Joseph Smith’s Failed Attempt at Marrying 17 yr. Old

TodayinMormonHistory.com “– 175 years ago today – Sep 15, 1843 — William Clayton writes in his journal: “President Joseph told me he had lately had a new item of law revealed to him in relation to myself. He said the Lord had revealed to him that a man could only take 2 of a family except by express revelation and as I had said I intended to take Lydia he made this known for my benefit. To have more than two in a family was apt to cause wrangles and trouble. He finally asked if I would not give L[ydia] to him. I said I would so far as I had anything to do in it. He requested me to talk to her.

Lydia Moon, who had just turned 17, was the younger sister of two of Clayton’s wives: legal wife Ruth Moon and his first plural wife Margaret Moon. Clayton had been courting Lydia to become his plural wife until Joseph Smith told him of the recently-revealed “new item of law.” Clayton talked to Lydia Moon about becoming Joseph’s plural wife but she never would agree to it. She later apostatized from the Church.”

Leviticus 18:18 “Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.”

As a reminder, Wm. Clayton was Joe Smith’s secretary. At the time this took place, Smith was 37 yrs. old, and had 42 other wives.

Nothing about Joe Smith’s new ‘revelation’ resembles what the Lord said in His word! In fact, God said not to take any sister as another wife! If this was from God, wouldn’t Lydia have said yes?

To read more about this scenario, see: An Intimate Chronicle: The Journals of William Clayton, p. 120.

If  you’re LDS, what are your thoughts?

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor 1:18