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< Joseph Smith | Polygamy
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For the Tanners' reading to be accepted, we must reject all but the snippet which they quote—including an attempt by the prosecution in the Smoot case to draw the very conclusion which the Tanners advance. Yet, the witness rejected that attempt, as he would doubtless reject the Tanners' insinuations almost a century later. | For the Tanners' reading to be accepted, we must reject all but the snippet which they quote—including an attempt by the prosecution in the Smoot case to draw the very conclusion which the Tanners advance. Yet, the witness rejected that attempt, as he would doubtless reject the Tanners' insinuations almost a century later. | ||
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+ | {{:Source:Webb:BYUS:2011:18:Joseph Smith's doctrine and character demand our amazement}} | ||
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Plural marriage |
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Doctrine and Covenants 132 was written 12 July 1843. Lorenzo Snow testified during the late nineteenth century that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy prior to this date.
(The source for this claim is Lorenzo Snow's testimony given during the late-nineteenth century Temple Lot court case between the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS, now Community of Christ) and the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), two groups who did not follow the leadership of Brigham Young and the Twelve after the death of Joseph Smith.) To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Lorenzo Snow's complete testimony in the Temple Lot case demonstrates that he did not regard Joseph's marriages prior to July 1843 as adulterous. This stance is also consistent with his earlier sworn testimony, and his sister's account.
For the Tanners' reading to be accepted, we must reject all but the snippet which they quote—including an attempt by the prosecution in the Smoot case to draw the very conclusion which the Tanners advance. Yet, the witness rejected that attempt, as he would doubtless reject the Tanners' insinuations almost a century later.
(Note that the critics also err in assuming that 12 July 1843 was the day the revelation was received, whereas it is clear that Joseph had been teaching the doctrine since at least 1831. The revelation was merely put into writing in 1843 at the instigation of Hyrum Smith.)
The relevant testimony from Lorenzo Snow reads:
Lorenzo Snow is clearly explaining that the Church's marital standard was monogamy until they had received and accepted the plural marriage revelation.
Does this mean, then, that even if Joseph—the prophet—contracted a marriage before 13 July 1843, it would necessarily be adulterous? There are two possibilities:
As we will now see, Lorenzo's other testimony shows that he clearly did not regard Joseph as an adulterer, even for plural marriages contracted before the revelation was written. Thus, the second option best captures his intent. We can be certain that the Tanners did not fairly represent the intent of Snow's testimony, or the conclusions which he drew, since the Reed Smoot hearing tried to draw the same conclusion, only to have Snow reject it a page later in his testimony.
Lorenzo Snow's sister, Eliza R. Snow, was married to Joseph Smith in April 1843—before the revelation was written down.
If option #1 above is the intent of Snow's testimony, then he would regard Eliza's marriage as adulterous. If, on the other hand, option #2 was his intent, then he would not be troubled by Joseph's sealing to his sister.
It is clear that the person asking the questions at the Smoot hearings wishes to draw the same conclusion as the Tanners—option #1. Let's see how Snow responds:
There is no hint that Snow regards their act as adulterous or improper. The questioner clearly hopes that when he asks "what kind of position did it put your sister and Joseph Smith in?" Snow will be forced to reply, "an adulterous position." But, Snow says no such thing—he notes that their status before God is "first-rate," and "splendid" both before and after death. Given the seriousness with which adultery is and was regarded by Latter-day Saints, the Tanners' reading is implausible.
Furthermore, Lorenzo Snow had been taught the doctrine of plural marriage well before July 1843, as he later swore:
Lorenzo gives no sign that Joseph was adulterous—indeed, he emphasizes the divine command, the revelation from God, and the angel's insistance.
Eliza also gave witness about her brother's attitude to her marriage:
Lorenzo's mind had been prepared, and so he did not reject the teaching, or frown on Eliza's marriage to Joseph as adulterous. This evidence is all consistent with option #2, but not with the Tanners' option #1.
It appears that shortly after the April 3 vision, Joseph Smith recorded a first-hand account of the vision in his own personal journal or notes. That original record has not been found and is probably lost. Nonetheless, these important visitations were documented in other contemporaneous records. Within a few days, the Prophet’s secretary Warren Cowdery transcribed Joseph’s first-hand account into a third-hand account to be used in the Church history then being composed. |
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It seems likely that after the Prophet received the authority to seal marriage in 1836, he realized that the minute he introduced eternal marriage, questions regarding plural marriage would quickly arise, questions he did not want to answer. Accordingly, for several years he hesitated to discuss either teaching with the Latter-day Saints until compelled by an angel to do so. |
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