Did Joseph Smith violate the 1833 anti bigamy law?

[_collegeterrace]

In marrying the numerous additional wives while living in Nauvoo Illinois, did Joseph Smith break the following law?

"Sec 121. Bigamy consists in the having of two wives or two husbands at one and the same time, knowing that the former husband or wife is still alive.

If any person or persons within this State, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do at any time marry any person or persons, the former husband or wife being alive, the person so offending shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned in the penitentiary, not exceeding two years.
It shall not be necessary to prove either of the said marriages by the register or certificate thereof, or other record evidence; but the same may be proved by such evidence as is admissible to prove a marriage in other cases, and when such second marriage shall have taken place without this state, cohabitation in this state after such second marriage shall be deemed the commission of the crime of bigamy, and the trial in such case may take place in the county where such cohabitation shall have occurred."

Revised Laws of Illinois, 1833, p.198-99

Feel free to explain your answer, unless you are on my ignore list :p
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[_collegeterrace]

bump

[_Yoda]

Yes. It is obvious that he broke the law here. I wonder when the Article of Faith regarding "obeying the law if the land" was revealed. ;)

[_Scottie]

If any person or persons within this State, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do at any time marry any person or persons, the former husband or wife being alive, the person so offending shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned in the penitentiary, not exceeding two years.
It shall not be necessary to prove either of the said marriages by the register or certificate thereof, or other record evidence; but the same may be proved by such evidence as is admissible to prove a marriage in other cases, and when such second marriage shall have taken place without this state, cohabitation in this state after such second marriage shall be deemed the commission of the crime of bigamy, and the trial in such case may take place in the county where such cohabitation shall have occurred.

I wonder...is this enough to make Joseph Smith marriages legal? His wives did not co-habit with him.

[_bcspace]

I wonder...is this enough to make Joseph Smith marriages legal? His wives did not co-habit with him.

I was wondering the same thing. Hence, my vote.

[_collegeterrace]

If any person or persons within this State, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do at any time marry any person or persons, the former husband or wife being alive, the person so offending shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned in the penitentiary, not exceeding two years.
It shall not be necessary to prove either of the said marriages by the register or certificate thereof, or other record evidence; but the same may be proved by such evidence as is admissible to prove a marriage in other cases, and when such second marriage shall have taken place without this state, cohabitation in this state after such second marriage shall be deemed the commission of the crime of bigamy, and the trial in such case may take place in the county where such cohabitation shall have occurred.

I wonder...is this enough to make Joseph Smith marriages legal? His wives did not co-habit with him.

Perhaps this is true, especially since Fanny was tossed down the stairs by the jealous Emma!

How do we not know Smith did not co habitat with his extra wives/concubines/whores at their residence?

[_bcspace]

How do we not know Smith did not co habitat with his extra wives/concubines/whores at their residence?

How do we not know that you have not stopped beating your wife?

[_Scottie]

Perhaps this is true, especially since Fanny was tossed down the stairs by the jealous Emma!

How do we not know Smith did not co habitat with his extra wives/concubines/whores at their residence?

How could he keep it a secret if they lived with him??

[_collegeterrace]

Perhaps this is true, especially since Fanny was tossed down the stairs by the jealous Emma!

How do we not know Smith did not co habitat with his extra wives/concubines/whores at their residence?

How could he keep it a secret if they lived with him??

It is well known that Joseph did not spend a lot of time at home with his first wife Emma.

He went house to house, doinking here and doinking there.

Look outside of this, among other things, he was able to get thousands to believe his story of a resurrected white American Indian giving him some plates and then translating them to a book. Hiding the fact that he was getting young hooch was a cinch.

[_Scottie]

It is well known that Joseph did not spend a lot of time at home with his first wife Emma.

He went house to house, doinking here and doinking there.

Look outside of this, among other things, he was able to get thousands to believe his story of a resurrected white American Indian giving him some plates and then translating them to a book. Hiding the fact that he was getting young hooch was a cinch.

Of course it was....as long as the wives didn't co-habit with him.