Joseph Smith and Fanny...

[_Drifting]

Benjamin Johnson, a close friend of Joseph Smith, described Fanny as, “varry nice and comly, [to whom] everyone Seemed partial for the ameability of her character.”  She is generally considered the first plural wife of Joseph Smith.  Although undocumented, the marriage of Fanny and Joseph most likely took place in Kirtland, Ohio sometime in 1833. She would have been sixteen years old.  At the time, Fanny was living in the Smith home, perhaps helping Emma with house work and the children.  Ann Eliza Webb recalls, “Mrs. Smith had an adopted daughter, a very pretty, pleasing young girl, about seventeen years old.  She was extremely fond of her; no mother could be more devoted, and their affection for each other was a constant object of remark, so absorbing and genuine did it seem”.  

Joseph kept his marriage to Fanny out of the view of the public, and his wife Emma.  Chauncey Webb recounts Emma’s later discovery of the relationship:  “Emma was furious, and drove the girl, who was unable to conceal the consequences of her celestial relation with the prophet, out of her house”.  Ann Eliza again recalls:  “...it was felt that [Emma] certainly must have had some very good reason for her action. By degrees it became whispered about that Joseph’s love for his adopted daughter was by no means a paternal affection, and his wife, discovering the fact, at once took measures to place the girl beyond his reach...Since Emma refused decidedly to allow her to remain in her house...my mother offered to take her until she could be sent to her relatives...”

Book of Mormon witness, Oliver Cowdery, felt the relationship was something other than a marriage.  He referred to it as “A dirty, nasty, filthy affair...”  To calm rumors regarding Fanny’s relationship with Joseph, the church quickly adopted a “Chapter of Rules for Marriage among the Saints”, which declared, “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with...polygamy; we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife...”  This “Article on Marriage” was canonized and published in the Doctrine & Covenants.  In 1852, the doctrine of polygamy was publicly announced, thus ending eighteen years of secret practice.  “The Article on Marriage” became obsolete and was later removed.

Fanny stayed with relatives in nearby Mayfield until about the time Joseph fled Kirtland for Missouri.  Benjamin Johnson remembers: “Soon after the Prophet[‘s] flight in the winter of ’37...The Alger Family left for the west and Stop[ped] in Indiana for a time...Soon [Fanny] Married to one of the Citizens of ther & altho she never left the State She did not turn from the Church nor from her friendship for the Prophet while She lived..”   Benjamin continued, “And I Can now See that as at Nauvoo – So at Kirtland That the Suspicion or Knowledge of the Prophets Plural Relations was one of the Causes of Apostacy & disruption at Kirtland altho at the time there was little said publickly upon the Subject.”  Fanny lived the rest of her life in Indiana with her children and husband, Solomon Custer. 
(wives of Joseph Smith)

[_Fence Sitter]

If there was a marriage what evidence is there that it was the result of divine direction vs Joseph Smith Jr just deciding on his own to start practicing polygamy? The OP asks why he was not excommunicated. Even if a marriage could be shown one would also have to show it was because God commanded it, otherwise Joseph Smith Jr should have been excommunicated and thrown in jail.

Joseph was truly a lucky man to have God around to back him up on what ever he did.

[_Blixa]

Were they married?

I think that's the million dollar question.

If I recall correctly, even Joseph admitted having relations with Fanny. But, were they married at the time or did he just claim they were after he got caught?

Check out Don Bradley's essay in this book. It presents a detailed time line for the Joseph/Fanny relationship and makes an interesting argument about pre-Nauvoo polygamy. You can read most of it online via the Amazon "Look Inside" feature.

[_why me]

Were they married?

Her parents thought so.

[_Drifting]

Were they married?

Her parents thought so.

What did Emma think?

[_why me]

Joseph was truly a lucky man to have God around to back him up on what ever he did.

He was actually a very unlucky man. But he received inspiration for plural marriage through reading the old testament, I believe.

[_Drifting]

Joseph was truly a lucky man to have God around to back him up on what ever he did.

He was actually a very unlucky man. But he received inspiration for plural marriage through reading the old testament, I believe.

Can you give me the Old Testament reference that inspired him to go after other men's wives?

[_why me]

What did Emma think?

Emma went through a period of being hot and cold about polygamy. Eventually, she came to dislike the practice and denied her husband was ever a polygamist.

The thing is: Fanny went on to marry Solomon Custer and had many children. She never spoke a negative word about Joseph and her parents were proud that she was sealed to Joseph Smith. They remained faithful to the church until their deaths.

[_why me]

Can you give me the Old Testament reference that inspired him to go after other men's wives?

Your question is an attack question because of your wording. Do you really believe that Joseph Smith would risk it all to bed other men's wives because of lust and horny dogness? None of women involved claimed such a motivation. That should tell you something.

[_Drifting]

Can you give me the Old Testament reference that inspired him to go after other men's wives?

Your question is an attack question because of your wording. Do you really believe that Joseph Smith would risk it all to bed other men's wives because of lust and horny dogness? None of women involved claimed such a motivation. That should tell you something.

My question is, as you almost guessed, is one of disgust.

However, you make the point that the women and their husbands must have been loyal and faithful. Tell me, if requested, would you be prepared/faithful enough to give your wife up to Thomas S Monson?