If I had the date of the first publication of it, the name and motives of the publisher of it, and some commentary on it from persons other than enemies of the church, for balance, then I might be able to deal with it. My guess is that it was fabricated by polygamists to justify their sins, or by enemies of the church who thought they could get away with "making things up".
Some lies are so impressive that they are taken as fact. For example, Tina Fey's imitation of Sarah Palin saying, "I can see Russia from my house," is taken by many as being something that Sarah Palin actually said, and many will never, because they are closeminded, believe that she did not say it.
LOL, living in da state of de nile.
My guess is that it was fabricated by polygamists to justify their sins, or by enemies of the church who thought they could get away with "making things up".
Sound more like you are the one making things up John - with such an unsubstatiated denial.
Some lies are so impressive that they are taken as fact. For example, Tina Fey's imitation of Sarah Palin saying, "I can see Russia from my house," is taken by many as being something that Sarah Palin actually said, and many will never, because they are closeminded, believe that she did not say it.
Fact of the matter John, this isn't a Tina Fey joke. Nor was it a joke to the over 30 women Smith had taken to wife.
What other restoration leader from the early 1800's was accused time and time again for polygamy John? Generally where there is smoke, there is fire and as I pointed out in prior post - many sources were not trying to justify their 'sin' of polygamy when they were pointing out smith's polygamy. Again, why was the mormon church the only one singled out for practicing polygamy in smith's day? Why did they have to so vigorously deny the practice?
Remarkably, it has been shown that smith wasn't the only one lying about it. John Taylor declared to be false the accusation “of polygamy and actions the most indelicate, obscene, and disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have contrived. These things are too outrageous to admit of belief.” At the time of that emphatic pronouncement, Taylor (who would later become church president) had ten plural wives.
More from smith's own hand -
Joseph Smith, 27 July 1842, Nauvoo, Illinois
(Unpublished Revelations 59)
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto my servant Newel K. Whitney,
2 The thing that my servant Joseph Smith has made known unto you and your family and which you have agreed upon is right in mine eyes,
3 And shall be crowned upon your heads with honour and immortality and eternal life to all your house, both old and young because of the lineage of my Priesthood, saith the Lord,
4 It shall be upon you and upon your children after you from generation to generation, by virtue of the holy promise which I now make unto you, saith the Lord.
5 These are the words which you shall pronounce upon my servant Joseph and your daughter Sarah Ann Whitney.
6 They shall take each other by the hand and you shall say,
7 You both mutually agree, calling them by name, to be each other's companion so long as you both shall live, preserving yourselves for each other and from all others, and also throughout all eternity, reserving only those rights which have been given to my servant Joseph by revelation and commandment and by legal authority in times past.
8 If you both agree to covenant and do this, then I give you Sarah Ann Whitney, my daughter, to Joseph Smith, to be his wife, to observe all the rights between you both that belong to that condition.
9 I do it in my own name and in the name of your wife, your mother, and in the name of my holy progenitors, by right of birth which is of priesthood, vested in me by revelation and commandment and promise of the living God, obtained through the holy Melchizedek, Jethro and other of the holy fathers commanding in the name of the Lord all those powers to concentrate in you and through to your posterity forever.
10 All these things I do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that through this order he may be glorified and through the power of the anointing David may reign king over Israel, which shall hereafter be revealed.
11 Let immortality and eternal life henceforth be sealed upon your heads forever and ever.
Joseph Smith Collection, Church Historians Office
Well I guess this is "tainted" since Smith was trying to justify his polygamy.
Sidney Rigdon's daughter, Nancy When Smith proposed marriage in April 1842 to Nancy Rigdon, nineteen-year-old daughter of his close friend and counselor, Sidney Rigdon, he reportedly took her into a room, "locked the door, and then stated to her that he had had an affection for her for several years, and wished that she should be his." Nancy refused him, saying she would only marry a single man. The following day Smith explained in a letter to her: "That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another." He added, "Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof." She remained unconvinced. Nancy, her brother John, and her brother-in-law George W. Robinson testified in sworn affidavits that the Joseph Smith had proposed "spiritual marriage" to her. Smith publicly denied the accusations. ("The Letter of the Prophet, Joseph Smith to Miss Nancy Rigdon," Joseph Smith Collection, LDS archives; History of The Church 5:134-36. Sidney Rigdon Biography, Richard S. Van Wagoner, Chapter 21)
Nancy rejected smith's proposal - thus her testimony does not contain your precious 'tainting' John. Oh, and the letter is from smith John, not a forgery. BTW John, Rigdon was not a supporter of polygamy either.
Open your self to the truth - it is freeing John.
First you WANT data; and then you guess withOUT data!
Sorry; but wanting to have it both ways don't sit too well among seekers of truth.
So is some truth.
So is some truth. It is so damning that it is spun as words from ENEMIES of the CHURCH.
(We translate THAT as meaning: CHRISTIANS.)
Some lies are so impressive that they are taken as fact.
_____________________________________________
Well there was that time with the salamander.....