Wife of Joseph Smith - Louisa Beaman

Summary:

Louisa is one of Joseph Smith's first wives. She notably was married to Joseph in public, but was disguised as a man during the ceremony.

Louisa was 26
Joseph Smith was 36
She was single at the time
The marriage date is April 34, 1841

Why this matters:

This relationship is 2 years before the revelation on plural marriage is revealed.
Joseph acquired the help of a third party to arrange the marriage for him.
There is pretty strong evidence of a sexual relationship immediately after the wedding because they both stayed their honeymoon night in a friends home and he records that he told them to "Blow out the lights and get into bed and you will be safe there."

Learn More:

WivesofJosephSmith.org - Louisa Beaman
Year of Polygamy - Louisa Beaman
Wikipedia - List of Joseph Smith's wives
LDS.org - Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo

About Me

I'm just a regular old Mormon that went on a mission, married in the temple and started a family. Later in life I discovered troubling issues about the church which did not seem to mesh with my understanding of the restored gospel. I ultimately left the church even though I really wanted to stay. I still respect the Mormon religion and identify with the culture.

I'm not a historian, and people searching for answers should really look to smarter people than me. But I'm hoping this blog will serve as a kick off point for anyone willing to critically think about the faith. These are just a few things I've encountered in my journey. Some fun, some serious, but all fascinating!