Joseph Smith & Nauvoo Polygamy Secrecy
The secrecy of the marriages and the private and public denials by Joseph Smith are not congruent with honest behavior.
CES Letter, Page 57
NEXT RELEVANT QUOTE
Now, does the fact that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and polyandry while denying and lying to Emma, the Saints, and the world over the course of 10+ years of his life prove that he was a false prophet? That the Church is false? No, it doesn’t.
What it does prove, however, is that Joseph Smith’s pattern of behavior or modus operandi for a period of at least 10 years of his adult life was to keep secrets, to be deceptive, and to be dishonest – both privately and publicly.
It’s when you take this snapshot of Joseph’s character and start looking into the Book of Abraham, the Kinderhook Plates, the Book of Mormon, the multiple First Vision accounts, Priesthood Restoration, and so on that you begin to see a very disturbing pattern and picture.
CES Letter, Pages 58-59
Claims in The CES Letter that a “pattern of behavior or modus operandi for a period of at least 10 years of his adult life was to keep secrets, be deceptive, and be dishonest –both privately and publicly” is inaccurate and is based upon assumptions, not documentation.
Joseph Smith had been instructed in 1830 to not give gospel meat to those who were not ready for it (D&C 19:22). Secrecy was involved when introducing plural marriage because those who rejected it might be eternally condemned (see D&C 132:52, 54, 64). Timing and presentation were important because it could be so easily misunderstood.
Joseph Smith expected the obedient would eventually understand and comply. He told Lucy Walker: “Although I cannot, under existing circumstances, acknowledge you as my wife, the time is near when we will go beyond the Rocky Mountains and then you will be acknowledged and honored as my wife." He also said, "This principle will yet be believed in and practiced by the righteous.” (Deposition, Temple Lot transcript, respondent’s testimony (part 3), page 467, questions 432, 435, 437, 446.)
The temple endowment was similarly introduced cautiously with secrecy, but accusations Joseph was deceptive in doing so have not been common. Secrecy helped Joseph discern who was spiritually prepared to receive higher teachings and more lofty commandments. Joseph’s pre-Nauvoo reputation did not include accusations of libertinism or being a womanizer. Click here.
Additional Resources:
Fanny Alger and Joseph Smith's Pre-Nauvoo Reputation
A Joseph Smith Miscellany (2005 FAIR Conference) by Richard Bushman
Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration
The Joseph Smith Papers Project
Joseph Smith Papers,Vol 1, Gerrit Dirkmaat
Joseph Smith Papers, Vol 2, Matthew Godfrey
Best of Fair 7: The Joseph Smith Papers, Ron Esplin, 1:00:05
FAIR Conversations, Episode 3: Richard L. Bushman p.1, Richard L. Bushman, 1:01:16
FAIR Conversations, Episode 4: Richard L. Bushman p.2, Richard L. Bushman, 0:47:51
Faith and Reason 3: A Prophet’s Birth from Noble Heritage, Michael R. Ash, 0:07:54
Faith and Reason 4: A Miracle Operation, Michael R. Ash, 0:08:46
Faith and Reason 5: Joseph Smith’s Name Known Worldwide, Michael R. Ash, 0:05:19
Rough Stone Rolling — Richard Bushman — Fair Mormon Podcast
Rough Stone Rolling-Richard Bushman- Fair Mormon Podcast part 2
Rough Stone Rolling- Interview with Richard Bushman– Fair Mormon Podcast part 1
pt 1 Legal trials of Joseph Smith
pt 2 Legal trials of Joseph Smith
pt 3 Legal trials of Joseph Smith
pt 4 Legal trials of Joseph Smith
pt 5 Legal trials of Joseph Smith
pt 1 Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
pt 2 Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
pt 3 Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
pt 4 Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
pt 5 Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
pt 6 Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
pt 1, The Protean Joseph Smith
pt 2, The Protean Joseph Smith
pt 3, The Protean Joseph Smith
pt 4, The Protean Joseph Smith
1st Joseph Smith JR The Prophet in videos
2nd Series of Joseph Smith JR The Prophet
3rd of 1st Disc of Series of Joseph The Prophet
4th Joseph Smith, 4th in Series
5th Series of Joseph Smith JR The Prophet
6th Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Story
7th of 1st Disc of Series of Joseph The Prophet
Jesus Christ vs. Joseph Smith video review
JOSEPH SMITH – Did he have a gun? Why?
Joseph Smith Miscellany by Richard Bushman
Joseph Smith Papers Constance Lewis and Four Church Historians
Joseph Smith Papers Jeffrey Cannon and Online Papers
Joseph Smith Papers Karen Davidson and John Corrill
Joseph Smith Papers Nathan Waite and Edward Partridge
Joseph Smith Papers Richard Jensen and Missouri Mormon War
Joseph Smith Papers, Documents Series, Ron Esplin-1
Joseph Smith’s Escape from Carthage Jail by Jeff Walker
Joseph Smiths Escape from Liberty Jail
Legal Trials of Joseph Smith by Joseph Bentley
Refuting Joseph Smith’s Critics by Matthew Brown
Review of Jesus Christ vs Joseph Smith part 1
Review of Jesus Christ vs. Joseph Smith part 2
Review of Jesus Christ vs Joseph Smith part 3
Revised or Unaltered: Joseph Smith’s Foundational Stories
Ron Hellings on Joseph Smith and Modern Cosmology
The Protean Joseph Smith by Daniel C Peterson
A Joseph Smith Miscellany (2005 FAIR Conference) by Richard Bushman
Joseph Smith and Modern Cosmology (PDF) (2009 FAIR Conference) by Ron Hellings
Joseph Smith and the Biblical Council of the Gods (PDF) (2010 FAIR Conference) by David Bokovoy
Joseph Smith’s History Confirmed (PDF) by Craig N. Ray
Legal Trials of the Prophet: Joseph Smith’s Life in Court (2006 FAIR Conference) by Joseph Bentley
Revised or Unaltered? Joseph Smith’s Foundational Stories (2006 FAIR Conference) by Matthew Brown
The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith (2002 FAIR Conference) by Russell Anderson
The Joseph Smith Papers (PDF) (2008 FAIR Conference) by Ronald Esplin