Nancy Rigdon (December 8, 1822 - November 1, 1887) was the daughter of

Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (February 19, 1793 – July 14, 1876) was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Biography Early life Rigdon was born in St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1793. He ...

, an early leader in the

Latter-day Saint Movement The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded b ...

. In 1842, she was the recipient of a controversial letter written by

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious and political leader and the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. Publishing the Book of Mormon at the age of 24, Smith attracted tens of thou ...

, after she refused his offer of polygamous marriage.

Biography

Nancy was born to

and Phebe Brooks on December 8, 1822. She and her parents became early members of the

. She moved numerous times during her childhood as the Latter-day Saints moved from

Kirtland, Ohio Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,937 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Kirtland is known for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement from 1831 to 1837 and the site of ...

Far West, Missouri Far West was a settlement of the Latter Day Saint movement in Caldwell County, Missouri, United States, during the late 1830s. It is recognized as a historic site by the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, added to the register in 1970. I ...

, and eventually to

Nauvoo, Illinois Nauvoo ( ; from the ) is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River near Fort Madison, Iowa. The population of Nauvoo was 950 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Nauvoo attracts visitors for its h ...

. Nancy's brother, John Wickliffe Rigdon, recorded that

proposed polygamous marriage to Nancy in 1842, which she "flatly refused." A few days later, Smith's personal secretary,

Willard Richards Willard Richards (June 24, 1804 – March 11, 1854) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He served as second counselor to church president Brigham Young in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sai ...

, delivered a letter to Nancy. The letter contained statements such as, "That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another" and "Whatever God required is right, no matter what it is." She married Robert Ellis in 1846.

Polygamy Proposal by Joseph Smith

In 1842, Joseph Smith locked 19-year-old Nancy in a room, and proposed

polygamous marriage Polygamy (from Late Greek , "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one hus ...

. Nancy refused, saying she would "alarm the neighbors" if she was not allowed to leave. A few days after the encounter,

, secretary of Joseph Smith, delivered a letter to Nancy, explaining that "That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another." The letter is widely regarded by Church leaders as being written by Joseph Smith, and has been quoted by numerous Church leaders, including in General Conference.

John C. Bennett John Cook Bennett (August 4, 1804 – August 5, 1867) was an American physician and briefly a ranking and influential leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, who acted as mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion in the ea ...

, who was serving as

Assistant President of the Church Assistant President of the Church (also referred to as Associate President of the Church) was a position in the leadership hierarchy in the early days of the Latter Day Saint church founded by Joseph Smith. The Assistant President was the second-hi ...

at the time, recorded:

Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (July 19, 1876 – July 2, 1972) was an American religious leader and writer who served as the List of presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tenth President of the Church (LDS Church), president ...

published a statement from Nancy's brother, John Wickliffe Rigdon, about the encounter:

References

{{improve categories, date=June 2024 1822 births 1887 deaths