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− | + | |L=Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/"Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories/Polygamy | |
− | | | + | |H=Response to questions related to Joseph Smith and polygamy |
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− | + | |T=[[../|"Questions and Answers: What aspects of LDS Church teachings/doctrine do you still believe in, vs. not?"]] | |
− | + | |A=John Dehlin | |
− | | | + | |<=[[../First Vision|First Vision]] |
− | + | |>=[[../Treasure digging|Treasure digging]] | |
}} | }} | ||
+ | <onlyinclude> | ||
+ | {{H2 | ||
+ | |L=Criticism of Mormonism/Online documents/"Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories/Polygamy | ||
+ | |H=Response to questions related to Joseph Smith and polygamy | ||
+ | |L1=Response to claim: "Joseph Smith married over 30 women"|"Joseph Smith married over 30 women" | ||
+ | |L2=Response to claim: "some as young as 14 years old"|"some as young as 14 years old" | ||
+ | |L3=Response to claim: "many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them" | ||
+ | |L4=Response to claim: "Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away" | ||
+ | |L5=Response to claim: "Joseph Smith publicly lied about his practice of polygamy" | ||
+ | |L6=Response to claim: "Joseph Smith...lied to his own wife (Emma) about the practice" | ||
+ | |L7=Response to claim: "Joseph ordered the destruction of the printing press, which was....a violation of the 1st Amendment" | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | </onlyinclude> | ||
− | == | + | ==Response to claim: "Joseph Smith married over 30 women"== |
− | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort | |
− | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories | |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph Smith married over 30 women | |
− | + | }} | |
− | + | This is true. Subsequent questions, however, demonstrate that the author seems determined to paint a simplistic portrait of plural marriage: one that draws heavily on anti-Mormon sources and interpretations. | |
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Joseph's polygamy is well-attested in Church books and periodicals, and is discussed in {{s||D&C|132|}} and even the ''History of the Church''.<ref>{{HoC|vol=5|pages=xxix–xlvi}}</ref> Any implication that Joseph's personal practice of plural marriage is something which the Church tried to hide is unfair.<ref>Dehlin says: "During this time I began studying LDS church history in depth, with the intent of becoming a better teacher. Through my studies I discovered several very troubling aspects of LDS church history that I did not recall learning during my years in the church, including the following...."</ref> The author describes Bruce R. McConkie as his "favorite church leader,"<ref>"Bruce R. McConkie was my favorite church leader as a youth and young adult, and I devoured the Doctrines of Salvation trilogy (by Joseph Fielding Smith) as a missionary. In short, I considered myself to be a highly devoted “True Believing Mormon” up until my mission experience."</ref> and McConkie's best-known work ''Mormon Doctrine'' makes it crystal clear that Joseph and others practiced plural marriage: | Joseph's polygamy is well-attested in Church books and periodicals, and is discussed in {{s||D&C|132|}} and even the ''History of the Church''.<ref>{{HoC|vol=5|pages=xxix–xlvi}}</ref> Any implication that Joseph's personal practice of plural marriage is something which the Church tried to hide is unfair.<ref>Dehlin says: "During this time I began studying LDS church history in depth, with the intent of becoming a better teacher. Through my studies I discovered several very troubling aspects of LDS church history that I did not recall learning during my years in the church, including the following...."</ref> The author describes Bruce R. McConkie as his "favorite church leader,"<ref>"Bruce R. McConkie was my favorite church leader as a youth and young adult, and I devoured the Doctrines of Salvation trilogy (by Joseph Fielding Smith) as a missionary. In short, I considered myself to be a highly devoted “True Believing Mormon” up until my mission experience."</ref> and McConkie's best-known work ''Mormon Doctrine'' makes it crystal clear that Joseph and others practiced plural marriage: | ||
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{{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy}} | {{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy}} | ||
− | =="some as young as 14 years old"== | + | ==Response to claim: "some as young as 14 years old"== |
− | {{ | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort |
− | |claim=some as young as 14 years old | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): some as young as 14 years old | |
− | + | }} | |
+ | There were two wives aged fourteen. We can say nothing about one marriage, due to a lack of evidence. The other marriage was instigated by the bride's parents, and there is considerable evidence that the marriage was not consummated. Many of Joseph's marriages were concerned about sealing families together. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Marriages_to_young_women}} | {{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Marriages_to_young_women}} | ||
− | =="many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them"== | + | ==Response to claim: "many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them"== |
− | {{ | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort |
− | |claim=many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them | |
− | + | }} | |
+ | Again, the author gives no context or nuance to his critical picture. In all the cases of polyandry, there is little evidence that the relationships were consummated. In many cases, we know the husbands (some of them non-members) knew of the marriages and did not object. Emma never objected to the polyandrous marriages. No husband attacked Joseph or reproached him for violation of his marital rights or wife's honor. Many of Joseph's marriages—including these—seem to have been intended to seal families together. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Polyandry/Why_would_Joseph_Smith_be_sealed_to_other_men's_wives}} | {{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Polyandry/Why_would_Joseph_Smith_be_sealed_to_other_men's_wives}} | ||
− | =="Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away"== | + | ==Response to claim: "Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away"== |
− | {{ | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort |
− | |claim=Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away | |
− | |||
}} | }} | ||
− | {{: | + | This claim is false. There is only one recorded case of Joseph approaching a potential plural wife while her husband was on a mission. This case occurred at least two years after her husband's departure. The husband ratified the sealing upon his return. This claim too derives from discredited anti-Mormon sources. |
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{:Question: Did Joseph Smith send men on missions in order to "steal" their wives while they were gone?}} | ||
+ | {{:Question: Did Joseph Smith send William Law, Robert D. Foster, and Henry Jacobs on missions so that he could steal their wives?}} | ||
− | =="Joseph Smith publicly lied about his practice of polygamy"== | + | ==Response to claim: "Joseph Smith publicly lied about his practice of polygamy"== |
− | {{ | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort |
− | |claim=Joseph Smith publicly lied about his practice of polygamy | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph Smith publicly lied about his practice of polygamy | |
− | + | }} | |
+ | There are three vital facts about which the author seems to have given little thought: | ||
#Joseph's actions were not illegal under the law as long as he did not announce them publicly. If he were to announce them, then he and his plural wives would have been guilty of breaking the law. This was a terrible double-bind without a perfect solution, especially because... | #Joseph's actions were not illegal under the law as long as he did not announce them publicly. If he were to announce them, then he and his plural wives would have been guilty of breaking the law. This was a terrible double-bind without a perfect solution, especially because... | ||
# If Joseph were to announce plural marriage in Nauvoo, he would have put himself, his wives, and thousands of innocent people at risk of mob violence—as had happened before, and was to happen again following his murder. If he did hide the truth from those who would use violence, that is understandable. However, even this is not as clear-cut as the author makes it, since.... | # If Joseph were to announce plural marriage in Nauvoo, he would have put himself, his wives, and thousands of innocent people at risk of mob violence—as had happened before, and was to happen again following his murder. If he did hide the truth from those who would use violence, that is understandable. However, even this is not as clear-cut as the author makes it, since.... | ||
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{{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Hiding_the_truth}} | {{:Joseph_Smith/Polygamy/Hiding_the_truth}} | ||
− | =="Joseph Smith...lied to his own wife (Emma) about the practice"== | + | ==Response to claim: "Joseph Smith...lied to his own wife (Emma) about the practice"== |
− | {{ | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort |
− | |claim=Joseph Smith...lied to his own wife (Emma) about the practice | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph Smith...lied to his own wife (Emma) about the practice | |
− | |||
}} | }} | ||
+ | We know very little about what Joseph told Emma, and when he told her. Emma would always insist Joseph never practiced plural marriage, though it is clear that he did and that she knew it. We should be cautious, then, in being too dogmatic about Joseph's treatment of Emma. Once again, there is far more nuance here than the author seems willing to admit or engage. The situation was terribly difficult for Emma and Joseph, but Joseph deserves to have his decisions and actions viewed in their full context, rather than used as a dismissive soundbite that does not fairly illustrate the known historical data, and acknowledge the many unknowns. | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{:Question: Did Joseph hide his plural marriages from Emma, his first wife?}} | ||
+ | {{:Question: Was Emma aware of the possibility that Joseph could take additional wives even without her consent?}} | ||
+ | {{:Question: What possible modern lessons can we learn from Emma and Joseph's struggle with plural marriage?}} | ||
− | + | ==Response to claim: "Joseph ordered the destruction of the printing press, which was....a violation of the 1st Amendment"== | |
− | + | {{IndexClaimItemShort | |
− | + | |title="Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories | |
− | + | |claim=(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph ordered the destruction of the printing press, which was both a violation of the 1st Amendment | |
− | |claim= | + | }} |
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* The First Amendment has no legal relevance in the suppression of the ''Nauvoo Expositor''. It would not apply to anything except acts by the federal government until after the Civil War. The author is here displaying his ignorance of historical fact. It shows how little serious study he has given the matter. | * The First Amendment has no legal relevance in the suppression of the ''Nauvoo Expositor''. It would not apply to anything except acts by the federal government until after the Civil War. The author is here displaying his ignorance of historical fact. It shows how little serious study he has given the matter. | ||
* Furthermore, the suppression of the ''Expositor'' was not ordered by ''Joseph'' alone, but by the Nauvoo city council, which included non-Mormons. | * Furthermore, the suppression of the ''Expositor'' was not ordered by ''Joseph'' alone, but by the Nauvoo city council, which included non-Mormons. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
− | {{: | + | {{:Question: Was the destruction of the ''Nauvoo Expositor'' legal?}} |
− | + | {{endnotes sources}} | |
− | {{ |
Latest revision as of 14:18, 13 April 2024
First Vision | A FAIR Analysis of: "Questions and Answers: What aspects of LDS Church teachings/doctrine do you still believe in, vs. not?", a work by author: John Dehlin
|
Treasure digging |
Jump to details:
- Response to claim: "Joseph Smith married over 30 women"
- Response to claim: "some as young as 14 years old"
- Response to claim: "many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them"
- Response to claim: "Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away"
- Response to claim: "Joseph Smith publicly lied about his practice of polygamy"
- Response to claim: "Joseph Smith...lied to his own wife (Emma) about the practice"
- Response to claim: "Joseph ordered the destruction of the printing press, which was....a violation of the 1st Amendment"
Response to claim: "Joseph Smith married over 30 women"
The author(s) of "Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories make(s) the following claim:
(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph Smith married over 30 women
FAIR's Response
This is true. Subsequent questions, however, demonstrate that the author seems determined to paint a simplistic portrait of plural marriage: one that draws heavily on anti-Mormon sources and interpretations.
Joseph's polygamy is well-attested in Church books and periodicals, and is discussed in D&C 132 and even the History of the Church.[1] Any implication that Joseph's personal practice of plural marriage is something which the Church tried to hide is unfair.[2] The author describes Bruce R. McConkie as his "favorite church leader,"[3] and McConkie's best-known work Mormon Doctrine makes it crystal clear that Joseph and others practiced plural marriage:
- In the early days of this dispensation, as part of the promised restitution of all things, the Lord revealed the principle of plural marriage to the Prophet. Later the Prophet and leading brethren were commanded to enter into the practice, which they did in all virtue and purity of heart despite the consequent animosity and prejudices of worldly people. After Brigham Young led the saints to the Salt Lake Valley, plural marriage was openly taught and practiced until the year 1890.[4]
}}
Joseph Smith and Plural Marriage (Polygamy)
Summary: Plural marriage—or one man marrying multiple women—has been practiced since ancient times (see Genesis 16:1–3; Doctrine and Covenants 132:34–39). It was practiced among the Latter-day Saints as commanded by God (see Doctrine and Covenants 132:32–34, 40), until God directed that the Saints discontinue it (see Official Declaration 1).
Joseph Smith is frequently criticized for his introduction and practice of plural marriage (often called polygamy).
From a Christian perspective, these attacks usually focus on arguing that polygamy is unchristian or unbiblical, and that Joseph hid the truth from the world.
From a secular perspective, it is asserted that the practice of polygamy sprung from Joseph's carnal desires to marry young women. Of particular interest is the fact that Joseph was sealed to women who were already married to other men (polyandry).
To view articles about plural marriage, click "Expand" in the blue bar:
Video from FAIR Conference.
Video from Church History Department.
Critical sources |
|
Notes
- ↑ Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 5:xxix–xlvi. Volume 5 link
- ↑ Dehlin says: "During this time I began studying LDS church history in depth, with the intent of becoming a better teacher. Through my studies I discovered several very troubling aspects of LDS church history that I did not recall learning during my years in the church, including the following...."
- ↑ "Bruce R. McConkie was my favorite church leader as a youth and young adult, and I devoured the Doctrines of Salvation trilogy (by Joseph Fielding Smith) as a missionary. In short, I considered myself to be a highly devoted “True Believing Mormon” up until my mission experience."
- ↑ Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd edition, (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), 578, (emphasis added). GL direct link
Response to claim: "some as young as 14 years old"
The author(s) of "Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories make(s) the following claim:
(25 June 2014 revision): some as young as 14 years old
FAIR's Response
There were two wives aged fourteen. We can say nothing about one marriage, due to a lack of evidence. The other marriage was instigated by the bride's parents, and there is considerable evidence that the marriage was not consummated. Many of Joseph's marriages were concerned about sealing families together. }}
Joseph Smith's marriages to young women
Jump to details:
- Question: Why was Joseph Smith sealed to young women?
- Question: Was Joseph Smith a "serial practitioner of statutory rape?"
Response to claim: "many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them"
The author(s) of "Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories make(s) the following claim:
(25 June 2014 revision): many of whom were married to other men at the time he married them
FAIR's Response
Again, the author gives no context or nuance to his critical picture. In all the cases of polyandry, there is little evidence that the relationships were consummated. In many cases, we know the husbands (some of them non-members) knew of the marriages and did not object. Emma never objected to the polyandrous marriages. No husband attacked Joseph or reproached him for violation of his marital rights or wife's honor. Many of Joseph's marriages—including these—seem to have been intended to seal families together. }}
Response to claim: "Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away"
The author(s) of "Questions and Answers" on Mormon Stories make(s) the following claim:
(25 June 2014 revision): Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away
FAIR's Response
This claim is false. There is only one recorded case of Joseph approaching a potential plural wife while her husband was on a mission. This case occurred at least two years after her husband's departure. The husband ratified the sealing upon his return. This claim too derives from discredited anti-Mormon sources. }}
Did Joseph Smith send men on missions in order to "steal" their wives while they were gone?
This claim is contradicted by historical data: ten of the husbands of the twelve "polyandrous" wives were not on missions at the time and there is insufficient or contradictory information about the other two
One critic of the Church states, "Joseph Smith would frequently approach other men’s wives about being his own plural wives — often while the men were away." [1]
Researcher Brian C. Hales noted that this claim is without foundation:
Another detail in [John C.] Bennett's Pittsburgh affidavit is that the Prophet had sent men on missions so he could marry their wives in Nauvoo. This statement is contradicted by historical data. Of the twelve "polyandrous" husbands identified by Todd Compton, ten were not on missions at the time Joseph was sealed to their legal wives. Of the two possible exceptions, only one, Orson Hyde, is documented as on a mission at the time of Marinda Johnson Hyde's sealing to Joseph Smith. The second possible case involves George Harris, who left on his fourteen-month mission in July 1840. His wife, Lucinda may have been...sealed to Joseph Smith at some point, but the date is unavailable.[2]
The only question regards Orson Hyde, who had been on his mission for one year to two years before the sealing
It is of note that Orson had been on his mission for about a year before the sealing--he departed on 15 April 1840, and would return 7 December 1842. There are two dates available for her sealing to Joseph--either April/Spring 1842, or May 1843.[3] Thus, even with the earliest sealing date, Orson had been gone for nearly two years prior to Joseph's sealing to Nancy. If the second sealing date is correct, Orson was already home from his mission at the time.
This long delay does not fit well with the claim that a sexually-aggressive Joseph simply wanted his male rivals out of the way.
Hyde's wife Marinda was sealed to Orson following Joseph's death
Unique to the Hyde's marriage is the fact that Marinda was sealed to Orson following Joseph's death. All of the Prophet's other polyandrous wives were posthumously sealed to Joseph by proxy.[4]
Much of what we know about the Hyde sealing is also contaminated by hostile, mutually contradictory accounts that contain some known false information.
Did Joseph Smith send William Law, Robert D. Foster, and Henry Jacobs on missions so that he could steal their wives?
This claim was made in an anti-Mormon expose entitled Fifteen Years Among the Mormons
This book was written by Nelson Winch Green, who reported what estranged member Marry Ettie V. Coray Smith reportedly told him.
Even other anti-Mormon authors who had lived in Utah regarded it as nearly worthless. Fanny Stenhouse wrote:
Much has already been written on this subject much that is in accordance with facts, and much that is exaggerated and false. Hitherto, with but one exception [Mrs. Ettie V. Smith is noted in the footnote as the work referred to] that of a lady who wrote very many years ago, and who in her writings, so mixed up fiction with what was true, that it was difficult to determine where the one ended and the other began no woman who really was a Mormon and lived in Polygamy ever wrote the history of her own personal experience. Books have been published, and narratives have appeared in the magazines and journals, purporting to be written by Mormon wives; it is, however, perhaps, unnecessary for me to state that, notwithstanding such narratives may be imposed upon the Gentile world as genuine, that they were written by persons outside the Mormon faith would in a moment be detected by any intelligent Saint who took the trouble to peruse them.[5]
So, we must remember that the source of this charge against Joseph is a work that is not regarded as generally reliable today, and it was not regarded as reliable even by some of the Church's well-informed enemies in the 19th century.
The book claimed that Law, Foster and Jacobs were returned from missions to find their wives "blushing under the prospective honors of spiritual wifeism"
The relevant passage reads:
The Prophet had sent some time before this, three men, Law, Foster and Jacobs, on missions, and they had just returned, and found their wives blushing under the prospective honors of spiritual wifeism; and another woman, Mrs. Buel [sic], had left her husband, a Gentile, to grace the Prophet's retinue, on horseback, when he reviewed the Nauvoo Legion. I heard the latter woman say afterwards in Utah, that she did not know whether Mr. Buel [sic] or the Prophet was the father of her son. These men [Law, Foster and Jacobs] established a press in Nauvoo, to expose his alleged vicious teachings and practices, which a revelation from Joseph destroyed.[6]
Law and Foster never served missions, and Jacobs was not on a mission when Joseph proposed a sealing to his wife
As might be expected, then, there are many claims in this passage that are in error. We know that the following are false:
- Ettie Smith claims that William Law, Robert D. Foster, and Henry Jacobs were on missions and that Joseph had proposed plural marriage to them. Law and Foster, in fact, never served missions. Henry Jacobs did serve a mission, but he was not gone on a mission when Joseph discussed plural marriage.
- Foster and Law did participate in publishing the Nauvoo Expositor, but Henry Jacobs did not. He was and remained a faithful member of the Church.
- The destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor was undertaken by the Nauvoo city council. Some members of that council were not members of the Church--it seems implausible to think that they would bow to a "revelation" to Joseph requiring its destruction. The decision was made, instead, after 8 hours of discussion and after consulting legal references.
Thus, in the single paragraph we have several basic errors of fact. None of the men were on missions save Jacobs, and he was in Nauvoo when Joseph proposed a sealing to his wife.