The woman who told her daughter she was the daughter of Joseph Smith was Sylvia Sessions Lyon. She was sealed to Joseph Smith. With the marriage, and possible sealing of Sylvia's children to Joseph as well, it is possible that Sylvia was not referring to a biological fatherhood. I have talked with two of the descendents of Sylvia. A billionaire by the name of Sorenson is doing DNA tests on families of those who were thought to be literal children of Joseph Smith. All of the tests so far have proven to be negative. In the situation of Sylvia, however, they have not been able to determine a relationship to Joseph Smith one way or another because they are tracing lineage back through mothers rather than fathers and that apparently is more difficult. Sylvia's daughter was named Josephine. I have seen pictures of her and she does look remarkably llike Joseph Smith. Some have speculated that if Joseph Smith is the father, that the pregnancy may have commenced when Sylvia was estranged for a period from her husband. I have talked to two general authorities, three church historians and a handful of descendents of women who married Joseph Smith while being married to other husbands, and have heard a whole host of different ideas as to why polyandry occurred. At this point the best that we can say is that we don't know. Having studied the issue intently for 30 years, there is not overwhelming evidence that Joseph Smith had sexual relations with these married women (with the possible exception of Sylvia Sessions Lyon). He apparently didn't produce children with them, unless Josephine turns out to be a direct descendent. It is probably the most difficult question to answer in church history.
