Nancy Rigdon

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LDS Church figure

title: "Nancy Rigdon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1822-births", "1887-deaths"] description: "LDS Church figure" topic_path: "people/1820s" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Rigdon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary LDS Church figure ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Latter Day Saint biography"]

FieldValue
birth_nameNancy Rigdon
birth_date
birth_placePittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
death_date
spouseRobert Ellis
parentsSidney Rigdon
Phebe Brooks
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| birth_name = Nancy Rigdon | birth_date = | birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | death_date = | spouse = Robert Ellis | children = | parents = Sidney Rigdon Phebe Brooks}} Nancy Rigdon (December 8, 1822 – November 1, 1887) was the daughter of Sidney Rigdon, an early leader in the Latter-day Saint Movement. In 1842, she was the recipient of a controversial letter written by Joseph Smith, after she refused his offer of polygamous marriage.

Biography

Nancy was born to Sidney Rigdon and Phebe Brooks on December 8, 1822. She and her parents became early members of the Latter-day Saint Movement. She moved numerous times during her childhood as the Latter-day Saints moved from Kirtland, Ohio to Far West, Missouri, and eventually to Nauvoo, Illinois.

Nancy's brother, John Wickliffe Rigdon, recorded that Joseph Smith proposed polygamous marriage to Nancy in 1842, which she "flatly refused".

A few days later, Smith's personal secretary, Willard Richards, 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. Nancy refused, saying she would "alarm the neighbors" if she was not allowed to leave.

A few days after the encounter, Willard Richards, 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, who was serving as Assistant President of the Church at the time, recorded: ::quote

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

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While they were talking Joseph Smith the Prophet came into the house and joined them, and the old lady immediately left the room. It was then that Joseph made the proposal of marriage to my sister. Nancy flatly refused him, saying if she ever got married she would marry a single man or none at all, and thereupon took her bonnet and went home, leaving Joseph at the old lady's home}}

Notes

References

References

  1. "Ellis, Nancy Rigdon". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  2. (1905). "Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage". Deseret News Press.
  3. "Appendix: Letter to Nancy Rigdon, circa Mid-April 1842". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  4. "Our Search for Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  5. "The Gospel Path to Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  6. "Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  7. "Hallmarks of a Happy Home". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  8. "True Happiness: A Conscious Decision". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  9. "Service and Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  10. "Walking in Pathways of Happiness". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  11. "Hallmarks of a Happy Home". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  12. "Letters from John C. Bennett to Sangamo Journal (1842)".
  13. (1905). "Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage". Deseret News Press.

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