Eternal Families: The Doctrine Joseph Smith Never Taught In the new movie, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, Joseph declares to his family: “We can be with the ones we love forever.” Compared to what Joseph actually taught about the sociality of heaven, that statement is anachronistic. In this presentation, I trace the complex, dramatic changes that Mormon teachings about the “heavenly family” have undergone since Joseph Smith’s days. Does the ubiquitous slogan “families can be together forever” have more to do with a current LDS preoccupation with nuclear families than with Joseph’s teaching?

Hugo Olaiz and Gary James Bergera