Joseph Smith’s Most Controversial Revelation Explained

Few revelations in Mormon history are as controversial—or as consequential—as Doctrine and Covenants 132, Joseph Smith’s 1843 text on polygamy. This video dives into the historical and theological background behind that revelation: how it emerged in Nauvoo, the family tensions that shaped it, and the early resistance it faced from Emma and Hyrum Smith.

Join us as we unpack how D&C 132 evolved from a private revelation meant to defend plural marriage into one of the most debated scriptures in Latter-day Saint history. You’ll learn about the secret copies, the power struggles within Nauvoo, and the dramatic moment when Emma demanded the text’s destruction. This episode sets the stage for Part 2, where we’ll explore how the revelation was canonized and why its legacy still echoes today.

Newsletter link for giveaway: https://benjaminpark.kit.com/e8e78e2331

Books:
American Zion: https://amzn.to/4j8Ms16
Kingdom of Nauvoo: https://amzn.to/4cmigxw

JSP images and background for D&C 132: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/pap...

Joseph Smith revelation to the Whitney family, July 1842: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/pap...

My previous video on Whitney family documents:    • Joseph Smith’s Secret Marriage Exposed by ...  
Willard Richards refers to “new revelation” within a couple months: https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.o...

John C. Bennett refers to the new revelation later that year: https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn850498...

William Law’s 1844 account of learning of the revelation in autumn 1843: https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.o...

Nauvoo High Council Member recounts the August 1843 meeting in Nauvoo Expositor: ​​https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.o...

News that the William Clayton diaries will be published by Yale University Press: https://www.churchhistorianspress.org...

William Clayton’s later account of recording D&C 132: https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.o...


Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:10 Setting the Stage
02:30 Early Polygamy Roots
03:30 Evolution of Beliefs
04:40 Sealing Doctrine
05:40 Public vs Private Teachings
06:50 Opposition & Conflict
08:50 Emma’s Reversal
09:50 The July 12 Revelation
11:10 Theology of D&C 132
12:20 Threats & Consequences
14:20 How It Spread
16:30 The High Council Reaction
17:40 Law & Bennett Opposition
18:40 Legacy & Impact
20:00 Conclusion

#JosephSmith #MormonHistory #DoctrineAndCovenants132 #Polygamy

About This Channel:
Welcome to the channel! I’m Dr. Benjamin Park—historian, author, professor, and unapologetic history geek. If you're tired of hearing that everything is unprecedented or nothing like this has ever happened before, you're in the right place. This channel dives into the complex (and fascinating) intersections of American religion, politics, and culture. I bring history out of the ivory tower and into real-world conversations—making it relevant, accessible, and even a little fun. Expect weekly deep dives, quick takes on current events, book recommendations, and sharp insights from the past to help us understand our present. From Mormon history to the abolitionist movement and beyond, let’s unpack how we got here—and where we might be going. Subscribe and geek out with me on the power of the past.

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