was the founder of the LDS church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon church); accused during his life (1805-1844) of adulterous affairs with girls under the age of 18 and women; never charged with a sex crime

Case report

Joseph Smith was the founder and first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the LDS church or Mormon church.

FLOODLIT’s purpose is to help people learn about instances of sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by Mormon church members.

We’re not aware whether Smith was ever formally charged with sexual abuse. He was, however, publicly accused during his lifetime of sex crimes, including polygamy.

Since the public conversation about Smith since the 1830s has frequently included accusations of sexual wrongdoing, we have decided to include him in our public database of accused Latter-day Saints.

Case facts

Case videos

    • Video title: Joseph Smith as a Sexual Predator - 2009-06-20
    • Video description: presentation by Sandra Tanner

Case information sources

  1. Zion high council and bishopric, Minutes, Far West, Caldwell Co., MO, 12 Apr. 1838 - The Joseph Smith Papers
    view source details | 21 Sep 2023 | Joseph Smith Papers
  2. Did Plural Marriages Include Sexual Relations? - Joseph Smith's Polygamy
    view source details | 21 Sep 2023 | Joseph Smiths Polygamy
  3. Temple Lot Case - Archive.org
    view source details | 1 Apr 2015 | Archive
  4. Mormon Stories Podcast 324-326: Grant Palmer discusses sexual allegations against Joseph Smith
    view source details | 26 Feb 2012 | Mormon Stories

Case information source details

Browse the Mormon Sexual Abuse Database

FLOODLIT.org has a free public database of hundreds of reports about people who committed or allegedly committed sex crimes, including sexual abuse, while they were active Mormon church members. You can browse the entire database in all sorts of ways, including by LDS church position, number of victims, places where crimes took place, or criminal/civil case result.

View the Mormon Sexual Abuse Map

International map of locations where active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perpetrated or allegedly perpetrated sexual abuse or other sex crimes, or where LDS leaders failed or allegedly failed to help abuse survivors.

 

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