[Polygamy] Sarah and Marie Lawrence (Ages 17 and 19): When Joseph Smith visited Canada in August of 1837 he converted to the church, Edward and Margaret Lawrence and their daughters Sarah and Maria. The Lawrence family subsequently journeyed to Illinois, arriving in 1840. Sarah and Maria’s father, Edward, passed away soon after their arrival. In 1842, Sarah and Maria, sixteen and eighteen years-old, began living in Joseph Smith’s home, perhaps as hired help like Emily and Eliza Partridge who were also living at the Smith residence.
In the summer of 1842 rumors circulated in Nauvoo regarding Joseph Smith’s polygamy. Joseph published a statement in his own defense: “We are charged with advocating a plurality of wives...now this is as false as the many other ridiculous charges which are brought against us. No sect has a great reverence for the laws of matrimony...we practice what we preach.†Several of Joseph’s close associates also published a proclamation that Joseph “is a good, moral, virtuous...man [and bore] testimony of the iniquity of those who had [made false statements about] Pres. J Smith’s characterâ€. One of those defending Joseph was William Law, Joseph’s counselor in the First Presidency. William had been a family friend of the Lawrence’s in Canada. He was unaware of Joseph’s polygamy, or that Joseph had just married his sixteenth wife, Sarah Ann Whitney.
In the spring of 1843, Joseph married Sarah and Maria. A friend of Maria’s in Nauvoo recalls, “...[Maria] suffered her doubts, her fears, her uncertainty as to whether she was acting right or wrong, for she had a conscience and wanted to be rightâ€, and also remembers Maria saying: “...if there was any truth in Mormonism she would be saved for...My yoke has not been easy nor my burden light.â€
By October 1843, William Law became aware that Joseph was indeed practicing polygamy. He didn’t agree with the doctrine, or its secret practice, and tried to get Joseph to abandon it. William, “with his arms around the neck of the Prophet...[and] tears streaming down his face...pleaded with him to withdraw the doctrine of plural marriage.†Joseph said he couldn’t, and released William from the First Presidency. Finally in late spring 1844, William resolved to take Joseph’s polygamy public. As polygamy was against the law, William filed a lawsuit against Joseph for living “in an open state of adultery†with Maria Lawrence. The following Sunday Joseph commented on William’s suit in his sermon, “Another indictment has been got up against me...What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one.†By this time, Joseph had married at least thirty-four women.
William also announced Joseph’s polygamy in the “Nauvoo Expositorâ€. Within days, Joseph declared the newspaper a “public nuisance†and ordered the city marshal to “destroy the printing press...and burn all the Expositors.†Joseph was subsequently arrested and jailed in nearby Carthage, where he was killed on June 27, 1844. After little more than a year of marriage, Sarah and Maria were widows. (1)
[Polygamy] Maria Lawrence age 19, (b. December 18, 1823 , Pickering Township, Ontario - d.? Nauvoo, Illinois) Sister of Sarah. After Smith's death, Lawrence married Brigham Young, becoming his sixteenth plural wife. They divorced in 1845 , but remarried the following year. wiki(1)
[Polygamy] William Clayton listed her as one of Smith's wives married during the early age period.. wiki(1)
[Polygamy] William Clayton listed her as one of Smith's wives married during the early age period.. (3)
-- During May-June 1843
[Nauvoo] Revelations on celestial marriage were received. (4)
[Nauvoo] Revelations on celestial marriage were received. (5)
-- Jun 1, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] June 1st 1843 The quorum of the Twelve met in Council at President J. Smith Store To make some arangments to start on their mission to collect funds for the Nauvoo House & temple. We each one of us bound ourselves under bonds of two thousands Dollars for the faithful performance of our duty in making strict returns of all property put into our hands to the trustee in trust. Elder Aaron Johnson was my Bondsman.
President Joseph Smith gave me the following letter of commendation:
Elder Wilford Woodruff Letter of Commendation
To all Saints and honourable men of the earth Greetings. Dear Brethren & friends I Joseph Smith a servant of the Lord and Trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints do hereby certify that the bearer hereof Wilford Woodruff an Elder and one of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has deposited with me his bond and security to my full satisfaction according to the resolution of the conference held in this city on the 6th day of April last. He therefore is recommended to all Saints & honorable people as a legal agent to collect funds for the purpose of Building the Nauvoo house and Temple of the Lord Confident that he will honor this high trust as well as ardently fulfill his Commission as a messenger of peace and Salvation as one of the Lords noble men I can fervently say may the Lord clear his way before him, and bless him and bless those that obey his teachings wherever there are ears to hear & hearts to feel. He is
in the language of the Hebrews [see facsimile on page 239] (Hav-ra-ang yeesh-rau-ale) The friend of Israel and worthy to be received and entertained as a man of God: yea he has as had the ancient Apostle [see facsimile] (ologos ohales) the good word: that that leadeth unto eternal Life. Laus Deus. Praise God.
Wherefore brethren and friends while you hear the assurance of the integrity, fidelity, and ability of this servant of the living GOD, trusting that your hearts and energies will be enlivened and deeply engaged in the building of these houses, directed by Revelation for the Salvation of all Saints; and that you will not rest whare you are untill all things are prepared before you and you are gatherd home with the rest of Israel to meet your God; I feel strong in the belief and have a growing expectation that you will not withhold any means in your power that can be used to accomplish this Glorious work.
Finally as one that greatly desires the salvation of man; let me remind you all to strive with a godly zeal for virtue, holiness, and the commandments of the Lord. Be good, Be wise; be just, be liberal; and above all be charitable always abound-ing in all good works. And may health peace and the love of God our Father and the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord be and abide with you all is the Sincere Prayer of
your devoted brother & friend
In the everlasting gospel
JOSepH SMITH
City of Nauvoo (6)
Footnotes:
1 - Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith, http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/
2 - Wikipedia, List of the Wives of Joseph Smith, Jr., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_wives_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.
3 - Wikipedia, List of the Wives of Joseph Smith, Jr., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_wives_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.
4 - LDS Church News: Nauvoo -- The City of Joseph, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58063/Church-history--Nauvoo.html
5 - LDS Church News: Nauvoo -- The City of Joseph, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58063/Church-history--Nauvoo.html
6 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993
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