Louisa Beaman

Louisa Beaman is thought by some to be among one of the first plural wives of Joseph Smith. Here’s a complete list of the known sources in relation to question of whether or not Louisa Beaman was a polygamist wife of Joseph Smith. The events are organized chronologically in a timeline format.

Louisa Beaman – timeline of events

1815 | 1827 | 1830 | 1831 | 1833 | 1834 | 1835 | 1836 | 1838 | 1841 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850 | 1851 | 1869 | 1870 | 1874 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1883 | 1887 | 1892 | 1900 | 2014 | 2018

1815↑	February 7 – Louisa Beaman is born in Livonia, NY (about 25 miles south of Palmyra) to Alvah Moses Beaman and Sarah Burtts as the 7th of 8 children. (source)
1827↑	January 18 – Joseph Smith Jr. lawfully marries Emma Hale in South Bainbridge, New York. She bore him 9 children (source)
1829↑	Summer – Joseph Smith Jr. receives the Lord’s law via revelation “And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” (D&C 19:25, RLDS DC 18:3A)
1830↑	March – Joseph Smith publishes The Book of Mormon, which condemns polygamy ( Jacob 1:15, Jacob 2:23-35, Jacob 3:5-7, Mosiah 11:1-2,4,14, Ether 10:5) and declares monogamy as the means by which the Lord used to “raised up seed” unto himself (1 Nephi 7:1, 1 Nephi 16:7-8 and Jacob 2:25). This passage is later interpreted as “if God needs to raise up seed, he’ll command polygamy” despite there being no known historical precedent for that strategy, including in the cases where the need to “raise up seed” was paramount: Adam & Eve, Noah, Noah’s sons, Lehi, Lehi’s sons, Joseph Smith (who only bore children through Emma according to DNA tests) etc.
1831↑	January – Joseph Smith moves to Kirtland, Ohio, a state where bigamy is a first degree misdemeanor and punishable by up to six months in jail (source) February 9 – Joseph Smith receives commandment and revelation “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out. Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery and repenteth not, shall be cast out.” (LDS D&C 42:22–23; RLDS DC 42:7d) May 7 – Joseph Smith Jr. receives a revelation stating “marriage is ordained of God unto man. Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation.” (LDS D&C 49:15–16; RLDS DC 49:3a–b) August 30 – Revelation through Joseph Smith declares lust a sin: “verily I say unto you, as I have said before, he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear” (LDS D&C 63:16)
1833↑	July – Joseph Smith Jr. slows translation of the KJV bible, having immersed himself in the Bible for several years. He corrected several Old Testament passages about David and Solomon’s polygamy, and reversing the meaning behind several misconceptions that David and Solomon were righteous in their efforts to “multiply wives unto themselves,” which was expressly forbidden for Kings of Israel to do according to the law set forth in Deuteronomy 17:15-17 (see JST versions of 2 Samuel 12:13, 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 11:4). Additionally, Joseph Smith didn’t correct or restore any additional insights or instructions regarding polygamy, and left all New Testament references to monogamy unchanged (see Matthew 19:3-9, 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Timothy 3:2,12, and Titus 1:6)
1834↑	September 11 – Louisa Beaman’s sister Mary Adeline (age 24) married Joseph B. Noble
1835↑	August (estimated) – The Kirtland church publishes the “Article on Marriage” in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine & Covenants, which states “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again” (Article on Marriage; D&C 101 [1835 ed.] and 109 [1844 ed.]) August (estimated) – The newly published “Article on Marriage” states that all marriages are to be done openly and publicly (never secretly) and according to laws and customs of the land in which they are performed. It also states that marriages should be approved only “if there be no legal objections” (polygamy was illegal in Ohio and Illinois). It reads: “According to the custom of all civilized nations, marriage is regulated by laws and ceremonies: therefore we believe, that all marriages in this church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose” (Article on Marriage; D&C 101 [1835 ed.] and 109 [1844 ed.]) “After October” – Louisa Beaman’s family moved to Kirtland, Ohio (source)
1836↑	April 3 – “Sealing power” is received for the first time in this generation at the Kirtland chapel, according to Warren A. Cowdery’s notes (source), later added to the D&C in 1876 as section 110.
1838↑	July – Joseph Smith Jr. publishes an answer to the question “Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one?” with “No, not at the same time. But they believe, that if their companion dies, they have a right to marry again” in the Elder’s Journal. (source)
1839↑	December 16 – Joseph Smith Jr. writes a public letter to the church in Caldwell County stating “Some have reported that we not only dedicated our property, but likewise our families to the Lord, and Satan taking advantage it of this has transfigured it into lasciviousness, a community of wives, which things are an abomination in the sight of God…if any person, has represented any thing otherwise than what we now write they have willfully misrepresented us” (source)
1840↑	April – Joseph Smith Jr. publishes in the Times and Seasons a prior letter (originally written December 16, 1839) condemning “lasciviousness, a community of wives, which things are an abomination in the sight of God” (source) Unknown – Louisa Beaman is on record as living with her sister Mary and brother-in-law Joseph B. Noble (source) “By August” – Louisa Beaman moves to Nauvoo, IL. (“Obituary,” Times and Seasons, September 1840, 1:176) “Fall” – James Jack (notary public) writes an affidavit stating that Joseph N. Bates told him (2nd hand) the following 29 year-old memory in June of 1869: “In the fall of the year A.D. 1840, Joseph Smith, taught him the principle of Celestial marriage or a ‘plurality of wives,’ and that the said Joseph Smith declared that he had received a revelation from God on the subject, and that the angel of the Lord had commanded him, (Joseph Smith) to move forward in the said order of marriage, and further, that the said Joseph Smith, requested him, (Joseph Bates Noble) to step forward and assist him in carrying out the Said principle.” (Joseph F. Smith Affidavit Book 1:38, 4:38)
1841↑	April 5 – Louisa Beaman is “married or sealed” to Joseph Smith 2 years and 5 weeks before being baptized. James Jack declared this in an affidavit he wrote 28 years later on June 26, 1869, summarizing Joseph B. Noble’s recollection: “on the fifth day of April, A. D. 1841, at the city of Nauvoo, County of Hancock, State of Illinois, he married or sealed Louisa Beaman to Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the order of celestial marriage revealed to the said Joseph Smith.” (source) October 15 – Brigham Young writes “An Epistle of the Twelve” in the Times & Seasons listing all of Joseph’s property as “his old Charley horse, given him in Kirtland; two pet deer; two old turkeys, and four young ones; the old cow given him by a brother in Missouri, his old Major, dog; his wife [singular], children, and a little household furniture, and this is the amount of the great possessions of that man whom God has called to lead his people in these last days; this the sum total” (Times and Seasons 2 [October 15, 1841]: p.569)
1842↑	October 27 – John C. Bennett publishes his book, accusing Joseph Smith of the scandalous act of visiting Louisa Beaman at Delcena Johnson Sherman’s house: “He then went off to see Miss Louisa Beaman, at the house of Mrs. Sherman, and remained with her about two hours.” (John C. Bennett, “The History of the Saints” p.243). Bennett includes no dates or details regarding the visit. Brian C. Hales interprets John C. Bennett’s statement as “evidence” of sexual relations: “The earliest evidence of sexual relations between Joseph Smith and Louisa Beaman was reported by John C. Bennett.” (Brian Hales, “Louisa Beaman–Evidence of Sexuality”) John C. Bennett also mentions a woman married to Joseph Smith as a spiritual wife in his book: “I will semi-state two or more cases, among the vast number, where Joe Smith was privately married to his spiritual wives — in the case of Mrs. A** S, by Apostle Brigham Young; and in that of Miss L* B***, by Elder Joseph Bates Noble.” (John C. Bennett, “The History of the Saints” p.256)
1843↑	May 11 6:00 a.m. – Louisa Beaman is baptized by water 2 years and 5 weeks after she is said to have “married or sealed” herself to Joseph Smith. Some assume this was a “rebaptism” although no known records show an earlier baptism. (Millennial Star, May 1843, p.75)
1844↑	June 27 – Joseph Smith was killed. September 19 – Brigham Young “proxy seals” Louisa Beaman to Joseph Smith (3 months after Joseph’s death) the same day he takes her as his 9th plural wife. Louisa Beaman either forgot that she was already sealed to Joseph, or else was completely unaware of the ceremony that Joseph B. Noble remembers 25 years later. (“Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings” p.281) September 19 – Brigham Young is married to Louisa Beaman “for time” as his 9th wife by Heber C. Kimball. Louisa bore 5 children in 4 years, 4 months of marriage. Beaman bore no children to Joseph Smith during their hypothesized 3 year and 11 week marriage. (“Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings” p.351)
1845↑	December 29 – Louisa Beaman receives her endowment, having already been sealed in the “everlasting covenant of marriage” to Brigham Young 15 months earlier. (William Clayton, Book 93, BOP #12)
1846↑	January 14 – (“Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings” p.281) “Early months” – Louisa Beaman delivers a pair of twins (Brigham Young is the father) named Joseph and Hyrum. One historian writes “They are mysteriously underdocumented but evidently died young.” (Todd Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness,” 3:IV) “Summer” – Louisa Beaman moved to Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory, which later became Omaha, NE. (Journal History of the Church, 1896–, CHL CR 100 137)
1847↑	January 8 – Louisa Beaman delivers a son named Moroni, with Brigham Young the father. (source) August 10 – Louisa Beaman’s infant son Moroni dies of “teething and canker” having only lived 7 months. (Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness,” 3:IV)
1848↑	July 23 – Louisa Beamon delivers 2 sons named Alma and Alvah: “About 2 P.M. Louisa B. Young was delivered of 2 fine Boys which very much delighted Pres. B.Y., the Father of the children.” (John D. Lee’s journal, “A Mormon Chronicle” 1:65) October 11 – Louisa Beaman’s 4th child Alvah dies after getting sick “the next day after I arrived in the valley.” (Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness,” 3:VII) November 16 – Louisa Beaman’s 5th and last child Alma dies from “the bowel complaint,” believed to be bacterial dysentery. All 5 of the seed she raised up died within their first few years of life. (Letter to Marinda Hyde, Marinda Hyde papers, MS 793, fd 3, CA)
1850↑	May 15 – Louisa Beaman died of breast cancer at age 35 in Salt Lake City, UT. She bore 0 children to Joseph Smith (in 3 years, 2 months of marriage), while bearing 5 sons (2 sets of twins) in just 4 years and 4 months of marriage to Brigham Young. None of her children survived her. (source)
1851↑	February 9 – George A. Smith names a new Utah settlement located in modern day Parowan, UT “Fort Louisa” after Louisa Beamon, who recently died. He named the religious branch (with 4 wards) “Louisa.” (Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness,” 3:I) February 9 – John D. Lee records the reason for George A. Smith’s naming the new settlement “Louisa” (after Louisa Beaman): “It was in honor of the first Woman who listened to the light & voice of Revelation – & yielded obedience to the Seal of the covenant, but since has taken her Exit to the world of Sperits, & for this Noble act, her Name is held in honorable rememberance in the History of the Saints.” (John D. Lee’s Journal, CA, MS 1253, Item 3, p.212-13) Unknown – Brigham Young vetos the name of the new settlement “Fort Louisa” (recently named in honor of his dead wife Louisa Beaman) and instead renamed it “Parowan” after the Native American name for a nearby lake. (Gustive Larson, “Journal of the Iron County Mission, John D. Lee Clerk,” p.364)
1866↑	After July 1 (estimated) – Wilford Woodruff inserts a short note (void of an entry date or context) into the “Historian’s Private Journal, 1858” volume. The entry is a record of Louisa Beaman’s sealing date to Joseph Smith, and is curiously inserted after the July 1, 1866 entry: “Nauvoo Illinois Joseph Smith & Louisa Beeman were sealed May [blank] 1840 by Joseph B Noble.” (picture of page)
1869↑	January 22 – Franklin D. Richards writes a 2nd hand+ 28 year old story of Louisa Beaman’s wedding day with Joseph Smith, heard from Joseph B. Noble while Noble was emceeing a dinner party with many members of the Twelve and their dates: “For many years sister Jane [Blackhurst?] has invited the Presidency and Twelve to her house during the [September?] session to dine with her in [unreadable] of- which I this day with my wife Jane met Presidents B.Y [Brigham Young], G.A.S [George A. Smith], D.H.W. [Daniel H. Wells], of the Twelve W. Woodruff [Wilford Woodruff], John Taylor, C.C.R [Charles C. Rich], E.S. [Erastus Snow], G.Q.C [George Q. Cannon] & B.Y. Jr. [Brigham Young Jr.] with a lady each. Br. Joseph B. Noble being the master of ceremonies was present and during the visit related that he performed the first sealing ceremony in this Dispensation in which he united Sister Louisa Beman to the Prop[h]et Joseph in May—I think the 5th day in 1841 during the evening under an Elm tree in Nauvoo. The Bride disguised in a coat and hat.” (Franklin D. Richards Journal, January 22, 1869, MS 1215, LDS CHL) January 22 – Wilford Woodruff conflicts with Franklin D. Richards on the dinner party date, marriage date and the name of Louisa Beaman in this journal entry for this day: “Joseph B. Nobles said that he performed the first Marriage Ceremony according to the Patriarchal order of Marriage ever performed in this dispensation By sealing Eliza Beman to Joseph Smith on the 6 day of May 1841.” (Joseph B. Noble, quoted in Scott G. Kenney, ed., Wilford Woodruffs Journal, 6:452) June 26 – James Jack (notary public) writes an affidavit stating that Louisa Beamon’s brother-in-law Joseph Bates Noble told him the following 28 year-old story that he “married or sealed” Louisa Beaman to Joseph Smith on April 5, 1841. The affidavit reads: “In the fall of the year A.D. 1840, Joseph Smith, taught him [Joseph Bates Noble] the principle of Celestial marriage or a ‘plurality of wives,’ and that the said Joseph Smith declared that he had received a revelation from God on the subject, and that the angel of the Lord had commanded him, [Joseph Smith] to move forward in the said order of marriage, and further, that the said Joseph Smith, requested him, [Joseph Bates Noble] to step forward and assist him in carrying out the Said principle.” (Joseph F. Smith Affidavit Book 1:38, 4:38) October 9 – George A. Smith writes to Joseph Smith III explaining (3rd hand+) the newly-agreed-upon date and source of Louisa Beaman’s marriage to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith III learns about this event for the first time 28 years after it happened in this letter: “On the 5th day of April, 1841, Louisa Beaman was married to your father, Joseph Smith, for time and all eternity by Joseph B. Noble, a high priest of the church. She remained true and faithful to him until the day of her death. Bro Noble is still living.” (George A. Smith, letter to Joseph Smith III)
1870↑	March 4 – Benjamin F. Johnson tells a 29 year-old story including a 2nd hand account of Louisa Beaman telling him she married Joseph Smith: “My sister received my testimony, and in a short time afterwards consented to become the wife of President Smith. Subsequent to this I took her to the city of Nauvoo, where she was married, or sealed for time and eternity, to President Joseph Smith, by his brother Hyrum Smith, in the presence of myself and Louisa Beaman, who told me she had also been sealed or married to the Prophet Joseph. This was at the residence of my sister, the widow of Lyman E. Sherman, who also was a witness.” (Andrew Jensen, Historical Record 6 [July 1887]: p.222)
1874↑	February 16 – William Clayton writes an affidavit remembering a 2nd hand 31 year-old story, including super-human memories of verbatim quotes from Joseph Smith: “After giving me lengthy instructions and informations concerning the doctrine of celestial or plural marriage, he concluded his remarks by the words, ‘It is your privilege to have all the wives you want.’ After this introduction, our conversations on the subject of plural marriage were very frequent, and he appeared to take particular pains to inform and instruct me in respect to the principle. He also informed me that he had other wives living besides his first wife Emma, and in particular gave me to understand that Eliza R. Snow, Louisa Beman, Desdemona W. Fullmer and others were his lawful wives in the sight of Heaven.” (Andrew Jensen, Historical Record 6 [July 1887]: p.225)
1876↑	Unknown – Ann Eliza Young (Brigham Young’s 19th wife) publishes a memory of a 35-year old 3rd hand+ story of Louisa Beaman being “sealed” to Joseph Smith: “Joseph had paid his addresses to Mr. Noble’s sister-in-law, a very worthy woman, and had succeeded in overcoming her scruples so far that she had consented to be sealed to him.” (Ann Eliza Young, “Wife No. 19” p.72)
1877↑	Unknown – James Crockwell states as fact his assumptions about Louisa Beaman’s motives and experiences (27 years after her death), describing her marriage to Joseph Smith 36 years earlier, using at minimum 3rd hand+ information (mostly a regurgitation of Andrew Jensen’s research): “Sister Louisa asked the Lord in fervent prayer for a testimony concerning the principle. The Lord heard her supplication and granted her request, and after being convinced that the principle had emanated from God, she accepted it, and was married to the Prophet Joseph Smith April 5th, 1841, Elder Joseph B. Noble her brother-in-law, officiating. She was the first woman in this dispensation who was married according to the revelation of God in the order of plural or Celestial marriage” (James Crockwell, Pictures and Biographies of Brigham Young and His Wives, [1877], pp. 20-21). In the introduction, it is written: “with the consent and approval of the Presidency and the eldest son now living, Brigham Young, we heartily endorse the proposition of James H. Crockwell publishing a souvenir work, representing the family of the late President Brigham Young, in order to correct the great wrong done, not only the family of President Young, but the polygamist families of all the Latter-day Saints. The biographies, introduction, etc. to be under the supervision of Andrew Jensen, formerly editor and publisher of the Historical Record.” (ibid, p.8)
1878↑	December 16 – Orson Pratt mentions a sealing to Joseph Smith on this day, but does not mention Louisa Beaman specifically: “He cite several instances of Joseph having had wives sealed to him one at least as early as April 5th, 1841, which was some time prior to the return of the twelve from England.” (“Report of Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith.” Millennial Star 40 #50 [December 16, 1878]: p.788)
1880↑	December 19 – Charles L. Walker records a 2nd hand report of Joseph B. Noble’s inconsistently-dated 40 year-old story: “Br Nobles made a few remarks on the celestial order of marriage, He being the man who sealed Louisa Beaman to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1840 under his instructions.” (Larson & Larson, “Diary of Charles Lowell Walker” 2:515) “Likely early 1880s” – Joseph Smith III writes an undated letter to E. C. Brand mentioning “sealed April 5, 1841”. (Letter to E. C. Brand, n.d. Letter Press Book #4, pp.63–67)
1883↑	June 11 – Joseph B. Noble praises the character of Louisa Beaman at a stake conference: “Elder Noble bore testimony to the purity of character of his sister-in-law, who was a woman of irreproachable morality, who entered into the plural marriage relation on a deep-seated conviction that the doctrine was from God.” (Centerville, UT Stake Conference minutes, cited in Andrew Jenson, “Plural Marriage,” Historical Record 6: p.233)
1887↑	July – Andrew Jensen includes Louisa Beaman in his published report, after Eliza R. Snow write Louisa Beaman’s name on the list of Joseph Smith’s alleged wives: “Louisa Beman, married to the Prophet April 5, 1841, Joseph B. Noble officiating.” (“Plural Marriage,” Historical Record 6 [July 1887]: p.233; See image of list) Unknown – Andrew Jensen publishes an undated statement from Apostle Erastus Snow with no accompanying contextual information: “The Prophet Joseph Smith first taught me the doctrine of celestial marriage, including a plurality of wives, in Nauvoo, in April, 1843. He also told me of those women he had taken to wives. My wife’s sister, Louisa Beman, was his first plural wife, she being sealed to him by my brother-in-law, Joseph B. Noble, April 5, 1841. She was the daughter of Alva and Sarah Burtt Beman. The Prophet Joseph also gave me the privilege of taking another wife, which I did in March, 1844.” (Andrew Jensen, Historical Record 6 [July 1887]: p.232)
1892↑	March – In the Temple Lot Case, Joseph B. Noble is cross examined under oath and fumbles his way through the inquiries of whether or not Joseph Smith was married to Louisa Beamon or slept with her. His 51 year old memory goes like this: “Q. Do you know whether Joseph Smith ever lived any with Louisa Beaman as his wife?… A. I know it for I saw him in bed with her.… Q. What made you say the other day that Joseph Smith and that woman you sealed to him slept together that night? A. Because they did sleep together. Q. If you were not there that night, how do you know they slept together? A. Well, they slept together I know. If it was not that night it was two or three nights after that. Q. Where did they sleep together? A. Right straight across the river at my house they slept together.… Q. Did he sleep with her the first night after the ceremony was performed? A. He did. Q. Now you say that he did sleep with her? A. I do. Q. How do you know he did? A. Well I was there. Q. And you saw them go to bed together? A. I gave him counsel.… Q. What counsel did you give him? A. I said “blow out the light and get into bed, and you will be safer there,” and he took my advice or counsel.… Q. Well did you stay there until the lights were blown out? A. No sir I did not stay until they blowed out the lights then. Q. Well you did not see him get into bed with her that time? A. No sir. Q. And so you don’t know whether he followed your advice from your own knowledge? A. No sir, I did not see him, but he told me he did. Q. Well, you know from your own knowledge that he did? A. Well, I am confident he did. Q. But you don’t know it of your own knowledge from seeing him do it? A. No sir, for I was not there.” (Joseph B. Noble, Deposition, Temple Lot Case, Part 3, pp. 396,426-27, questions 52–53,681–704) Unknown – Joseph Bates Noble boasts during his deposition in the Temple Lot Case about his involvement in Louisa Beaman’s “married or sealed” to Joseph Smith 51 years earlier: “I know this, that the law giver authorized it… I got it all right—right from the Prophet himself. That is where I got it… I sealed her to him and I did a good job too.” (Joseph Bates Noble, deposition, Temple Lot transcript, respondent’s testimony, part 3, p.432,436, questions 793,799,861)
1900↑	Unknown – 83 year old mormon antagonist Benjamin Winchester (monogamist) tells Joseph Smith III his 56-58 year recollections about “the most abusive man I ever saw” Joseph Smith Jr.: “Q. Did Joseph Smith, the prophet, ever practice polygamy? A. Yes, I know he had for wives Ella Kimball, Louisa Beaman, Eliza Snow and two Partridges… Q. Were you personally acquainted with any of Smith’s wives? A. Yes, but especially with Louisa Beaman from a girl. About the year 43 Joseph Smith took rooms for her in my father’s house, and Smith came to see her about once a week. Q. Did they sleep together? A. Yes they did. Q. Was there only one bed in the room? A. Yes just one bed. Q. Are you sure it was in 1843? A. No, but it was about that time, or from 42 to 44″ (Benjamin Winchester, testimony to Joseph Smith III, Council Bluffs, Iowa, November 27, 1900)
1905↑	Before November 18 – Benjamin F. Johnson (polygamist) includes his 62-64 year old memory in his autobiography (published 1947): “At this time I knew that the Prophet had as his wives, Louisa Beeman, Eliza R. Snow, Maria and Sarah Lawrence, Sisters Lyon and Dibble, one or two of Bishop Partridge’s daughters, and some of C. P. Lott’s daughters, together with my own two sisters. And I also knew that Brother J. Bates Noble and others had plural wives, and that the Prophet had sealed to me my first and had given to me a second to be my wife. And I knew of other things in the Prophet’s life and teachings that I will not now write” (Benjamin F. Johnson, “My Life’s Review”)
2014↑	October – The LDS Church publishes “Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo” as one of the official Church Gospel Topics Essays, stating: “The first plural marriage in Nauvoo took place when Louisa Beaman and Joseph Smith were sealed in April 1841.” (source)
2018↑	September 4 – “Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days” volume 1 (subtitled “The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846”) is published, as a 3rd major rewrite of church history into story form, and distributed as a softcover novel and audio series. In regards to the Louisa Beaman story, the novel states: “Around the fall of 1840, Joseph had begun speaking with twenty-five-year-old Louisa Beaman about the practice… Bates was present during Joseph’s discussions with Louisa about plural marriage. ‘In revealing this to you, I have placed my life in your hands,’ Joseph told him. ‘Do not in an evil hour betray me to my enemies.’ Sometime later, Joseph proposed marriage to Louisa. She left no record of how she reacted to the offer, or when or why she accepted it. But on the evening of April 5, 1841, the day before general conference, Joseph met Louisa and Bates for the ceremony. Authorized by Joseph, Bates sealed the two together, repeating back the words of the ordinance as Joseph spoke them to him.” (Vol 1, chapter 36, p.435)

If anything is missing or incorrect, please let us know. We will happily add or correct all original source material relevant to the Louisa Beaman story.

Louisa Beaman- Analysis of All Known Sources

Louisa Beaman Source Quality Analysis - Was Louisa Beaman one of Joseph Smith's polygamist wives? — Louisa Beaman Source Quality Analysis – Was Louisa Beaman one of Joseph Smith’s polygamist wives?

Expert Opinions About the Louisa Beaman Story

“The earliest evidence of sexual relations between Joseph Smith and Louisa Beaman was reported by John C. Bennett.”
Brian C. Hales, “Louisa Beaman–Evidence of Sexuality”

“Without identifying the many historians of LDS plural marriage who have relied on the traditional dates, I refer only to my own past dependence. Having reconsidered the sources underlying the traditional dates, I now think that I and others have probably been too accepting of the supposed accuracy of these sources… All known statements regarding the dating of the Smith-Beaman marriage, including Woodruff ’s, seem to depend on Noble.“
Gary James Bergera, “Memory as Evidence: Dating Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriages to Louisa Beaman, Zina Jacobs, and Presendia Buell”, Journal of Mormon History , Vol. 41, No. 4 (October 2015), p.96 footnote 1

“The courtroom could not have experienced a more frustrating and alternately entertaining deponent. Noble paused for extended periods before answering questions. He complained incessantly about head pain, and each question only seemed to increase the agony—his agony and his questioner’s agony. Yet when Noble spoke, he displayed a rascally, self-deprecating wit that ultimately resulted in—without question—the most entertaining deposition of the Temple Lot Case.”
Richard Donald Ouellette, “The Mormon Temple Lot Case: Space, Memory, and Identity in a Divided New Religion” (2012), p.580–81

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