Lucinda Pendleton Harris
Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s marriage to Joseph Smith is one of the most poorly-documented and intellectually-dishonest conclusions to date. This is a comprehensive list of the known sources surrounding Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s alleged marriage to Joseph Smith. The events are organized chronologically in a timeline format.
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Lucinda Pendleton Harris – Timeline of events
Highlight Key: Teachings & actions for monogamy | Teachings & actions for polygamy | Contextual events | Marriages, sealings or sexual relations | Legal matters | Considerations | Cautions
1816 | 1827 | 1830 | 1831 | 1832 | 1833 | 1834 | 1835 | 1836 | 1837 | 1838 | 1839 | 1840 | 1841 | 1842 | 1845 | 1846 | 1853 | 1856 | 1860 | 1875 | 1886 | 1899 | 1934
1816 | 1827 | 1830 | 1831 | 1832 | 1833 | 1834 | 1835 | 1836 | 1837 | 1838 | 1839 | 1840 | 1841 | 1842 | 1845 | 1846 | 1853 | 1856 | 1860 | 1875 | 1886 | 1899 | 1934
| 1801↑ | September 27 – Lucinda Pendleton is born in Kinghurstworks, VA to parents Joseph Pendleton and Betsey Riley (source) |
| 1819↑ | October 7 – Lucinda Pendleton (18 years old) marries William Morgan (about 45 years old) in Richmond, VA. They would have 2 children together, Lucinda Wesley Morgan and Thomas Jefferson Morgan. (source) |
| 1826↑ | Unknown – Lucinda Pendleton Morgan’s husband William Morgan (well-known anti-Mason) goes missing. His “disappearance and presumed murder in 1826 ignited a powerful movement against the Freemasons, a fraternal society that had become influential in the United States. After Morgan announced his intention to publish a book exposing Freemasonry’s secrets, he was arrested on trumped-up charges. He disappeared soon after and was believed to have been kidnapped and killed by Masons from western New York.” (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 addresses 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 often 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, etc. |
| 1830↑ | November 24 – Lucinda Pendleton gets remarried to George Washington Harris in Batavia, NY. George had previously been married to 2 wives: Elizabeth, married about 1800 and Margaret, who died in 1828. Lucinda’s first husband died in 1826. (source) |
| 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↑ | Fall – Lucinda Pendleton Harris is baptized by Orson Pratt in Terre Haute, IN (source) |
| 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.]) |
| 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↑ |
March 14 – Joseph Smith first on record of meeting Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s husband George, stating in his journal: “on the 14th of march [1838], as we were about entering far west, many brethren came out to meet us, who also with open arms welcomed us their bosoms. Immediately received under hospitable roof brother George W. Harris, treated all possible kindness, and refreshed ourselves much satisfaction, after our long tedious journey.” (HC 3:8–9; Editor’s note: Some historians interpret the phrase “all possible kindness, and refreshed ourselves much satisfaction” as including sexual favors, despite Emma Smith and their children being with Joseph. In addition, the word “ourselves” would refer to Joseph’s wife Emma and children also receiving the same refreshments.) 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) Late July – Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s husband George Harris leaves on a mission to the eastern states (mainly New York) until September 1841. (source) |
| 1841↑ |
September – Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s husband George Harris returned from a mission to the eastern states, having been gone since late July 1840. (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” (source) |
| 1842↑ | January 17 – Willard Richards writes a journal entry for this date in his 1847 journal: “Dined at Sister Agness with Joseph & Sister Harris.” Sister Harris is assumed by most historians to be referring to Lucinda Pendleton Harris and Sister Agness is thought to be Agnes Moulton Coolbrith Smith, Don Carlos (Joseph Smith’s brother) Smith’s widow. (Willard Richards, Journal, 1847) |
| 1844↑ |
June 10 – Lucinda Pendleton Harris’ husband George W. Harris is said to preside over and leads a city council meeting, where he is on record of being the one to propose the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor: “Alderman Harris spoke from the chair, and expressed his feelings that the press ou[gh]t to be demolished.” (Revised Minutes, 17 June 1844, as Published in Nauvoo Neighbor) June 27 – Joseph Smith was killed at Carthage jail. Late June (estimated)– Lucinda Pendleton Harris is later interpreted as Joseph Smith’s wife based on a single reference by non-Mormon journalist B. W. Richmond. His article was reprinted in 1975 (31 years later) in the Deseret News. No copy of Richmond’s original article is known, but it’s original publishing is attributed to the Chicago Times. B. W. Richmond writes: “While the two wives were bewailing their loss, and prostrate on the floor with their eight children, I noticed a lady standing at the head of Joseph Smith’s body, her face covered, and her whole frame convulsed with weeping. She was the widow of William Morgan, of Masonic memory, and twenty years before had stood over the body of her husband, found at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, on Lake Ontario. She was now the wife of a Mr. Harris, whom she married in Batavia, and who was a saint in the Mormon church, and a high Mason. She is a short person, with light hair and very bright blue eyes, and pleasing countenance.” (Deseret News, November 27, 1875) |
| 1845↑ | December 12 – Lucinda Pendleton Harris and George Harris both receive their endowment in the unfinished Nauvoo temple (Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness” chapter 2) |
| 1846↑ | January 2 – Lucinda Pendleton Harris is “proxy sealed” to Joseph Smith in the Nauvoo Temple “for time and all eternity”, with Joseph Smith having no say or choice in the matter, being a corpse that died 18 months earlier. In the same ceremony, Lucinda Pendleton Harris is sealed to her husband George Harris “for time” by Brigham Young. The record reads: “Lucinda Pendleton [born] Sept. 27, 1801 {Kinghurstworks}, Washington Co. Vermont [Virginia], was Sealed to Jos. Smith (deceased born Dec. 23d 1805 Sharron Windsor Co Vert.) for time & all Eternity. George Washington Harris acting proxy for (Pres. J. Smith Jun. deceased) G. W. Harris & Lucinda Smith were then Sealed Husband & wife for time By Pres B. Young. In presance of Orson Pratt & {F. D.} Richards & A Lyman at 28 min past 6 a.m. ___ J. D. Lee.” (“A Book of Proxey.” Nauvoo temple proxy sealings, Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 1846. Marriott Library) |
| 1853↑ | Unknown – Lucinda Pendleton Harris on record of having abandoned her lawful husband George Washington Harris “without cause” according to William Leon Cummings’ record in 1934 (81 years later): “At some time prior to 1853, Mrs. Harris separated from her husband, for in 1856 [Mr.] Harris petitioned for a divorce, on the grounds that his wife had willfully deserted him and without reasonable cause absented herself for more than the space of three years.” (William Leon Cummings, “Bibliography of Anti-Masonry, Part I, Vol 4”) |
| 1856↑ |
March 12 – Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s husband George Washington Harris files for a divorce, and the notice is posted in a local newspaper: “To Mrs. Lucinda Harris: Madam,–You are hereby notified that there will be on file, in the clerk’s office of the District Court of Pottawatomie county, Iowa, the petition of George W. Harris, claiming of you a divorce from the bonds of matrimony now existing between you and the said Geo. W. Harris, and charging you therein with willfully deserting him, and without reasonable cause absenting yourself for more than the space of three years.“ (The Bugle of Council Bluffs, Iowa [Mar. 12, 1856]) Unknown – William Leon Cummings, a Masonic historian, records in 1934 (78 years later): “At some time prior to 1853, Mrs. Harris separated from her husband, for in 1856 [Mr.] Harris petitioned for a divorce, on the grounds that his wife had willfully deserted him and without reasonable cause absented herself for more than the space of three years.” (William Leon Cummings, “Bibliography of Anti-Masonry, Part I, Vol 4”) Unknown – Lucinda Pendleton Harris dies in Memphis, TN at the home of her daughter Lucinda Wesley Smith. (William Leon Cummings, “Bibliography of Anti-Masonry, Part I, Vol 4”) |
| 1860↑ | Unknown – Lucinda Pendleton Harris’s husband George Washington Harris dies an excommunicated member of the Utah LDS church, due to inactivity (John E. Thompson, “The Mormon Baptism of William Morgan”; Philalethes: The Review of Masonic Research and Letters, 38: p.8–11) |
| 1875↑ | December 8 – The Deseret News reprints an article from the Chicago Times, written by “B.W. Richmond,” a man who, according to the article, made JS’s acquaintance in 1825. He then met up with JS again in Ohio, and then allegedly found his way to Nauvoo 10 days before JS’s murder. Ten years later, Richmond “partly in compliance and request of the prophet, made just prior to his assassination..wrote a full account of the affair.” Richmond died in 1864 and the manuscript was held, unpublished, by his wife, Lucinda Richmond, of McGregor, IA (Deseret News, December 8, 1875). A portion of Richmond’s narrative reads, “While the two wives (Emma Smith, Mary Fielding Smith) were bewailing their loss, and prostrate on the floor with their their eight children, I notice a lady staging at the head of Joseph Smith’s body, her face covered and her whole frame convulsed with weeping. She was the widow of William Morgan, of Masonic memory, and twenty years before had stood over the body of her husband, found at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, on Lake Ontario…” From this, Historian Todd Compton later would conclude that Lucinda Harris was crying “over the body of her husband” (Joseph Smith), just as she had her first husband. (Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness” chapter 2) |
| 1886↑ | May 21 – Wilhelm Wyl publishes Sarah Pratt’s 3rd hand, 44 year old memory, stating that a “Mrs. Harris” (presumed to be Lucinda Pendleton Harris) was Joseph Smith’s “mistress” since about 1838. She recalled vividly: “Mrs. Harris was a married lady, a very great friend of mine. When Joseph had made his dastardly attempt on me, I went to Mrs. Harris to unbosom my grief to her. To my utter astonishment, she said, laughing heartily: ‘How foolish you are! I don’t see anything so horrible in it. Why, I am his MISTRESS SINCE FOUR YEARS!” (Wilhelm Wyl, “Mormon Portraits- Joseph Smith” p.60) |
| 1899↑ | April 4 – Lucinda Pendleton Morgan Harris is once again “proxy sealed” vicariously to Joseph Smith in the Salt Lake Temple, with neither person having a choice in the matter, both being dead. It’s unknown why this ordinance was redone. (Salt Lake Temple Sealing Records, Book D, 243, April 4, 1899) |
| 1934↑ | DATE – William Leon Cummings (a Masonic historian) writes in this year the most detailed account we have about Lucinda Pendleton Morgan Harris: “At some time prior to 1853, Mrs. Harris separated from her husband, for in 1856 Harris petitioned for a divorce, on the grounds that his wife had willfully deserted him and without reasonable cause absented herself for more than the space of three years. Morris [a Masonic historian] claims that Mrs. Harris (formerly Mrs. Morgan) joined the Roman Catholic Sisters of Charity, and was a nurse in a hospital in Memphis Tennessee, during the war of 1861–1865. [Other authors] have copied this statement. I have been unable to verify it from other sources, and the statement itself seems rather questionable. Neither the War Department records nor the records of the church contain any information concerning her. Furthermore, it has been ascertained that there were such requirements for membership in the Roman Catholic Sisterhoods, as age, financial resources, etc., with which it would seem that she would have been unable to comply. Recently discovered evidence proves that she died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Wesley Smith, in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1856, thus rendering untenable the theory that she was in any way connected with the hospital service during the War between the States.” (William Leon Cummings, “Bibliography of Anti-Masonry” 1:4, p.28) |
If anything is missing or incorrect, please let us know. We will happily add all original source material relevant to the Lucinda Pendleton Harris story.
Lucinda Pendleton Harris – All Known Sources
Sarah Pratt’s 3rd-hand 44 year recollection is technically the only source. I do not include the 1846 and 1899 sealings as sources, because these events themselves happened after Joseph Smith’s death, and he would have had no knowledge of the events, let alone a choice in the matter.
Lucinda Pendleton Harris – Popular Opinions
Brian Hales
- “Of Joseph Smith’s thirty-five plural wives, evidence supporting inclusion of Lucinda Pendleton Morgan Harris is the weakest.”1
- “Evidence for a sealing in Nauvoo during Joseph’s lifetime is non-existent.”2
Todd Compton
- “’Lucinda Harris’ is the third woman on Andrew Jenson’s list of Joseph Smith’s plural wives, though Jenson gives no date for the marriage and his source is not specified.“3
Anderson & Faulring
- “The claim that Lucinda was sealed to Joseph Smith is not based on impressive evidence.”4
- https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Joseph-Smith%E2%80%99s-Plural-Wives-after-the-Martyrdom.pdf
- https://josephsmithspolygamy.org/plural-wives-overview/lucinda-pendleton-harris/#back_ajs-fn-id_5-5634
- Todd Compton, “In Sacred Loneliness,” chapter 2, 3rd paragraph
- Richard Anderson & Scott Faulring, “Review of In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, by Todd M. Compton,” p.75
Facebook community discussions about Lucinda Pendleton Harris
What do you think about the Lucinda Pendleton Harris story?
Jacob 2:30 “For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” Has been used to suggest that plural marriage is O.K. for this purpose. But plural wives don’t have as many children per wife as monogamous marriages. This verse is only talking about Levirate marriages. In such cases there are children produced for the dead husband.
Right. The ratios of children for monogamists and polygamists is baffling. In many cases, you’re right the averages go down. For example:
So… Joseph Smith is near the top of the list and Brigham Young is at the bottom.