JosephSmithsMonogamy:

ExploringaCounternarrativeRegardingPluralMarriage

WasJosephSmith,thefoundingprophetofvariousMormonsects,amonogamist?Such
anideaisincredibletovirtuallyeverypersonfamiliarwiththepracticeofpluralmarriageinthe
Mormonreligion.

TheprevailingnarrativeregardingthistopictakesforgrantedthatJosephwasthe
originatorofthepluralmarriagedoctrineinMormonism.Truly,thereisasignificantamountof
evidencetobolsterthisview.OnecouldeasilyciteaccusationsmadeduringJosephslifeas
wellasthosethatfollowedafterhismartyrdomtobuildasignificantcasethathewasa
polygamist.

However,therearecompellingcounterargumentstobeconsidered.Acceptingthat
Josephwasapolygamistrequiresapersontowrestlewithsignificantinconsistencieswiththat
narrative,suchasJosephsnumerousandconsistentdenials,thelackofoffspringfrom
polygamousunionsduringhislife,alackofreliablecontemporaryevidence,contradictory
testimonyfromhisaccusers,andmodifiedhistoricalrecords.Josephsconductininvestigating,
identifying,disciplining,andcondemningtheadulterousrelationshipsinNauvoomakesmore
senseifhispolygamydenialsareacceptedastruthful.Histwoyearlongquestusingthe
NauvooHighCounciltoferretoutsexualpromiscuity,disciplinethoseinvolved,andcorrecttheir
misbehaviormakesmoresenseifhewasnotasecretpolygamist.

Nomatterwhatapersonultimatelydecidesaboutpluralmarriage,itrequiresmany
assumptions.Thereisnteverlikelytobeenoughcompellingevidencetodefinitivelyprove
whetherJosephwasorwasntapolygamist.However,bytheendofthispaper,thereadermay
bebetterequippedtomakeaninformedassumption.

TheProblemofPaternityJosephSmith

Ihadnotbeenmarriedscarcelyfiveminutes,andmadeoneproclamationofthe
Gospel,beforeitwasreportedthatIhadsevenwives.
JosephSmith(LDSHistoryoftheChurch6:411,
26May1844
)

VerifiablechildrenfatheredbyJosephSmitharelinkedtoonewoman,EmmaSmith,
Josephsfirstandpotentiallyonlywife.Therehavebeenmanyclaimstothecontrarybutno
claimhaseverbeenvalidatedbyDNA.Josephisallegedtohavehadmorethan30wivesover
aperiodof11years 1.Assuch,itseemsunlikelythatnotasingledescendantcouldbeproven
fromoneoftheseotherunions.Josephconceived9childrenwithEmma.Hisfirstallegedplural
1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Joseph_Smith%27s_wives

wifewasFannyAlger,whobore9childrenwithanotherman.She,likeJoseph,wasclearly
capableofproducingoffspring.Yettheirallegedunion,intheprimeoftheirreproductiveyears,
producednooffspring.Thequestionwhyneedstobeanswered,oratleastconsidered.

In1879,JosephF.Smithconcededthepointthattherewerenochildrenfromthese
unions:

WhenaskedonNovember1,1879,WhydidJosephSmiththeProphethaveno
[polygamous]children?JosephF.Smithresponded:Becauseitwouldhave
beenagainsthimandthelawofthestateagainstbigamy.Thechildrenwould
havebeenproventobehisorthemotherswouldhavebeencondemnedforillicit
intercourse,polygamousmarriagesnotbeingconsideredlegitimatemarriages.2

Admittedly,noteveryonecanorhasbeenDNAtested.Somepotentialcandidatesdied
asinfantsandcannotbetested.However,everyknowntesthascomebacknegativeor
inconclusive.OnerecenteffortdisprovedJosephspaternityfor5potentialdescendants.3

ConsideralsothatthecommonjustificationinMormontheologyisthatpluralmarriageis
to"raiseupseed"accordingtoJacob2(whichmostobserversinterpretasareferenceto
increasingthebirthrate).4InthatconstructitshardtoimagineJosephfailinginsucha
significantway.ThelackofchildrenfromotherwomenmakesmoresenseifJosephwasa
monogamist.

IfitstruethatJosephonlyhadchildrenwithEmma,itoffersastarkcontrastwiththe
brandofpluralmarriagepracticedbyBrighamYoung.Youngspolygamyresultedinmarriages
to56women.Hefathered57childrenfrom16ofthosewives.5Onceagain,thequestionofwhy
therewassuchasignificantdisparityneedstobeanswered,oratleastconsidered.Asitstands,
theonlyverifiableoffspringofJosephSmithcamefromhislegalwife,Emma.

TheProblemofPaternityBrigham,Heber,etal

Aswehavelatelybeencrediblyinformed,thatanElderoftheChurchofJesusChrist,of
LatterdaySaints,bythenameofHiramBrown,hasbeenpreachingPolygamy,and
otherfalseandcorruptdoctrines,inthecountyofLapeer,stateofMichigan.Thisisto
notifyhimandtheChurchingeneral,thathehasbeencutofffromthechurch,forhis
iniquityandheisfurthernotifiedtoappearattheSpecialConference,onthe6thofApril
next,tomakeanswertothesecharges.
JosephSmith&HyrumSmith,TimesandSeasons5[February1,1844]:423
BrianC.Hales,
JosephSmithsPolygamy:Volume3
p375

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700150651/DNAsolvesaJosephSmithmystery.html?pg=all
4
e.g.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_polygamy/Purpose_of_plural_marriage
5

http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/thewivesofbrighamyoung.html
2
3

ThelackofchildrenattributedtoJosephisdamagingtotheargumentthatJosephwasa
polygamist.Similarlydamagingisthelackofchildrenborntomostofthepeoplewhoclaimto
havepracticedpolygamyduringJosephSmithslifetime.AccordingtoananalysisbyGeorgeD.
Smith,therewereatotalof42allegedpluralmarriageunionsinvolving25men(excluding
JosephSmithsallegedactivity)whileJosephwasalive.6Therewere5suchunionsin1842,21
in1843,and14morebeforeJosephsdeathinJune1844.

Onewouldexpectthatduringthistimetherewouldhavebeenarashofchildrenborn
fromtheseunions.However,ananalysisbyGaryBergerastatesthattherewereonlyfour
childrenpotentiallybornfrompolygamousrelationshipspriortoJosephsdeath:7

LucinaCahoon(about1843)
Adelmon/AdelbertKimball(1842)
AdelbertDanielClayton(2/18/1844)
GeorgeNoble(2/2/1844)

Furtherinvestigationofthesebirthsrevealsthattheactualnumberofchildreniseven
smaller.InthecaseofLucinaCahoon,thereisscantevidencethatthischildeverexisted.The
onlyevidenceisarecordfromadescendantofReynoldsCahoon,theallegedfather,inafamily
historypublishedin1960.8Theonlyinformationprovidedisthenameofthechild,abirthdateof
about1843,probablyNauvoo.Giventheuncertaintyofthebirthdateorevenlocation,andthe
sourcebeingnearly120yearsafterthefact,thisbirthisquestionableatbest.Adiscerning
observerwouldnotlikelyrelyonthisasproofofachildbornfromapolygamousunionduring
Josephslifetime.

Thedataforthenextchild,AdelmonorAdelbertKimball,isconflicted,butAdelmonwas
bornaboutOct1842anddiedApr1843.HewasborntoSarahPeak,thefirstallegedpluralwife
toHeberCKimball.BeforeSarahmarriedHeber,shewasmarriedtoWilliamNoon.Williamand
SarahmovedtoNauvoofromEnglandin1841,butforunknownreasons,Williamabandoned
hisfamilyandreturnedtoEngland.WilliamandSarahareshowninvarioussourcestohave
hadthreechildren.TheirfinalchildwasnamedAdelmon,bornin1842,anddiedApr1843.9

InothersourcesSarahPeakisshowntohavegivenbirthtoachildnamedAdelbertwith
hernewhusband,HeberCKimball.ThischildisalsoshowntohavebeenborninOct1842and
diedinApr1843.However,itsnotpossibleforSarahtohavedeliveredtwochildrenwhowere
bornanddiedatthesametimeandfatheredbytwodifferentmen.Theconclusion,then,isthat

NauvooRootsofMormonPolygamy,184146:APreliminaryDemographicReport
,
p30

IdentifyingtheEarliestMormonPolygamists,184144
,p.50
8

https://archive.org/stream/reynoldscahoonhi00shur#page/84/mode/2up/search/lucina
9

http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Sarah_Peak_(18111873)
6
7

itsthesamechild(assomefamilyhistoriesshow).10AdelmonwaseitherthesonofWilliam
NoonandlaterclaimedbyKimballtobehisor,AdelmonwasKimballssonbutwaseasily
explainedasthelastchildconceivedwithWilliamNoonbeforeWilliamabandonedhisfamily.
Regardless,inthetheorythatJosephSmithwasamonogamist,thischildwouldnothaveraised
eyebrowsinNauvooashewouldhaveeasilybeenattributedtoWilliamNoon.Assuch,this
childisnotvalidproofthatpluralmarriagewasbeingpracticedwithJosephsconsent.

Thethirdchild,AdelbertDanielClayton,isasomewhatsimilarstorytothatofAdelbert
Kimball.Thefacttheyshareafirstnameseemsaninterestingcoincidence.Thebirthofthe
Claytonchildissupportedbysomehistoricalevidence.ThereisanentryinWilliamClaytons
journalonFeb18,1844referencingthebirthofachildtoMargaretMoon,Claytonsfirstplural
wife.11LittleAdelbertpassedawaysixmonthslater.Whilethisisacompellingcaseofachild
bornfrompluralmarriagebeforethedeathofJoseph,thereareproblemswithClaytonsjournal
thatcallintoquestionthevalidityofthenarrativesurroundinghisrelationshipwithMargaret
Moon.Theseproblemsarediscussedingreaterdetaillaterinthispaper.Regardless,a
reasonableobservercouldconcludethatthischildwasindeedbornfromapolygamous
relationshipduringJosephslifetime.

Thefinalchild,GeorgeNoble,wasbornjustafewmonthsbeforeJosephdied.Thereis,
however,verylittleinformationtoanalyzetheparentsrelationship.Themother,SarahNoble,
diedin1847whileattemptingtotrekwest.GeorgewasbornacrosstheriverfromNauvooin
Montrose,IA.Heisshowninmultiplehistoriesasbeingthefirstchildbornfromapolygamous
marriage.12Giventheevidenceoftheotherthreechildcandidates,thatdistinctionmayverywell
betrue.However,eveniftrue,thereisnoevidencethatJosephwasawareofthischildsbirth.
ThegeographicdistancefromNauvooandtherelativechaosthatenvelopedJosephslifeinhis
finalmonthscouldhavebeenenoughtopreventhisknowledgeofthischild.

Itwouldbereasonabletoconcludethereweremostlikelytwochildrenborninto
polygamyduringJosephslifetime.WhetherJosephwasawareofthecircumstancesofthese
birthsandapprovedisdebatable.Moreimportantly,itspuzzlingthatoverthecourseof3years
(18421844)therewere25menworkingtofatherchildrenwith40differentwomenandonly2
childrencouldbemustered.Asanexampleofthisanomaly,considerthecaseofBrigham
Young.Youngsired57childrenthroughouthislifebutwasunabletoproduceapolygamous
childuntilayearafterJosephdieddespiteallegedlyenteringpolygamyin1842andhaving4
polygamouswivesatthetimeofJosephsdeathinJune1844.Bycontrast,Brighamslegalwife,
MaryAnnAngell,borehimachildin1842and1844.Ifitstruethatthesemenwerepracticing
pluralmarriageatJosephsbehest,thereshouldhavebeenmanybirthsduringthistimeperiod.

GeorgeReynolds,asecretarytotheFirstPresidency,hypothesizedaboutthelowbirth
rateasfollows:

http://www.watsonclan.com/getperson.php?personID=I8516&tree=watson

http://www.boap.org/LDS/EarlySaints/claytondiaries
12
AndrewJenson,
TheHistoricalRecord6
[May1887]:239
10
11


"Thefactsthatyourefertoarealmostasgreatamysterytousastheyareto
youbutthereasongenerallyassignedbythe[plural]wivesthemselvesis,that
owingtothepeculiarcircumstancesbywhichtheyweresurrounded,theywere
sonervousandinsuchconstantfearthattheydidnotconceive."13

Reynoldsdoesnotdisputethelackofchildren.Insteadheassertsthatconceptionwas
simplypreventedbyfear.However,itseemsimplausiblethatnearlyall40womenwouldbeso
distressedoveraperiodof3yearsthatconceivingwasvirtuallyimpossible.AsBergarapoints
out,duringthissameperiodoftimebeforeJosephsdeath,therewere14childrenbornbythe
legalwivesoftheallegedpolygamists.14

Consideralsothatthissamegroupofpolygamousmenwouldproduce14birthsfrom
theirpolygamouswives(from18451846)veryshortly
after
Josephdied.15Iffearwasenoughto
preventconceptionwhileJosephwasalive,itseemsunlikelythatthepersecutionandviolence
thatfollowedhisdeathwouldleadtothecollectivereductionoffearsufficienttoallow
conception.

ItseemsmorelikelythatthosewhopracticedpolygamyduringJosephslifetimeeither
abstainedfromsexualintercourseortookotherstepstoavoidconception.Thestunninglackof
polygamouschildrenduringJosephslifetimeandsubsequentexplosionofpolygamouschildren
afterhisdeathmakemoresenseinasettingwheresomeweresecretlypracticingplural
marriagewithoutJosephsconsent.

VastMajorityofEvidenceIsContradictoryandNotContemporary

"Whatathingitisforamantobeaccusedofcommittingadultery,andhavingseven
wives,whenIcanonlyfindone.Iamthesameman,andasinnocentasIwasfourteen
yearsagoandIcanprovethemallperjurers."
JosephSmith(LDSHistoryoftheChurch6:411,
May26,1844
)

ItstruethereisagreatdealofevidencetyingJosephSmithtothepracticeofpolygamy.
Hehadaccusersduringhislifeandafter.Themostconvincingofhisaccusersarethoseofhis
followersprincipallyamongthegroupthatfollowedBrighamYoungafterJosephsdeath.This
mainbodyreferredtohereinastheLDStodistinguishthemfromthevariousotherMormon
groupsundertookaconcertedefforttoprovethatpluralmarriagewasalegitimatepractice
thatoriginatedwithJosephSmith.Butmuchoftheirevidencecomes30ormoreyearsafter
Josephdied.AfirstwavecameatatimewhentheLDSchurchwastryingtodefendagainst
othergroupsclaimsofbeingthevalidbranchofMormonism,particularlytheRLDSchurchled

FirstPresidencyLetterpressCopybooks
,LettertoH.NeidigJune71892.

IdentifyingtheEarliestMormonPolygamists,184144
,p.50
15

ibid
,p52743
13
14

byJosephsson,JosephSmithIII.16 JosephIIIwasattemptingtoprovethathisfatherwasnota
polygamist.Inresponse,theLDSchurchsetouttoprovethathewas.Thevalidityofeachsect
hingedonthisquestion.

TherewasanotherwaveofevidencewhentheLDSchurchsoughttoswaytheoutcome
ofalawsuit,knownastheTempleLotcase,inthe1890s.17 Inthislawsuit,theRLDSchurch
suedagroupknowncommonlyasHedrickites,whoownedthetemplelotsiteinMissouri.While
bothgroupsvehementlyrejectedthevalidityofpluralmarriage,theHedrickitesenlistedtheLDS
churchtoprovepluralmarriagewasindeedtaughtandpracticedbyJosephSmith.Indoingso
theyhopedtodisprovetheRLDSclaimthattheymostcloselyresembledthereligionthat
Josephintroduced.Itmayseemcounterintuitive,butalltheHedrickiteshadtoprovewasthat
theRLDSdidn'tmostresemblethereligionestablishedbyJoseph.Thiswouldpreservethe
Hedrickitesownershipofthetemplelotdespitethefactthattheytooconsideredpluralmarriage
tobeaninnovationthatdidnotoriginatewithJoseph.

Theevidencethatcomesfromthesetwowavesisinsomewayscompellingbutitisnt
withoutitsshortcomings.Onemustaskwhether3050yearoldreminiscencesarereliable.
Werethetestimoniesandaffidavitsswayedbythencurrentthinkingmorethantherealityof
pastevents?Waspressureappliedbychurchleaderstoprovideacertainkindoftestimony?Is
thereevidencetheywouldbewillingtobendthetruthinordertosupportadesirednarrative?

Thehistoricalrecordshowsthat,asagroup,theLDSpolygamistswereproneto
embellishingoreveninventinghistoricalevents.Forexample,thestoriesofajealousEmma
SmiththrowingapregnantElizaSnowdownthestairsoftheNauvooMansionhousecausing
hertomiscarryJosephsunbornchildhassincebeenshownfalseevenbyLDSscholars.18
Notably,Elizaneverclaimeditwastruebutneverdenouncediteither.Thestoryofseagulls
eatingcricketsthatwereravagingUtahcropsin1848andmemorializedbyastatueonTemple
Squareappearstohavebeenexaggerated.19

ThestoryofBrighamYoungtransfiguringintoJosephSmithatthesuccessioncrisis
appearslikewisetohavebeengreatlyembellishedovertime.20SomuchsothatOrsonHydeleft
multipledetailedaccountsoftheeventdespitethefactthathewasnotpresentinNauvooatthe
timeandthereforecouldnothavewitnessedit.21DespitebeingamemberoftheTwelve
Apostles,Hydewaswillingtoclaimownershiptoastorynothisowninordertosupporta
desirednarrative.TheinfamousJohnDLeealsoleftadetailedaccountdespitenotbeing
presentinNauvooatthetime. 22

JosephSmithIII:PragmaticProphet,
p218

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Lot_Case
18

EmmaSmith,ElizaR.Snow,andtheReportedIncidentontheStairs
19

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_gulls
20

TheMakingofaMormonMyth:The1844TransfigurationofBrighamYoung
21
Id.,p17
22
Id.
16
17


Inasomewhatawkwardturnofevents,whentheUSGovernmentimposedheavy
criminalpenaltiesforengaginginpluralmarriage,manyoftheLDSfeltobligatedtohidethefact
thattheywerestillpolygamists.Underoathornot,itwascommontodenyparticipatinginplural
marriagedespitesecretlycontinuingthepractice. 23TheLDSinstitutionitselfpubliclyrenounced
pluralmarriagein1890,butsecretlycontinuedthepracticefor14years.24Suchmeasures
shouldnotbesurprisinggiventhepoliticalclimateofthetimebutitdoesdemonstrateapattern
ofuntruthfulness.

Insomerespects,thepatterncontinuesfortheLDSinstitutioneventoday.ThelateBoyd
K.Packerslamentthatnotalltruthsarefaithpromotingoruseful(andshouldthereforebe
suppressed)islikelyaninheritedviewpointreflectingthetraditionsofchurchleaderswhocame
beforehim.25 Becauseofthis,Mormonhistoryisinsomerespectsantihistoricbecauseit
ignoresanddeniessometruthwhenitcontradictstraditionorfailstoupholdadesiredposition.
Thistendencycloudsthehistoricalrecordofpluralmarriage.

Thispatternisindicativeofaculturewherespeakinguntruthfullytodefendanarrative
wasnotonlyjustified,butexpected.Thistendencyis,believeitornot,normalhumanbehavior.
Individualsandgroupsarepronetoconfirmationbiasandevenfalsememories.Humanbeings
tendtorememberpasteventsinwaysthatconformtocurrentthinking.26Ratherthanviewing
theembellishmentsoftheLDSpolygamistsassomethingnefarious,perhapsonewouldmore
wiselyviewitasanunfortunateconsequenceofthehumancondition.However,itdoescallinto
questiontheevidencepresentedafterJosephsdeath.

Recognizingthattheywerewillingtoinvent,embellish,andfalselydenyinorderto
protectadesirednarrativedemonstratestheirdesperationindifficulttimes.Knowingthismakes
iteasiertodoubtthevalidityofevidencefromthelate1800styingJosephSmithtopolygamy.It
alsohighlightstheimportanceoffocusingoncontemporaryevidenceofJosephsinvolvement.

Evenso,analyzingcontemporaryevidencepresentsfurtherquestionsofcredibility.
ManyofthesamekeywitnessesfromtheLDSchurchwhoclaimJosephtaughtthempersonally
topracticepolygamyarethesamepeoplewhosignedaffidavitsinNauvoostatingtherewasno
suchpractice.WilfordWoodruffandJohnTaylorbothsignedanaffidavitin1842statingwe
knowofnootherruleorsystemofmarriagethantheonepublishedfromtheBookofDoctrine
andCovenants. 27

http://bycommonconsent.com/2010/03/05/correlationanuncorrelatedhistorypart2manifestoes/

http://bycommonconsent.com/2004/05/10/thelingeringlegacyofpostmanifestopolygamy/
25
ThereisatemptationforthewriterortheteacherofChurchhistorytowanttotelleverything,whetheritis
worthyorfaithpromotingornot.Somethingsthataretruearenotveryuseful.
BoydK.Packer
.Totheir
credit,theLDSchurchinrecentyearshastakenamoreopenandhonestapproachtoitshistory.
26

TimeMagazine
discussesthisphenomenon
here
.
27

TimesandSeasons
3[October1,1842]:939940
23
24

ThesystemofmarriagebeingreferredtoistheoriginalSection101oftheDoctrine&
CovenantswhichwasremovedbytheLDSchurchin1876becauseitforbidspolygamy.28 Fora
churchopenlypracticingpolygamy,havingacanonizedstatementthatprecludesanymarriage
formulabutmonogamyisproblematic,tosaytheleast.Hence,thesubsequentremovalby
BrighamYoung.Thatsectionread,inpart:asthischurchofChristhasbeenreproachedwith
thecrimeoffornication,andpolygamy:wedeclarethatwebelieve,thatonemanshouldhave
onewifeandonewoman,butonehusband,exceptincaseofdeath,wheneitherisatlibertyto
marryagain.Thissectionfirstappearedinthe1835D&C,nineyearsbeforeJosephsdeath.
Wearelefttowrestlewiththecontradictionbetweenthecanonizedlawofmarriagethatexisted
whileJosephSmithwasaliveandthesubsequentchangemadebyhissuccessor.

IntheTempleLotCase,Woodruffclaimedtohavebeentaughtaboutpluralmarriagein
1841and1842,yethesignedtheaboveaffidavitinOct1842claimingtoknowofnootherrule
orsystemofmarriage.29Intherulingforthiscase,JudgeJohnPhillipsstated:

ItischargedbytheRespondents,asanechooftheUtahChurch,thatJoseph
Smith,"theMartyr,"secretlytaughtandpracticedpolygamyandtheUtah
contingentfurnishestheevidence,andtwoofthewomen,toprovethisfact.It
perhapswouldbeuncharitabletosayofthesewomenthat
theyhaveborne
falsetestimony
astotheirconnectionwithJosephSmithbut,inviewofallthe
evidenceandcircumstancessurroundingtheallegedintercourse,itisdifficultto
escapetheconclusionthatatmosttheywerebutsportsin"nesthiding".Inview
ofthecontentionoftheSaltLakeparty,thatpolygamyobtainedatNauvooas
earlyas1841,
itmustbealittleembarrassingtoPresidentWoodruff
ofthat
organizationwhenheisconfronted,ashewasintheevidenceinthiscase,witha
publishedcardinthechurchorgan[paper]atNauvooinOctober,1843,certifying
thatheknewofnootherruleorsystemofmarriagethantheonepublishedinthe
BookofDoctrineandCovenants,andthatthe"secretwifesystem,"charged
againstthechurch,wasacreatureofinventionbyoneDr.Bennett,andthatthey
knewofnosuchsociety.Thatcertificatewassignedbytheleadingmembersof
thechurch,includingJohnTaylor,theformerPresidentoftheUtahChurch.And
asimilarcertificatewaspublishedbytheLadies'ReliefSocietyofthesame
place,signedbyEmmaSmith,wifeofJosephSmith,andPhoebeWoodruff,wife
ofthepresentPresidentWoodruff.
Nosuchmarriageeveroccurredunderthe
rulesofthechurch,andnooffspringcamefromtheimputedillicit
intercourse
,althoughJosephSmithwasinthefullvigorofyoungmanhood,and
hiswife,Emma,wasgivingbirthtohealthychildreninregularorder,andwas
enciente[pregnant]atthetimeofJoseph'sdeath.30

TheoriginalSection101canbereadhere:
JosephSmithPapersProject
.

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p302
30

DecisionofJohnF.Philips,JudgeinTempleLotCase
,p42(
emphasisadded)
28
29

Thejudgewasapparentlypersuadedthatthevariouscontradictionscalledintoquestion
thevalidityofPresidentWoodruffstestimonyaswellasthetestimoniesofotherwitnessestying
Josephtothepracticeofpluralmarriage.InthemindoftheJudge,Josephwasproventobea
monogamist.

InthecaseofJohnTaylor,heandtheotherapostleswereaccusedofcarryingon
spiritualwiferyinsecretbySidneyRigdonlessthanfourmonthsafterJosephsdeath:

Itisafact,sowellknown,thatthe
Twelveandtheiradherentshave
endeavoredtocarryonthisspiritualwifebusinessinsecret
...andhave
gonetothemostshamefulanddesperatelengths,tokeepitfromthepublic....
Howoftenhavethesemenandtheiraccomplicesstoodupbeforethe
congregation,andcalledGodandalltheholyAngelstowitness,that
therewas
nosuchdoctrinetaughtinthechurch
andithasnowcometolight,by
testimonywhichcannotbegainsaid,thatatthetimetheythusdaredheavenand
insultedtheworld,theywerelivinginthepracticeoftheseenormitiesandthere
weremultitudesoftheirfollowersinthecongregationatthetimewhoknewit.31

Taylor,theeditoroftheTimesandSeasons,respondedunequivocally,stating:

Thelawofthelandandtherulesofthechurch
donotallowonemantohave
morethanonewifealiveatonce
,butifanyman'swifedie,hehasarightto
marryanother,andtobesealedtobothforeternitytothelivingandthedead!
thereisnolawofGodormanagainstit!Thisisallthespiritualwifesystemthat
everwastoleratedinthechurch,andtheyknowit.32

Inadditiontothisdenial,Taylorwouldonceagaindenypluralmarriagewasoccurringsix
yearsafterJosephsdeath.DuringapublicdebateinFrancein1850,Taylorwasaskedwhether
JosephpracticedthespiritualwiferyhewasaccusedofbyJohnBennett.Taylordescribedin
detailhowwellacquaintedhewaswithJosephinbothpublicandprivateandthentestified
beforeGod,angels,andmen,that[Joseph]wasagood,honourable,virtuousman.Taylor
thenreadtheoriginalSection101fromtheD&Cstatingthatwasthelawtothechurch.33

Despitesuchardentdenialofpluralmarriage,Taylorlaterclaimedtohavetakenhisfirst
pluralwifein1843.34MormonscholarDMichaelQuinnallegesthatbythetimeofhisstatement
inFrance,Taylorhadmarriedtwelvepolygamouswiveswhohadalreadybornehimeight
children.35 Theincongruenttestimoniesleavelittleroomforhonestreconciliation.WasJohn
SidneyRigdon,
MessengerandAdvocate
1[October15,1844]:14(emphasisadded)

TimesandSeasons
5[November15,1844]:715emphasisadded
33
RichardS.VanWagonerandStevenC.Walker,
ABookofMormons
[SaltLakeCity,Utah:Signature
Books,1982],354
34

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latter_Day_Saint_practitioners_of_plural_marriage
35

http://www.mormonismi.net/kirjoitukset/quinn_moniavioisuus.shtml
31
32

Taylorhidingthetruthaboutpluralmarriagein1842atthebehestofJosephSmith?Whatabout
in1850whenJosephwaslongdead?ItispossibleinsteadthatTaylorslatertestimonies
overstatedormisrepresentedthepracticeofpluralmarriageinNauvoo.Attheveryleast,Taylor
showsthathiswordsonthistopicshouldnotbeacceptedatfacevaluewithoutinvestigation.
Wearelefttodecidewhenhewasbeingtruthfulandwhenhewasnot.

ElizaSnowpresentsasimilarconundrum.SheisallegedtohavemarriedJosephin
June1842yetinOctoberofthatyearshesignedtheReliefSocietystatementreferredtoabove
byJudgePhillipsinhisruling,denyingpolygamywasapracticeofthechurch.

TheReliefSocietylaterputoutamoredetaileddocumenttitled
AVoiceofInnocence
36
fromNauvoo
thatofferedanevenstrongerdenialofpluralmarriage. ItwaspennedbyWW
PhelpsattherequestofJosephSmith.37Thedocumentwaspresentedtoageneralmeetingof
thechurchatwhichJosephpresidedinMarch1844,onlythreemonthsbeforehewaskilled:

AvastassemblyofSaintsmetattheTempleoftheLordatnineo'clocka.m.,by
aspecialappointmentof
PresidentJosephSmith
,forthepurposeofadvancing
theprogressoftheTemple,&c.ThePatriarch,
HyrumSmith
,waspresentalso
oftheTwelveApostles
BrighamYoung,HeberC.Kimball,ParleyP.Pratt,
OrsonPratt,WillardRichards,WilfordWoodruff,JohnTaylor,andGeorge
A.Smith
alsothetemplecommitteeandabout
eightthousandSaints
.[later
inthemeeting]anarticlewasalsoreadbyW.W.Phelps,entitled,"AVoiceof
innocencefromNauvoo,"andalltheassemblysaid"Amen"twice.38

Themeetingthenadjourneduntilafterlunch.Thefirstspeakerafterreconvening,
perhapsironically,wasBrighamYoung,amanwhoallegedlytookhisfirstpluralwifein1842.
TheundeniableconclusionifoneembracestheideathatJosephpracticedpluralmarriage
wasthattheNauvoochurchleaders,Josephincluded,wereatthistimeengagedingeneral
conspiracytocoveruppolygamy.Suchanideaiswidelyacceptedbymanypeoplefamiliarwith
thistopic.ForthosewhobelieveJosephwasaprophetofGod,itisoddlynotdifficultforthemto
acceptthatheblatantlyliedabouthisparticipationinpluralmarriage.However,thepossibility
thatJosephwastellingthetruthandthatBrighamYoungandothersweresubsequently
untruthfulprovestobedifficulttoaccept.Iseitherpossibilityanymoreorlessoffensive?

TheReliefSocietydocumentpresentedtothechurchbyJosephwassoonpresentedto
theReliefSocietymembersattheirfinalmeetingsbeforea20yearhiatus.Thesemeetings
weresowellattendedthatseveralsessionswereheldtoaccommodateallwhowishedto
attend.39

JosephSmithPapersProject
Phelpswouldlaterclaimtobeintheknowregardingpluralmarriagesincetheearly1830s,aclaimrefuted
byLDSScholarsat
FAIRMormon
38
LDS
HistoryoftheChurch
6:236,p241,emphasisadded
39

JosephSmithPapersProject
36
37


JosephandHyrumweredeadsoonafterthisdocumentwaspublishedandtheRelief
Societywasthendisbanded.JohnTaylorwouldlaterexplainthereasonwhytheReliefSociety
didnotcontinuefromthefirstorganizationwasthatEmmaSmiththePrestaughttheSisters
thattheprincipleofCelestialMarriageastaughtandpracticedbyJosephSmithwasnotof
God.40TaylorfailstomentionthatJosephwastheonewhohadthisdocumentreadatthe
aforementionedpublicmeetingbeforeitwasreadtotheReliefSocietybyEmmaandthatTaylor
himselfwasamongthethrongofpeoplewhodeclared"amen"twiceafteritwasread.Itraises
thequestionofwhetherhisactionsinNauvooweremorecrediblethanhissubsequentactions.
OnceagainwearelefttodeterminewhichofTaylorstestimoniesismoretruthful.

Josephisbelievedwidelytohaveinvolveddozensofpeopleinaschemetohidehis
pluralmarriageefforts.Sincethemajorityoftheevidencesupportingthattheorycomessolong
afterthefactandfromagroupofpeoplewhochangedtheirstories,itisunreasonabletorelyon
theirtestimonies.Joseph,ontheotherhand,andmostofhisassociateswhilehelived,
unequivocallycondemnedpluralmarriage.OnemustdecidewhetherJosephswordswhich
nevervariedonthetopicofpluralmarriagearemorebelievablethanthewordsofpeople
whosestorieschangedovertime.MostoftheevidenceagainstJosephisnotcontemporaryand
wasgivenbypeoplewhocontradictedtheirowntestimonies.

ProofofCollusiontoFrameJosephSmith

Ipreachedinthegroveandpronouncedacurseuponalladulterersandfornicators,and
unvirtuouspersonsandthosewhohavemadeuseofmynametocarryontheir
iniquitousdesigns.
JosephSmith
(SermonattheGroveApr10,1842)

SuchcontemporaryevidenceasthereistyingJosephtothepracticeofpluralmarriage,
thechallengewithsortingitoutisthis:therewereschemesinplacetoframeJosephSmithfor
polygamy.Thehistoricalrecordshowscontemporaryandreliableevidenceofthis.

In1842,FrancisHigbeewrotealettertohisfather,EliasHigbee.Eliaswasastalwart
MormonwhodiedinNauvoo.Hisnameisfoundontheaforementioned1842affidavitdenying
polygamy.Hissons,FrancisandChauncey,appeartohavebeenlessstalwart.Theywere
allegedtohavebeeninvolvedwithJohnBennettandhiseffortstoconvinceunsuspecting
womentoengageinextramaritalsex.Chaunceyinparticularwasaccusedbyseveralwomen
whoclaimedhepropositionedthem.41ThetwobrotherswereattimesreconciledwithJoseph,
whowasoftendisposedtoaccepttherepentantsinner.Duringonesuchperiodof
reconciliation,Franciswrotehisfatheraletterthatwaspublishedinthe
TimesandSeasons
tellingofanexistingschemeagainstJoseph.Hewrotethefollowing:
40
41

NewellandAvery,
MormonEnigma
,p174
Forasummary,see
Chapter12
of
JosephSmithFoughtPolygamy


Ihavebeensolicitedbothbyletter,andinperson,to
comeoutwithsucha
lingoasBennett
,andothershavedoneandattemptedindaysgoneby.My
assistancehasloudlybeencalledforinsuchas[c]hemeoradventureandinone
instancesinceIlefthomeIhavehadwhatsomemightconsider(werethey
disposedtobedishonest)a
greatofferorpropositionmademe
,ifIwould
assistinthemanagement,andbringingintoexistence,anewlymodeledconcern
againstthechurchthatisacorrectedandrevisedstoryfreshfromthemint.But
Godforbid,aslongashegivesmehealth,andstrength,andvigorofmind,I
scorntheidea.42

ItsunclearwhetherFranciswasreferringtoJohnBennettastheonewhoofferedhim
compensationoranotherperson.Regardless,theconclusionisthattherewasanelement
withinthechurchthatwasintentondefamingJosephSmith.Thepossibilityremainsthat
Francis,ironically,mayhaveeventuallydoneexactlywhathisletterclaimshewouldneverdo
byparticipatinginaschemetocomeoutwithsuchalingoasBennettwhenheparticipatedin
the
NauvooExpositor
.43

JosephandHyrumaddressedtheaccusationsoftheseconspiratorsdirectly.Inthecase
ofJohnBennett,JosephinitiallyrespondedsubtlybymerelynotifyingthechurchthatDrBennett
wasnolongeringoodstandingwiththechurch.44Bennett,perhapsrecognizinganopportunity
toturnthetablesonJoseph,proceededtopublishvariousallegationsofmisconduct,portraying
himselfasthemanofvirtueandJosephasthevillain.Josephthenrespondedmore
aggressively,publishingdetailsofBennettsexploitsalongwithanaffidavitsignedbyBennett
denyingJosephevertaughttoholdillicitintercoursewithwomen.

InthisparticularcasethereismorethanjustthewordofJohnCBennettandthewordof
JosephSmith,Jr.Inasubsequentbattleofaffidavitstoprovetheotheraliar,Josephclearly
hadtheupperhand.Hegatheredmorethan20affidavitsandlettersshowinghewasnot
engagedinorteachingspiritualwiferyaswasBennett.45 Josephsubsequentlycalledfora
specialconferenceatwhich380eldersvolunteeredtocanvasthecountrywithatractthat
includedtheaffidavitsdenyingBennettsaccusations.46WhilesomehistorianstieBennetts
actionstohishavingbeentaughtthedoctrineofpluralmarriagebyJoseph,whichBennettthen
twisted,thecontemporaryevidencedoesnotsupportthatconclusion.ItinsteadshowsJoseph
aninnocentmanintentondefendinghimselfagainstfalseaccusations.Howelsetoexplain
JosephsaggressiveresponsestoBennett?

TimesandSeasons
4[Dec15,1842]emphasisadded
DigitalReproduction:
https://archive.org/details/NauvooExpositor1844
44
ForasummaryofJosephsbattleagainstJohnBennettsee
PluralMarriage
byDenverSnuffer,p1421.
45
Theaffidavitscanberead
here
.
46
LDS
HistoryoftheChurch
5:131132
42
43

Josepheventooktheextraordinarystepofswearingoutanaffidavitfordefamation
againstlawyerChaunceyHigbeeandattemptedtosueHigbeeincourtforaccusinghimof
pluralmarriage.47Amansecretlyengaginginpolygamyseemsunlikelytowanttogounderoath
andriskexposure.TheseextraordinarymeasuresmakemoresenseifJosephwastellingthe
truthinhisrepeateddenials.

JosephandhisbrotherHyrumalsoputtheHighCouncilofthechurchatNauvootowork
intryingtoidentifynotonlytheperpetratorsbutalsotheirvictims.Variouspeoplewerecalled
beforetheCounciltofacechargesofimproperconductandtoexplainhowtheycametobelieve
suchconductwaspermissible.Invariably,thestoryemergedthatBennettandotherslikehim
usedJosephsnametolendcredibilitytotheirimmoralpractices.Itsreasonabletowonder
whetherJosephwassecretlybehinditall.Buthisaggressiveattemptstodenyitanddiscipline
thoseinvolvedprovesadifficultburdentoovercomeinalleginghewasinvolved.Onceagain
thecontemporaryevidencesuggestsJosephwasinnocentandthatsomewithinthechurch
wereintentonframinghimtojustifytheirimmorality.48

AftertheBennettordeal,rumorsofsexualimproprietywerearegularconcernforthe
church.ItwasonlyafewyearslaterthatanothercouncilorintheFirstPresidencyaccused
JosephofimproprietywhenWilliamLawandseveralotherspublishedtheoneandonlyedition
ofthe
NauvooExpositor
.

Josephclaimedthisactionwaspartofagreatercontext,oneinwhichagroupofmen
conspiredtoendhislifeandHyrums:

Ihavebeeninformedbytwogentlemanthataconspiracyisgotupinthisplace
forthepurposeoftakingthelifeofPresidentJosephSmithhisfamilyandallthe
SmithfamilytheheadsoftheChurch.49

LawaccusedJosephofpropositioninghiswife. 50Josephagainrespondedbydenying
theallegations.AtthetimeLawpublishedthe
Expositor,
healsoannouncedtheformationof
anotherchurchofwhichhewasthepresident.Josephsdenialandreactionisrecordedin
commentsmadebeforetheNauvooCityCouncilonJune8,1844. 51

Fromtherecord,itseasytosensefrustrationandevenangerfrombothJosephand
Hyrum.TheircommentsareindirectoppositiontotheclaimsmadebyWilliamLaw,etal.What
Asummaryofthislawsuitcanberead
here
.
FordetailsofJosephseffortsusingtheHighCouncilseeDinger,JohnS.
TheNauvooCityandHigh
CouncilMinutes
49

WordsofJosephSmith
,AndrewEhat,p336,Mar1844.AtthistimeJoseph&Hyrumwereconsidered
theheadsofthechurch.
50
Despitethisseriousaccusation,Lawandhiswiferefusedtoappearbeforeagrandjurytoattesttothe
validityoftheirclaims.See
AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.,
p472

51
Dinger,JohnS.
TheNauvooCityandHighCouncilMinutes
.IfthereaderhasaneyeforearlyAmerican
handwriting,theoriginalproceedingsofthatdaycanberead
here
(beginningonp11).
47
48

wearelefttowrestlewithisthis:JosephandHyrumeitherengagedinblatantcharacter
assassination(ifyoubelievethenarrativethattheyliedaboutpracticingpolygamy)orthey
exposedthepurveyorsoftheExpositorasconspiratorsandliarsthemselves.Itisoffputtingto
believeanyonealiarortoaccepttherealityofaconspiracybutunfortunatelythefactsleave
littleroomforotherpossibilities.

ReadingtheminutesfromthatdayshowsusfromJosephandHyrumsperspectives
whatmotivatedWilliamLaw,WilsonLaw,RobertFoster,andtheothers.Theyarealleged,
particularlyWilliamLaw,tohaveabusedpowerformonetarygainandtohaveusedtheir
influencetoenrichthemselvesattheexpenseofthepoor.WhenhinderedbyJosephand
Hyrum,anenragedLawissaidtohavesoughtrevengebyseekingtoremovetheobstaclesto
hisprofiteering(JosephandHyrum).ThereadermustdecidehowfarhethinksJosephand
Hyrumcapableofcarryingtheireffortstohidethetruth.Thetwobrotherseithermalignedand
reviledagroupofinnocentmenwhoweremerelydisgustedattheprospectofpluralmarriage
andtheattemptedcoverup,orJosephandHyrumdidnothingmorethandefendthemselves
againstacalculatedattempttodefamethemandwrestcontrolofthechurchformonetarygain.

Judgingfromthecontemporaryevidence,itisnoeasiertothinkofJosephasa
lieatallcostssecretpolygamist(asLawclaimed)asitistothinkofWilliamLawascovetingan
opportunitytousepowerforgain(asJosephclaimed).IfJosephwastellingthetruthaboutLaw,
whatbetterwayforLawtoplacehimselfattheheadthantoresurrectoldbutstillpotent
accusations?ItisnolessreasonabletobelieveJosephandHyruminnocentvictimsof
conspiracyasitistobelievethemtheconspirators.Areasonableandobjectivepersoncould
drawaconclusiontoeitherside.

Regardless,theproofofeffortsinplacetoframeJosephSmithiscompellingenoughto
doubtthecontemporaryevidenceclaiminghewasapolygamist.Areasonableand
openmindedobservercouldconcludethatsomeofthoseeffortsweresuccessfulenoughto
stainthelegacyofaninnocentman.

RevisionistHistorybytheLDSChurch

Gaveinst[r]uctiontotrythosewhowerepreachingteachingorpracticingthedoctrineof
pluralityofwives.onthisLaw.Josephforbidsit.andthepracticether[e]ofNoman
shallhavebutonewife.

JosephSmith,Journal5Oct1843

Unsavoryschemesfromthe1840scanaccountforsomeofwhatiswidelybelieved
todayregardingpolygamy.However,itwaswhathappenedafterJosephsdeaththatmost
solidifiedthosebeliefs.WhenJosephdied,theHistoryoftheChurchhadonlybeencompiledup
toAug1838.52Intheensuingchaoscausedbyhisdeath,manyofthechurchdocumentsended
52

JosephSmithPapers

upgoingwestwithBrighamYoung.Butlifeintheuntamedwesttookitstollandtheeffortto
compilechurchhistorywastouchandgoforseveralyears.WillardRichardsandThomas
BullockmadeittoFeb1843inthehistorybutRichardsfellillanddiedin1854.GeorgeA.Smith
wasappointedhistorianthatsameyearandtheworkbeganagain.

Bythistime,pluralmarriagewasbecomingentrenchedintoLDSlifestyle.Twoyears
prior,Section132hadbeenpublished.Thehistoriansweretaskedwithcompilingthechurch
history.PartofthatinvolvedbolsteringtheacceptednarrativethatJosephsecretlytaughtand
practicedpolygamy.Insomecases,churchhistoriansappeartohavetakenlibertieswiththe
recordinordertoavoidapparentcontradictions.Towit,considerthefollowingdocumentfrom
theJosephSmithPapersproject(atranscriptionoftherelevanttextappearsbelowtheimages).
53

53

Theimagecanbeseen
here
.

ItappearsonescribecopiedasectionfromJoseph'sjournalrecordedonOct51843but
leftextraspace,curiously,aroundthepartwhereJosephunequivocallyforbidsthepracticeof
pluralmarriage.Intheleftmarginthewords"toberevised"appearinadifferentscribes
handwriting.Thetoberevisedhandwritingappearstomatchthehandwritingoftherevisions
made.TherevisionschangethemeaningofJosephswordscompletely.Thedefinitivewords
"Josephforbidsitandthepracticethereof"arecrossedoutandreplacedwithverbiagesimilarto
what'sfoundinD&C132.Basedonthetimelineofthiscompilation,thepageabovewouldhave
beeneditedsometimebetween18531855afterGeorgeA.Smithtookoverdutiesforthe
deceasedWillardRichards.

Onecouldclaimthattheoriginaljournalentrywassimplyanexampleofthe
contradictorypublicandprivateteachingsofJoseph.However,thisentrywasnotapublic
moment.ThiswasarecordmadeinJosephsprivatejournalbyhisscribeafterthetwowalked
upanddownthestreethavingthisconversation.Theoriginalentryreadsasfollows:

Eveningathomeandwalkedupanddownthestreetwithmyscribe.gave
inst[r]uctiontotrythosewhowerepreachingteachingorpracticingthedoctrinof
pluralityofwives.onthisLaw.Josephforbidsit.andthepracticether[e]ofNo
manshallhavebutonewife.

Theeditedversionwaschangedtosay(modificationsinred):


Eveningathomeandwalkedupanddownthestreetwithmyscribe.gave
inst[r]uctiontotrythosewhowerepreachingteachingorpracticingthedoctrinof
pluralityofwives.
onthislaw
foraccordingtothelawiholdthekeysofthispower
inthelastdays,forthereisneverbutoneonearthatatimeonwhomthepower?
andthekeysareconferredandIhavecontinuallysaid
Josephforbidsit.andthe
practicether[e]of
NomanshallhavebutonewifeatatimeunlesstheLord
directsotherwise.

Theoriginalentryisdefinitivewithnoexceptionsprovidedandmatchesperfectlywith
whatJosephconsistentlytaught:polygamywasnotsomethingtobepracticed.IfJosephwas
secretlypracticingpolygamy,whywouldhecontinuethischaradeinaprivateconversationwith
hisscribe?Whywouldheunequivocallyforbidit?Whywouldhedemandthosepracticingitbe
triedinachurchcourt?

InordertoreconcilethiswiththeprevailingnarrativethatJosephwaslyingrequiresa
persontoascribesignificantduplicitytoamanshownnowtohavedeniedandforbidden
polygamypubliclyandprivately.Conversely,thisdocumentshowsyetanotherexampleofa
willingnessonthepartoftheLDSchurchtomodifyhistoricalrecordstofitapreconceived
narrative.Andonceagain,contemporaryevidenceisfoundtoshowJosephperfectlyconsistent
inhisviewscondemningpluralmarriage.

OnApril1,1845,BrighamYoungrecordedthefollowing:"Icommencedrevisingthe
HistoryofJosephSmithatBrotherRichard'soffice:ElderHeberC.KimballandGeorgeA.
Smithwerewithme."BythistimeJosephhadbeendeadfortenmonths.Onemustwonder
whatrevisionsBrighamYoungwasmakingtoJosephshistory.

TheextenttowhichtheearlyLDSchurchwentinmakingrevisionsisonlynowbeginning
tobeunderstoodasmoreandmorehistoricaldocumentsarereleasedforthefirsttime.
Considerthisperspective:

TheofficialHistoryoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaintswas
publishedinbookformunderthedirectionoftheFirstPresidencyin1902.The
introductoryassurancethatnohistoricalordoctrinalstatementhasbeen
changedisdemonstrablywrong.Overshadowedbyeditorialcensorship,
hundredsofdeletions,additions,andalterations
,thesesevenvolumesare
notalwaysreliable.Thenineteenthcenturypropagandamillwassoadroitthat
fewoutsideBrighamYoungsinnercirclewereawareofthebehindthescenes
alterationssoseamlesslystitchedintochurchhistory.CharlesWesleyWandell,
anassistantchurchhistorian,wasaghastattheseemendations.Commentingon
themanychangesmadeinthehistoricalworkasitwasbeingserializedinthe
DeseretNews,Wandellnotedinhisdiary:Inoticetheinterpolationsbecause
havingbeenemployedintheHistoriansofficeatNauvoobyDoctorRichards,

andemployed,too,in1845,incompilingthisveryautobiography,Iknowthat
afterJosephsdeathhismemoirwasdoctored
tosuittheneworderof
things,andthis,too,bythedirectorderofBrighamYoungtoDoctorRichards
andsystematicallybyRichards.TheQuorumoftheTwelve,underBrigham
Youngsleadership,beganalteringthehistoricalrecordshortlyafterSmiths
death.Contrarytotheintroductionsclaim,SmithdidnotauthortheHistoryofthe
Church.Atthetimeofhis1844death,thenarrativehadbeenwrittenupto5
August1838.'54

ItwouldappearthateveryeffortwasmadebyBrighamYoungandthosewhofollowed
himwesttopreserveanarrative.Thattheydidsoisbeyondquestioning.Itsimpossibleforus
todaytodeciphertheirmotivesfordoingso.Regardless,theoriginalhistorysupportsthenotion
thatJosephSmithwasnotapolygamist.

Section132:QuestionedOrigins

Didyoueverseeanydocumentofthatkind,purportingtobearevelation,toauthorize
polygamy?NoIneverdid.DidJosephSmitheverteachyoutheprinciplesof
polygamy,asbeingrevealedtohim,orasacorrectandrighteousprinciple?Henever
did.
1879InterviewwithEmmaSmith,RLDSHistoryoftheChurch3:352358

OnethingWilliamLaws
NauvooExpositor
diddoeffectivelywasciteanalleged
revelationfromJosephthatjustifiedthepracticeofpolygamy.Thatrevelationistodayknownas
55
Section132ofthe
Doctrine&Covenants.
Thissectioncomprisesanallegedrevelationto
JosephSmiththatinstitutionalizesthepracticeofpluralmarriageasalawfromGod.Itwasnot
releasedpubliclyuntil1852,eightyearsafterJosephsdeathandafterBrighamYoungled
thousandsofMormonsinawestwardexodus.

AtthetimeWilliamLawmadehisaccusationsinthe
Expositor
regardingthisalleged
revelation,JosephandHyrumdidnotdenytheexistenceofarevelationbutflatlydeniedthatit
permittedpluralwives.IntheCityCouncilminutesofJune8,1844JosephandHyrumgiveusa
glimpseintotherevelationaccordingtothem:

[Hyrum]referredtotherevelation[he]readtothe[NauvooStake]Highcouncil
thatitwasinanswertoaquestionconcerningthingswhich
transpiredin
formerdays&hadnoreferencetothepresenttime
thatW[illia]mLaw[,]
whensick[,][confessedand]said^hehadbeenguiltyofadultery&^hewasnot
fittoliveordie,hadsinnedagainsthisownsoul.
RichardS.VanWagoner,
SidneyRigdon:APortraitofReligiousExcess,
SignatureBooks(SaltLake
City,1994),p.322.
55

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dctestament/dc/132
54


[Themayorsaid]...Theymake[it]acriminalityofforamantohaveawifeonthe
earthwhilehehasoneinheavenaccordingtothekeysoftheholypriesthood,
and[themayor]readthestatementofW[illia]mLawintheExpositor,
wherethe
truthofGodwastransformedintoalie
.[He]read[the]statementsofAustin
Cowles&saidhehadneverhadanyprivateconversationwithAustinCowles
onthesesubjects,thathepreachedonthestandfromthebibleshowing
the
orderinancientdays[,]havingnothingtodowiththepresenttime
...

C[ouncillor]H[yrum]SmithspoketoshowthefalsehoodofAustinCowlesin
relationtotherevelationreferredtothat
itreferredtoformerdays[and]not
thepresenttime
asstatedbyCowles.[The]Mayorsaidhehadneverpreached
therevelationinprivateashehadinpublichadnottaughtittothehighest
anointedintheChurch^inprivate^whichmanyconfirmed.[Themayorsaid][,]on
enquiring[ofGodregarding]thepassagein[theBiblethatin]theresurrection
theyneithermarry&c[:]Ireceivedfor[an]answer,Meninthislifemustbe
marriedinviewofEternity,[andthat]wasthe[full]amountofthe[contentofthe]
revelation,otherwise[intheresurrection]theymustremainasangelsonlyin
heaven,and[themayor]spokeatconsiderablelengthinexplanationofthe[se]
principles[.]56

Interestinglyenough,WilliamLaw,whomHyrumreferstoaboveasanadulterer,would
laterstatetherevelationhewasallegedlyshownwasmuchshorterthantheonethatlater
becomeknownasD&C132.57ItraisesthepossibilitythatthecurrentSection132wasmodified
oraddedtoatsomepoint.ThequestionagainbecomeswhetheronebelievesJosephand
Hyrumcapableofsuchdeceitastoblatantlylieaboutthetruecontentsoftherevelation.Intheir
ownwords,therevelationforbadethepracticeofpolygamy,whereastheversionreleasedeight
yearsafterJosephsdeathbyBrighamYoung,saystheopposite.

ItssaidthatWilliamClaytonrecordedtheoriginalrevelationbeforeEmmaallegedly
burnedit,achargeEmmaflatlydenies.58Infact,Emmadiedhavingdeniedmultipletimesthat
Josephwaseverinvolvedinpolygamy.ShealsoclaimedthatSection132wasnotgenuine.In
theTempleLotcase,JosephKingsburyclaimedthathetoomadeacopyoftherevelationin
1843,shortlyaftertherevelationwasreceivedandbeforeEmmaallegedlyburnedtheoriginal.59
Immediatelyuponcompletingthecopy,Kingsburyclaimstohavehandedtheoriginalbackto
NewelKWhitneywhothenreturnedittoananxiouslyawaitingHyrumSmith.Whitneyretained
thecopymadebyKingsbury.ItisthatcopyfromwhichthecurrentSection132supposedly
comes.

TheNauvooCityandHighCouncilMinutes
,JohnS.Dingerp6992Kindleedition(emphasisadded)
Lawsstatementisavailable
here
.
58

JournalofDiscourses
6:281
59
TheLDSChurchrecentlyreleasedimagesoftheKingsburycopy
here
.
56
57

Kingsburyisanimportantfiguretoconsider.HewasWhitneysstoreclerkin1843.
Thirtyoneyearsoldatthetime,hewasawidower,havingmarriedWhitneysdaughterCaroline,
whodiedin1842.KingsburywascalledtotestifyattheTempleLotcase.Upontakingthestand,
herefusedtotaketheordinaryoathtotellthetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruth.
60
Hewouldlaterclarifyregardinghistestimony:

IdonotsweartothatIaffirmtoit.Tomymindthereisadifferencebetween
swearingtoanythingandaffirmingtoit...Igenerallyaffirm,andIsupposeitis
becausemyunderstandingisthatamancannotbeconvictedofperjuryonan
affirmation,andhecanwhenheissworn.61

Healsostatedthatsomestatementshemadewerebasedonpresumptions,sayingI
presumethathedidwhenaskedifJosephtaughtpolygamy.Whenaskeddirectlywhetherhe
wouldswearthatJosephtaughttohavemultiplewives,Kingsburyreiterated,Iamaffirming.
ItisacuriouspositiontotakeinacourtoflawandallowsforlittleconfidenceinKingsburys
testimony.Whetheritwasduetohispoorrecollectionofeventsorhisfearofbeingconvictedof
lyingincourt,histestimonyshouldbeviewedwithprejudice.Byextension,soshouldthe
documentheaffirmedtohaverecorded(Section132).

Evenassuminghisaffirmationwasthetruth,Kingsburywasadamantthatheknew
nothingaboutthepolygamyrevelationotherthanwhatBishopWhitneytoldme.62Inother
words,Kingsburyhadnodirectknowledgethatwhathewasaskedtocopylegitimatelycame
fromJosephSmith.Furthermore,KingsburystatesthathewasnotasecretarytoWhitney,
Joseph,oranyoneelse.Hewasmerelythestoreclerkfillinginforauniquerequestfromhis
boss.Oncetherevelationwascompleted,Kingsburysaysheneversawitagain.Yetnearly50
yearslaterheaffirmedthatitwasthesameaswhatisnowknownasSection132.

Incontrasttothistestimony,letusconsiderthetestimonyofJamesWhitehead,the
personalsecretarytoJosephSmithatthetimeofhisdeath.Whiteheadseemedpuzzledthat
KingsburyandClaytonwouldhaveanythingtodowithcopyingarevelationonpluralmarriage.
RegardingKingsburyhestated:hedidnothaveanythingtodowhateverwiththedutiesof
secretarytotheprophetJosephSmith.RegardingClaytonhesaid:hewastherehelpingwith
thebooks...attendedtheoutsidebusinesswhereasWhiteheadwastheprivatesecretaryofthe
prophethadhisprivatepapersanddidthatkindofwork.Whiteheadfurtherexplainedthat
Claytonhadbeenplayingalargerrolebutlostsomeresponsibilitiesbecausetherewassome
moneydisappearedand[Clayton]wasblamedforit.63Itdoesseemastrangecircumstance
thatthemostsensitiverevelationJosephwouldevergive(assumingSection132isgenuine)

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p333

Ibid
,p339
62

Ibid
,p336
63

Ibid
,p475.A
searchforitems
ontheJosephSmithPaperswebsitewrittenbyWilliamClaytonseemsto
validateWhiteheadsstatement.Thereareseveralpromissorynotes,receipts,andbondsinClaytons
handwritingalongwithoneletterdictatedbyJosephSmith.NorevelationswererecordedbyClayton.
60
61

wouldoriginallyberecordedbyhisfinancialclerk(Clayton),amanwhodidnotrecordasingle
otherrevelation.Theotherpersontomakeacopyofthisverysensitivedocumentwouldbean
obscurestoreclerk(Kingsbury).IfWhiteheadstestimonyisaccurate,itsdifficulttofathomwhy
JosephwouldtrustthissensitivedocumenttoClaytonandespeciallyKingsbury.

ItslikewisecuriousthatKingsburywouldagainbethesolescribetorecordanalleged
1842revelationtoNewelKWhitney.64 Thisrevelationdetailedtheceremonytobeusedinorder
tomarryJosephtoWhitneysdaughter.TherevelationexplicitlystatesIgiveyouS[arah]A[nn]
WhitneymyDaughtertoJosephSmithtobehiswife.Therearetwocopiesofitinwhatappear
tobeidenticalhandwriting.Noexplanationisgivenastowhytherearetwocopies.Accordingto
thechurchregistry,bothareinthehandwritingofJosephKingsbury.Itisworthnotingthatthis
revelationwasnotpublisheduntil1979.65Thefirstrecordedreferencemadetoitdoesnot
appearuntil1885,morethan40yearsafteritwasallegedlyrecorded. 66Thesolelivingwitness
totheveracityofthisdocumentatthetimeitisfirstmadereferencetoisJosephKingsburyand
itcameatatimewhentheLDSchurchwasanxiouslyattemptingtoprovethevalidityofplural
marriageasafundamentaltenetoftheMormonfaith.

Kingsburyisfoundattheheartoftheonlytworecordedrevelationsthatendorseplural
marriageanoddachievementforhimconsideringthesensitivityofsuchatopicandthathe
wasnotpartofJosephsinnercircle.Hisfearofperjuringhimselfprovidesuswithreasonto
suspecthistruthfulness.Assuch,hiscentralrolewithSection132andthealleged1842
revelationbringswithitquestionsofitsvalidity.

Ifgenuine,the1842revelationtoNewelWhitneywouldraiseseriousquestionsabout
thevalidityofthecurrentLDSmarriageceremonywhichwaspublishedbyOrsonPrattin
The
67
Seer
,aLDSchurchpublicationfrom1853. ThePrattdocumentdescribesaceremonythatis
completelydifferentinwordingandprocedurethanthealleged1842revelation.Itbegsthe
question:whywouldGodrevealamarriageordinancein1842thatHewouldreplaceentirelyby
1853?AcceptingthisdocumentasproofthatJosephwasapolygamistrequiresabelieving
Mormontoacceptthatthedivinelyinstitutedmarriageceremonychangeddrasticallyonce
Josephdieddespitehisteachingthatordinancesshouldneverbechanged.68Another
reasonableconclusionwouldbethatthealleged1842revelationisnotcontemporaryor
genuine.Thepossibilitythatthisdocumentwasrecordedlongafterthefactasareminiscence
ormanufacturedinordertopreserveanarrativeoughttobeconsidered.

ReturningtoSection132,thesolelivingwitnessestotheseeventsaftertheyear1850
wereWilliamClaytonandJosephKingsbury.AtthetimeoftheTempleLottrial,Claytonwas
TheoriginalwasrecentlypublishedbytheLDSchurch
here
.Atranscriptioncanberead
here
.
Collier,
UnpublishedRevelationsoftheProphets&PresidentsoftheChurch,
p95
66

https://archive.org/stream/contributor0604eng#page/130/mode/2up
67

https://archive.org/stream/OrsonPratt/TheSeer#page/n29/mode/2up
,p31
68
JosephSmithstated:Ordinancesinstitutedintheheavensbeforethefoundationoftheworld,inthe
priesthood,forthesalvationofmen,arenottobealteredorchanged.
TPJS,
p308.
64
65

longdeadandtherewasnootherfirsthandwitnesslivingwhocoulddenyorsubstantiatethe
eventssurroundingthosetwodocuments.Andyet,inacourtoflaw,Kingsburywasunwillingto
domorethanaffirmandpresumeforfearofcommittingperjury.

Asstatedearlier,Josephadmitstherewasarevelationonmarriage.Thecontentsofthe
revelationaredisputed,nottherealityofit.Whiteheadoffersfurthercommentaryonwhathe
saystherevelationwasoriginallyabout:

NewelKWhitney...showedmearevelationonthequestionof
sealing
.The
revelationthatWhitneyshowedmewasonthematterofsealing,thatwasbefore
[theexodus]toSaltLakeCity[but]afterthedeathofJosephSmith.Iwentupto
WinterQuarterstosettlemyaccountwiththechurch...whileIwasthereIstayed
allnightwithBishopWhitneyandheshowedmethisrevelationthatwasinthe
springof1848.[Therevelation]purportedtohavebeengivenin1842or1843...I
haveneverseenitsincethattime...Ineversawitinprint.Isawwhatthey
claimedwasit...

ButtheonepublishedinthebookofDoctrine&CovenantsbytheUtahchurch
wasnottheonethatBishopWhitneyshowedme
atWinterQuarters...Itwas
entirelychanged.Itwasso
changedthatitsanctionedpolygamy
,andthat
changewasmadebytheBrighamites.FortherewasnosuchthinginitwhenI
readit...aspublishedbythemitsanctionsandimposespolygamyonthechurch
buttherewasnosuchthingintherevelationthatWhitneyshowedme...

ItwasentirelychangedbutthereweresomepointsofsimilarityinitWhenI
read[Section132]IconsideredthattheyhadgottenthatrevelationfromBishop
Whitneyandhadchangeditandhadaddedtoit...[Theoriginalrevelation]lefta
verystrongimpressiononmymindforthatwasthefirsttimeIhadseenthat
revelationon
sealing
.69

WhiteheadmakesanastonishingclaimregardingtheoriginsofSection132.Ifhisstory
istrue,therewasarevelationfromJosephSmithinNewelWhitneyspossessionbutthat
revelationdifferedmarkedlyfromtheonethatwaseventuallypublishedbytheLDSchurch.70
WhiteheadsdescriptionoftherevelationWhitneyshowedhimbearssomeresemblancetowhat
JosephandHyrumclaimedregardingtherevelationbeforetheNauvooCityCouncil.Whitehead
rememberstherevelationtobeaboutsealingandmarryingonemanandonewifefortime
andalleternity.Joseph,asshownabove,saystherevelationshowedthatmeninthislifemust
bemarriedinviewofeternityandthatpolygamywasforbidden.Iftrue,itsuggestsWhitneymay
nothaveknownaboutpluralmarriageduringJosephslifeandwasthereforetruthfulwhenhe
signedanaffidavitin1842claimingthatpolygamywasnotbeingpracticed.

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p475477,emphasisadded
OneintriguinganalysisofwritingstyledeterminedBrighamYoungtobethemostlikelyauthorofSection
132ratherthanJosephSmith.See
ABibliographyOnJosephSmith,
EnidDebarthe.
69
70


IntheTempleLotcase,Woodrufftestifiedthuslyregardingthepurportedrevelation:

Idonotknow

wheretheoriginaloftherevelationcalledthepolygamous
revelationis.IdonotknowthatIeversawit.IdonotbelieveIeverdidseeit.

Ineversawacopyofitortheoriginal
duringthelifetimeofJosephSmith.Ido
notthinkIsawtheonethatcameheretoUtahandpurportedtobeacopyofthe
original.

Idonotknowwhetherthechurch
ofwhichIamthePresident
hasthe
purportedcopyornot
.Thechurchpapersareinthepossessionofvarious
partiesthehistorianofthechurchhasthemmoreorless.Theoriginal
manuscriptsorcopiesoftheoriginalmanuscriptsareinvariousplaces.

Idontholdtheoriginalsoftherevelationsthatwerepromulgatedthrough
BrighamYoungnorJohnTaylor.BrighamYoungandJohnTaylorwerethemain
presidentsofthechurch.
Youmaysaytheonlyones
sincethedeathofJoseph
71
Smith.

Woodruffthengoesontosayitwasprobablethathewaspresentatthe1852General
Conferencewheretherevelationwasreadtothechurchbuthedoesnotrecollectthatfact.In
thisparticularlawsuit,theUtahbasedLDSchurchwasseekingtoprovethatJosephwas
indeedapolygamist.TheexistenceofarevelationfromJoseph,evenacopyoftheoriginal,
wouldundoubtedlyhavehelpedtheircase.Butoddly,PresidentWoodruffdoesnotknowwhere
therevelationisorevenifitstillexists.Norcanherememberbeingpresentwhenitwas
presentedtothechurchinageneralconference.Inanothersurprisingmove,hediscountsthe
importanceofhispositioninthechurchcomparedtohispredecessors.BrighamYounghad
similarlydeclaredhimselflessthanhispredecessor.72

ThecurrentLDSnarrativethatinsistschurchleadersarentcapableofleadingthe
churchastrayyieldsaMormonpopulacepronetodiscountingJoseph.73Theyoftenlookathis
supposedpluralmarriageattemptsastheeffortsofadedicated,albeitignorant,mandoinghis

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p308,emphasisadded
AfterputtingforththemotionforhimselftobesustainedasProphet,Seer,andRevelator,BrighamYoung
remarked:IwillsaythatIneverdictatedthelatterpartofthatsentence.Iwillmaketheremark,because
thosewordsinthatconnectionalwaysmadefeelasthoughIamcalledmorethanIamdeservingof.Iam
BrighamYoung,anApostleofJosephSmith,andalsoofJesusChrist.IfIhavebeenprofitabletothese
people,Iamgladofit.Thebrethrencallmesoandifitbeso,Iamglad.(
TheCompleteDiscoursesof
BrighamYoung
,Vol.3,p.1347.)
73
InOct2014ElderM.RussellBallardrepeatedthisclaimtothechurch:Wewillnotandcannotleadyou
astray.
71
72

besttofulfillamandatethathedidnotunderstandhowtofulfill.74Orsothereasoninggoes.It
continuesthatBrighamYoung,freefromtheconstraintsofUSlaw,institutedthepractice
properlyinUtahbymarrying56women.Hefathered57childrenfrom16ofthosewives.75
ConfirmationbiasmaybetoblameforagroupthatbelievesJosephSmiththemanvouched
forinLDSscripture(seeD&C43:17)andwhoprovidedasteadystreamofnewscriptureand
propheticfruitsistheonewhomisunderstoodandmisappliedthedoctrineofsealings.
MeanwhilethemanwhofollowedafterJoseph(BrighamYoung)whodeniedhavingdirect
divineinteractionandwasuncomfortablebeingcalledaprophet,seer,andrevelatoristhe
onewhounderstoodandapplieditcorrectly.76Inthatcontrastitbecomeseasiertoconsiderthat
JosephSmithwaspossiblynotpracticingpluralmarriagebutinsteadinstitutedsomethinghe
neverfullyexplained(sealings)thatwaslatermoldedintothepracticeofpluralmarriageseenin
theearlyLDSchurch.

Section132asitappearstodaypresentsadifficultcontradictiontotheBookofMormon,
translatedbyJosephSmith,whichinparticularcomesdownveryhardonpolygamy.Itshows
thatwhileNephiwasalive,thepeoplewerelivingafterthemannerofhappinessbutunderthe
reignofthesecondking,[they]begantogrowhardintheirhearts,andindulgethemselves
somewhatinwickedpractices,suchaslikeuntoDavidofolddesiringmanywivesand
concubines,andalsoSolomon,hisson.

Thatsaninterestingpattern,oneperhapsweseeagaininthelivesoftheearly
Mormons.ItispossiblethatNephi,likeJosephSmith,practicedsomethingthepeoplegenerally
didntknowaboutorunderstand(sealings)thatwassubsequentlyalteredintoanabomination
intheformofpluralmarriageafterhisdeath.IfSection132isnotgenuine,itwouldreconcile
whyJacob1:15saysitwasawickedpracticeforDavidandSolomontohavehadmultiple
wiveswhereasSection132:39saystheonlyerrorcommittedbyDavidwasinthecaseofUriah
andhiswife.TheoftcitedexceptioninJacob2:30perhapsisntanexceptionafterall.77

PluralMarriageinKirtlandandNauvoo.

InthisessaypublishedbytheLDSChurch,theunnamed
author(s)purportAlthoughtheLordcommandedtheadoptionandlaterthecessationofpluralmarriage
inthelatterdays,Hedidnotgiveexactinstructionsonhowtoobeythecommandment.
75

StateofUtahHistoricalBioofBrighamYoung
76
Brighamsaidofhimself:Ihaveflatteredmyself...whenIhavelivedtobeasoldaswasMoseswhenthe
Lordappearedtohim,thatperhapsIthenmayholdcommunionwiththeLord,asdidMoses.Iamnotnowin
thatposition...HaveIyetlivedtothestateofperfectionthatIcancommuneinpersonwiththeFatherand
theSonatmywillandpleasure?No.(
JournalofDiscourses
v.7,no.37,p.243,1859).Brighamwould
latersay:Perhaps,whenIameightyyearsofage,ImaybeabletotalkwithsomeBeingofahighersphere
thanthis.MosessawthegloryofGodatthatage,andheldconversewithbetterbeingsthanhehad
formerlyconversedwith.IhopeandtrustthatbythetimeIamthatageIshallalsobecountedworthyto
enjoythesameprivilege."(
JournalofDiscourses
v.10no.4,p.23,1862).ForBrighamsreluctanceat
beingcalledaprophet,seer,andrevelator,see
TheCompleteDiscoursesofBrighamYoung
,Vol.3,p.
1347.
77
AnanalysisofJacob2canberead
here
whereamorecongruousinterpretationofverse30isoffered.
74

ThefactremainsthatJosephneverpracticedwhatBrighamYoungdid.Therealsolacks
arighteousscripturalexamplethatfitswhatBrighampracticed.78Thereare,however,wicked
scripturalexamplesthatfitthetypeofpolygamypracticedbyBrighamYoung.79Itwouldbeeasy
toconcludefromtheexistingevidencethatYoung,Taylor,Woodruffandotherswereguiltyof
knowinglyascribingfalsebehaviortoJosephSmithafterhisdeath.Suchaprospectisdifficultto
acceptformostbelievingLDSMormons.However,regardlessofwhatthereaderdecidesabout
thistopic,shewillhavetoacceptthateitherJosephSmithortheleaderswhocameafterhim
wenttogreatlengthstoestablishalieastruth.

TheMeaningofWords:SealingvsMarriage

"Ihavebeenchained.Ihaverattledchainsbeforeinadungeonforthetruth'ssake.Iam
innocentofallthesecharges,andyoucanbearwitnessofmyinnocence,foryouknow
meyourselves."
JosephSmith(WordsofJosephSmith
,p376,May1844
)

Suchasthereis,thecontemporaryproofthatJosephwasapolygamistismuchthinner
thanisoftenpresented.Thecontemporaryproofthatexistscouldbediscountedheavilybythe
possibilitythatJosephwasdoingsomethingnotwellknownorunderstood(sealings)andthere
wasapparentlyanactiveelementwithinthechurchdoingsomethingelse(spiritual
wifery/polygamy)andclaimingtodosowithJosephsapproval.Themixofconfusionabout
whatJosephwasreallydoingandschemestoframehimforsomethinghewasntdoingcould
possiblyproveatoxicwastetoJosephstruelegacy. 80

LorenzoSnow,testifyingintheTempleLotcase,stated:

[In1843]IhadaprivateinterviewwithJosephSmith.Inthatprivateinterviewwas
thetimewhenhetoldmehehadtakenmysister[ElizaRSnow]asawife.Hedid
notsayshewastakenasawife
andmarriedtohim,hesaidshewassealedto
him,
sealedtohimforeternity
.Iwasnotacquaintedwiththepracticeofsealing
atthattime.Ihadneverheardofitbefore.Ineversawtheceremonyofsealing
performedinthedaysofJosephSmith.
Ineverknewanythingaboutthe

78

TheclosestexampleswouldbeAbrahamstwowivesandJacobs4wives,comparedtoBrighams56
wives.ItsalsonotablethatAbrahamenteredpolygamyatthebehestofhiswiferatherthanbyGods
command(Gen16:2)andlaterendedhispolygamousmarriage,thistime,atSarahandGodsbehest(Gen
21:913).JacobwastrickedintomarryingLeahratherthanRachel(Gen29:25)andthenconvincedbyhis
fatherinlawtoalsomarryRachelaweeklater(Gen29:2628).Jacoblater,likehisgrandfather,expanded
thepracticeatthebehestofhiswives(Gen30:3,9),notbyGodscommand.NowheredoAbrahamorJacob
claimitwasGodscommandmenttotakeotherwives.Theirstoriesbearlittleresemblancetothebrandof
polygamypracticedbyBrighamYoung.
79

Jacob1:15

Mosiah11:14

Ether10:5
80
ForapossibleexplanationofthenatureofsealingsinNauvoo,see
PluralMarriage
byDenverSnuffer.

practiceofsealingduringthedaysofJosephSmith
.Hedidn'ttellme
anythingaboutitatthetimeIhadthisconversationwithhim.81

Snowappearstoconflatetheideaofsealingwithmarriageinitiallybutthenadmitsthe
ceremonywasnotactuallyamarriage.Healsoadmitsheneverknewoforsawanything
relatingtosealingwhileJosephlived.PerhapshispoorunderstandingofwhatJosephwas
reallydoingwassharedbyotherswholaterturnedthepracticeofsealingintopolygamy.
ConsideringSnowwaspartoftheLDSpolygamists,thedistinctionhedrawsissignificant.

AnotherexampleisfoundinthewordsofSamuelW.RichardsduringtheTempleLot
case.Richards,thenephewofapostleWillardRichards,wasaskedwhatheknewaboutthe
systemofpluralmarriageinNauvoo.HestatedIdidnothearanythingorseeanythingdirect
fromJosephSmithhimselfwhileIwasthereinNauvoobutotherswhowerehisclerksand
secretariesandsuchlikeIhadcommunicationfromthemwhileIwaslivingthereonthat
subject".HethenspecificallynamedhisuncleWillard,whowasoneofJosephssecretaries,as
havingbeentheonewhotaughthimaboutpluralmarriage.Hefurtherclarified:

IheardJosephSmithteachtheQuorumofTwelve(perhapsnotafullquorum)
theprinciplesof
sealing
.Ineverheardhimteachitpublicly,nortoany
considerablenumberofpeople.Hecalledittheorderofcelestialmarriage,
sealingamantohiswifeforeternity.I
neverheard
theprincipleofsealingtaught
that
amancouldbesealedtoanotherman'swife
foreternityIneverheard
himteachthatanotherman'swifecouldbesealedtohimforeternity.I
never
heardhimteach
eitherpubliclyorprivately
thatamancouldlivewithtwo
womeninthislifeashiswives
atthesametimeneverheardhimteachthat.82

SamuelRichardsgivesusanotherwitnessthatwhatJosephwasteachingrelatedto
sealingandwasnevertaughtbyhiminthecontextofpluralwives.83Wealsolearnthatothers,
suchasWillardRichards,wereprivatelyexpandingJosephsteachingsintopluralmarriage.
LikeSnow,SamuelRichardswasapolygamistintheLDSchurchsothedistinctionhemakesis
significant.

SamuelRichardsaccountismatchedbyJamesWhitehead,Josephsprivatesecretary
atthetimeofhismartyrdom.

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p317,emphasisadded
Hales,
http://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/11/JSP_Book_39b.pdf
p43
83
C
oincidentally,LDSpolygamyscholarBrianHalesreliesonasimilarstatementbySamuelRichardstoprovethe
81
82

exactoppositethatJosephdidteachpolygamyinprivate.HalesquotesRichardsassaying:Iheardhim[Joseph
Smith]teachit[pluralmarriage]privatelytoquiteanumberatdifferenttimes.Halesinsertsthewordsplural
marriageintothequotewhereasRichardsisclearintheabovetestimonythatheonlyheardJosephteachabout
sealingsandthatheneverheardJosephspeakaboutpluralmarriage.Thisisntnecessarilyasignofintentionally
dishonestscholarshiponthepartofHalesbutitdoesatleastshowascholarlyprejudicetowardaparticularnarrative
thatonlyservestocloudthisissuefurther.

Iheardabouttheorderofthechurchonthequestionof
sealing
...intheearly
partoftheyear1843...orthelatterpartof1842.Thatwastheordinanceof
sealingastheycalledit,ofhusbandandwife.Theywouldbemarriedaccording
totheordinancesofthelawsofGod,notonlyfortimebutforeternityaswell.
Thatappliedonlytohusbandandwife,andamancouldnothavebut
onewife
,
theywere
notallowedtohavemorethanonewife
,butcouldhaveonewife
andcouldbesealedtoherforthislife,aswellasforthelifetocome.84

Josephseffortstoteachtheideaofsealingappearstohavebeencloudedbyothers
whosimultaneouslysoughttoestablishpluralmarriageasanextensionofsealings.The
distinctionshownbythewordsofLorenzoSnow,SamuelRichards,andJamesWhiteheadare
congruentwithwhatJosephspokebeforetheNauvooCityCouncilonlyweeksbeforehisdeath,
sayingthatpolygamywasnottobepracticedandthatmeninthislifemustbemarriedinview
ofeternity.

IfpolygamywasadivergencefromwhatJosephreallytaughtandpracticed,itwouldnt
betheonlyinstance.Anotherclearexampleofdivergencewassamesexsealing.Soonafter
Josephsdeath,BrighamYoungexpandedthesealingpracticetoincludesealinglivingmento
otherlivingmen. 85ThereisnoevidenceofthispracticewhileJosephwasalive.86 However,it
quicklybecameacommonpracticeafterJosephsdeathbeforebeingabandonedaltogetherby
theLDSchurchin1894.87 GivenBrighamswillingnesstoexpandthesealingdoctrinesoquickly
andsodramaticallyitraisesthequestionofwhetherpluralmarriageitselfwasaninnovation.
ThispatternofdivergencethatbeganatthedeathofJosephpresentssignificantproblemsfor
thecommonlyacceptedpolygamynarrative.

AnothersuspicioustrendistherapidincreaseinpluralmarriagesafterJosephdiedin
June1844.Inthesixmonthsof1844followingJosephsdeath,BrighamYoungincreasedhis
pluralwivesfrom4to14.HeberCKimballincreasedfrom1to10.Inthechurchatlarge,there
were56newpluralmarriagesin1845.Andin1846,therewereanastonishing255.88

OnemustwonderwhyBrighamYoungwouldsodramaticallyandsoquicklyincreasethe
paceofhisownandotherspolygamousunionscomparedtowhatwasallegedlydoneduring
Josephslifetime.InasettingwhereJosephwasindeedamonogamistwhodisciplined
polygamistsandasmallgroupofmenwassurreptitiouslypracticingunsanctionedplural
marriageuntilitcouldbedonemoreopenly,thesefactsmakemoresense.

ThedisparitybetweenwhatJosephpracticedandthedivergentbehaviorthatfollowed
afterhimraisesthepossibilitythatJosephwasdoingsomethingotherthanpluralmarriage.It

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p475,emphasisadded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_adoption_(Mormonism)
86

TheLawofAdoption:OnePhaseoftheDevelopmentoftheMormonConceptofSalvation,
p8
87

Id,.
p311
88

NauvooRootsofMormonPolygamy,184146:APreliminaryDemographicReport
,
p32
84
85

raisesthepossibilitythateventhewomenwhoparticipatedinthesesealingsdidntfully
understandwhatwasoccurringandlaterbecameconvincedtheyweremarriedtoJoseph
ratherthansealedtohim.Thesesealings,whethermarriagesornot,werelaterusedtojustify
Brighamspracticeofpluralmarriage.

OncesettledinUtah,BrighamYoungledanisolatedcommunity,controlledbya
hierarchyuponwhichLDSmembersweredependentforfood,titletorealproperty,accessto
water,lumberandlivestock,andwhichorganizedtheonlygovernmentcontrollingthe
communityfornearlyadecade.89 BrighamsMormonReformationofthe1850simplied
potentialbloodatonementforapostasy.90Inhiszealtopreachashefeltcalledtodo,open
dissentbecameunthinkable.Itshouldnotbesurprisingthatsuchanenvironmentcouldproduce
apeopleunableorunwillingtoquestiontheinnovationofpluralmarriagedespiteJosephs
consistenteffortstoridthechurchofitduringhislifetime.

Thedifficultyinunravelingthetopicofpluralmarriageisthatsomanywitnessesrequire
ustodecidewhentheywerespeakingtruthfullyandwhentheywerenot.Orinothercases,
whentheyknewwhattheyweretalkingaboutandwhentheydidnot.Theyuniformlytellthe
storydifferently,inversionsthataremutuallyexclusivefromoneanother.Incontrasttothat
conundrum,wehavethestatementsofJosephSmith,EmmaSmith,andHyrumSmithwhoare
onrecordinmultipleinstancesdenyingpluralmarriage.Theyneverchangedtheirstories.
Wordsmatteragreatdeal.Basedonexistingevidence,areasonableobservercoulddetermine
thatthepracticeofsealingmorphedintopolygamydespiteJosephseffortstopreventit.

WilliamClaytonsJournal:ContemporaryorNot?

DotheMormonsbelieveinhavingmorewivesthanone?No,notatthesametime.But
theybelieve,thatiftheircompaniondies,theyhavearighttomarryagain.
JosephSmith,
TheElders'Journal1[November1837]:28

AnyconversationaboutcontemporaryevidencethatJosephSmithwasapolygamist
wouldbeincompletewithoutaddressingWilliamClaytonsjournals.WilliamClaytonservedas
oneofJosephsscribesintheNauvooera.Claytonsjournalsareoftenpointedtoasa
contemporarysourceaffirmingthepracticeofpluralmarriage.Unfortunatelyhisjournalsdont
alwayspaintaconsistentpicture.Thetranscriptsofhisjournalthatarepublishedaregenerally
amixtureofcontemporaryentriesandaffidavitsfromthe1870s.91Asanexample,thereader
canseethedisparitybetweenthesetwoentriesthatareoftenpresentedtogether:

9March1843,ThursdayNauvoo1Thursday9.

TheConsolidationofChurchandState:BrighamYoungsTelestialKingdom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_atonement
91
PortionsofClaytonsjournalsandaffidavitscanberead
here
.
89
90

Atprest.Josephsoffice.WalkedoutintheP.M.hetoldmeitwaslawfulformeto
sendforSarah&saidhewouldfurnishmemoney.

Affidavit[from1874],p.225
DuringthisperiodtheProphetJosephfrequently
visitedmyhouseinmycompany,andbecamewellacquaintedwithmywife
Ruth,towhomIhadbeenmarriedfiveyears.OndayinthemonthofFebruary,
1843,datenotremembered,22theProphetinvitedmetowalkwithhim.During
ourwalk,hesaidhehadlearnedthattherewasasisterbackinEngland,to
whomIwasverymuchattached.Irepliedtherewas,butnothingfurtherthanan
attachmentsuchasabrotherandsisterintheChurchmightrightfullyentertain
foreachother.Hethensaid,Whydon'tyousendforher?''Ireplied,Inthefirst
place,Ihavenoauthoritytosendforher,andifIhad,Ihavenotthemeansto
payexpenses.''Tothisheanswered,Igiveyouauthoritytosendforher,andI
willfurnishyouwithmeans,''whichhedid.ThiswasthefirsttimetheProphet
Josephtalkedwithmeonthesubjectofpluralmarriage.Heinformedmethatthe
doctrineandprinciplewasrightinthesightofourHeavenlyFather,andthatit
wasadoctrinewhichpertainedtocelestialorderandglory.Aftergivingme
lengthyinstructionsandinformationconcerningthedoctrineofcelestialorplural
marriage,heconcludedhisremarksbythewords,Itisyourprivilegetohaveall
thewivesyouwant.''23Afterthisintroduction,ourconversationsonthesubject
ofpluralmarriagewereveryfrequent,andheappearedtotakeparticularpainsto
informandinstructmeinrespecttotheprinciple.Healsoinformedmethathe
hadotherwiveslivingbesideshisfirstwifeEmma,andinparticulargavemeto
understandthatElizaR.Snow,LouisaBeman,DesdemonaW.Fullmerand
otherswerehislawfulwivesinthesightofHeaven.

Thefirstandmuchshorteraccount,fromthejournal,isacontemporaryaccount.It
doesntmatchfullywiththesecondsource,anaffidavitafull31yearsafterthefact.The
contemporarysourcefailstomentionthecontextofJosephsayingClaytoncouldsendfor
Sarah.Claytonwasalreadymarriedatthispoint.ItsunclearwhathetoldJosephtowhich
Josephallegedlysaysitslawfultosendforher.Inthecontemporarysourcethereisnothing
aboutpluralmarriagementioned.Anynumberofpossibilitiescouldexist.ItispossibleClayton
saidhewantedtohelpSarahunitewiththeSaintsbuttherewasperhapsaparentorfiancewho
objected.

Settingthisparticularentryaside,thefactis,Claytonsjournalsareadifficultpuzzleto
puttogether.Forone,theoriginaljournalsareinpossessionoftheLDSchurchandare
unavailableforinspection.Onlyafewscholarshaveeverbeengrantedaccesstothem.From
theirnotetakingwehavewhathastodaybeenpublishedwhichamountstolessthan25%of
WilliamClaytonsjournalentries.92Mostoftheentriesthatareavailableareincompleteand

92

Dialogue,
EditingWilliamClayton,
JamesB.Allen,p132

lackingsurroundingentrieswithcontext.Putsimply:wedontreallyknowwhatClaytonrecorded
becausetheserecordsarenotmadeavailable.

TherearealsonotableinconsistenciesinClaytonsrecordkeeping.Whatiscommonly
referredtoasJournal2coversthemostimportantperiodwithregardtopluralmarriage(27
November1842to30January1846).Journal2isactuallythreeseparatenotebooks.Thefirst
notebookgoesuntilApril27,1843,whichiscoincidentallythefirstdatethatClaytonmakesan
entrythatmayreferencepluralmarriage.Therecordthenswitchestoasecondnotebook
whereinthereareseveralexplicitentriesaboutpluralmarriage.ThiscontinuesuntilSep24,
1844(threemonthsafterJosephsmurder)atwhichpointClaytonswitchesbacktothefirst
notebook.93

LDSscholarJamesB.Allenobservestheoddandinconsistentorganizationofthe
journalsasfollows:

Thejournalsareabitdifficulttofollow,fortheentriesarenotalwaysstrictly
chronological.ApparentlyClaytonbeganwritinginonejournal,movedtoanother
forsomereason,andthenmovedbacktotheoriginal.Asaresult,theresearcher
mustmovebackandforthbetweenvolumes.Sometimestherearetwoentriesfor
thesameday.Itisnotclearwhy.94

Thesedetailsmayseemunimportant,butconsiderthatthelastentryofthefirst
notebookbeforetheaforementionedgapreadsasfollows:

"27April1843,Thursday.AttheTempleA.M.wenttoprests.whorodewithme
tobro.H.C,KimballswheresisterMargt.Moonwassealedupbythepriesthood,
bythepresidentandMtome....eveningtoldMotherinlawconcerningthe
priesthood."95

MostscholarsallegethatthisentryindicatesJosephSmithperformedapluralmarriage
betweenWilliamClaytonandMargaretMoononthisdate.However,Josephsnameisnever
used.PresidentcouldrefertoanotherchurchleadersuchasBrighamYoungwhowas
presidentoftheTwelve.YoungwasinNauvooatthistime.96 Oddly,thisisthefinalentryinthis
notebookwhileJosephSmithwasaliveandtheonlyentrythatseemstoindicateplural
marriage,albeitnotexplicitly.WemustassumeMtomemeansmarriedtomeandweare
lefttowonderwhatClaytonwroteintheellipsesindicatingomittedtext.

Claytonbeginsnotebook2withaduplicateentryforthesameday:

WilliamClayton,AnIntimateChronicle:TheDiariesofWilliamClayton,
GeorgeSmith,plv,note124.

WilliamClaytonandtheRecordsofChurchHistory,
Allen
95

BookofAbrahamProject,
WilliamClaytonDiaries
96

HistoryofBrighamYoung
,p183
93
94

AttheTempleA.M.at10atbroKimballswasMtoM.M....eveningtoldMother
inlawaboutthepriesthood97

Aswiththepreviousentry,werelefttosortouttheabbreviationsandwonderwhat
informationwasomittedusingtheellipses.Fromthispointforward,usingnotebook2,Clayton
makesseveralentriesthatexplicitlytiehimselfandJosephSmithtopolygamousactivities.On
May2,1843Claytonwouldrecord:TalkedwithJaneCharnock.Shelovesmeandwould
soonerunitetomethanR.Itsworthconsideringwhythemostcrucialentriesthatimplicate
Josepharepartofaseparaterecordthatlaterrevertsbacktotheoriginalrecord.Itispossible
thatportionofClaytonsoriginaljournalwasremovedandsubsequentlyrewritteninanother
notebook.Iftrue,notebook2couldnolongerbeconsideredacontemporarysource.The
possibilityofsuchdeceithingesonthecredibilityofWilliamClayton.

InthissamenotebookClaytonwouldpaintJosephandEmmaassufferingnearconstant
turmoilduetoEmmasseverejealousy.ClaytonsuggestsatonepointthatEmmawastoblame
forJosephsurrenderingtotheauthoritiesatCarthage.AfterJosephsdeath,Claytonsrecord
portraysEmmaasunstableandconcernedonlywithherfinancialwellbeing.OnAug15,1844
herecords:[Emma]ragedveryhardandusedmanyseverethreats.TwodayslaterClayton
recordsthatEmmaimplicatedhimashavingstolenfromher.98

ClaytonsaccountseemstoechoBrighamYoungsviewofEmma.AtonepointYoung
calledEmmaoneofthedamnedestliarsIknowofonthisearthandthenproceededtotella
storyofEmmatryingtokillJosephbypoisoninghiscoffee.Hethenstatedtwicesheundertook
tokill[Joseph].99Comparetheseunpleasantsceneswithstatementssuchasthese:

I[Joseph]tookdinnerinthenorthroom,andwasremarkingtoBrother[W.W.]
Phelpswhata
kind,providentwifeIhad
,thatwhenIwantedalittlebreadand
milk,shewouldloadthetablewithsomanygoodthings,itwoulddestroymy
appetite.JosephSmith100

Joseph'swifeisnotverywell,thereportyouheardaboutherbeingturnedoutof
doorsisfalsethere
nevercouldamanuseawifebetterthanhehasher
!I
presumeyouhearagreatdealthatisnottruebutwhatIhavewrittenyouis
correct.AlmiraCovey,firstcousintoJosephSmith,July1844101

AstothereportofGen.[Joseph]Smith'sspiritualwivesifIunderstandthe
nameofspiritualwifeitisallfalse.IhavebeenlodgingatSmith'shousesome
timeandiftherewasanythingofthekindImusthaveseensomethingofitgoing

BookofAbrahamProject,
WilliamClaytonDiaries
.

Ibid
99

UtahHistoricalQuarterly
,vol.48,Winter1980,82
100

LDSHistoryoftheChurch
6:165166,Jan1844,emphasisadded
101

TheSaints'Herald
[September25,1934],1229,emphasisadded
97
98

on.IhaveseenanoteintheWarsawSignalstatingdifficultiesbetweenJoseph
Smithandhiswife,notlongsince.Iwasathishousewhenthisthingwassaidto
havetakenplace.IsawMrs.SmithstarttoSt.Louis,andwhenshereturned
home,andthey
hadeveryappearanceofloveandfriendship
.Iwillsaytoyou
thestatementisallfalseandwithoutgrounds.ThisIwillcertifyonoath.
JEREMIAHSMITH,Sen102

Q.Wereyou[JosephandEmma]
inthehabitofquarreling?A.No.
There
wasnonecessityforanyquarreling.HeknewthatIwishedfornothingbutwhat
wasrightand,ashewishedfornothingelse,wedidnotdisagree.Emma
SmithtoJosephSmithIII103

Whatunspeakabledelight,andwhattransportsofjoyswelledmybosom,whenI
tookbythehand...mybelovedEmmashethatwasmywife,eventhewifeof
myyouth,andthechoiceofmyheart...againsheishere,evenintheseventh
trouble
undaunted,firm,andunwaveringunchangeable,affectionate
Emma.
JosephSmith104

Ithasbeenchargedbycertainonesadvocatingpluralmarriagethat[Emma]was
athornin[Josephs]side,opposinghispolicies,andleadinghimanilllife.Thisis
absolutelynottrue.Iwasoldenoughatthetimetoknowwhatwasgoingon
aroundme,andwascloselyassociatedwithbothmyparents.Thesleepingroom
IsharedwithmybrotherswasnevermorethanadoorawayfromwhereFather
andMotherslept.BecauseofthegreatloveandconcernMotherhadforher
childrensheneverwantedusfarfromher,inorderthatshemightbeonhandto
takecareofusherselfincaseofnecessity.So,Iamsurethatifthereeverwere
angrywordsbetweenmyparentsIshouldhaveknownit,andIcantruthfully
statethat
nothingofthekindeveroccurred
.Fatherwasakindlyman,and
emphaticallyahomelovingone,whosewifeandchildrenwereverydeartohim
andwhowas,inturn,lovedandrespectedbythem.JosephSmithIII105

Ithasbeenreportedbythosewhopretendedtobefriendsoffather,thatmother
wasquarrelsomeandwasantagonistictomyfather,andfrequentlymadetrouble
forhim.Ihavethistosaynow,thattracingmymemorybackthroughtheperiod
oftimeinwhichmyfatherwaspermittedtostaywithhisfamily,that
Inever
heardanyquarrelingorharshlanguage
betweenthemunderany
circumstances,andthatevendisagreementsbetweenthemwere
notconducted

NauvooNeighbor
,May1,1844,emphasisadded

TheSaints'Herald
,vol.26,pp.289,290,emphasisadded.
104

LDSChurchHistory
,Volume1,page120.Aug16,1842,emphasisadded
105
MarySmithAnderson,
TheMemoirsofPresidentJosephSmithIII
(18321914),35,emphasisadded
102
103

inanoisyorangrymanner
,thatmother'slanguagewasquietandtemperate,
andsowasfather's.JosephSmithIII106

Josephspersonalsecretaryforthefinaltwoyearsofhislife,JamesWhitehead,also
paintsaverydifferentpictureaboutJosephandEmmathandoesWilliamClayton:

Ihadagoodopportunityofknowingifanysuchathing[pluralmarriage]had
beentaughtbytheprophetoranyoneelsebecauseIwasthereinhisofficeand
withhimcontinually
...Iwaswellacquaintedwithhisfamilyandwithhiswife
EmmaandIneversawanythingorheardofanysuchathingbeingtaughtthere
inNauvoo...WhenIlivedatNauvoo,Iresidedmaybethreehundredyardsfrom
whereJosephSmithshousewas.Isawhimtherefrequently,perhapsnotevery
daybutalmosteveryday...
JosephSmithhadonewifeandhernamewas
Emma
Idonotknowofanyotherwomanwhoclaimedtobethewifeofthe
prophet,thereatNauvoo,noratanyotherplace.107

Whiteheadclaimshewouldhaveknownifsomethingsuchaspluralmarriagewasbeing
taughtorpracticed,ascloseashewastoJosephandEmma.Heoffersanunreserved
statementthatEmmawasJosephsoneandonlywife.

ItisdifficulttoreconciletheseopposingviewsofEmmaSmith.Byandlarge,thosewho
wentwestwithBrighamYoungwerepronetomaligntheelectlady 108whereasthosenot
alignedwithBrighamYoungtendedtopaintaverydifferentpicture.Josephsownwordsreveal
atenderandaffectionatemarriageratherthanonefilledwithbickeringandattemptedmurders.
Onceagain,wearelefttosortoutfactfromfiction.IfJosephswordsandthewordsofthose
closetohimaretobebelieved,wemustcallintoquestiontheaccountleftbehindbyWilliam
Claytonandconsiderhisjournaljudiciously.InlightofeffortsbytheLDSchurchtoinventand
embellishinordertoprotecttheirnarrative,arevisionofcrucialentriesinClaytonsjournal
seemsplausible.Sincehisjournalsarenotavailableforinspectionwearelefttosortoutthe
discrepancieswiththesmallportionthatisavailable.

InconsideringwhetherClaytonwouldhavesoughttomodifyhisoriginaljournalto
establishaparticularnarrative,considerthisentryfromFeb1840:

JournalofHistory3
[July1910]:337338,emphasisadded

AbstractofEvidenceTempleLotCaseU.S.C.C.
,
p473,emphasisadded.Apotentiallycontradicting
testimonyisrecordedbyRLDSapostleWWBlairinhisjournalnearlytwodecadespriortotheTempleLot
testimony.On17June1874,BlairrecordsthatWhiteheadSaysJdidtepandprtoo.ThatEknowsit
toothatSheputhndofWivesinJoshndW.SaysAlexH.Smithaskedhimwhensleepingwithhimathis
houseinAtlon,ifJdidp&tea.p,andhe,W.toldhimhedid.Thecrypticentryisntconclusiveaswritten
andcouldhaveanynumberofmeanings.However,itspossibleWhiteheadbelievedatonetimethat
Josephwasapolygamist.WhetherWhiteheadbecameconvincedotherwisebythetimeoftheTempleLot
testimonyorperjuredhimself,wearelefttodecide.
108
seeD&C25:3
106
107

Sarah[Crooks]appearedrathertemptedtogetmarried...IdontwantSarahto
bemarried.Iwasmuch[]temptedonheraccountandfelttopraythattheLord
would
preservemefromimpureaffections
.Shegavemeanorange.Icertainly
feelmylovetowardshertoincreasebutshallstriveagainstit.
Ifeeltoomuchto
covether
andafraidlesthertroublesshouldcausehertogetmarried.TheLord
keepmepureandpreservemefromdoingwrong.109

ThisisthesameSarahreferredtopreviously,whomClaytonclaimsJosephadvisedhim
tosendforandevenofferedmoneytocoverthecost.InFeb1840,Claytonhadnotbeen
approachedaboutpluralmarriage,yetitsevidentfromthisentrythatthemarriedfatheroftwo
struggledtomaintainhisaffectionsolelyforhiswife.Asanymansubjecttothehuman
condition,Claytonshouldbepitiedforhisstruggle.Hishopewastoavoiddoingwrongandfor
thatheshouldbecommended.Butitdoesshowthathisdesiretobewithmorethanone
womanprecededhisclaimofbeingtaughtpluralmarriagebymorethan3years.InClaytons
tellingofevents,ratherthanbeingrebukedbyJoseph,heisinsteadtoldtohaveallthewives
youwant.

PerhapsClaytonsawthebrandofpolygamyBrighamembracedasawaytojustifythese
adulterousinclinationsratherthanfightagainstthem.Regardless,thecontemporaryevidence
providedbyClaytonisnotdefinitiveandnotunimpeachable.Itsworthnotingagainthatthereis
nodirectreferencetoJosephSmithandpolygamyduringJosephslifetimeexceptinNotebook
2.OnewonderswhetherClaytonwasoriginallyconvincedofpolygamybyBrighamYoungor
someotherpersoninthemovementandlaterreproducedthatsectionofhisjournaltoreflect
thatitinsteadcamefromJosephSmith.Insodoing,hewouldhelppreserveacruciallinkfrom
theUtahLDSchurchtothechurchJosephSmithestablishedandalsojustifyhismarriagesto
ninedifferentwomen.

OneentryinClaytonsjournalsuggestsBrighamYoungwasindeedthepersonwho
taughtWilliamClaytonaboutpluralmarriage.Claytonrecordedthefollowingaboutameeting
whereheandBrighamwerebothpresent:

ErB.Youngcalledmeononeside&saidhewantstogivemesomeinstructions
onthepriesthoodthefirstopportunity.Hesaidtheprophethadtoldhimtodoso
&togivemeafavorwhichIhavelongdesired.110

Assumptions&TheScholarlyBias

WilliamClayton,AnIntimateChronicle:TheDiariesofWilliamClayton,
GeorgeSmith,p29emphasis
added
110

BookofAbrahamProject,
WilliamClaytonDiaries
109

"Thisnewholyprophet[WilliamLaw]hasgonetoCarthageandsworethatIhadtold
himthatIwasguiltyofadultery.Thisspiritualwifeism!Why,amandaresnotspeakor
wink,forfearofbeingaccusedofthis."
JosephSmith(WordsofJosephSmith,p376376,May1844)

SincethewitnessesthatemergefromtheLDSchurchinthesecondhalfofthe19th
centuryprovethemselvestobeunreliable,itheightenstheimportanceoffocusingon
contemporaryevidenceonthetopicofpluralmarriage.Whatevidenceistherethatexisted
whileJosephSmithwasstilllivingthatestablisheshewasapolygamist?

RenownedLDSscholarBrianCHales(authorof
JosephSmithsPolygamy111
)isoneof
theforemostresearchersinthefieldofearlyMormonpolygamy.Halescommentedonanarticle
hewrotedefendingtheideathatJosephwasapolygamist.Inhiscomment,Haleslistsa
comprehensivelistofcontemporaneousdocumentssupportingthenotionthatJosephwasa
polygamist:112

1. D&C132
2. WilliamClaytonsJournal
3. Purported1842letterfromJosephSmithtoNancyRigdon
4. Purported1842revelationtoNewelKWhitneyregardingpluralmarriage
ceremonies
5. JohnCBennett
6. OliverOlney
7. WilliamLawandtheExpositorcontingent
8. 1844JosephJacksonletters

Halesmakesnomentionastothereliabilityofthesewitnesses,however,aclose
examinationofeachsourceexposesissueswithtreatingthemascontemporaryandreliable.

Thefirstitemonhislist,Section132oftheD&C,wascoveredpreviously.Treatingitas
acontemporarysourcerequiresthereadertorelyexclusivelyonnoncontemporarytestimonies
ofit.TherevelationinSection132didnotappearinanyformpubliclyuntil1852.William
Claytonsjournaldoesmakementionofarevelation,butasmentioned,JosephSmithflatly
contradictsClaytonastothecontentsoftherevelation.AccordingtoJamesWhitehead,Section
132wasmodifiedfromadifferentrevelationafterJosephsdeath.ItalsocontradictstheLDS
canongiventhroughJosephSmith(theBookofMormonandtheoriginalSection101ofthe
Doctrine&Covenants).Assuch,areasonableobservercouldconcludethatSection132isa)
notcontemporaryandb)notgenuine.

111
112

http://josephsmithspolygamy.org/
Hales
,AResponsetoDenverSnuffer
.See
comment16493
.

WilliamClaytonsjournalwasalsodiscussedpreviouslyinthispaper.Hisjournal
presentsseveralissuesthatcallintoquestionitsvalidityandcompletenessasareliable
contemporarysource.Lessthanonefourthofhisjournalhasbeenpublishedorevenmade
availableforresearch.Hisinconsistentuseofdifferentnotebookscallsintoquestionwhetherhis
journalsareactuallycontemporaryorwerelateremended.

ThepurportedletterfromJosephSmithtoNancyRigdonhasbeenquasicanonizedby
beingincludedintheLDS
HistoryoftheChurch,
butitsnotareliablesource.113 Theletterisno
longerextantandevenwhenitwas,itwasanunsignedletterallegedbyJohnBennetttohave
beeninWillardRichardshandwritinganddictatedbyJoseph.SidneyRigdon,Nancysfather,
stated:thatMr.[Joseph]Smithdeniedtometheauthorshipofthatletter".114 Sidneyalsostated
thatNancydeniedtohimthatthelettercamefromJoseph.NancywasimplicatedbyStephen
MarkhamtohavebeeninvolvedromanticallywithBennettandthattheletterwasanattemptto
bolsterBennettsaccusationsagainstJoseph.115 ItseemsironicthatHaleswouldrelyonan
allegationfromJohnBennetttoconvincetheworldthatJosephwasapolygamist.Itsespecially
ironicconsideringthatJosephexplicitlydeniedsendingtheletter.ButHalesiscorrectthatthe
letterwascontemporaneous.

ThenextitemonHaleslist(apurported1842revelation116 toNewelKWhitneydetailing
thewordstobeusedinordertomarryJosephtoWhitneysdaughter)wasdiscussedpreviously.
TherevelationiswritteninthehandwritingofJosephKingsbury,amanwhowasratherobscure
inJosephSmithsNauvooerabutwhofactorsheavilyinpostJosephpluralmarriage.As
discussedpreviously,thisdocumentwasfirstreferencedin1885,morethan40yearsafterit
wasallegedlyrecordedandatatimewhentheLDSchurchwasdesperatelytryingtoprove
pluralmarriageoriginatedwithJosephSmith.Thatfactalonecallsintoquestionwhetherit
shouldbeconsideredcontemporary.AddtothatthecredibilityissueswithKingsburyanda
reasonableobservercouldeasilyconcludeitisnotareliablepieceofevidence.

Thisallegedrevelation,iflegitimate,wouldrequireustoaddNewelKWhitneytothelist
ofthosewhochangedtheirstoriesaboutpluralmarriage.Amerethreemonthsafterthis
occurred,Whitneyjoinedseveralotherchurchleadersinsigninganaffidavitthatheknewofno
otherruleorsystemofmarriage[monogamy]thantheonepublishedfromtheBookofDoctrine
andCovenants117 .Wearelefttodecidewhetherthisrevelationisgenuineinwhichcase
NewelKWhitneywasuntruthfulwhenhesignedtheaffidavitorwhethertherevelationisnot
genuine.Whitneydiedin1850sowedonthavethebenefitofexamininghisrecollectionofit
afterthechurchmovedwestandpubliclyembracedpolygamy.However,asshownfromthe
Whiteheadtestimonypreviously,thereisevidencethatWhitneyknewnothingofplural
marriage.Iftrue,thisallegedrevelationwouldhaveevenlesscredibility.

http://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/12/JS0070.doc

Wasp
,September3,1842
115

Wasp
[Extra]27July1842
116
TheoriginalwasrecentlypublishedbytheLDSchurch
here
.Atranscriptioncanberead
here
.
117

TimesandSeasons
3[October1,1842]:939940
113
114


HalesnextwitnessisJohnBennett.Hetoowasdiscussedingreaterdetailpreviouslyin
thispaper.ItbearsrepeatingthatBennettisuniversallyregardedasascoundrel.118Thereare
multiplewitnessesthroughouthislifedetailinghisvariousindiscretions.Hales,amemberofthe
LDSfaith,iscorrecttolisthimasacontemporarysource,butputtingstockinBennetts
allegationsseemsunwiseandironicgivenhisreputationandthatJosephSmithspentyears
andconsiderableeffortdiscreditingandcounteringBennettsaccusations.Onewonderswhat
JosephSmithwouldsaytodayuponlearningthewordsofJohnBennettareusedbyMormon
faithfultoprovehimapolygamist.

Next,HalescitesthetestimonyofOliverOlney,whichispuzzling.Halescitestoa
transcriptofexcerptsfromOlneysjournalfromtheyear1842.119InOlneysdifficulttodecipher
musingsabouteventsin1842Nauvoo,heallegesfirstthatsomemembersoftheTwelveare
engaginginillicitbehaviorwithwomen.Helaterreferencesrumorsofpluralwivesandatone
pointchargesJosephSmithwithbeingpassionatelyfondofwomen.However,Olneymakes
nomentionofdirectevidencefromhisowninteractions.

Afterbeingexcommunicatedin1842,OlneypublishedanantiMormonpamphletin
whichheaccusedJosephofprintingadocumentcalled
ThePeaceMaker
,apropolygamytract
120
thathadbeenpublishedin1842byUdneyJacob. Jacobsdocumentwasprintedatthe
printingofficeinNauvooatatimewhenJosephwasinhidingtoavoidextraditiontoMissouri.
However,onthecoverofJacobspamphletwaswritten,JSmith,PrinterbecauseJosephwas
indeedtheownerofthepress.TheobviousimplicationisthatJosephapprovedofthepamphlet.
However,uponlearningofit,Josephrespondedunequivocally:

Therewasabookprintedatmyoffice,ashorttimesince,writtenbyUdneyH.
Jacobs,onmarriage,withoutmyknowledgeandhadIbeenapprisedofit,I
shouldnothaveprinteditnotthatIamopposedtoanymanenjoyinghis
privilegesbutIdonotwishmynameassociatedwiththeauthors,insuchan
unmeaningrigamaroleofnonsense,folly,andtrash.
JOSEPHSMITH.121

Olneyreferencessecondandthirdhandaccountsoftheaforementionedletterand
indecentproposaltoNancyRigdon.ItspuzzlingwhyHaleswouldconsiderOlneya
contemporarysourcesinceOlneyneverclaimstohaveanyfirsthandknowledgeofJosephs
behavior.

AndrewSmithinhisbook,
TheSaintlyScoundrel:TheLifeandTimesofDr.JohnCookBennett,
saysof
Bennett[his]abilitytoabruptlyshiftpositionsonpeopleandfaithswoulddazzleeventhemostformidable
propagandist.
119

http://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/11/JSP_Book_49.pdf
p45
120
Olneyspamphletcanbeseen
here
.Jacobsdocumentcanberead
here
.
121

TimesandSeasons
4[December1,1842]:32
118

Thenextwitness,WilliamLaw,wasalsopreviouslydiscussedingreaterdetailinthis
paper.AccordingtoJosephSmith,Lawwasmotivatedinhisbetrayalbyadesireformoneyand
power.Lawisanotherwitnessthatoughttobeconsideredjudiciouslyratherthanassuminghe
wastellingthetruth.However,HalesiscorrectthatLawisacontemporarysource.

JosephJacksonislikewiseaverydifficultwitnesstobelieve.AccordingtoJackson,
Josephofferedtopay[him]welltomurderformerMissouriGovernorLilburnBoggs.An
attemptonGov.Boggslifehadpreviouslybeenmadein1842.Josephwasimmediatelysought
inconnectionwithit.Hewasforcedintohidingandhadtoavoidseveralandsometimes
violentextraditionefforts.Inthatenvironment,isitplausiblethatJosephwouldseekthelifeof
BoggsasJacksonclaimed?JacksonwasaccusedbyHyruminfrontoftheNauvooCityCouncil
ofbogus(counterfeiting)andattemptingtokidnapHyrumsdaughterinordertoforceherto
marryhim.122 Weareagainlefttoweighanaccusationfromaviolentanddishonestman
(JosephJackson)againstthewordsofJosephandHyrumSmith.Halesiscorrectthatthisisa
contemporaryallegation.ButaswithJohnBennettandWilliamLaw,Halesagainputsgreater
stockinamanofdubiouscharacteroverJosephSmith.

Inthefinalanalysis,thecontemporaryevidenceagainstJosephSmithamountstothe
following:

Allegationsfromthreehostileanddubiouswitnesses(Bennett,Law,Jackson).
ThesemenwereenemiestoJosephSmith.Hespentconsiderableefforttryingto
provetheirclaimsfalse.
AlettertoNancyRigdonthatnolongerexists,wasunsigned,andwrittenin
anothermanshandwritingandthatNancyherselfdeniedwasfromJoseph.
Oneallegationfromapersonwhoneverclaimedfirsthandknowledge(Oliver
Olney).
Analleged1842revelationtoNKWhitneythatisnotreferencedinanyrecord
until40yearsafterJosephsdeath.
Anallegedrevelation(Section132)thatJosephexplicitlycontradicts.
Ajournalthatisinconsistentandpossiblynotcontemporaryatall(William
Clayton)

EverysingleitemonthislistwasrefutedanddenieddirectlyorindirectlybyJoseph
Smith.Halesprovidesuswithanimportantdiscovery:thereisremarkablylittlereliable
contemporaryevidencethatJosephSmithwasapolygamist.Itdemonstratesthemostcommon
formofscholarshiponthistopicthatis,highlyassumptiveandoverreliantonquestionable
sources.Halesisbynostretchtheonlyscholartofallintothistrap.Thevastmajorityofscholars
seemtolackthewillingnessorabilitytoconsiderthefundamentalassumptionsoftheoriginsof

122

Dinger,JohnS.
TheNauvooCityandHighCouncilMinutes
[KindleLocations69866987]KindleEdition

Mormonpolygamy.Ascitedpreviouslyinthispaper,inacourtoflaw,Josephwasdeemednot
tohavepracticedpolygamy.123 Yetinthecourtofscholarlyopinion,Josephisdefinitivelyguilty.

ATheory&AConclusion

Somehavereportedthatwenotonlydedicatedourproperty,butlikewiseourfamilies
totheLord,andSatantakingadvantageofthishastransfigureditintolasciviousness,a
communityofwives,whichthingsareanabominationinthesightofGod...ifanyperson,
hasrepresentedanythingotherwisethanwhatwenowwritetheyhavewillfully
misrepresentedus.

JosephSmith,1838LetterfromLibertyJail

Anexhaustivestudyofallcounterevidencewouldeasilyyieldatleastonebookandis
beyondthescopeofthiseffort.Thereis,however,othercompellingcounterevidencethat
supportstheideaofJosephSmithasamonogamist.Forexample,astudyoftheCochranites
agroupofpolygamistsfromMaine,someofwhomconvertedtoMormonismintheearly1830s
makesaratherbelievableexplanationofhowthechurchgotexposedtopolygamy:itwas
importedviaconversion.124OverhalftheQuorumoftheTwelveattendedaconferenceinSaco
MainewithCochraniteconvertsin1836.125ItispossiblesomeoftheTwelvewereconvertedto
thelegitimacyofthatpracticewhilepreachingamongthesesincerebelieversinpluralmarriage.

SomechurchleaderswouldclaimafterJoseph'sdeaththattheprincipleofpolygamy
wasrevealedtothemfromGodbeforeitwasgiventhroughJoseph.BrighamYoungstated:

"WhilewewereinEngland,(in1839and40),IthinktheLordmanifestedtome
byvisionandhisSpiritthings[concerningpolygamy]thatIdidnotthen
understand.Ineveropenedmymouthtoanyoneconcerningthem,untilI
returnedtoNauvooJosephhadnevermentionedthistherehadneverbeena
thoughtofitintheChurchthatIeverknewanythingaboutatthattime,butIhad
thisformyself,andIkeptittomyself."126

LorenzoSnowwouldlikewisereminisce:

"Thereisnomanthatlivesthathadamoreperfectknowledgeoftheprincipleof
pluralmarriage,it'sholinessanddivinity,thanwhatIhad.Itwasrevealedtome
beforetheProphetJosephSmithexplainedittome.Ihadbeenonamissionto
Englandbetweentwoandthreeyears,andbeforeIleftEnglandIwasperfectly
satisfiedinregardtosomethingconnectedtopluralmarriage.127

http://restorationbookstore.org/blog/TLCtestimonies.pdf
p4243

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Cochran
125

JosephSmithFoughtPolygamy
,Chapter3
126

TheMessenger
,Vol1p29
127

DeseretSemiweeklyNews
,June6,1899
123
124


YoungandSnowservedpartoftheirmissionsatthesametimeinEngland.Convinced
astheywerethatpolygamywasfromGod,itsplausiblethatYoungandSnowbeganpracticing
polygamywhileinEnglandandlaterusedJoseph'sdeathasawaytoformalizeitinthechurch.
ThatcouldexplainwhyYoungwasaccusedofadulterywhilepreachinginEngland.128 Didhe
embraceitandpracticeitsecretly,believingitwasfromGoddespiteJoseph'svigorous
condemnationofthepractice?

ThistheoryisbolsteredbysomethingWilliamSmith,Josephsbrother,wouldclaimina
lettertohisnephew,JosephSmithIII:

Icalledonyourfatherandtookbreakfastwithhim.Whileseatedatthetablea
conversationwashadparticipatedinbyyourmother[Emma]...Inrelatingher
reportshesaid,thatsomecomplainthadbeenmadetoherbyfemaleswhom
shehadvisited,that
JohnTaylor,WillardRichards,andBrighamYounghad
beenteachingsomedoctrines
amongtheSaintsprivatelythatwasgoingto
ruintheChurch,unlesstherewasastopputtoit,asitwascontrarytothelaw
andrulesgoverningtheChurch.Yourfatherremarkedthathewouldattendtothe
matterassoonashegotthroughwithhistroubleswiththeLawsandFosters.
Butmarkyoutheirconversationtookplaceonlyafewdaysprevioustoyour
father'sdeath.Whatthatprivateteachingmighthavebeen,thatthosepersons
whomyourmothernamed,werecirculatinginaclandestinemanner,(sincethere
hasbeensomuchsaidaboutadoctrinecalledthepluralwifedoctrineonthis
subject),Ileavethereadertojudge.129

ThistheoryaboutBrighamandasmallcabalofNauvooinsiderssecretlypracticing
polygamybehindJosephsbackmayseemtenuousanditis,admittedly,withoutdefinitive
proofbutitprovidesaplausibletheoryusingasimilarstandardofevidencethatisusedto
proveJosephwasasecretpolygamist.Inotherwords,areasonableobservercouldjustas
easilyconcludefromthebodyofevidencethatpolygamyoriginatedwithBrighamYoung,not
JosephSmith.ReachingthisconclusiondoesntmeanthatBrighamwasnecessarilyevilor
maliciousanymorethanitwouldmeanJosephwasevilormaliciousifheinfactdidorchestrate
acoverupofpolygamy.Asdemonstratedbyhisownwords,Brighambelievedpluralmarriage
wasfromGodlongbeforehesaysJosephtaughtittohim.Believingashedid,hecouldhave
seenJosephsteachingsonsealingasanaturalextensionofhisownbeliefsregardingplural
marriage.

JosephSmithFoughtPolygamy
,Chapter4

TheSaints'Herald
26[April15,1879]:117.WilliamSmithisconsideredbymanyscholarstohavebeen
unstableanderraticandthereforenottrustworthy.Othersclaimthathetoopracticedpluralmarriageafter
Josephsdeath.Williamdeniedthatallegationasasmeartactic.Thereaderislefttodeterminewhois
trustworthyandwhoisnt.
128
129

Brighamcouldhaveviewedhimselfasholdingadivinemandatetosecretlyinstitutethe
practicedespiteoppositionfromJosephSmith.HelikewisecouldhaveviewedJosephs
untimelydeathasanactofGodtofacilitatetheformalintroductionofpolygamy.Amonga
peoplewhoclearlyviewedtheendsasjustifyingnearlyanymeans,Brighamcouldhave
determinedthatalteringthehistoricalrecordwasjustifiedandevennecessaryinorderto
convinceothersofthevalidityofpluralmarriage.Suchdeceitmayseemhardtoimagineor
acceptintodayssociety,butitispainfullyobviousfromthehistoricalrecordthatitwaspossible
in1800sMormondom.

Whetherthistheoryiscorrectornotisntlikelytoeverbeproven.Whatisclearisthata
reasonablepersoncouldusetheoverallbodyofevidenceandcometoeitherconclusion
regardingJosephSmithandpluralmarriage.

Therearetwopolygamynarrativesoffered.TheoneofferedbyJosephSmithisoneof
adamantandconsistentdenial.Thelackofoffspringfrompolygamousmarriagesduringhislife,
hisrepeateddenials,thelackofcompellingcontemporaryproof,andapatternofdeceitbyhis
accusersprovideaformidablemountainofevidencethatsuggestsJosephwasamonogamist.
Thenarrativeofferedbythosewhosucceededhimisoneofadamantacceptanceanarrative
bolsteredbymultiplewitnessesofvaryingcredibility.Thetruthis,theresnowaytoknowwhat
reallyhappenedfromtheevidencebeforeus.Historyisopentoasmanyinterpretationsas
therearepeopletoreadit.Thereadermustdecidewhichnarrativeismoreplausible.But
perhapsthereismoretoJosephslament(giveninapublicsermonameretwomonthsbefore
hisdeath)thanwerealize:Youdontknowme,youneverknewmyheart. 130

APostscript:Whythisdoesanddoesnotmatter

[JohnBennett]reachedouthishandtoBr.Josephandsaid,willyouforgiveme,
weepingatthetimehesaidBr.Joseph,Iamguilty,Iacknowledgeit,andIbegofyou
nottoexposeme,foritwillruinmeJosephreplied,Doctor!whyareyouusingmyname
tocarryonyourhellishwickedness?HaveIevertaughtyouthatfornicationandadultery
wasright,orpolygamyoranysuchpractices?Hesaidyouneverdid.

HyrumSmith,AffidavitMay1842,TimesandSeasons3[August1,1842]

Itsarguedbysomethatthistopicisirrelevant,andtoanextentthatstrue.Afterall,if
Godcommandsapersontoengageinpolygamy,intheory,thatpersonwouldbewisetofollow
Godscommand.Thatpersonwouldbeevenwiserifheknewwithabsolutecertaintyitwasa
commandfromGodandnotadeception.InMormontheology,therearespiritsandangelsthat
goaboutdeceiving.131Someofthemhaveglory.132

WordsofJosephSmith
,AndrewEhat,p355.AddressgivenApril1844.

D&C50
132

2Ne9:9
130
131

Butinalargercontext,thistopicisactuallyquiteimportanttoseveralgroups.Most
activeLDSMormonsacceptadoctrinethatchurchleadersareincapableofleadingthem
astray.Astudyofchurchhistoryandthescriptureseasilydisprovesthisnotion.133 Likewise,if
thechurchleadersfromBrighamYoungtoLorenzoSnowembracedafalsestandardof
marriage,thentheyclearlydidleadthechurchastray.Iftrue,thisdoesntimpugntheircharacter
asmuchasprovetheirhumanity.Evengoodandwellmeaningchurchleaderscanleadothers
intoerror.TheinformationinthispapercouldhelpactiveLDSMormonssetasideidolatryof
menandreplaceitwiththeworshipofGodalone.134ItwouldalsominimizeatendencyforLDS
memberstodiscountandignorewhatwasrevealedthroughJosephSmithinfavorofmodern
revelation.

InthecaseofsocalledFundamentalistMormonsects,therearetensofthousandsof
peoplewhonotonlybelievepolygamyisatrueprinciplebutthatexaltationcanonlybe
achievedbypracticingitinthislife.Ifthatsactuallyafalsedoctrinethenthereisahigh
likelihoodthatthosepracticingpluralmarriageareengaginginabominationanddamning
themselvesratherthansavingthemselves.Theyarentlikelyengaginginpluralmarriage
becauseGodtoldthemto.TheyaredoingsounderapotentiallyfalsepremisethatJoseph
taughtitandpracticedit.

Perhapsthelargestgroupofpeopletowhomthistopicisrelevantiscomprisedofthose
whohaverejectedMormonismentirelybecausetheyrejectJosephSmithasafraud.Amajor
narrativeunderpinningthatmovementisthebeliefthatJosephwasapedophilicsexaddict
whosemaindriveinperpetratinghisfraudulentreligionwastosleepwithasmanywomenas
possible.GiventhattheworldwideLDSactivityrateisapproximately30%,onecouldarguethat
thereareover10millionmembersdissatisfiedenoughwiththeLDSreligionthattheynolonger
selfidentifyoractivelyparticipate.135Howmanyofthose10millionpeoplearedisaffected
becauseofapolygamouslifestylepotentiallyattributedtoJosephSmithfalsely?Ifan
exMormondecidesfromreadingthisevidencethathisdecisiontorejectJosephSmithwasin
partbasedonafalseassumption,perhapshedreconsiderandfindcausetoembraceonce
againtherestorationofthegospel.

TheLDSessayon
blacksandthepriesthood
isoneexamplefromchurchhistorythatdisprovesthis
notion.
2Ne4:34
isonescripturalwarningagainstthisnotion.AdrianLarsenoffersawellresearchedblog
postofthistopic
here
.
134

2Ne28:1425
detailsaprophecybyNephithatinthelastdaysthehumblefollowersofChristwouldbe
ledastrayinmanyinstancesandbeconvincedalliswellwhenallisnotwell.
135

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133