This is an ongoing series to remember the early women of Church history who are largely forgotten today. You can read the previous entries here.

(The portraits contained herein are not official portraits of Sarah, just paintings of pioneer women)

Sarah Ann Whitney, the eldest daughter of Newel K. Whitney and Elizabeth Ann Whitney, was born on March 22, 1825 in Kirtland, Ohio.

Sarah was thirteen years old when her family left Kirtland shortly after the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society with the intention of relocating to Missouri. [1]

We have little to no record of Sarah at all until her marriage to Joseph Smith, but we do know that she grew up in a spiritual household. Her father Newel k. Whitney was an Indian trader and storekeeper. Sarah was the second oldest in a family of twelve, five of whom died young. She was close to her older brother Horace and they grew up in a ‘comfortable house with a fine orchard and garden.’ [2]

On May 4, 1842, Newel K. Whitney received his endowment and became a member of the Holy Order. Soon after, Joseph Smith introduced him to the doctrine of plural marriage. Newel and his wife resisted at first. This approach had a purpose for Joseph- he desired to marry their 17-year-old daughter Sarah Ann.



Sarah’s mother Elizabeth wrote:

He [Joseph Smith] had been strictly charge by the angel… that the most profound secrecy must be maintained… He… confided to him [Newel] the principles [of polygamy]… My husband revealed these things to me… We pondered upon them continually, an our prayer were unceasing that the Lord would grant us some special manifestation concerning this new and strange doctrine. The Lord was very merciful to us; He revealed unto us His power and glory. We were seemingly wrapt in a heavenly vision, a halo of light encircle us, and we were convince in our own minds that God heard and approved our prayers… Our hearts were comforted and our faith made so perfect that we were willing to give our eldest daughter, then only seventeen years of age, to Joseph, in the hold order of plural marriage…. laying aside all our traditions and former notions in regard to marriage, we gave her with our mutual consent.”

[4]

Sarah Ann Whitney married Joseph Smith in a private ceremony during July of 1842 at the age of 17. A revelation through Joseph Smith to Sarah Ann’s father authorized the union: “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto my servant N.K. Whitney, the thing that my servant Joseph Smith has made known unto you and your family and which you have agreed upon is right in mine eyes and shall be rewarded upon your heads with honor and immortality and eternal life to all your house, both old and young…”

Her father, Newel K. Whitney, performed the ceremony: “You both mutually agree to be each other’s companion so long as you both shall live, preserving yourselves for each other and from all others and also throughout all eternity, reserving only those rights which have been given to my servant Joseph by revelation…If you both agree to covenant and do this, I then give you, S.A. Whitney, my daughter, to Joseph Smith, to be his wife, to observe all the rights between you both that belong to that condition…” [3]

About the time of the marriage, Joseph sent Sarah Ann’s brother, Horace, on a mission. Helen Mar Kimball, another one of Joseph’s plural wives, wrote, “But Joseph feared to disclose it, believing that [others] would embitter Horace against him…and for this reason he favored his going East”. [3]

While Joseph Smith concealed himself in the house of Edward Sayer, he wrote a letter to his first wife Emma, to whom he had been married for more than fifteen years. At the close of this letter to Emma Smith, dated August 16, 1842, he wrote: “Yours in haste, your affectionate husband until death, through all eternity; for evermore.”

It was reported that Joseph Smith then “went to Carlos Granger’s.” While he was hiding at the home of Carlos Granger, (you can read about why he was hiding here). who although not a Mormon was friendly to them, he wrote a very revealing letter to three of his closest friends. They were Bishop Newel K. Whitney, his wife Elizabeth Ann and the person whom he refers to as “and &c” — Sarah Ann Whitney whom he had been married to for twenty-two days. The letter refers to this event in his life in the words “Since what has pased lately between us.”

This letter is considered highly controversial and debated by apologists often.

From the reading of this letter one can gain an insight into the thought pattern of Joseph Smith, especially concerning his attitudes towards Emma Smith. In this letter written by Joseph Smith in his own hand, dated August 18th, 1842, he wrote the following remarks concerning Emma:

“the only thing to be careful of, is to find out when Emma comes then you cannot be Safe, but when She is not here, there is the most perfect Safty” also “I think Emma wont come tonight if she dont dont fail to come to night.”[7]

The scandal here alleges that Joseph constantly tried to hide his polygamous rendezvous from Emma.

Here is a copy of that letter:



Here it is below, translated line for line:

1 Nauvoo, August 18th 1842

2 Dear, and Beloved, Brother and

3 Sister, Whitney, and & c.–

4 I take this opportunity to communicate,

5 Some of my feelings, privetely at

6 this time, which I want you three

7 Eternaly to keep in your own

8 bosams; for my feelings are so

9 Strong for you Since what has

10 pased lately between us, that the

11 time of my abscence from you

12 Seems so long, and dreary, that

13 it Seems, as if I could not live

if you

14 long in this way; and ^ Three would

15 come and See me in this my lonely

16 retreat, it would afford me great

17 relief, of mind, if those with whom

18 I am alied, do love me, now is the

19 time to afford me succour; in the

20 days of exile, for you know I

21 foretold you of these things. I am

22 now at Carlos Graingers, Just back

23 of Brother Hyrums farm, it is only one

24 mile from town, the nights are

25 very pleasant, indeed, all three of

can

26 you come^ and See me in the

27 fore part of the night, let Brother

28 Whitney come a little a head, and

29 nock at the south East corner of

the

30 the house att ^ window; it is next to

31 the cornfield; I have a room inti-

32 -rely by myself, the whole matter

33 can be attended to with most perfect

know

34 Safty, I ^ it is the will of God that you

me

35 should comfort ^ now in this time

36 of affliction, or not at all, now is the

1 time or never, but I hav no kneed of saying

2 any such thing, to you, for I know the

3 goodness of your hearts, and that you

4 will do the will of the Lord, when it is

5 made known to you; the only thing

6 to be careful of, is to find out when

7 Emma comes then you cannot be

8 Safe, but when She is not here, there

9 is the most perfect Safty: only be

10 careful to escape observation, as

11 much as possible, I know it is a

12 heroick undertaking; but so much

13 the greater friendship, and the more

will

14 Joy, when I see you I ^ tell you all

15 my plans, I cannot write them on

16 paper, burn this letter as soon as you

17 read it; keep all locked up in

18 your breasts, my life depends up-

19 -on it. one thing I want to see you

to

20 for is ^ git the fulness of my blessing

21 Sealed upon our heads, &c. you

22 will pardon me for my ernest-

this subject

23 -ness on ^ when you consider how

24 lonesome I must be, your good

make

25 feelings know how to ^ every allow

26 -ance for me, I close my letter.

27 I think Emma wont come tonight

28 if she dont dont fail to come to

29 night, I subscribe myself your

and

30 most obedient, ^ affectionate,

31 Companion, and friend.

32 Joseph Smith

[5]

We the undersigned members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and residents of the city of Nauvoo, persons of families do hereby certify and declare that we know of no other rule or system of marriage than the one published from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and we give this certificate to show that Dr. J. C. Bennett’s “secret wife system” is a creature of his own make as we know of no such society in this place nor never did.

S. Bennett, N. K. Whitney,

George Miller, Albert Pettey,

Alpheus Cutler, Elias Higbee,

Reynolds Cahoon, John Taylor,

Wilson Law, E. Robinson,

W. Woodruff, Aaron Johnson.

During this time, rumors of plural marriage began circulating in and out of the Saints. The 1835 and 1844 versions of Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) prohibited polygamy and declared that monogamy was the only acceptable form of marriage. [9]John C. Bennett practiced it more openly and he became a scapegoat for the system.Two months after the marriage of Sarah Ann Whitney to Joseph Smith the following certificates were published:

______________________

We the undersigned members of the ladies’ relief society, and married females do certify and declare that we know of no system of marriage being practiced in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints save the one contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and we give this certificate to the public to show that J. C. Bennett’s “secret wife system” is a disclosure of his own make.

Emma Smith, President,

Elizabeth Ann Whitney, Counsellor,

Sarah M. Cleveland, Counsellor,

Eliza R. Snow, Secretary,

Mary C. Miller, Catherine Petty,

Lois Cutler, Sarah Higbee,

Thirza Cahoon, Phebe Woodruff,

Ann Hunter, Leonora Taylor,

Jane Law, Sarah Hillman,

Sophia R. Marks, Rosannah Marks,

Polly Z. Johnson, Angeline Robinson,

Abigail Works.

Ebenezer Robinson, one of the men whose name appears on the first certificate, wrote concerning the statement that he signed as follows:

In October, 1842, a statement was written out, and signed by a large number of the brethren and sisters, including myself and wife, setting forth the fact that we knew of no other form of marriage ceremony in the church except the one published in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, which statement was true at that time, as we had no knowledge of such a ceremony, or that “spiritual wifery,” or “polygamy,” was taught by the heads of the church, as they had not up to that time taught it to us.

We knew it was talked of in secret, and had been for more than a year, …

These secret rumors could not constitute a knowledge that certain persons taught such things when they had not taught them to us.

[5,6]

Among the other names of persons which appeared upon the certificates were Bishop Newel K. Whitney, the father of Sarah Ann Whitney and the one who performed the marriage ceremony between Sarah Ann and Joseph Smith. Sarah’s mother, Elizabeth Ann, who was a counselor in the Relief Society, and a witness to the marriage of her daughter, had her name on the certificate of the ladies who belonged to the Relief Society.

Nine months after Joseph’s marriage to Bishop Whitney’s daughter, Sarah Ann, she was married to Joseph C. Kingsbury in what is known as a ‘pretend marriage.’ This fake marriage was performed for the glory of Joseph Smith and Sarah Ann and to shield the fact that they were husband and wife.

The following is taken from “The History of Joseph C. Kingsbury”:

The

History of Joseph C.

Kingsbury written by

his own hands 1846-

1847-1848-1849-1850- A Record of Joseph Corrodon Kingsbury giving a sketch of his life, or in the first place his decsent & cronology as far back & he has any knowledge or information And I Joseph C Kingsbury write this Record with my own hands.-17 . . . and on the 16th day of Oct, My Wife Died after a Severe Sickness of three months & being delivered of A Son the same day of her death which lived Thirteen Hours (his Name is Newel)18 . . . and on 29th of April 1843 I according to President Joseph Smith Couscil & others agreed to Stand by Sarah Ann Whitny as supposed to be her husband & had a preteded marriage for the purpose of Bringing about the purposes of God in these last days as Spoken by the mouth of the Prophets Isiah Jeremiah Ezekiel and also Joseph Smith, & Sarah Ann Should Recd a Great Glory Honor, & eternal lives and I Also Should Recd a Great Glory, Honor & eternal lives to the full desire of my heart in having my Companion Caroline in the first Resurection to claim her & no one have power to take her from me & we both shall be Crowned & enthroned together in the Celestial Kingdom of God Enjoying Each other’s Society in all of the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ & our little ones with us as is Received in this blessing that President Joseph Smith Sealed upon my head on the Twenty third day of March 1843 as follows- Brother Joseph–I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ to bestow upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing according to the Power & authority of the Holy Priesthood vested in me I say unto thee thou Shalt Be Blessed with the good things of this wourld abundantly in thy Lifetime and I Seal thee up to Come forth in the first resurrection unto eternal life–And thy Companion Caroline who is now dead thou shalt have in the first Resurection for I seal thee up for and in her behalf to come forth in the first Resurrection unto eternal lives (and it shall be as though She was present herself) and thou Shalt hail her and She Shall be thine and no one Shall have power to take her from thee, And you both Shall be crowned and enthroned to dwell together in a Kingdom in the Celestial Glory in the presents of God And you Shall enjoy each other Society & embraces in all the fullness of the Gospell of Jesus Christ wourds without End And I Seal these blessings upon thee and thy Companion in the name of Jesus Christ for thou shalt receive the holy annointing & Endowment in this Life to prepare you for all these blessings even So Amen [Witnesses to above Blessing Newel K Whitney Elizabeth Ann Whitney and Sarah Ann Whitney][8]

After Joseph Smith’s death, Sarah Ann married Apostle Heber C. Kimball, becoming one of his thirty-nine wives. This essentially ended her faux marriage with Kingsbury.

On January 12, 1846, in a ceremony in the Nauvoo Temple Sarah Ann Whitney was sealed to Joseph Smith for eternity.23 The proxy for Joseph Smith (who died on June 27, 1844) was Heber C. Kimball, one of the Apostles of the Church. Sarah Ann was then sealed to Heber C. Kimball for time. [10]

Since her marriage to Joseph C. Kingsbury on April 29, 1843, and until she went to live with Heber C. Kimball in May of 1846, Sarah Ann Whitney still lived with Joseph C. Kingsbury. While Sarah Ann and Joseph C. Kingsbury lived together, Heber C. Kimball was courting Sarah Ann. The date of Heber C. Kimball’s religious marriage as recorded by Sarah’s father Newel K. Whitney was on March 17, 1845 [10]

Two months after their sealing in the Nauvoo Temple a baby boy was born to Heber C. Kimball and Sarah Ann Whitney while she was traveling with Joseph C. Kingsbury. This boy was born on March 8, 1846, and was given the name of David Kimball Smith by his father.

The following is from Joseph C. Kingsbury’s History:



(I being prepared took my Journey on 28th Feby 1846 with Sarah my Supposed wife & Loenza my wife & Mary Huston Sarah Hand Made & Emaline Sarah Assisted in Company with Bishop N. K. Whitney, my Gospel Father and his famaly We Traveled verry Slow being in a grate Compy bad wether, & muddy roads) and on 8th March Sarah was delivered of a Son in the Valley of David and after Going thru a very fatiguing Journey thru cold & wet I was taken Sick & suffered much) but through the mercis of the Lord I recovered and the On the forepart of may Sarah Went to live With President Kimball her husband & I was left with my Real wife Loenza to journey by ourselves (& we reached Council Bluffs in June (about the middle)

Willard Richards recorded in his journal the following:



8 minutes before 7 A. M., Sarah, Daughter of Bishop Whitney, was delivered of a fine son, named by his Father, David Kimball Smith, after the name of the place where Bishop Whitney was encamped, which he called the Valley of David.

David Kimball Smith didn’t live long for he “died in infancy.” [10]

Seven children resulted from this marriage, two of which died in infancy. Sarah was described in Kimball’s biography as “a woman of wonderful character, respected by the other wives and children. She was deeply devoted to her own children and to Heber C. Kimball.”[11]

Sarah passed away on September 4, 1873 in Salt Lake City, UT at age forty-eight. Her official cause of death was ‘brain fever.’ [12]

————————————————————————-

Sources:

1. http://josephsmithpapers.org/person?name=Sarah+Ann+Whitney+Kimball

2. Compton, Todd (Dec. 1997), In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, pg. 343

3. http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/16-SarahAnnWhitney.htm

4. The Genealogical Society, Microfilm No. 581,219; “A Record of Marriages, in the City of Nauvoo, Illinois…,” p. 12, (1842-1845)

5. The Genealogical Society, Microfilm No. 581,219; “A Record of Marriages, in the City of Nauvoo, Illinois…,” p. 12, (1842-1845). Andrew Jensen, Historical Record Vol. 6, pp. 233-234 (May 1887); Vol. 8, p. 1007 (December 1889);

6. Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Vol. 28 (1937), pp. 67-68. The History of Joseph C. Kingsbury, see note 16. Willard Richards Journal, typed copy, p. 79.

7. Joseph C. Kingsbury, “The History of Joseph C. Kingsbury,” manuscript written between 1846 and 1848. The following is from the “History” and gives evidence that the material quoted concerning Joseph Smith was written by June 25, 1848: “We are now in a fort, comfortable & are doing all we can to Raise our living in tilling the Earth June 25th 1848,).” The excerpts which appear here were copied from the original by H. Michael Marquardt on January 17, 1973, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Kingsbury. They donated the “History” to the Western Americana at the University of Utah on March 8, 1973. The original now at the Western Americana is under the heading “Diary” of Joseph C. Kingsbury; with this is a typed

8. Joseph C. Kingsbury’s wife Caroline was the sister of Bishop Newel K. Whitney and they were married on February 3, 1836, at Kirtland, Ohio. See “Oliver Cowdery’s Sketch Book,” under above date in BYU Studies, Vol. 12, No. 4, (Summer 1972) p. 421. Documentation for her death can be found in The Wasp, Vol. l, No. 27, October 22, 1842 and Vol. l, No. 28, October 29, 1842. She died at the age of 26 years and 7 months.

9. Doctrine and Covenants, section 101, page 251, 1835 edition.

10. http://ldsfreedom.org/node/13#17

11. The Life of Heber C. Kimball, p. 419

12. Compton, Todd (Dec. 1997), In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, pg. 362