Author weaves together public and private lives of LDS Church founder

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 12/04/2008 | Brooke Adams

[greyfoxx39]

Disguised in a man's hat and coat, Louisa Beaman stood on the banks of the Missouri River on April 5, 1841, and recited vows that made her the plural wife of Joseph Smith Jr.

Over the next 30 months, secret marriages followed as Joseph Smith added orphaned teenagers, middle-aged spinsters, sisters, mothers and daughters and other men's wives to his burgeoning clandestine family -- all while establishing a community, economy and religion.

-SNIP-

Smith said he began compiling lists of the church founder's wives more than a decade ago; his research was spurred on by the limited information offered in the faith's official history.

The LDS Church's online Newsroom, for instance, refers only to the fact Joseph Smith made a "prayerful inquiry" about plural marriage in 1831 that resulted in "the divine instruction to reinstitute the practice" which became "public and widely known during the time of Brigham Young."

"I am taking something that seemed to be part of the story, an essential part of the story but it wasn't addressed," Smith said. Modern-day Mormons and the church itself, he said, are still in the "process of forgetting" this aspect of their history and the role polygamy played in events in Nauvoo.

-SNIP-

Smith sides with historians who believe Joseph Smith first broached polygamy as a tenet of the fledging church in 1831, though the practice did not take root until the 1840s and was not publicly acknowledged until 1852. He is unflinching about unseemly aspects of the prophet's life, which include stints as a treasure seeker and rumors of sexual indiscretions.

-SNIP-

The marriages were denied publicly and mostly kept from first wife Emma, requiring the prophet to make furtive conjugal visits. Smith calls the prophet's efforts to enlist others in the practice the spark that eventually left "Nauvoo in flames."

[greyfoxx39]

Read the whole article. This looks like an interesting book.

[greyfoxx39]

Ping

[colorcountry]

Thanks for the ping. I does look interesting.

[SkyDancer]

Had a real history lesson driving back from Illinois last summer. Got to see where Joseph Smith was shot and killed ... the old jail house ...

[svcw]

Its 3:41pm pst, how long before this post is pulled?

[greyfoxx39]

Well, it’s in the REligion Forum.

[elcid1970]

Joseph Smith died with a gun in his hand.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

bookmark

[SkyDancer]

I’m not sure. The picture they had posted just showed him at the window being shot but no gun visible ...there was a neat museum next door with all sorts of literature and an old style paper of that year ... I never asked but was he shooting back? How did he get a gun into that jail?

ps - I’m not a Mormon but am interested in their history.

[count-your-change]

What's a little adultery between friends, especially if it's in the name of religion?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Over the next 30 months, secret marriages followed as Joseph Smith added orphaned teenagers, middle-aged spinsters, sisters, mothers and daughters and other men’s wives to his burgeoning clandestine family — all while establishing a community, economy and religion.”

Under cultic mormon theology, Smith will be populating his own planet, as a god, keeping these breeders pregnant for eternity.

[greyfoxx39]

The picture they had posted just showed him at the window being shot but no gun visible ...there was a neat museum next door with all sorts of literature and an old style paper of that year ... I never asked but was he shooting back? How did he get a gun into that jail?

John Taylor, who became the third President of the Mormon Church, made these statements concerning the death of Joseph Smith:

"Elder Cyrus H. Wheelock came in to see us, and when he was about leaving drew a small pistol, a six-shooter, from his pocket, remarking at the same time, 'Would any of you like to have this?' Brother JOSEPH immediately replied, 'YES, give it to me,' whereupon he took the pistol, and put it in his pantaloons pocket.... I was sitting at one of the front windows of the jail, when I saw a number of men, with painted faces, coming around the corner of the jail, and aiming towards the stairs....

"I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard manifested in the countenance of Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, 'Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!' He, however, instantly arose, and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only three of the barrels, however, were discharged.

I afterwards understood that two or three were WOUNDED by these discharges, TWO of whom, I am informed DIED." (History of the Church, Vol. 7, pp. 100, 102 & 103)

[SkyDancer]

Thanks - didn’t have a chance to read all of what happened that day ... the jail is exactly like it was then (pictures around the wall) ... it’s great to be able to ‘touch’ history ...

[greyfoxx39]

Remember the mormon that called Shawn McRaney and "rebuked" him? He called Shawn again.

It's difficult to tell if this guy is for real!

[elcid1970]

Check out exmormon.org - yes, it’s for recovering Mormons, but the sources are authoritative, IMO.

The issue is the rewriting of Mormon history. Joseph Smith, for example, did not teach absolute abstinence from alcohol.

[SkyDancer]

Thanks for that info. I have several Mormon girlfriends and we chat sometimes about LDS stuff - went to their church several times, sat in classes. It’s OK but not something I’m interested in .... some things set me off ....

[conservative cat]

Self ping for later.

[Tax-chick]

Joseph Smith died with a gun in his hand.

I'd like to, myself, even if it's just for show. And my sons around me holding rifles, just like Ma Hatfield.

[Alex Murphy]

"I am taking something that seemed to be part of the story, an essential part of the story but it wasn't addressed," Smith said. Modern-day Mormons and the church itself, he said, are still in the "process of forgetting" this aspect of their history and the role polygamy played in events in Nauvoo.

"...While certain doctrines are enunciated in the standard works and some doctrinal issues have been addressed in formal pronouncements by the First Presidency, there is nothing in Mormonism comparable to the Westminster Confession of Faith of the Augsberg Confession. Few of the truly distinctive doctrines of Mormonism are discussed in official sources. It is mainly by unofficial means -- Sunday School lessons, seminary, institute, and BYU religion classes, sacrament meeting talks and books by Church officials and others who ultimately speak only for themselves -- that the theology is passed from one generation to the next. Indeed it would seem that a significant part of Mormon theology exists primarily in the minds of the members... the absence of a formal creed means that each generation must produce a new set of gospel expositors to restate and reinterpret the doctrines of Mormonism..."

Peter Crawley, in the magazine
Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1982

[elcid1970]

I believe you’re referring to the petty criminal Ma Barker and her sons back in the 1930’s.

The Hatfields and McCoys had mostly reconciled before then.

Anyway, much better to die fighting in a noble cause. For our freedoms, best of all.