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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Nauvoo Polygamy/Mind reading
| Loaded and prejudicial language | A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Nauvoo Polygamy A work by author: George D. Smith
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Mind reading
The author often attempts to interpret what Joseph was thinking as a way to lead the reader to a predetermined conclusion regarding Joseph Smith:
The author states that Joseph has a "predilection" to "take an interest in more than one woman" (p. x). Napoleon's Egyptian findings are speculated to have "lit a fire in Smith that inspired even the language of his religious prose." (p. x) The author refers to what he says is Joseph's "quest for female companionship." The author even claims to know that the topic of polygamy was already on Joseph's mind as early as the 1820s. (p. xiv). He even attempts to use the Book of Mormon to justify this by claiming that "[p]olygamy was evidently on Smith's mind even before founding the Mormon Church, if that can be deduced from the marriage formula inscribed in the Book of Mormon." The odd thing is that the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy unless the Lord commands it! There is no "marriage formula" in the Book of Mormon which would serve as a justification for polygamy. Joseph is said to be "[s]eemingly impatient" and as a result "married Zina's sister, Presendia, who was also already married." (70-71) Joseph is said to have "coalesced astronomy, biblical mystery, ancient Egyptian writing, and Masonic ritual into portentous ceremony for his followers." (p. 114) The author assigns motives to Joseph's actions when he states that "[t]hree weeks after the wedding, Joseph took steps to spend some time with his newest bride." Joseph is claimed to have "judiciously addressed the letter to 'Brother, and Sister, Whitney, and &c." when in reality he "urged his seventeen-year-old bride to 'come to night' and 'comfort' him." (p. 114-115) Joseph's mind is read once again when the author claims that Sidney Rigdon "was not someone Joseph felt comfortable approaching to ask for his daughter's hand in polygamy. So Joseph appealed to the young woman directly."(p. 149).