Cecily Zamora
Joseph Smith was a controversial figure who faced a number of legal challenges during his lifetime. He was charged with conspiring to assassinate the former Governor of Missouri, and in 1844, after his practice of polygamy was revealed, he was charged with perjury and fornication. Smith was also accused of treason against Illinois for declaring martial law and was later charged with inciting a riot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conspiring to assassinate the former Governor of Missouri | Charged while residing in Illinois |
| Polygamy | Charged with perjury and fornication |
| Ordering the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor | Charged with inciting a riot |
| Declaring martial law | Charged with treason against Illinois |
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What You'll Learn
Polygamy
Joseph Smith was charged with polygamy, perjury and fornication in 1844 after his practice of polygamy was revealed to civil authorities. Despite public denials of polygamy, Smith had a practice of secretly marrying his female followers. As early as 1838, Smith had faced accusations of polygamy. In 1844, several anti-polygamist Mormons, recently excommunicated from Smith's church, joined together to publish a newspaper called the *Nauvoo Expositor*. A grand jury from the Hancock County Circuit Court issued a criminal indictment against Smith on the charges of perjury based on the statements of Joseph Jackson and Robert Foster. A second indictment, for 'fornication and adultery', was issued based on the statements of William and Wilson Law who swore Smith had been living with Maria Lawrence 'in an open state of adultery' since 12 October the previous year.
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Perjury
Joseph Smith was charged with perjury in 1844, after his practice of polygamy was revealed to civil authorities. He was also charged with fornication and adultery.
Smith was accused of secretly marrying his female followers, and faced accusations of polygamy as early as 1838. In 1844, anti-polygamist Mormons who had been excommunicated from Smith's church joined together to publish a newspaper called the *Nauvoo Expositor*. On 23 May, a grand jury from the Hancock County Circuit Court issued a criminal indictment against Smith on the charges of perjury, based on the statements of Joseph Jackson and Robert Foster.
Smith was also charged with treason against Illinois for declaring martial law. After ordering the destruction of the *Nauvoo Expositor*, Smith was charged with inciting a riot. Rather than submit to arrest, Smith declared martial law and called out the Nauvoo Legion. After the Governor mobilised the state militia in response, Smith surrendered to authorities, expecting to be released on bail.
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Fornication
In 1844, Joseph Smith was charged with fornication and adultery, based on the statements of William and Wilson Law, who swore that Smith had been living with Maria Lawrence "in an open state of adultery" since the previous October. Smith was also charged with polygamy, which he had previously denied publicly, and had been accused of as early as 1838.
Smith's practice of secretly marrying his female followers was revealed to civil authorities in 1844, and he was subsequently charged with perjury and fornication. In the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, where Smith was mayor, several anti-polygamist Mormons who had been excommunicated from Smith's church joined together to publish a newspaper called the *Nauvoo Expositor*. After ordering the destruction of the *Nauvoo Expositor*, Smith was charged with inciting a riot.
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Inciting a riot
Joseph Smith was charged with inciting a riot after ordering the destruction of the *Nauvoo Expositor*. The newspaper had been set up by anti-polygamist Mormons who had been excommunicated from Smith's church. Smith was also charged with polygamy, fornication, and adultery, as well as conspiring to assassinate the former Governor of Missouri. After his arrest, Smith declared martial law and called out the Nauvoo Legion. He was charged with treason against Illinois for this action.
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Treason
Joseph Smith was charged with treason against Illinois for declaring martial law. This was after he had been charged with conspiring to assassinate the former Governor of Missouri, and after his practice of polygamy had been revealed to civil authorities, for which he was charged with perjury and fornication. He was also charged with inciting a riot after ordering the destruction of the *Nauvoo Expositor*.
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Frequently asked questions
Perjury and fornication, after his practice of polygamy was revealed to civil authorities.
Inciting a riot.
Treason against Illinois for declaring martial law.
