Why did Joseph Smith practice plural marriage?
The Short Answer
Joseph Smith taught that plural marriage was a commandment from God, like with Abraham and the other Old Testament prophets. The Church's essay shows he didn't want to do it and only obeyed because he believed God told him to. If you want to actually understand it, the essay walks through what happened in plain language.
Official Church Source
Related Questions
Still have questions? Talk to your parents, your bishop, or a trusted leader. Questions are part of faith, not the opposite of it.