(CNN) The founder of the Mormon church , Joseph Smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including some who were already married and one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged in a surprising new essay .

Smith's marital history had been the subject of frequent historical debate, but until recently Mormon leaders had taken pains to present its founding prophet as happily married to one woman. Now, the church says, "careful estimates put the number between 30 and 40."

The church, officially called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, disavowed plural marriage in 1890 under pressure from the U.S. government, which had imprisoned polygamists and seized their assets.

The life and home that Brooks has created with her husband are the result of a complicated journey. Like her ancestors who struggled before her, she fights for her faith. And she's at peace with her purpose.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – The life and home that Brooks has created with her husband are the result of a complicated journey. Like her ancestors who struggled before her, she fights for her faith. And she's at peace with her purpose.

As a young activist, Brooks watched her beloved church crack down on -- and even excommunicate -- her intellectual heroes. Today, she trusts that times are changing and that she can speak up without being cast into the wilderness.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – As a young activist, Brooks watched her beloved church crack down on -- and even excommunicate -- her intellectual heroes. Today, she trusts that times are changing and that she can speak up without being cast into the wilderness.

Brooks has emerged as an accidental and unofficial voice of Mormonism, all while serving as a full-time faculty member at San Diego State University. Her work ethic and ability to do so much at once don't surprise those who know her.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks has emerged as an accidental and unofficial voice of Mormonism, all while serving as a full-time faculty member at San Diego State University. Her work ethic and ability to do so much at once don't surprise those who know her.

She speaks openly about issues that many in the church wish she'd avoid. But Brooks is committed to being her authentic self. She refuses "to be ashamed of being Mormon" or of holding beliefs that don't mirror expectations.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – She speaks openly about issues that many in the church wish she'd avoid. But Brooks is committed to being her authentic self. She refuses "to be ashamed of being Mormon" or of holding beliefs that don't mirror expectations.

Brooks recently self-published her memoir, "The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith." Writing it allowed her to heal from past hurts she's felt as a Mormon and will someday help her daughters better understand their mother.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks recently self-published her memoir, "The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith." Writing it allowed her to heal from past hurts she's felt as a Mormon and will someday help her daughters better understand their mother.

With Mitt Romney's presidential bid, curious eyes are trained on Mormonism. Brooks, an Obama supporter and longtime gay rights activist, hopes people emerge from this election cycle more educated about and accepting of others.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – With Mitt Romney's presidential bid, curious eyes are trained on Mormonism. Brooks, an Obama supporter and longtime gay rights activist, hopes people emerge from this election cycle more educated about and accepting of others.

Brooks and Kamper are professors and department chairs at San Diego State University -- she in English and comparative literature, he in American Indian studies. At night, in their home office, she does her research and blogging.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks and Kamper are professors and department chairs at San Diego State University -- she in English and comparative literature, he in American Indian studies. At night, in their home office, she does her research and blogging.

Scattered on the family refrigerator are signs of this household's spirit. Among the magnets are some from the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, including one that says, "Jesus loves us. Who cares what you think?"

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Scattered on the family refrigerator are signs of this household's spirit. Among the magnets are some from the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, including one that says, "Jesus loves us. Who cares what you think?"

Brooks met her husband at a union party for teaching assistants when they were in graduate school. She honors his Judaism, has never asked him to convert, and her acceptance has helped him get over what they call his "Jesus allergy."

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks met her husband at a union party for teaching assistants when they were in graduate school. She honors his Judaism, has never asked him to convert, and her acceptance has helped him get over what they call his "Jesus allergy."

The Book of Mormon and a study guide sit among sections of The New York Times. Brooks is on a mission to humanize her often misunderstood faith and doesn't hold back in responding to editorials she views as unfair.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – The Book of Mormon and a study guide sit among sections of The New York Times. Brooks is on a mission to humanize her often misunderstood faith and doesn't hold back in responding to editorials she views as unfair.

Rosa helps out in the kitchen, stirring the ingredients for pancakes. When her daughters are old enough, Brooks says, they will choose the religious path they want to walk. She's not worried about them because "God has a plan for everyone."

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Rosa helps out in the kitchen, stirring the ingredients for pancakes. When her daughters are old enough, Brooks says, they will choose the religious path they want to walk. She's not worried about them because "God has a plan for everyone."

Rosa, 6, opens a large cabinet in the family's garage to reveal stockpiles of food, which could feed the family for up to nine months, Brooks says. The LDS Church recommends food storage in case of disasters.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Rosa, 6, opens a large cabinet in the family's garage to reveal stockpiles of food, which could feed the family for up to nine months, Brooks says. The LDS Church recommends food storage in case of disasters.

Ella, 8, wears her mother's bonnet while sitting in the driver's seat of a covered wagon at a historic site celebrating Mormon contributions to early San Diego history.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Ella, 8, wears her mother's bonnet while sitting in the driver's seat of a covered wagon at a historic site celebrating Mormon contributions to early San Diego history.

Each night at dinner, daughters Ella, left, and Rosa, right, recite prayers for Brooks and her Jewish husband, David Kamper. Sometimes the girls are inspired by their Mormonism; other times by their Judaism.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Each night at dinner, daughters Ella, left, and Rosa, right, recite prayers for Brooks and her Jewish husband, David Kamper. Sometimes the girls are inspired by their Mormonism; other times by their Judaism.

Brooks, a descendant of Mormon pioneers who struggled, is inspired by her heritage. She attends events like the annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day in San Diego to honor those who walked before her.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks, a descendant of Mormon pioneers who struggled, is inspired by her heritage. She attends events like the annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day in San Diego to honor those who walked before her.

Joanna Brooks, a faithful Mormon, believes there's room in her church for loving criticism. For 10 years, she turned away from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But now she's back, writing and blogging about a religion and people she couldn't love more.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Joanna Brooks, a faithful Mormon, believes there's room in her church for loving criticism. For 10 years, she turned away from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But now she's back, writing and blogging about a religion and people she couldn't love more.

It's hard to overestimate Smith's importance to Mormons. He is viewed as a larger-than-life prophet who received special revelations from God. The news that he had taken so many wives, including teens and other men's spouses, rocked some members of the faith, according to Mormon blogger Jana Riess

What's remarkable about the new statement, said Steve Evans, who blogs at By Common Consent, a site that takes an intellectual approach to Mormon history, is that came from the church itself. Twenty years ago, Mormons could be excommunicated for addressing controversial topics like polygamy and the church's former ban on black priests.

But in recent years, with information about Smith's multiple marriages only a Google search away, Mormon church leaders felt pressure to answer questions from the faithful, Evans said. Some Mormons had even left the church after discovering its polygamist past.

"The church is realizing that all of these really controversial topics are being openly discussed on the Internet. So why not put out something that acknowledges the history and tries to get a little bit ahead of it?"

According to the church's essay, Smith had not wanted to take multiple wives, but relented after an angel appeared to him three times between 1834 and 1842. On the angel's last visit, the church said, "the angel came with a drawn sword, threatening Joseph with destruction unless he went forward and obeyed the commandment fully."

As the church's essay notes, Smith also saw his fledgling Mormon movement as a restoration of the "ancient principles" of biblical prophets like Abraham, who practiced plural marriage.

Smith's first wife, however, was not amused. In fact, the church said, "it was an excruciating ordeal for Emma."

Sometime in the 1830s, Smith took his second wife, Fanny Alger, according to the church. They later separated, the church said.

At one point, Emma Smith accepted four of her husbands' plural wives into her household, according to the church. But she likely never knew the full extent of her husband's polygamous unions, LDS officials acknowledge.

Although Smith wed as many as 40 women, he did not necessarily consummate the marriages, the LDS church said. Some might have been "eternity-only sealings," meaning that the relationships were held on reserve for the afterlife.

Most of the women Smith married were between 20 and 40, the church said, but one was as old as 56 and one as young as 14.

"Marriage at such an age, inappropriate by today's standards, was legal in that era, and some women married in their mid-teens," the church said in its online essay.

Helen Mar Kimball, the teen, said her marriage to Smith was "for eternity alone," suggesting the relationship did not involve sexual relations, the church said.

Though controversial, polygamy did have an upside, according to the church: it increased the number of children born in Mormon households.

"A substantial number of today's members descend through faithful Latter-day Saints who practiced plural marriage," the LDS essay said.

The essay is part of a three-part series on the subject, said LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins.

A relatively small number of Mormon fundamentalists, who split from the church over polygamy, continue to practice plural marriage, pointing to Smith's original teachings as more authentic than later revisions.