For the first time, Mormon leaders have acknowledged that Joseph Smith was a prolific polygamist, marrying as many as 40 women, one of whom was as young as 14.

The Mormon church has always been associated with polygamy, especially in its early years, but official Mormon teachings focused on Smith’s relationship with his wife Emma. However, in an essay posted on its website, Mormon leadership acknowledged that Smith was not very monogamous, according to the Telegraph.

Joseph Smith was a young farmer who claimed in the late 1820s to have found inscribed golden plates in upstate New York revealed to him by God, through which he wrote the Book of Mormon. The book tells of a history where ancient Jews came to North America to settle.

The Mormon church says Smith likely had between 30 and 40 wives, and some of them were already married to othes, and one of them was just 14 years old. The Church also said that these wives caused pain to Emma, his first wife.

It wasn’t until 1890 when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially disavowed having more than one wife due to pressure from the government, which jailed believers who practiced polygamy. According to the Telegraph, Utah was granted statehood as part of this deal.

The Church’s essay explains Smith’s actions by stating that an angel threatened Smith with destruction if he didn’t take multiple wives. It also stated that many of Smith’s wives were married as “eternity only sealings,” a deal that would only be consummated in the afterlife.

The Church defended the marrying of a 14-year-old girl by noting that marriage at such a young age, while inappropriate today, was legal during Smith’s era. This marriage was also an “eternity only sealing,” so not sexual relations were involved, the Church claims.

The Church claimed that while polygamy is in general wrong, in the early days it led to increased membership in the church during a time of religious persecution.

Mormonism came into the spotlight two years ago when member Mitt Romney became the Republican candidate for president in 2012. Around that time, the creators of South Park created a popular Broadway play titled, “The Book of Mormon.”