What happened when Mormon Joseph Smith claimed that God condoned polygamy?

Answer 1

As Joseph Smith's revelation about God condoning polygamy was revealed slowly and privately over the course of about 20 years, it's difficult to pinpoint a concise answer to this question.

Joseph Smith began teaching his closest associates about this concept as early as 1831 as a result of his studying the Old Testament prophets and their multiple wives. However, it was definitely not a widely known or publically taught principle and very little is known of it's beginnings today. He first attempted living the principle in the mid-1830's by marrying a woman named Fanny Alger, but the relationship was short lived and it appears that he set the idea aside for several years afterward. He again introduced the concept to his closest friends and associates in 1841, privately marrying Louisa Beaman. For the next three years (until his death) he would authorize about 30 men and 50 women to practice plural marriages, although they had to pledge that they would keep their involvement confidential. Many of these marriages were for "eternity only", meaning that they did not live together or have sexual relations, but some were for "time and eternity" meaning they had a husband/wife relationship.

Rumors about plural marriages seem to have surfaced about 1843, but it was not a publically acknowledged fact until 1852. By the late 1850's it is estimated that about half of all Mormons had experienced a polygamous family, either as husband, wife, or child. However, the practice began to loose popularity beginning in 1862, when the US government began passing laws against it. Although Mormons continued to fight for their right to practice plural marriage as a tenant of their faith, fewer were willing to participate. Due to these laws, the church was eventually forced to outlaw the practice in the US in 1890, and banned it for all members internationally in 1904.

The reactions of those who were taught of the practice by Joseph Smith generally had a difficult time accepting it at first. Faithful leaders in the church experienced a major trial of their faith when they were taught these things in confidence. Heber C. Kimball said that he "never felt more sorrowful" and that the "wept for days". Brigham Young said that he "desired the grave" and "had to pray unceasingly" until he could accept it. Lucy Walker, who would go on to marry Joseph, said that "every feeling of [her] soul revolted against it" but that as she prayed about it she was filled with "supreme happiness". When polygamy eventually became public, many left the church. Others stayed in the church but refused to participate. There are very few stories of people being excited to enter into a plural marriage, but many who felt it was their religious duty. As a result, millions of Mormons today can claim a polygamist marriage in their family history, and millions of non-Mormons mistakenly believe that Mormons practice polygamy.

Answer 2

the mormons stopped practicing it because it what God wanted.

Answer 3

Many Mormons actually practiced polygamy as a result; this resulted in conflict with the law, which generally did not allow polygamy.