Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Emma Smith found herself in an impossible position: navigating a deeply painful chapter of history while trying to protect everything she loved.
It may be shocking to hear that at one point, she denied Joseph practiced polygamy. But when you look closer, it doesn’t seem so surprising.
Church historian Don Bradley walks us through her possible motivations for denying it during one interview she gave.
She knew the social and legal consequences her children would face if associated with polygamy, and she chose to construct a boundary that kept them safe.
Understanding her motivations doesn't require ignoring the historical reality of plural marriage, but it does require extending empathy to a mother doing whatever it took to protect her family.
What other context could help us understand her possible motivations?
Emma Smith found herself in an impossible position: navigating a deeply painful chapter of history while trying to protect everything she loved.
It may be shocking to hear that at one point, she denied Joseph practiced polygamy. But when you look closer, it doesn’t seem so surprising.
Church historian Don Bradley walks us through her possible motivations for denying it during one interview she gave.
She knew the social and legal consequences her children would face if associated with polygamy, and she chose to construct a boundary that kept them safe.
Understanding her motivations doesn't require ignoring the historical reality of plural marriage, but it does require extending empathy to a mother doing whatever it took to protect her family.
What other context could help us understand her possible motivations?
