Mormonism - right or wrong the story of the women involved is needed, useful and inspirational. For those who want to argue about religion there is alot here to mull over, but I really think that you miss the point.

An excellent book

It is hard to find a book about early Mormonism that does not focus almost exclusively on Joseph Smith. As founder of the Mormon religion, this may not seem surprising, but it's refreshing just the same to read Todd Compton's book with its almost exclusive focus on Joseph's wives, and comparatively little focus on the Mormon prophet.Compton's book consists of 30 chapters; each written as a biography of the various women Joseph Smith married, with the conspicuous absence of Emma Smith. This highlights and emphasizes the fact that, though Joseph had many wives, they were all rejected by Emma who vigorously opposed polygamy and the intrusions it brought into her home. Studying Mormon history has become a mixed blessing. On one hand, historical scholarship of the subject has advanced greatly since Bodie's landmark "No man knows my History." On the other hand, excommunication of prominent historians (such as Quinn and Brodie) by the Mormon Church has resulted in much fear and distrust. For most Mormons, Todd Compton's book probably falls outside the designation of "faith promoting," and may be uncomfortable for many active members of the church.Growing up in the Mormon Church, I learned several myths about early Mormon polygamy such as: 1. A man's wife had to approve the marriage to plural wives. 2. Most plural wives were older women whose husbands had died, and for whom polygamy represented safe heaven from a brutal world. 3. Most of Joseph's plural wives were sealed to him, but had no sexual relationship with him. 4. Joseph's plural wives never became pregnant from him. 5. There was never any admission or even mention of polyandry.Through the biographies he has constructed, Compton exposes each of these myths. Chapter 1 discusses Fanny Alger, who married Joseph when she was only sixteen and he was twenty-seven. Emma didn't know about the marriage, and when she learned of it (by seeing Fanny and Joseph together, by one account, and noticing Fanny's pregnancy by another account - see pages 34-35) drove Fanny from their house. Oliver Cowdery (one of the Book-of-Mormon witnesses) described Joseph's relationship with Fanny as a sexual affair, and accused Joseph of adultery - resulting in Oliver's excommunication in 1838 (see pages 38-39).Compton spends considerable effort reconciling Cowdery's description of Fanny Alger as an affair, and others who clearly describe a marriage relationship (though without the approval or knowledge of Emma). As I read the book I kept expecting Compton to draw the obvious conclusion, that Joseph had an affair with Fanny and then invented polygamy (which he may have been contemplating anyway) to save his presidency and justify his actions. Compton, however, never draws this conclusion, and ends still contemplating the two possible scenarios as mutually exclusive.I found particular interest in this book because one of Joseph Smith's plural wives, Melissa Lott, was my great,

Thorough research combined with compassion and eloquence

Todd Compton has done a truly impressive job in documenting the plural wives of Joseph Smith, and the personal trials, hardships, and religious rewards of polygamy. His focus on the wives, rather than on Joseph Smith, enables the reader to empathize more fully with the sacrifice these women made in the name of their religious convictions. Compton also does an excellent job explaining why women who were products of a victorian society, would embrace such a radically different and scorned way of life, which, pratically speaking, brought them very little rewards in this life. There is information which may shock current Latter-day Saints, due to the fact that the modern LDS church has attempted to distance itself from this early practice, but it is information which is essential to know to understand the origins of the church's theology. Over and over I was impressed by how well Compton seemed to reach into the very heart of the experiences of these devout women who did! , indeed, live in sacred loneliness.