tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75774331002332076372024-03-13T13:14:02.130-07:00Confessions of an ElderConquering Ignorance - A Free Exhange of Ideas on Mormonism, Liberty, Religion, Scholasticsm, and PhilosophyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-26510097486480289642014-08-21T20:38:00.001-07:002014-08-26T09:53:01.763-07:00<br />
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<span style="color: #17365d;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Official Petition to Remove Polygamous Section 132 from
the Doctrine and Covenants and Reinstate Section 101 in its Original Form<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Petition – A Summary</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">D&C 132 is a deplorable and fabricated “revelation” that
must be openly condemned and immediately removed from the Doctrine and
Covenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">D&C 132 was a false revelation that did not
originate with Joseph Smith as claimed in Section 132, but with Brigham Young
and his cohorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham Young, with the
help of William Clayton, fabricated Section 132, and made up a preposterous story
of its origins, all in order to justify a vile and wicked practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
process, Brigham Young maliciously defamed Emma Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the time D&C 132 was included in the
Doctrine and Covenants (1876), Brigham Young removed the “rule of marriage” as contained
in Section 101 without revelation or common consent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “rule of marriage,” confirmed by Joseph
Smith, stated:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Inasmuch
as this church has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy;
we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman,
but one husband.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">– D&C 101 (1835 and 1844 editions) (revelation dated,
December 16, 1833)</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brigham Young’s removal of the “rule of
marriage” was a gross violation of God’s word and the policy of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, D&C 101 must be rectified and include
the “rule of marriage” as originally contained in Section 101.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to being a fraud, D&C 132 caused
the widespread relegation of women to inferior status in the church and led to
the treatment of women as almost property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So long as D&C 132 remains in the Doctrine and Covenants, the LDS
Church condones the unrighteous mistreatment of women.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">NOW THEREFORE, in the spirt of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">common consent</b>, as identified in D&C 26:2 (“And all things
shall be done by common consent in the church”), 28:13 (“For all things must be
done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith”),
and 104:21 (“And let all things be done according to the counsel of the order,
and united consent”), we do hereby affix our name to this petition in order to request
that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to finally and
unequivocally end all association of polygamy with our faith, or in the very
least, to take this matter before the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We believe it is the right thing to do and necessary in order for the
Church to repent and come closer to the Lord.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To affix your name to the petition, please include your name in the comments section and click on the following link:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/844/781/640/">http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/844/781/640/</a><br />
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Section 132 – The Most Wicked of Scriptures</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now here’s a “scripture” for you to discuss in Sunday
School (it probably wasn't one of the scripture mastery in Seminary) - <strong>D&C 132:61-62</strong>: <br />
<br />
<b>“And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood - if any man espouse
a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if
he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man,
then he is justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him;
for he cannot commit adultery with that belongeth unto him and to no one
else. And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law; he cannot
commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore
he is justified.”</b><br />
<br />
What if a young virgin refuses to become property of one of these revolting priesthood
holders?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">D&C 132:64 provides: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“[I]f any man have a wife, who hold the keys of this power,
and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these
things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, <b>or she shall be
destroyed</b>, saith the Lord your God; <b>for</b> <b>I will destroy her</b>;
for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the worst of abominations!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the type of wickedness that you would
have seen in the halls of King Noah, the same King Noah that murdered the
prophet Abinadi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brigham Young and his cohorts lusted after young virgins and
even claimed that the Lord would destroy them if they refused to accept their despicable
and immoral advances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without question, this proves how disgusting the Section 132
polygamous doctrine is and how polygamy is an affront to the status and
sanctity of women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Section 132 must
be removed and condemned.</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Vile Fabrication – The Origins of Section 132</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Few members of the LDS Church are familiar with the origins
of Section 132 and do not know that the “revelation” wasn’t revealed until
eight years after Joseph’s death and not in Joseph’s handwriting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The official introduction to Section 132
states:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Revelation given through Joseph
Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the
new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant
and the principle of plural marriage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence indicates that some of the
principles involved in this revelation were known by the Prophet as early as
1831.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, the introduction is entirely false and does not
adequately explain the alleged and laughable origins of the “revelation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Smith neither revealed Section 132 nor
taught polygamous principles to anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph repeatedly and unequivocally
denounced polygamy as a vile and wicked practice up until the date of his
death. Joseph even sued Chauncey Higbee in court for defamation related
to Higbee’s claims that Joseph taught polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of Joseph’s harshest sermons against polygamy occurred only one month and
one day before his death (“I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and
made one proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven
wives . . . I am innocent of all these charges . . . What a thing it is for a
man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can
only find one.” LDS History of the Church 6:410-11).</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many other leaders of the Church, including the
Presidents of the Seventies and the Relief Society, repeatedly,
publicly, and unequivocally denounced polygamy up until the date of Joseph’s
death and denied that Joseph Smith was preaching any such doctrine, secret or
otherwise. These Church leaders submitted affidavits and public
statements attesting to Joseph’s innocence. Either these Church leaders
were liars, conspiring with Joseph in covering up polygamy as a "secret
doctrine" as the LDS Church claims, or they were telling the truth and
Joseph was innocent of polygamy.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emma Smith and Joseph Smith III (he was 11 1/2
years old at the time of Joseph's death) continually declared until the end of
their lives that Joseph was innocent of polygamy. Emma denied every
seeing D&C Section 132 or burning the original document.
</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the LDS Church’s Explanation as to the Origins of Section 132?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s the official explanation found in the student manual
(</span><a href="https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-132-138/section-132-marriage-an-eternal-covenant?lang=eng"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-132-138/section-132-marriage-an-eternal-covenant?lang=eng</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is clear that the Prophet Joseph
Smith received section 132 before it was recorded but delayed making it known.
The Prophet knew the Lord’s will on plural marriage within the new and
everlasting covenant probably as early as 1831 (see History of the Church,
5:xxix). In March 1843 he spoke to William Clayton of eternal marriage. In July
of that year, he was discussing the doctrine with his brother Hyrum in William
Clayton’s presence when Hyrum said, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you will write the revelation on
celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can
convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace</i></b>” (History
of the Church, 5:xxxii).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" id="p2" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;" uri="/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-132-138/section-132-marriage-an-eternal-covenant.p2">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
Prophet consented and told William Clayton to get some paper to write; but to
his brother’s “urgent request” that the Prophet use the Urim and Thummim to
recall the exact revelation, Joseph replied that he did not need it, “for he
knew the revelation from beginning to end” (History of the Church, 5:xxxii).
When he had finished dictating, William Clayton read it back slowly, and Joseph
said that it was exact.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bishop Newel K. Whitney heard
the revelation read and asked permission of the Prophet Joseph Smith to have it
copied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the Prophet’s approval,
Bishop Whitney sent Joseph C. Kingsbury the next day to copy it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brothers Kingsbury and Clayton compared the
copy line by line to the original and found it correct.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The revelation was not made
public until Elder Orson Pratt, under the direction of President Brigham Young,
announced it at a Church conference on 29 August 1852. The revelation was
placed in the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876</i></b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Emphasis added).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the above, the LDS Church claims that Hyrum (not
Joseph) wanted to take the original copy of the revelation to Emma Smith so
that Hyrum could convince Emma of the truth of polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, Joseph fortuitously and inexplicably “dictated”
Section 132 to William Clayton, who acted as a scribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what happened to the original copy of the revelation (in Clayton's handwriting)?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Already, the above story strains all credulity, but it gets
even better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you believe
William Clayton?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clayton said that on July 12, 1843, when Joseph Smith fully
revealed D&C Section 132, for the inane purpose of convincing Emma of the
truth of polygamy, Joseph just happened to ask Clayton to act as Joseph’s
scribe (no one has ever explained why Joseph needed a scribe) and create the
original copy of the purported revelation, even though Joseph supposedly just said
he was about to write the revelation down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
According to Clayton:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Joseph then said, ‘<strong>Well, I [i.e.,
Joseph] will write the revelation</strong> and we will see.’ He then
requested me to get paper and prepare to write. Hyrum very urgently
requested Joseph to write the revelation by means of the Urim and Thummim, but
Joseph, in reply, said he did not need to, for he knew the revelation perfectly
from beginning to end. Joseph and Hyrum then sat down, and Joseph
commenced to dictate the Revelation on Celestial Marriage, and I wrote it, sentence
by sentence, as he dictated.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before Hyrum (and Joseph apparently) took the “revelation”
(in Clayton's handwriting) to Emma, Clayton (or Bishop Whitney) conveniently
caused Joseph C. Kingsbury, the store clerk for Bishop Whitney, to make a
second copy of the revelation (of course, this never happened at any other
time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the supposed Kingsbury copy
that exists today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once it was shown to her, Emma supposedly became so upset
about the doctrine, in Clayton's handwriting, that she seized it from Hyrum and
tossed it into a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just so
fortunate that Kingsbury had created a second copy – I guess some would claim
that it was a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The more reasonable of us would call it hogwash.</span><br />
<br />
Now here’s the really crazy part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
revelation was so unimportant that Brigham put the Kingsbury copy into his desk
drawer and forgot about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strangely,
Joseph and Hyrum both never mentioned the Section 132 revelation or Emma’s
destruction of the original copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Even though Joseph and Hyrum both knew the original bearing Clayton's
handwriting had been burnt by Emma, Joseph and Hyrum were simply unconcerned
with making the revelation known to everyone else (think about it . . . they
lived for almost another year – and yet never mentioned it anywhere).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then eight years after Joseph’s death, Brigham
happened to find the Kingsbury copy (of Clayton's dictation) in Brigham’s long
forgotten desk drawer and finally but dutifully released it to the
members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, Brigham had to also
simultaneously but quietly amend Section 101's prohibition of polygamy as the
"rule of marriage" (since that was such an unimportant matter – it
didn’t require any formal revelation to amend it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or do you believe
Emma Smith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emma vehemently denied until her death, even under oath,
ever seeing Section 132.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma said she
never saw or burned a copy of the document as claimed by Brigham Young and
William Clayton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma loved and defended
Hyrum until the day that she died (even naming her son Hyrum as well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As is evident, the origins of Section 132 are a complete hoax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William Clayton’s story (at the behest of
Brigham Young) has every telltale sign of being a forgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Section 132 was fabricated and falsely
attributed to Joseph Smith in order to justify the wicked practices of Brigham
Young and his followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to
fabricating the Lord’s revelation in order to engage in abominable acts,
Brigham Young repeatedly defamed Emma Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-77560958689308665222014-08-10T18:41:00.001-07:002014-08-22T06:15:18.270-07:00<br />
<h2 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A False Polygamous Scriptural Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<br />
<h4 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">Proving that the LDS Church
Has Grossly Misinterpreted Jacob 2:30 in order to Justify Past and Present Whoredoms<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Part 9 of “A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy”
(</span></span><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2298.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2298.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">),
I included in the footnotes a small reference to Jacob 2:30 that I now believe
needs more contextualization and elaboration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jacob 2:30 reads:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“For if I will, saith the Lord of
Hosts, raise up </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken
unto these things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In short, the LDS Church wrongfully interprets Jacob 2:30 as
follows:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in; text-indent: -1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Interpretation 1</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I
will command my people [to practice polygamy]; otherwise [if the Lord does not
give the commandment to practice polygamy], they shall hearken unto these
things [i.e., Jacob’s instruction to not practice polygamy].”</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In contrast, the following is the logical and harmonious
interpretation of Jacob 2:30:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in; text-indent: -1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Interpretation 2</span></b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“For
if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my
people [the Lord will command his people]; otherwise [if the Lord is not their
commander; or His people do not obey the Lord’s commandments], they shall
hearken unto these [wicked] things [they shall practice the sins of
polygamy].”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This thesis is written to prove that Interpretation 2 (as originally pointed out by Richard and Pamela Price) above is
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interpretation 1, as believed by
the LDS Church, is a gross distortion of the word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">****************************<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As will be proven below, the LDS Church has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grossly misinterpreted</b> Jacob 2:30 to justify the grievous “<strong>grosser
crimes</strong>” (Jacob 2:23), “<strong>whoredoms</strong>” (Jacob 2:23), “<strong>wicked practices</strong>” (Jacob 1:15),
and “<strong>abomination</strong>[s]” (Jacob 2:28) of Brigham Young and his followers, which not
only <strong>violated</strong> the “<strong>chastity of women</strong>” (Jacob 2:28), but also perpetually
relegated women as lower class citizens in the Kingdom of God as practiced and
described by the LDS faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Why does it matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, many LDS men and women today believe that polygamy will
once again be practiced, in this life or the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own sister-in-law said that it was the
“higher law” or the “new and an everlasting covenant” quoting the infamous and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100% fabricated D&C Section 132</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> </span><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-william-clayton-deception.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-william-clayton-deception.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My sister-in-law, who is doctrinally correct as understood by the LDS Church, has
mentally prepared herself to accept sharing her husband with other women in the
next life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does that mentally do to
a familial relationship when the wife relegates herself as a lower class
citizen in the Kingdom of God?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, by definition, the Section 132 polygamous law
debases women and treats women secondarily to men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lower ranking status of women has
permeated all aspects of the LDS Church, which more resembles the Brighamite
faith, not the church created by Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many male authorities in the LDS Church may
deny that women are treated with lesser regard, but I know that many women
fully recognize, as is the doctrine of Section 132, that they are indeed lower-ranking members of the
LDS Church. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don't believe me? D&C 132:61-62 proves how disgusting the polygamous doctrine is and how polygamy is an affront to the status and sanctity of women: </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>"And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood - if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified; he cannot commit adultery for <u>they are given unto him</u>; for he cannot commit adultery with that <u>belongeth unto him</u> and to no one else. And <u>if he have ten virgins</u> given unto him by this law; <u>he cannot commit adultery</u>, for <u>they belong to him</u>, and <u>they are given unto him</u>; therefore <u>he is justified</u>."</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And what if a woman refuses (D&C 132:64): "[I]f any man have a wife, who hold the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, <strong>or she shall be destroyed</strong>, saith the Lord your God; <strong>for</strong> <strong>I will destroy her</strong>; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">What fraudulent wickedness of the highest magnitude!!!</span></strong></u><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, if the Lord is correct (which the LDS Church refuses embrace), then polygamy is a major sin and violates the “chastity of women.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham Young (an unrepentant immoral man)
and his co-conspirators institutionalized a VERY immoral practice that caused
the split between the LDS Church and their fellow church members in the Reorganized
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although the LDS Church is now correct (although
hypocritically) in excommunicating those persons who practice polygamy with
living spouses, the Church cannot escape its own FALSE “new and an everlasting
covenant” doctrine that is foully detailed in Section 132 ("and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory")</span></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; further, polygamy is still
performed in LDS Church sealing ceremonies, i.e., a man can be sealed to more
than one woman once his first wife has passed away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fourth, 3 Nephi 16:10 provided the following warning:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At
that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the
fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above
all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shall
be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits</i></b>, and of mischiefs,
and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
whoredoms, and of secret abominations</i></b>; and if they shall do all those
things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them</i></b>.” (Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you read my 10-part series on the true origins of LDS polygamy (<a href="http://confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html">http://confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</a>), you would be familiar with "all manner of lyings, and of deceits," "secret abominations," and adultery surrounding the polygamy issue, which originated with the Cochranites, William Bennett, and Brigham Young. Consequently, I believe the Lord has removed the fullness of the gospel from
the LDS Church due to the Church’s (not Joseph Smith's) sordid past and “<strong>secret abominations</strong>” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">compare</i> Jacob 2:28) and “<strong>whoredoms</strong>” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">compare</i> Jacob 2:23 and 3:5).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The only way that the fullness of the Lord's gospel will be restored, is if the church as a whole repents of its vile lying past and wicked doctrines. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
LDS Church must repent</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to repent,
the Church must (a) correct and release its true history, (b) openly remove
Section 132 and reveal it as a fabrication of Brigham Young, (c) issue public apologies
to Emma Smith and Joseph Smith’s children for defaming Joseph and Emma Smith
for so many years, (d) issue apologies to the women of the Church, (e) correct
the current doctrine of the Church and stop all polygamous sealings, (f) remove
all doctrines instituted by Brigham Young (temple, ceremonial, or otherwise),
(g) apologize to the world for perpetuating a VERY false doctrine, and (h) change the name of Brigham Young University to Emma Smith University. Hiding the Church’s polygamous abominable past
and present (the current LDS position) is certainly not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could go on, but I fear that I have drifted from my primary
thesis. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Book of Mormon and Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To fully understand Jacob 2:30, it is vital that we read all of
the other relevant scriptures in the Book of Mormon related to polygamy (if I
have missed any, please let me know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20124d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Mosiah 11:1-2</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20124d;">:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“1. And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the
kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead;
and he did not walk in the ways of his father.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but
he did walk after the desires of his own heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And he had many wives and </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">concubines</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he did </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cause</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> his people to commit sin, and do that which was </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">abominable</span></i></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> in the sight of the Lord</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yea, and they did commit </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">whoredoms</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">all</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> manner
of wickedness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you, who don’t know or remember,
king Noah was a very wicked king who, along with his priests, burned to death
the brave prophet named Abinadi.]</span></i><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 1:15</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="15"></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And now it came to pass that the
people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in
their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wicked practices, such as like
unto David of old desiring many </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">wives</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">concubines</span></i></b></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and <strong><em>also Solomon</em></strong>, his son.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Emphasis added).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Importantly, Jacob referred to polygamy as “wicked
practices” and included King David (of the Old Testament) and Solomon in his condemnation
of polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice that Jacob does not
equivocate in his condemnation of King David and Solomon.</span></i><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Compare Jacob 1:15 (and the other BOM
scriptures below) with fraudulent D&C Section 132:1 that reads:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my
servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and
understand wherein <strong>I, the Lord, <u>justified</u>
my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my
servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and
concubines</strong> . . . .”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis
added).</span></i><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">After reading Jacob 1:15, do you think Jacob “justified”
David’s and Solomon's "wicked practices" in any manner? Why did Section 132:1 justify their wickedness?]</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 2:23-30</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="27"></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“23. But the word of God burdens me
because of your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grosser crimes</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
behold, thus saith the Lord:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This people
begin to wax in iniquity; they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">understand not the scriptures</i></b>, for
they seek to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">excuse themselves in committing </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">whoredoms</span></i></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, because of the things which were written concerning David, and
Solomon his son.</span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As will become apparent, Jacob was referring
to polygamy as one of the “grosser crimes” of the Nephites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob recognized that the Nephites
had also “excuse[d] themselves in committing whoredoms” because King David and
Solomon had practiced polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again,
did the Lord <u>justify</u> “David and Solomon, my servants . . . having many
wives and concubines” as <u>fraudulently</u> written in D&C Section 132?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the patent contradiction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i><br />
<em><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span></em><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><strong><em>Furthermore, the parallel between Jacob’s statement in
verse 23 ("for they seek to <u>excuse</u> themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.") and the LDS Church’s self-serving excuses surrounding the wicked
practice of polygamy, as justified in Section 132 ("</em><em>I, the Lord, <u>justified</u> my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines . . .")</em></strong></span><em><span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>, is both shocking and prophetic.]</strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behold, David and </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solomon</span></span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> truly had many </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">wives</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and
concubines, which thing was </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">abominable</span></i></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> before me, saith the Lord</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob referred to the polygamy of David and
Solomon as “abominable.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compare with
fabricated D&C 132:1.]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have led this people forth out
of the land of Jerusalem</i></b>, by the power of mine arm, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that
I might raise up unto me a </i></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">righteous</span></a></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> branch from the fruit of the loins
of Joseph</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>verse 25 is important in understanding verse
30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord delivered the Nephites from
Jerusalem so that the Lord could “raise” up a “</span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: #222222; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">righteous</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> branch from the
fruit of the loins of Joseph” or “raise up seed unto me” as stated in verse 30.]</span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">26. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this
people shall do like unto them of old.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the
word of the Lord:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For there shall not any </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">man</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> among you have save it be </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">one</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">wife</span></i></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">; and concubines he shall have none</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">;</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Lord said that no man should have more
than “one wife.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think the Lord
meant to exclude his so-called prophets?]</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">28. For <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I, the Lord God, delight in the </i></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">chastity</span></a></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> of women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">whoredoms</span></a></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Grosser crimes,” “whoredoms,” “wicked
practices” – did Jacob equivocate in condemning polygamy in any manner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, Jacob referred to polygamy as a
violation of the “chastity of women.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
the “chastity of women” may be violated sometimes for other righteous purposes?]<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29. Wherefore, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this people shall keep my commandments</i></b>,
saith the Lord of Hosts, or </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cursed</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> be the land for their sakes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">seed</span></a></span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken
unto these things</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Verse 30 is a</span>ddressed below.]</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 3:5</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of
their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more
righteous than you; for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they have not </i></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">forgotten</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our
father—that they should have save it were </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">one</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> wife, and </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">concubines</span></i></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> they should have none, and there should not be </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">whoredoms</span></i></b></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> committed among them</span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 1in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Jacob include any equivocation language
in the next chapter? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not in the least –
Jacob again refers to polygamy as “whoredoms.” Compare 3 Nephi 16:10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
would Jacob leave out the exclusionary provision for the supposed purpose of
raising up a righteous seed if that was indeed his purpose of verse 30 above?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, there was no exclusionary provision
to the commandement.]<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Understanding
Jacob 2:30</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
LDS Church says that notwithstanding all of Jacob’s SEVERE and REPEATED condemnations
of polygamy, Jacob really meant to say that polygamy is okay sometimes when the
Lord commands His people to raise up a “righteous seed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, the falsely claimed exclusionary
provision of “raise up seed unto me” (Jacob 2:30) transformed polygamy from among
the </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms”
(Jacob 2:23, 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob
2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28), into the “new and an everlasting covenant” of D&C Section
132 and is necessary for exaltation (“if ye abide not that covenant, then are
ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into
my glory.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Nonsense!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proof
1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob 2:30 – Examining the Language<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Admittedly,
Jacob 2:30 is hard to understand, but let’s apply some simple logic and grammatical
principles. Here is the actual scripture again: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“30. For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto me, I will command my people;
otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First,
the Lord says that He will “raise up seed unto [Him]” and “will command [His]
people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would the Lord ever <u>not</u>
want to “raise up seed” unto the Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would the Lord ever <u>not</u> want to “command [His] people”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If polygamous relationships were the key to a
righteous people and following God’s commandments, why would it not be
proclaimed as necessary throughout humanity or at least in the scriptures?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second,
the word “otherwise” immediately follows the first half or independent clause of
verse 30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word “otherwise,” when used
as a conjunction as it is used here, means “or else” or “if not” (e.g., Button
up your coat, otherwise you’ll catch a cold.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s try it out.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto me, I will command my people; [or
else] they shall hearken unto these things.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
becomes clearer that when the Lord said that “they shall hearken unto these
things,” he referred to the wicked practices of the Nephites. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This becomes even clearer when examining verse
25 (as discussed in the following section – Proof 2).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Third,
and more importantly, Jacob condemned polygamy among the </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grosser
crimes</b>” (Jacob 2:23), “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">whoredoms</b>”
(Jacob 2:23, 3:5), “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wicked practices</b>”
(Jacob 1:15), and “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">abomination[s]</b>”
(Jacob 2:28), which <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">violated</b> the “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chastity of women</b>” (Jacob 2:28).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it make any logical sense whatsoever
that God would trump all of those vehement denunciations with the
following:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For if I will, saith the
Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto
me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things"?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it make any logical sense that Jacob
3:5, where polygamy was again identified as “whoredoms,” would also be trumped
by Jacob 2:30?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not in the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The LDS Church’s interpretation of verse 30
is certainly not in harmony with the remainder of the relevant scriptures in
the Book of Mormon.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proof 2:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 25 – What does the Lord Mean in
“rais[ing] up seed” unto the Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Verse
25 identifies what the Lord was referring to when He said “raise up seed unto
me” in verse 30, and it did not include polygamous offspring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 25 reads:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“25. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people
forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might
raise up unto me a </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">righteous</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> branch from the fruit of the loins
of Joseph.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
Lord referred to leading the Nephites out of Jerusalem so that He “might raise
up unto [the Lord] a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of
Joseph.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when the Lord said that He
will “raise up seed unto me,” He was referring to His “righteous branch from the
fruit of the loins of Joseph,” or something similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing in verse 25 that would lead
a reasonable person to conclude that that raising up a “righteous branch”
necessitates engaging in abominable polygamous practices which were just
previously condemned in the strongest terms by the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
same meaning is clear in verse 30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is nothing, in verse 30 (“</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For if
I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> unto
me, I will command my people</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.”) that means the Lord commands his people to engage in polygamy
to “raise up seed” unto the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
a gross misinterpretation that contradicts the Lord's previous commandment as stated in Jacob 2.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proof
3:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 30 Parallels Verse 29</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
seems that by separating Verse 30 from verse 29, most people have missed the
parallelism often found in the chiasmi and poetry of the Book of Mormon (e.g.,
Alma 36).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“29. [a] Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments,
saith the Lord of Hosts, or [b] </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cursed</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> be the
land for their sakes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30. [a] For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto me, I will command my people; [b]
otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[a]
Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[a]
For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto
me, I will command my people<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[b]
</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cursed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> be the land for their sakes</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>[b]
otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although not conclusive, I believe
that the “otherwise they shall hearken unto these things” refers to the land
being cursed for their wickedness, or the word “these” could thus be replaced by the
word “wicked.”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proof 4:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polygamy Does Not Equal a Righteous Seed</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
There is no evidence that polygamy produces more children or creates a righteous
seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no reason why polygamy
would create more children unless there were many women without spouses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, there is no evidence that at the
time of Brigham Young that there were not enough righteous men as there were
women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, there were consistently
more males than females in Utah during the time of Brigham Young.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here
are the population statistics for Utah from 1850 to 1950:</span></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin: auto auto auto 75.75pt; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 158px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 36.95pt;" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Year<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Male<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Female<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1850<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6,020<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5,310<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1860<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20,178<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19,947<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1870<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">43,451<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">42,503<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1880<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">73,477<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">68,946<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1890<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">108,943<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">96,982<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1900<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">138,923<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">133,542<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1910<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">192,118<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">174,465<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1920<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">227,232<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">214,669<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1930<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">255,284<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">244,683<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1940<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">274,587<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">268,333<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1950<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.4pt;" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">341,007<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 39.05pt;" width="52"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">335,902<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proof 5:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating a Righteous Seed by Violating the Chastity of Women?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Verse 30 states that the Lord will "raise up <span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seed</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto [the Lord]" and that the Lord "will command His people." </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222;">However, in the same (and subsequent) chapter, the Lord previously referred to </span><span style="color: #222222;">polygamy as among the </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23, also Jacob 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">How can the Lord "raise up seed" unto Him when his people are also engaged in <em>systematic</em> "abominations," "whoredoms," and violating the "chastity of women"? I would like to hear an LDS Church official publicly state that is sometimes okay to violate the "chastity of women." Why won't you ever hear that? Again, it makes no sense unless Interpretation 2 above is correct and verse 30 was without an exclusionary clause.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Some in the LDS Church would counter that Nephi was commanded to slay a drunk Laban, and so the Lord does command abominable acts. However, in 1 Nephi 4:11-13, the Lord justified the slaying of Laban because (1) Laban had sought to murder Nephi, (2) Laban would "not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord," (3) Laban had tried to steal Lehi's property, and (4) the Lord slays the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes, i.e., "It is better that one man should perish than a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">The Lord articulated very specific and justifiable reasons for the death of Laban. Furthermore, the Lord never commanded the systematic murder of the Laminates. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">In short, the Lord cannot "raise up seed unto [the Lord]" and "will command His people" while commanding his people to engage in systematic <span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“grosser crimes” (Jacob 2:23), “whoredoms” (Jacob 2:23, also Jacob 3:5), “wicked practices” (Jacob 1:15), and “abomination[s]” (Jacob 2:28), which violated the “chastity of women” (Jacob 2:28). </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Proof 6: What about the polygamy of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, et al.?</strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">A key objection I often read is that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Old Testament) all had more than one wife and so polygamy was instituted as part of the "restitution of all things" and the Abrahamic Covenant.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Before we take a closer look at the Patriarchs nd others of the Old Testament, it is important to note that, <u>in the Old Testament, no one, including King Solomon, King David, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Old Testament), was ever commanded by God to take more than one wife</u>. In the Old Testament, polygamy is mentioned by way of fact, not by way of commandment. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">In contrast, fabricated D&C Section 132 states that Solomon (vs. 1, 38), David (vs. 1, 38-39), Abraham (vs. 1, 34-35, 37, 65), Isaac (vs. 1, 37), Jacob (Old Testament) (vs. 1, 37), Moses (vs. 1, 38), and "many others of my servants" (vs. 38) were all commanded to engage in polygamy. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">This is a total fabrication!</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Indeed, it seems that those who engaged in polygamy committed abominable acts in the sight of the Lord. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Abraham</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">First, Abraham had at most only three wives (more likely one wife and two concubines): Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah. Sarah was Abraham's wife. Importantly, Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian handmaid given to Abraham by Sarah as a concubine or wife in order for Abraham to have a child (10 years without a child living in Canaan). Hagar was literally Sarah's property. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Abraham married Keturah (probably a concubine) only after Sarah died and Hagar had been forced away and was no longer with Abraham. Although immoral in other ways, the Keturah matter does not rise to any moral offense of the law of marriage as contained in the original D&C. Of course, modern morality would certainly denounce Sarah's gift of Hagar to Abraham in order for Abraham to have a child and the driving away of Hagar, but a concubine was unfortunately considered a lesser wife comparable to property. The fact that Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham evinces that Abraham could not just take any woman as his polygamous wife. The issue surrounding Hagar is more a matter of the morality of slavery and property than it is of polygamy. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Second, the Book of Mormon is entirely silent with respect to Abraham and his purported wives (and with respect to Jacob of the Old Testament as described below). Only Sarah is mentioned while Jacob (Book of Mormon - the same Prophet who just denounced polygamy and concubines) is quoting Isaiah. <em>See</em> 2 Nephi 8:2. In other words, the issue of Abraham and polygamy was never mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Why wasn't Hagar or Keturah mentioned by Jacob (Book of Mormon) after Jacob just denounced the polygamous relationships of King Solomon and King David? That's an interesting question which I don't have the answer for. I suspect that Jacob in the Book of Mormon simply had no record of Hagar or Keturah or of Abraham's alleged polygamy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Jacob (Old Testament)</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Jacob (Old Testament) had two wives, Rachel and Leah, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah. Again, the Book of Mormon never mentions Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah or Jacob's. We all remember the story of Rachel and Leah. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, reached an agreement with her father, to work seven years for her. Jacob fulfilled his obligation but then Laban swapped Leah for Rachel on the night of the wedding. Having been fooled, Jacob had to work another seven years for Rachel. Bilhah and Zilpah were the property of Rachel and Leah respectively and immorally given to Jacob. The story of Rachel and Leah is very peculiar story that does not justify polygamy but may somewhat mitigate Jacob's offense. The slavery issue is another matter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Isaac and Moses</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">The fact that Section 132 identifies Isaac and Moses as polygamists is completely wrong. Despite the false statements of Brigham Young, Isaac and Moses each had only one wife. It appears as though Brigham Young arbitrarily decided to transform several Old Testament Prophets into polygamists that had no association with the wicked practice, including "many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time" </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">(vs. 38), </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">when Brigham Young decided to fabricate Section 132 and claim that Joseph received the revelation. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Further, the story of Isaac seems to indicate that polygamy was a sin. According to one writer (<a href="http://www.washingtonubf.org/BibleMaterials/Genesis/MSG12a.html">http://www.washingtonubf.org/BibleMaterials/Genesis/MSG12a.html</a>): </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">"Isaac's family had a problem similar to that of Abraham and Sarah. Rebekah was barren. But Isaac did not even consider taking a concubine. He simply prayed and waited on God. He had learned a great spiritual lesson first hand: The Lord will Provide. Abraham had waited only 10 years before taking Hagar and giving birth to Ishmael. Isaac waited and prayed for his wife from 20 years. How many families could be spared the tragedy of divorce of the sorrow of becoming a battlefield of frustrated expectations if men could pray for their wives instead of trying to use some human method to solve their family problems. Isaac's patient faith was rewarded. Rebekah conceived twin sons."</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The Final Word - the Book of Mormon</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Finally, and more importantly, the Book of Mormon is <u>not</u> silent with respect to denouncing the practice of polygamy as it occurred in the Old Testament. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jacob 2:26-28 reads:</span></strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">"</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts."</span></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">How clearer can you get? The Lord denounced polygamy as a sin even though the practice was somewhat widespread in the Old Testament (but not nearly as widespread as claimed by Brigham Young). The Lord was simply not going to let the sin continue "like unto them of old." Jacob 2:26. The Lord considered any polygamous relationship in the Old Testament an abomination in His sight and made the condemnation and commandment known in the Book of Mormon. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">God unequivocally condemned the polygamy of Solomon and David (Jacob 2:24: "</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">Behold, David and <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solomon</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> truly had many </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">wives</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and concubines, which thing was </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">abominable</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> before me, saith the Lord</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">."). Notwithstanding, the Lord's severe condemnation in the Book of Mormon, Sect</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">ion 132 falsely stated that Solomon (vs. 1, 38) and David (vs. 1, 38-39) not only did not sin but were commanded to engage in the "abominable" practice. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;">What rubbish!</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><u>Any person who believes in the Book of Mormon must vehemently condemn polygamy at all times and in any manner. Any person who believes in the Book of Mormon must severely denounce D&C Section 132 as a patent and most sinful fabrication of Brigham Young. It is time for the LDS Church to eradicate its evil polygamous doctrines without equivocation.</u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div uri="/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/4.11">
<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For
further investigation, please see Richard and Pamela Price’s book:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-vol1/chp18.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-vol1/chp18.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-16723448194009016732014-08-07T11:42:00.000-07:002014-08-21T21:50:11.229-07:00The William Clayton Deception<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone for your input. A couple of you asked about William Clayton and his purported records regarding polygamy originating with Joseph Smith. For example, Janet wrote: </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I have read your Blog, 'Confessions of an Elder' and
find it very interesting and intriguing. I would love to know how you
reconcile William Clayton’s diary where he says Joseph Smith told him that he
was privileged to have all the wives he wanted and that Joseph married Margaret
Moon to William, she being his 2nd wife. It is his diary that is
used as proof that Joseph did teach these things in secret. If you have a
rebuttal or explanation, I would love to hear it. I have been bothered
many years by this mess and personally would absolutely love it if Joseph’s
name could be cleared from the 'Celestial Marriage doctrine.'"</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The short answer to
your question is simple – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">William Clayton
is a despicable liar</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Together, William
Clayton and Brigham Young fabricated D&C Section 132 and falsely claimed that
Joseph revealed the doctrine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supposedly,
William Clayton was the lone scribe and surviving witness to the circumstances
and writing of Section 132.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, D&C
Section 132 was produced eight years after Joseph’s death and was in Clayton’s
(not Joseph’s) handwriting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
court in the world that would allow that piece of “evidence” into a courtroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If William Clayton fabricated D&C Section
132, which has to be a pretty big damn sin in the eyes of God, then he most
assuredly fabricated his journal entries which were written long after Joseph’s
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As I indicated before, falsifying records was VERY common
with Brigham Young and his followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
April 1, 1845, Brigham Young admittedly recorded the following: "I
commenced revising the History of Joseph Smith at Brother Richard's
office: Elder Heber C. Kimball and George A. Smith were with me."<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Willard Richards wrote in <u>Joseph
Smith’s diary</u> that Joseph “gave instructions to try those who were
preaching, teaching, or practicing the doctrine of plurality of wives . . . <u>Joseph
forbids it and the practice thereof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
man shall have but one wife</u>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Historian Van Wagoner
commented:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When incorporating Smith’s
journal into the History of the Church, church leaders, under Brigham Young’s
direction, deleted ten key words from this significant passage and added
forty-nine others so that it now reads:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gave
instructions to try those persons who were preaching, teaching, or practicing
the doctrine of plurality of wives; for, according to the law, I hold the keys
of this power in the last days; for there is never but one on earth at a time
on whom the power and its keys are conferred and I have constantly said no man
shall have but one wife at a time, <u>unless the Lord directs otherwise</u>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Charles W. Penrose, a member of
the First Presidency, admitted that after Joseph Smith’s death some changes
were made in the official record “for prudential reasons.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Personal journal entries were
also falsified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No affidavits, sworn
statements, or journal entries, including William Claytons’, were made during
the life of Joseph Smith showing that Joseph Smith was engaged in
polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The journal entries, including
Helen Mar Kimball’s, were written many years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, Mary Lightner’s (an alleged
plural wife of Joseph Smith) affidavit was published by historian Fawn Brodie,
who wrote:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Curiously, [Mary Lightner] makes
no mention of her marriage to Joseph in her autobiography . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">When D&C
Section 132 was introduced (under VERY questionable circumstances) into the
D&C, Section 101 was altered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Section
101 (1835 edition) formerly stated: <b>"Inasmuch as this church
has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy; we
declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but
one husband."</b> That part just had to be removed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">I ask you to ponder
the following two questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Do you believe William Clayton?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Clayton said that on July 12, 1843, when Joseph Smith fully revealed D&C
Section 132, for the inane purpose of convincing Emma of the truth of polygamy, Joseph just happened to ask Clayton to act as Joseph’s scribe (no one ever explained why Joseph would need a scribe) and create
the original copy of the purported revelation, even though Joseph supposedly said he was about to write the revelation down. </em><em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em></span></span></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">According to Clayton:</span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">"Joseph then said, <u>'Well, I [i.e., Joseph] will write the revelation</u> and we will see.' He then requested me to get paper and prepare to write. Hyrum very urgently requested Joseph to write the revelation by means of the Urim and Thummim, but Joseph, in reply, said he did not need to, for he knew the revelation perfectly from beginning to end. Joseph and Hyrum then sat down, and Joseph commenced to dictate the Revelation on Celestial Marriage, and I wrote it, sentence by sentence, as he dictated."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></i><br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-ms-layout-grid-mode: line; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-ms-layout-grid-mode: line; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Before Hyrum (and Joseph apparently) took the "revelation" (in Clayton's handwriting) to Emma, Clayton fortuitously and inexplicably caused Joseph C. Kingsbury, the store clerk for Bishop Whitney, to make </span></span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">a second
copy of the revelation (of course, this never happened at any other time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is the supposed Kingsbury copy that exists today.</span></span></span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Emma supposedly became so upset about the doctrine, in Clayton's handwriting,
that she seized it from Hyrum and tossed it into a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just so fortunate that Clayton had
created a second copy – I guess some would claim that it was a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Now here’s the really crazy part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The revelation was so unimportant that
Brigham put the Kingsbury copy into his desk drawer and forgot about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strangely, Joseph and Hyrum both never
mentioned the Section 132 revelation or Emma’s destruction of the original copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Even though Joseph and Hyrum both knew the original
bearing Clayton's handwriting had been burnt by Emma, Joseph and Hyrum were simply unconcerned
with making the revelation known to everyone else (think about it . . . they
lived for almost another year – and yet never mentioned it anywhere).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then eight years after Joseph’s death,
Brigham happened to find the Kingsbury copy (of Clayton's dictation) in Brigham’s long forgotten desk drawer
and finally but dutifully released it to the members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, Brigham had to also simultaneously
but quietly amend Section 101's prohibition of polygamy as the "rule of marriage" (since that was such an unimportant
matter – it didn’t require any formal revelation to amend it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Or do you believe Emma Smith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Emma vehemently denied until her death, even under oath,
ever seeing Section 132.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma said she
never saw or burned a copy of the document as claimed by Brigham Young and
William Clayton. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma loved and defended
Hyrum until the day that she died (even naming her son Hyrum as well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Up to this time, I
have been relatively kind to those that believe Young and Clayton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After writing this, I have to say rather forcefully,
that anyone who believes Clayton’s and Young’s preposterous story, which has
every telltale sign of a deliberate lie and fabrication, over Emma’s defense is
gullible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
Young and Clayton fabricated Section 132 to support their abominable and adulterous
polygamous practice while falsely claiming that Joseph revealed it (pretty much one
of the biggest sins I have heard of), Brigham Young and William Clayton deserve
to forever be known as contemptible liars of the highest magnitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For further
investigation, see the following link:</span></span><span style="color: #4f589d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #4f589d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #4f589d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-visionarticles/hsfp.htm">http://restorationbookstore.org/articles/nopoligamy/jsfp-visionarticles/hsfp.htm</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-39524464710471998542012-06-22T23:11:00.000-07:002014-08-13T11:05:08.595-07:00Part 10 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 10</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Please start on Part 1: <a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mormon/mormon-idx?type=DIV1&byte=1483517"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ether 3</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:12:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for
thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mormon/mormon-idx?type=DIV1&byte=328654"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Nephi 33</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:6:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I
glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.”</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 2:27-28: "Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And <u>whoredoms</u> are an <u>abomination</u> before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts."</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 Nephi 16:10: "And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and <u>whoredoms</u>, and of <u>secret abominations</u>; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them."</span></strong><br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
</div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">CONCLUSION<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are essentially three alternative views of Joseph
Smith:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LDS Doctrinal View<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph had approximately thirty-four wives but was commanded
to enter into these reluctant polygamous marriages by the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph married Fannie Alger in early 1833 at
the age of sixteen and Helen Mar Kimball at the age of fourteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The marriages were likely sexual.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although polygamy (including a marriage
between a 37 year old Joseph and a 14 year old girl and the adulterous marriage
of Joseph to ten women who were already married) is under today’s standards
highly deplorable and should result in immediate excommunication, the Lord
ultimately determines what is right and wrong and the doctrine of polygamy is
sometimes right (D&C 132) and sometimes wrong (Book of Mormon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph and the other leaders in the Church
repeatedly lied about polygamy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i>
in order to protect the Church from its many enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lying and obfuscation about polygamy is
permitted by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because D&C 101
was added to further conceal the sacred doctrine of polygamy, it had to be
removed once contradictory D&C 132 was added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham Young was a tremendous Prophet, Seer,
and Revelator as is Thomas S. Monson today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although polygamy has always been a stifling cloud on the progress of
the Church, it was a necessary doctrine brought through the “restoration of all
things” and to raise a “righteous seed.” </span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anti-Mormon View</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Smith (and his successors) was a lecherous fiend (no
better than Warren Jeffs) who sexually exploited young teenage girls and
repeatedly lied and caused others to lie about these crimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yes – polygamy was a crime under the laws of
the states in which Joseph practiced polygamy.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, Joseph conspired to burn down a newspaper that had printed
true reports of Joseph’s ignominy for which he was rightly thrown in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any person who can hold up Joseph Smith as a
great religious man is either insane, highly brainwashed, and/or of debase
moral character. Although the polygamous "facts" surrounding Joseph Smith are undisputed by the LDS Church, the LDS Church actively conceals its immoral past and now falsely pretends that the Church has no association with polygamy. </span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Revisionist View</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brigham Young and several other influential leaders,
including Dr. John Bennett, in the Church secretly engaged in adulterous and
polygamous practices which originated with the conversion of the polygamous
Cochranites who first began the practice (as early as 1818-1819 the Cochranites
were referring to “spiritual wivery”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brigham Young visited the Cochranites <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alone</i></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in
violation of the rules set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
D&C 52:10; 60:8; 61:35; 75:30–36.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brigham concealed his polygamy and undisputed adultery (e.g., Cochranite
Augusta Adams Cobb married Brigham in 1843 but was still married to her first
husband until 1847) from Joseph Smith but developed a strong following with
other apostles close to Joseph Smith (especially among the converted
Cochranites).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cancer of polygamy
spread among the members of the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After learning of the spread of polygamy in the Church, Joseph, Hyrum,
and others assiduously attempted to rid the Church of polygamy and published
many statements, communications, and official declarations to such effect
(including D&C 101).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Joseph even sued Chauncey Higbee in the State of Illinois for slander. Chauncey had claimed that Joseph was secretly teaching polygamy. </span>Unfortunately,
Joseph and Hyrum were murdered before they could eradicate polygamy from the
Church (largely as a result from the lies of polygamy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In retrospect, Joseph’s biggest mistake may
have been that he did not try to destroy polygamy more overtly (most likely to
keep the Church from further splitting or as a result from the decentralized
nature of the LDS Church at that time).</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because his polygamy was largely unknown and denied,
Brigham Young eventually won the leadership of the Church by his strong
persuasive and leadership skills (in fact he won because he argued for a
decentralized Church).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually,
Brigham Young and other Church leaders rewrote Church history to create the
impression that Joseph Smith was the first polygamous leader in the
Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham Young and his followers
removed the verse in D&C 101 that denounced polygamy and altered other
statements from Joseph Smith showing the Church’s opposition to polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D&C 132 was added under <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">highly</i> questionable circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Without question, D&C 132 was a complete fabrication. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of the polygamous wives of Brigham Young
and other leaders later claimed to be former wives of Joseph Smith, but were
likely under pressure from their husbands to make the fallacious claims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, not one person has been proven
through DNA testing to be a direct descendant of Joseph Smith outside Joseph’s
marriage to Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Emma and Joseph's children always maintained that Joseph Smith was innocent of polygamy. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The false doctrine of
polygamy has hindered the progression of the Church and will continue to stain
its progression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaders of the
current LDS Church likely know of the Church’s sordid past and have prosecuted
polygamy with full force ever since, but will not reveal the truth since it
would injure their claim to an unbroken path of leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notwithstanding the many lies and cover-up by
the Church, much of the truth is readily accessible if you will open your eyes
and put forth the effort to see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard and Pamela price poignantly wrote:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There is no halfway ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either Joseph Smith was true and clean, open
and above board . . . or else he was a hypocrite and a fraud through and
through, as his enemies claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Utah
Mormons cannot long continue seriously to contend that he was a real prophet of
God, and a good man, yet blowing hot in private and cold in public, a
monogamist in the pulpit and press and a polygamist in his home . . . Joseph’s
grandson, Elbert, was correct when he said that Joseph was either monogamous,
or he was a hypocrite and a fraud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joseph’s writings, and the fact that he had no polygamous children, are
proofs that he was not a polygamist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
LDS Church’s position is based upon the theory that Joseph was a hypocrite –
that he denounced polygamy in public and practiced it in private.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is indeed a fragile foundation for the
Mormon Church, considering that Joseph was a bold man who never hesitated to
proclaim all the doctrines of the gospel, regardless of the opposition.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>P. 108-109.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b><br />
<h2 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
Weighing the Evidence<o:p></o:p></h2>
<br />
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<tbody>
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<td rowspan="5" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-rotate: -90; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Scriptural Denouncements Against
Polygamy (Book of Mormon and D&C 101)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td rowspan="5" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-rotate: -90; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Falsification of the Record and
Doctrine by the LDS Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
</tr>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
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<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="91"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td rowspan="9" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext black; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; height: 15pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-rotate: -90; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph's and Other Church
Leader's Repeated and Vehement Denouncements Against Polygamy; testimony of Joseph's family</span></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td rowspan="4" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 0px; height: 15pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-rotate: -90; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Scriptural Support of Polygamy
(Old Testament, D&C 132)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
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</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
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</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td rowspan="13" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext black; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; height: 15pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-rotate: -90; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No Child Proven through DNA
Evidence to be a Descendant of any Professed Polygamous Wife of Joseph Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 48pt;" valign="bottom" width="64"></td>
<td rowspan="13" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext black; border-style: solid; border-width: 1pt; height: 15pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid black .5pt; mso-rotate: -90; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.25pt;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After-the-fact Affidavits and
Testimonies from LDS Polygamists that Joseph Smith First Introduced Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
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</tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reformist<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LDS Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beyond a reasonable doubt, (1) Joseph Smith never
introduced polygamy, but was a victim of a polygamous doctrinal conspiracy led by Dr. John C. Bennett, William Law, Brigham Young (and the converted
Cochranites), (2) the evidence in support of Joseph Smith’s monogamy
strongly outweighs the claims of the LDS Church, (3) Brigham Young led the effort to falsify Joseph's history and introduced the fradulent Section 132 in order to invent the claim that Joseph was the founder of polygamy, and (4) Joseph made every effort to publicly and privately proclaim his innocence regarding polygamy and even brought a lawsuit against Chauncey Higbee for slander (which would have clearly been against Joseph's self-interest).</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br /> For much more research and expertise, please read (free online):</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #486fae;">Joseph Smith Fought
Polygamy</span></span></i></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">by<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard and Pamela Price</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm">http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm</a></h3>
<h3 style="mso-element: footnote-list; text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="mso-element: footnote-list; text-align: center;">
Or purchase the book at:</h3>
<h3 style="mso-element: footnote-list; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/mm5/merchant.mvc">http://restorationbookstore.org/mm5/merchant.mvc</a>?</h3>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br /></div>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> In
total, thirteen LDS women who claimed to be married to Joseph Smith swore in court
affidavits that they also had sexual relations with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accordingly, if you believe their story that
they were married Joseph, then you must also believe that the polygamous
relationships were sexual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if
you believe as I do that these women were lying, it makes clear sense as to why
no child has been proven to be a result of Joseph’s purported polygamous
relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> </span><a href="http://www.i4m.com/think/history/joseph_smith_sex.htm"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">http://www.i4m.com/think/history/joseph_smith_sex.htm</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See
also</i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Partly to maintain secrecy,
Joseph could not have spent much time with [Louisa] Beaman or any of the women
he married. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never gathered his wives
into a household – as his Utah followers later did – or accompanied them to
public events. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close relationships were
further curtailed by business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
had to look after Emma and the children, manage the Church, govern the city,
and evade the extradition officers from Missouri. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the marriages increased, there were fewer
and fewer opportunities for seeing each wife. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so, nothing indicates that sexual
relations were left out of plural marriages.” Richard Lyman Bushman, <u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling</span></u>
(New Yo</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">rk: Knopf, 2005), 438-39.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See
also</i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Meanwhile, the Prophet, with
Louisa Beeman and my sister Delcena, had it agreeable arranged with Sister
Almera, and after a little instruction she stood by the Prophet’s side and was
sealed to him as a wife, by Brother Clayton; after which the Prophet asked me
to take my sister to occupy number ‘10’ in his Mansion home during her stay in
the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I could not long be
absent from my home and business, we soon returned to Ramus, where on the 15th
of May, some three weeks later, the Prophet again came and at my house occupied
the same room and bed with my sister, that the month previous he had occupied
with the daughter of the late Bishop Partridge, as his wife.” Benjamin F.
Johnson, Letter to George S. Gibbs, 1903, cited in E. Dale LeBaron, “Benjamin
Franklin Johnson: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colonizer, Public
Servant, and Church Leader” (M.A. thesis, Brigham Young University, 1967).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
“The council also decided that Elder Brigham Young should travel alone it being
his own choice . . . and that there should be a general conference held in
Saco, in the state of Maine, on the 13th day of June, 1834.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="italic">Times and Seasons</span> 6
[November 1, 1845]: 1022–1023.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> For example,
Joseph Smith wrote:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“[Dr. Bennett] had
not been long in Nauvoo before he began to keep company with a young lady, one
of our citizens; and she being ignorant of his having a wife living, gave way
to his addresses, and became confident, from his behavior towards her, that he
intended to marry her; and this he gave her to understand he would do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, seeing the folly of such an acquaintance,
persuaded him to desist; and, on account of his continuing his course, finally
threatened to expose him if he did not desist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This, to outward appearance, had the desired effect, and the
acquaintance between them was broken off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Times and Seasons 3 [July 1, 1842]: 839.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See also</i>, John Taylor’s
(editor) reference with respect to Francis Higbee, the editor explained: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Here follows testimony which is too indelicate for
the public eye or ear; and we would here remark, that so revolting, corrupt,
and disgusting has been the conduct of most of this clique, that we feel to
dread having any thing to do with the publication of their trials; we will not
however offend the public eye or ear with a repetition of the foulness of their
crimes any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>. at 538–539. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-8249235397044269332012-06-22T23:10:00.000-07:002014-08-10T15:20:57.010-07:00Part 9 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 9</span></span></b><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“He called
me by </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">name</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and said unto me that he was a </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">messenger</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> sent from the presence of God to
me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my
name should be had for </span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">good</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and evil among all nations, kindreds,
and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all
people.” </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Joseph
Smith (from the History of the Church, Volume 1, Chapters 1 through 5)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Polygamy
did not initially start in the LDS Church, but came from a religious sect known
as the Cochranites, led by Jacob Cochran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of the Cochranites accepted the LDS Church and were brought into the
LDS Church, comprising a substantial portion of the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the Cochranites doctrine
regarding polygamy was secretly adopted by Brigham Young and others close to
Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no mention of
polygamy in the Church until the Cochranites were converted.</span><span style="color: #002060;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even if you are LDS, chances are you have
never heard of the Cochranites, yet the Cochranites converts formed a large
part of the LDS Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the first LDS
missionaries arrived among the Cochranites in Saco, Main, 1832, they found the
Cochranites to be extremely receptive to the message of the restoration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accustomed as they already were to following
in the traditions of the ancient patriarchs, it was not difficult for them to
accept the message that the ancient church of Christ had been restored with all
its gifts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
As described below, the Cochranite stronghold was such a fruitful place for
converts that the young Church of Christ held a conference in Saco in
1834.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nine of the twelve apostles were in attendance</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, <strong>Brigham Young later visited the
Cochranites several times as a missionary alone and later married Cochranite
Augusta Cobb (who was still married and had seven children)</strong></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
– clear evidence of <strong>Brigham’s adultery</strong> and in violation of the Article on
Marriage which recognized marriages outside of the covenant as lawful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The High Council met at Kirtland on February
20, 1834, its record states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The council also
decided that Elder Brigham Young should travel <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alone</i></b> it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being
his own choice</i></b> . . . and that there should be a general conference held
in Saco, in the state of Maine, on the 13th day of June, 1834.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times
and Seasons</i> 6 [November 1, 1845]: 1022–1023 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why would Brigham be traveling alone
to visit the polygamous Cochranites in violation of the Lord’s direction in the
Doctrine and Covenants that missionaries should always travel in pairs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Polygamy, as eventually adopted by the LDS Church under Brigham Young, first originated with
the Cochranites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Wikipedia
(Jacob Cochran):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">J</span>acob Cochran (also Cochrane, 1782-1836) was a non-denominational
preacher born in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfield,_New_Hampshire" title="Enfield, New Hampshire"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enfield, New
Hampshire</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA" title="USA"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">USA</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> who founded the Cochranites in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saco,_Maine" title="Saco, Maine"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saco, Maine</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cochranite worship is said to have resembled </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakerism" title="Shakerism"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shakerism</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, but which also practiced a new
doctrine called </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_wifery" title="Spiritual
wifery"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">spiritual
wifery</span></span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cochranism
may have influenced the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon" title="Mormon"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mormon</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> doctrines of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plural_marriage" title="Plural
marriage"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">plural marriage</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Order" title="United Order"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">United Order</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, as well as the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_love" title="Free love"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">free love</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> practice called </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_marriage" title="Complex
marriage"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">complex marriage</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> once favored by the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_Community" title="Oneida
Community"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oneida Community</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cochran has been called a ‘</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist" title="John the
Baptist"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John the Baptist</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">’ for Mormonism by Saco
Valley historian G.T. Ridlon because so many Cochranites were among those who
converted to Mormonism and moved west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although the Cochranites practiced a type of “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">spiritual wifery</i></b>”
[Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this is the same term used by
Joseph Smith in condemning polygamy] which sanctioned multiple female partners
for each man in the group, their doctrines did not include the precept of ‘eternal
marriage,’ and thus differed slightly from Utah Mormon polygamy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Latter Day Saint historical sources
indicate that LDS Church missionaries were laboring successfully to make
converts among </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine" title="Maine"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maine’s</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Cochranites as early as 1832:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the Church conference held in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saco,_Maine" title="Saco, Maine"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saco, Maine</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> on August 21, 1835, at least
seven of the newly ordained apostles were in attendance [including Brigham
Young].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Bennett" title="John C.
Bennett"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John C. Bennett</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, a leading Mormon who was </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excommunicated" title="Excommunicated"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">excommunicated</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, is credited with
introducing the Cochranite term spiritual wifery to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism" title="Mormonism"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mormonism</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bennett’s version of the multiple female
partners practice appears to have more closely resembled Jacob Cochran’s
doctrine than it did the precept of polygamy alleged to exist among the Latter
Day Saints.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although the Cochranites vanished from the history books by
the end of the decade, they hadn’t really disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had simply been folded into the LDS
Church, selling their farms and shops and moving to Kirtland and eventually
Nauvoo, bringing their polygamous families and teachings with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The similarities between the Cochranites and the LDS Church
are noteworthy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cochran used the term “spiritual wives” just as
the Utah polygamists did;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cochran claimed that permission to practice
polygamy must come through revelation to the leader, just as in the LDS Church’s
theology;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The leader’s permission was required before
spiritual wifery could be practiced;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Assigning of wives” was practiced in both
systems;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exchanging of wives was sometimes practiced by
both (e.g., it is claimed that Joseph had ten wives that were married – six of
which were married to active members);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oaths of secrecy were a requirement of
Cochranism, and are still a part of the LDS temple ordinances;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The “Garden of Eden” ceremony was practiced by
Cochran.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is of particular interest is the fact that Samuel Smith
and Orson Hyde wrote against the Cochranites’ polygamous activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orson Hyde’s Journal, dated October 11, 1832,
read: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“[P]reached to a congregation of
Cochranites who gave liberty; told them again to repent and go up to Zion, and
we lifted our cry in the Spirit, and I hope some of them will go; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but
they had a wonderful lustful spirit, because they believe in a “Plurality of
wives” which they call spiritual wives</i></b>, knowing them not after the
flesh but after the spirit, but by the appearance they knew one another after
the flesh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Orson Hyde was clearly denouncing polygamy, yet Joseph had
purportedly revealed polygamy on July 17, 1831.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would Samuel Smith condemn the practice
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“plurality of wives” when Joseph was
supposedly preaching the doctrine as necessary for salvation?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brigham Young’s Faulty Memory<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brigham declared “the doctrine” of polygamy was revealed to
him in a vision and revelations while in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(There is strong testimony that Brigham was
committing adultery in England.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“While we were in England, (in 1839
and 40), I think the Lord manifested to me by vision and his Spirit things
[concerning polygamy] that I did not then understand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never opened my mouth to any one concerning
them, until I returned to Nauvoo; Joseph had never mentioned this; there had
never been a thought of it in the Church that I ever knew anything about at
that time, but I had this for myself, and I kept it to myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when I returned home, and Joseph revealed
those things to me, then I understood the reflections that were upon my mind
while in England. But this (communication with Joseph on the subject) was not
until after I had told him what I understood—this was in 1841. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The revelation [Section 132 in the Utah
Doctrine and Covenants] was given in 1843, but the doctrine was revealed before
this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deseret News, July 1, 1874.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This statement by Brigham is very important because:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He admits that polygamy was not a doctrine of
the Church before 1839 or 1840: “There had never been a thought of it in the
Church.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This destroys the LDS Church’s
official teachings that polygamy was even thought of as a Church doctrine as
early as 1831;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to Brigham, Joseph had never even
mentioned polygamy as a doctrine before 1841; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was Brigham Young who first developed the
dogma of polygamy—and that he claimed he did so by Divine manifestations and by
a vision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, in another account Brigham Young placed the
revelation to Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith in 1829 while translating the
Book of Mormon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham Young, quoted in
Charles L. Walker, “Diary,” (Harold B. Lee Library, BYU, 1855–1902),
25–26.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most scholars have rejected this
early date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham was not even a
member at this time, so he would have heard such a story second-hand at best,
and may well have misunderstood the timing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is nothing in the Book of Mormon that portrays plural marriage
positively, so there is little which would inspire Joseph and Oliver to ask
questions about it, and such questioning seems to have been a prerequisite to
Joseph and Oliver’s early revelations on baptism, the priesthood, and other
matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The journal which records the
1829 date may be in error, since there is another, earlier record in which
Brigham Young opines that Joseph had the plural marriage revelation “as early
as in the year 1831.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journal History,
26 August 1857; cited by Hyrum Leslie Andrus, <i>Doctrines of the Kingdom</i>
(Salt Lake City, Utah: Desert Book Co., 1999), 489n436.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So when was it Brigham?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1829, 1831, 1843 (as stated in Section 132) or between 1839 and
1840?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham’s faulty memory is
evidence of false testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Book of Mormon Prohibits Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mosiah 11:1-2:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="1"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“1. And now it came to pass
that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah
began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. For behold, he did not keep
the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And he had many wives and </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">concubines</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he did </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">cause</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> his
people to commit sin, and do that which was </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">abominable</span></span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> in
the sight of the Lord</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yea, and
they did commit </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">whoredoms</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/11.1?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">all</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> manner of wickedness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 1:15:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="15"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="verse">“</span>And
now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second
king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wicked
practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wives</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">concubines</span></span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
and also Solomon, his son.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis
added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 2:23-30:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="27"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“23. But the
word of God burdens me because of your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">grosser crimes</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For behold, thus saith the Lord:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This people begin to wax in iniquity; they
understand not the scriptures, for they seek to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">excuse themselves in committing </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">whoredoms</span></span></i></b></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[5]</span></span></b></span></span></i></b></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">24. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behold, David and </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solomon</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
truly had many </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wives</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and concubines, which thing was </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">abominable</span></span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
before me, saith the Lord</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">25. Wherefore, thus saith the
Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power
of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">righteous</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">26. Wherefore, I the Lord God
will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">27. Wherefore, my brethren,
hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For there shall not any </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">man</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
among you have save it be </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">one</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wife</span></span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">; and
concubines he shall have none</i></b>;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">28. <strong><em>For I, the Lord God,
delight in the </em></strong></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>chastity</em></strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em> of women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And </em></strong></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>whoredoms</em></strong></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>
are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts</em></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">29. Wherefore, this people
shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">cursed</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
be the land for their sakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">30. For if I will, saith the
Lord of Hosts, raise up </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">seed</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these
things.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jacob 3:5:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Behold, the Lamanites your
brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath
come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they have not </i></b></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">forgotten</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> the
commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have
save it were </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">one</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> wife, and </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">concubines</span></span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> they
should have none, and there should not be </span></i></b><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/3?lang=eng"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">whoredoms</span></span></i></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
committed among them</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>The
LDS Church has some evidence in support of its claim that Joseph Smith revealed
polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the affidavits and
claims in support of the LDS Church’s position were written well after Brigham
Young had assumed leadership and moved the Church to Salt Lake City, Utah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further, most of the “wives” of Joseph Smith
who made the allegations were in polygamous relationships under the control of
Brigham Young and other leaders of the Church.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To be fair, the LDS Church has many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after-the-fact</i> affidavits that support its allegation that Joseph
Smith first revealed polygamy, including statements made by prominent LDS
leaders and others, such as Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, Williams W.
Phelps, Joseph F. Smith, Joseph B. Noble</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[7]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
Lyman E. Johnson, William Law, William Clayton, Lorenzo Snow, Lucy Walker
Kimball, Joseph C. Kingsbury, Helen Mar Kimball (Whitney), David Fullmer, Newel
K. Whitney, Eliza Snow, et al., and are found in the <u>Journal of Discourses</u></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[8]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
<u>Historical Record</u></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[9]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
and <u>History of the Church</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, these affidavits and statements were written many
years after the death of Joseph Smith and were <u>all</u> (as far as I can
tell) written by polygamists and/or followers of Brigham Young, i.e.,
individuals with a very biased view on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No affidavits or journal entries were made
during the life of Joseph Smith showing that Joseph Smith was engaged in
polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The journal entries, including
Helen Mar Kimball’s, were written many years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, Mary Lightner’s (an alleged
plural wife of Joseph Smith) affidavit was published by historian Fawn Brodie,
who wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Curiously, she [Mary Lightner] <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">makes
no mention of her marriage to Joseph in her autobiography</i></b> . . . but on
February 8, 1902, when eighty-four years old, she swore to an affidavit that
said in part:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I was sealed to Joseph
Smith, the Prophet, by commandment. In the spring of 1831, the Savior appeared
and commanded him to seal me up to everlasting life, gave me to Joseph to be
with him in his Kingdom . . . . In 1834 he was commanded to take me for a wife.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a thousand miles from him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got afraid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angel came to him three times, the last
time with a drawn sword and threatened his life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not believe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God told him so, why did he not come and
tell me? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angel told him I should
have a witness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An angel came to me—it
went through me like lightning—I was afraid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph said he came with more revelation and
knowledge than Joseph ever dare reveal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
said I was his before I came here and he said all the Devils in Hell should
never get me from him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was sealed to
him in the Masonic Hall, over the old brick store by Brigham Young in February
1842 . . .” Brodie, <u>No Man Knows My History</u>, 443–444 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why did these purported wives of Joseph Smith fail to
mention, in their personal journals or otherwise, their marriages to Joseph
Smith until many years after Joseph’s death? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To this day, the LDS Church has not produced even a single
word, in a sermon, lecture, statement, newspaper or LDS Church publication
printed during the life of Joseph Smith, wherein Joseph, by word or deed,
endorsed polygamy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, none of the marriages show up on the then official
current records of the Church, in violation of the Lord’s commandment that a
record be kept (“The clerk of every church should keep a record of all marriages
solemnized in his branch.”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For further
refutation of the above false claims and statements, which are too detailed to
include herein, please see </span><a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm"><u><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy: How Men Nearest the
Prophet Attached Polygamy to His Name in Order to Justify Their Own Polygamous
Crimes</span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> found at </span><a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri;">http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover, combined with the fact that not one descendant of
Joseph Smith (outside of his relationship with Emma) has been found through DNA
evidence, the proven fact that Brigham Young fraudulently altered official
Church history in support of his allegations, I find the evidence propounded by
the Church dubious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> Richard Van Wagoner, <u>Mormon Polygamy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A History</u>, p. 303.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, based on the evidence, I believe
that Brigham Young, and the polygamist followers of Brigham Young, lied about
the origins of polygamy in order to maintain their authority and the polygamous
doctrines they espoused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Secret Doctrine<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In response to these claims, the LDS Church has argued that
plurality of wives was revealed as a “secret” doctrine as proven by a “large
collection of affidavits” written long after Joseph’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to B.H. Roberts:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“It is to be observed first of all
that this principle of plural marriage had to be introduced <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">secretly</i></b>,
firstly, because of the traditions and prejudices of the saint themselves; and,
secondly, because of the advantage that their enemies surrounding them would
have over the church if once the doctrine was publicly proclaimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This enforced secrecy, which a reasonable
prudence demanded, gave rise to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">apparent contradictions </i></b>between the
public utterance of leading brethren in the church and their having a plurality
of wives under the new marriage law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Comprehensive
History of the Church</u>, vol. ii, pp. 103-4 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B.H. Roberts further went on to say that the confusion and
statements against polygamy resulted from Joseph and other leaders of the LDS
Church who reproved the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unsanctioned</i>
polygamy of the orient and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unauthorized</i>
polygamy of John C. Bennett.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, according to Parley P. Pratt, “The spiritual wife doctrine of J. C.
Bennett and numerous other apostates, is as foreign from the real principles of
the church as the devil is from God, or as sectarianism is from
Christianity.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>. p. 104 (note
16).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is the LDS Church correct?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Were the “apparent contradictions” only a result of a disagreement as to
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">form</i> of polygamy and nothing
more?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joseph
Smith vehemently and repeatedly preached against and denounced polygamy,
without any qualification, even after Joseph was supposedly engaged in
polygamous relationships</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not one child has been
discovered through DNA or other evidence to be the polygamous child of Joseph
Smith</b> even though Emma bore him nine.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[10]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evidence does not support the LDS Church’s
position.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Please continue to Part 10 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_8755.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_8755.html</a>)</h3>
<br />
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> In
1847, Henry Cobb sued Augusta Cobb for divorce.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Latter_Day_Saint_polygamy"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Latter_Day_Saint_polygamy</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></sup></span></sup></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>
</sup>On August 24, 1891, Seventy Thomas Stafford wrote a letter to Seventy
Gomer R. Wells telling of improper conduct which he had witnessed on the part
of Brigham Young, both in England and in Nauvoo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stafford wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“But I am fully convinced, as I was then, that Brigham
(Young), was in adultery in Manchester, England, in the fall, winter and spring
of 1840 and 1841. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elizabeth Mayer is the
person with whom Brigham was then committing adultery. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My reasons are these: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lived next door to her, under the same roof
. . . . This Elizabeth Mayer had a father and a brother who were gardners; they
took their dinners, as they worked a long piece from home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After they had left for work, Brigham would
step into the house, she would then lock the door and pull down the blinds and
curtains, which to me was strange. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
never came to see our folks, although not five steps apart; and when he left he
was always in a hurry, and she never came to the door with him when he was
leaving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This same thing occurred in
Nauvoo with a woman and Brigham. Her name was Greenough; her son was about my
age, was always driven out when Brigham came, the door was shut and the
curtains lowered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was puzzled to know
why he acted so, if he had a good heart, and was engaged in the business of
teaching the truth, why drive the boy out? Why not come also and see my mother,
only a few steps apart? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am now, and
was then, satisfied that he was in adultery, in Manchester, England. The seeds
of polygamy was sown, and Brigham the sower . . . . I was present at a meeting
in a grove [at Nauvoo], about three weeks before Joseph and Hyrum were
murdered, when Joseph made a public statement in the presence of three thousand
people, that polygamy was being practiced secretly by some; that it had crept
into the church secretly and must be put down speedily or the church would be driven
from Nauvoo. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am satisfied that Joseph was not in favor of it
(polygamy) at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would swear to all I
have stated.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R. C. Evans, <u>Autobiography
of Elder R. C. Evans</u>, 334–335. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> In
contrast, according to the LDS Church’s institute manual:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It is clear that the Prophet Joseph Smith
received section 132 before it was recorded but delayed making it known. The
Prophet knew the Lord’s will on plural marriage within the new and everlasting
covenant probably as early as 1831 (see <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">History of the Church, </span></em>5:xxix).
In March 1843 he spoke to William Clayton of eternal marriage. In July of that
year, he was discussing the doctrine with his brother Hyrum in William
Clayton’s presence when Hyrum said, “If you will write the revelation on
celestial marriage, I will take it and read it to Emma, and I believe I can
convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace.” (<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">History of the Church, </span></em>5:xxxii).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
</span><a href="http://institute.lds.org/manuals/doctrine-and-covenants-institute-student-manual/dc-in-131-132.asp"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://institute.lds.org/manuals/doctrine-and-covenants-institute-student-manual/dc-in-131-132.asp</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
For example, Orson Pratt gave the initial sermon which announced polygamy as a
doctrine, which he delivered in the Tabernacle, in Salt Lake City, August 29,
1852, entitled “Celestial Marriage.” Orson declared: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘[A]mong them are many spirits that are more
noble, more intelligent than others, that were called the great and mighty
ones, reserved until the dispensation of the fulness of times . . . . This is
the reason why the Lord is sending them here, brethren and sisters; they are
appointed to come and take their bodies here . . . . Then is it not reasonable,
and consistent that the Lord should say unto His faithful and chosen servants .
. . take unto yourselves more wives?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Journal
of Discourses 1 [1854]: 62–63.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
The LDS Church interprets this verse as follows:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts,
raise up [righteous] seed [or people] unto me, I will command my people [to
practice polygamy]: otherwise [if the Lord does not give the commandment to
practice polygamy], they shall hearken unto these things [Jacob’s instruction
to not practice it].” This interpretation makes this passage completely out of
harmony with all the rest of Jacob’s revelation against polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The better interpretation of the passage
shows that it is definitely monogamous, and that it is in harmony with all the
rest of the revelation which the Lord gave through Jacob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is: “For if I will, saith the Lord of
hosts, raise up [righteous] seed unto me, I will command my people [the Lord
will be their commander—He will give them commandments to obey]: otherwise [if
the Lord is not their commander; or they do not obey His commandments], they
shall hearken unto these things [they shall practice the sins of
polygamy].”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[7]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> On
June 26, 1869 (twenty-five years later) Joseph B. Noble (the first man who
purportedly had the first child from a plural wife) claimed that on April 5,
1841, he “married or sealed Louisa Beaman to Joseph Smith, President of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the order of
celestial marriage revealed to the said Joseph Smith.” First, Louisa was Mr.
Noble’s sister and she later married Brigham Young as a plural wife (and had
five sons with Brigham as opposed to zero from Joseph).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, the claim that Ms. Beaman had been
married to Joseph first originated with the despicable Dr. John Bennett in
1842, which Joseph denied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bennett
wrote:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In concluding this subject,
however, I will semi-state two or more cases, among the vast number, where Joe
Smith was privately married to his spiritual wives—in the case of Mrs. A****
S****, by Apostle Brigham Young; and in that of Miss L***** B***** [Louisa
Beaman], by Elder Joseph Bates Noble.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>John C. Bennett, <span class="italic">The History of the Saints; or, An
Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism</span> [Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842],
256.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story of the sword carrying
angel appeared much later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, LDS
Church leaders state Louisa Beaman was married to Joseph on April 5, 1841, even
though <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">she was not baptized until two
years later</b> – on May 11, 1843 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i>
<span class="italic">Millennial Star</span> 21: 75).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[8]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
E.g., Journal of discourses, vol. iii., p. 266.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It has been claimed, chiefly by the sons of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
and the founders of what is known as the ‘Reorganized Church of Latter-day
Saints’ that Joseph Smith never introduced either the doctrine or the practice
of the plurality of wives in the church; but the evidence is overwhelmingly
against this contention . . . . there is a large collection of affidavits upon
the subject in the files of the Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City, a number of
which – ten in all – are published in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Historical
Record</i>, together with many less formal statements and evidences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the affidavits and statements are
from women who were married to Joseph Smith, and some by those who performed
the ceremonies (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Historical Record</i>,
Jenson, pp. 219-234), and other persons whose relationship to Nauvoo events
gave them exceptional opportunities to know the truth of the matters whereof
they testified.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cited by</i> <u>A Comprehenive History of the Church, Century One, Vol.
II</u>, B.H. Roberts (1965), p. 103, note 15.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[9]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In May 1887, almost forty-three years
after Joseph Smith's death, the LDS Church published sixteen pages of
affidavits and testimonies in the <u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Historical
Record</span></u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[10]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
How this fact fits within the LDS Church claim that Joseph revealed polygamy as
part of a “righteous seed” theory (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i>
Jacob 1:30 and D&C 132) is unexplained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, some have argued that maybe Joseph never had sexual
relationships with his plural wives out of respect to Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Brigham Young certainly had 57
children by at least sixteen different wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why the difference?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if
these marriages were asexual, wouldn’t Joseph have proclaimed the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-12427874521298337052012-06-22T23:08:00.001-07:002014-08-10T15:20:46.300-07:00Part 8 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 8<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Inasmuch as this church has been
reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy; we declare that we
believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband.” </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">– Section 101 of the Doctrine and
Covenants (1835 edition) (i.e., prior to being removed with the inclusion of
Section 132)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not
one person has been proven through DNA to be the direct descendant of Joseph
Smith outside Joseph’s marriage to Emma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although at least five persons have been tested, the fact
that not a single child has been proven to be a descendant of Joseph Smith’s
purported polygamous relationships strongly indicates that Joseph Smith is
innocent of polygamy.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae; font-size: small;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In contrast, by the time of his death, Young had 57 children
by 16 of his wives; 46 of his children reached adulthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Smith purportedly had 33 wives
(depending on your scholar) and yet not one child has been proven to be a
direct descendant of Joseph Smith outside Joseph’s marriage to Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many in the LDS Church would argue that Joseph did not have
sexual relations with his wives (except Eliza Snow – which the LDS Church
claims that lost her child as a result of being pushed down the stairs by Emma
Smith).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the change in doctrine from
semi- sexual wives under Joseph Smith to full- sexual wives under Brigham
Young?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #002060; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Years
after Joseph Smith’s death, the LDS Church Knowingly Revised Doctrine and
History to Bolster its Claim that Joseph Smith Revealed the Polygamy Doctrine</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doctrine & Covenants, Section 101<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unknown to nearly all of the members of the LDS Church,
D&C 101 was amended in 1876, 33 years after Joseph’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the Cochanite (see below) converts to
the church continued to practice their polygamous lifestyle discreetly, while
others openly sought to recruit other Mormons to “the patriarchal order.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long church leadership took notice, and
denounced the practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1835 edition
of the Doctrine and Covenants included this Article on Marriage in Section 101:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inasmuch as this church has been
reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy; we declare that we
believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband</i></b>.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The above passage from 1835 does not exist in the modern
D&C 101.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was removed when the Doctrine and
Covenants was reprinted in 1876 (41 years later).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph purportedly revealed polygamy in 1831
and began engaging in polygamy in early 1833.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Section 101 was revealed on December 16, 1833.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, according to the time line
recognized by the LDS Church, Joseph supposedly received revelation <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">condemning</i> polygamy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> Joseph purportedly revealed polygamy in 1831 and was already
married to his second wife, Fanny Alger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How can this be possible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does
God also lie about his own doctrine in order to protect the Church from its
enemies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The LDS Church has responded to the above scripture by
claiming that Olivery Cowdery was the author of this verse which was composed
while Joseph Smith was in Michigan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
Fielding Smith perpetuated the misinformation: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“This article on marriage was not a
revelation and I want you never to forget it . . . . at this conference held on
August 17, 1835, Joseph Smith and Frederick G. Williams . . . were not present;
they were in Michigan . . . . this article on marriage . . . was written by
Oliver Cowdery in the absence of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Prophet knew
nothing of the action that was taken ordering them printed with the
revelations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were not revelations,
never were so considered, were ordered printed in the absence of Joseph Smith,
and when Joseph Smith returned from Michigan and learned what was done---I am
informed by my father, who got this information from Orson Pratt---the Prophet
was very much troubled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Orson Pratt and
Joseph F. Smith, my father, were missionary companions; they traveled together,
and my father learned a great many things from Orson Pratt of these early days.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Prophet came back from
Michigan, he learned of the order made by the conference of the Church and he
let it go through.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctrines of
Salvation, vol. 11, pp. 194-95.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, Joseph Fielding Smith claimed to have gotten his
information third-hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time
Pratt allegedly told this to Joseph Fielding Smith, the LDS Church was in Utah,
and Pratt himself was a polygamist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
certainly served Joseph Fielding Smith’s agenda to “blame” the Article on
Marriage on the excommunicated Cowdery, because of its obvious contradiction to
the purported 1843 “revelation on celestial marriage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, the Article on Marriage was voted on by “common
consent,” approved, and published in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, as later the LDS Church claimed, that
Joseph Smith had had his first “revelation” on plural marriage as early as
1831, then it is obvious that upon returning from Michigan, and learning of the
Article on Marriage (a very important verse), he should have immediately called
a meeting, corrected the mistake, and ordered the Article on Marriage torn out
or stricken through in each copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
Smith lived another nine years after the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants was
published, and neither made a single statement against the Article nor took any
action to correct it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the LDS Church
to believe that Cowdery could slip an incorrect principle into the “standard
works,” they must concede that Smith’s relationship with God was operating at
somewhat less than peak efficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover, as detailed above, in response to Dr. Bennett’s
libelous claims, Joseph Smith (not Oliver Cowdery) republished the law of
marriage on at least two separate occasions in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> publication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joseph’s knowing republication of the revelation on at least two
separate occasions is concrete evidence that Joseph supported the original
content of Section 101.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The LDS Church’s implication that Joseph
Smith did not agree with the above scripture is disingenuous and without merit</b>.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doctrine & Covenants, Section 132<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the LDS Church’s
institute manual:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The revelation
[Section 132] was not made public until Elder Orson Pratt, under the direction
of President Brigham Young, announced it at a Church conference on 29 August
1852.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The revelation was placed in the
Doctrine and Covenants in 1876.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Author Alan R. Waterman wrote the following trenchant
response</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“So eight years after Joseph’s
death, at a special conference called for the purpose, President Brigham Young
(a polygamist) asked Apostle Orson Pratt (now also a polygamist) to read aloud
a document purporting to be a revelation from the Lord to Joseph Smith, later
to be incorporated into the Doctrine and Covenants as </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">section
132</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. The document revealed that plural marriage was not merely
approved by the Lord, but now actually required for any good Latter-day Saint
man or woman not wishing to be </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132/4c"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">damned</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<br />
<br />
Brigham explained that this revelation of Joseph’s, which Brigham called ‘the
New and Everlasting Covenant’ had been kept locked in a drawer in his desk all
this time, but he didn’t explain why it hadn’t been released sooner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Smith had been publicly declaiming
against the very things contained within it for a year after it was reported to
have been received. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would any
prophet withhold a revelation that came directly from God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely any information the Lord sees fit to
reveal to His people would be intended for immediate dissemination.<br />
<br />
More curious yet, this revelation is purported to have been given in July of
1843, just three months before Joseph, as both Prophet and Mayor, angrily took
to the streets of Nauvoo and threatened to prosecute any who were ‘preaching,
teaching, or practicing the doctrine of plurality of wives’ and further warning
all citizens that they are forbidden from engaging in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to accept that Joseph Smith would
engage in an impromptu tirade like this after having received such a
revelation, you would have to believe that he was not just an outrageous,
overwrought liar; you’d have to believe he was completely insane. <br />
<br />
Nor does the excuse hold that Joseph had to be careful because of his many
enemies. His enemies already believed he was practicing polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would not be news to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Smith was not the type of man to limp
around a controversy, especially if delivered from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the question of whether, supposing he had
believed in plural marriage, would he have shied away from declaring it, he
stated, ‘I have taught all the strong doctrines publicly, and always
taught stronger doctrines in public than in private.’<br />
<br />
Brigham’s later explanation for why the revelation was not in Joseph Smith’s
handwriting was that this one was actually a copy of the original revelation,
as ‘Sister Emma burnt the original.’<br />
<br />
When Emma Smith, back in Nauvoo heard this claim, she replied that she had
‘never saw such a revelation until it was published by Pratt in The Seer.’<br />
<br />
This ‘copy’ of a very lengthy revelation was in the handwriting of William
Clayton, formerly a scribe of Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was also now a polygamist.<br />
<br />
What I wonder about is this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was it the
practice of Joseph Smith to have his scribes immediately create a second copy
of all of his revelations, or did Brigham Young simply ask Clayton to
‘recreate’ this one from memory?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Addition to Section 101, Other Verses in the Doctrine
and Covenants Seemingly Contradict Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="16"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">D&C 19:25 (March 1830):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And again, I command thee that thou shalt
not </span></a><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/19?lang=eng"><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">covet</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> thy </span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/19?lang=eng"><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">neighbor</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘s </span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/19?lang=eng"><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wife</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; nor seek thy neighbor’s life.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">D&C 42:22 (February 9,
1831):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thou shalt </span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/42?lang=eng"><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">love</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt </span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/42?lang=eng"><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">cleave</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> unto her and none else.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bookmark: 16;">D&C 49:</span>16 (May
1831):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wherefore, it is lawful that he
should have one </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/49?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wife</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and they twain shall be </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/49?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">one</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> flesh, and all this that the </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/49?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">earth</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> might answer the end of its
creation.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Please continue to Part 9 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2298.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2298.html</a>)</h3>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> Wikipedia, “Children of Joseph
Smith,” “Though there were allegations of paternity in some of these polygamous
marriages, no children have ever been proven to be Smith’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_DNA_project" title="Joseph Smith DNA project"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">ongoing genetic
research</span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to determine if any descendants of alleged children have
Smith’s genetic markers, and so far all tests have been negative.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> History of the Church, Volume 2, p. 247:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marriage should be celebrated with
prayer and thanksgiving, and at the solemnization, the persons to be married,
standing together, the man on the right and the woman on the left, shall be
addressed by the person officiating as he shall be directed by the Holy Spirit,
and if there be no legal objections, he shall say, calling each by name: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘You both mutually agree to be each other’s
companion, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this
condition: that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all
others, during your lives?’ And when they have both answered ‘yes,’ he shall
pronounce them ‘husband and wife,’ in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by
virtue of the laws of the country and authority vested in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘May God add His blessing and keep you to
fulfill your covenants from henceforth and forever. Amen.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The clerk of every church should keep
a record of all marriages solemnized in his branch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All legal contracts of marriage made before a
person is baptized into this Church should be held sacred and fulfilled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been
reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we
believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband,
except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not right to persuade a woman to be
baptized contrary to the will of her husband; neither is it lawful to influence
her to leave her husband. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All children
are bound by law to obey their parents, and to influence them to embrace any
religious faith, or be baptized, or leave their parents without their consent,
is unlawful and unjust. We believe that husbands, parents, and masters, who
exercise control over their wives, children and servants, and prevent them from
embracing the truth, will have to answer for that sin.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See </span></span><a href="http://institute.lds.org/manuals/doctrine-and-covenants-institute-student-manual/dc-in-131-132.asp"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://institute.lds.org/manuals/doctrine-and-covenants-institute-student-manual/dc-in-131-132.asp</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It is clear that the Prophet Joseph Smith received section 132 before
it was recorded but delayed making it known. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Prophet knew the Lord’s will on plural
marriage within the new and everlasting covenant probably as early as 1831 (see
History of the Church, 5:xxix). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In March
1843 he spoke to William Clayton of eternal marriage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In July of that year, he was discussing the
doctrine with his brother Hyrum in William Clayton’s presence when Hyrum said, ‘If
you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it and read it
to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter
have peace’ (History of the Church, 5:xxxii). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Prophet consented and told William Clayton
to get some paper to write; but to his brother’s ‘urgent request’ that the
Prophet use the Urim and Thummim to recall the exact revelation, Joseph replied
that he did not need it, ‘for he knew the revelation from beginning to end’ (
History of the Church, 5:xxxii). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he
had finished dictating, William Clayton read it back slowly, and Joseph said
that it was exact. Bishop Newel K. Whitney heard the revelation read and asked permission
of the Prophet Joseph Smith to have it copied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the Prophet’s approval, Bishop Whitney
sent Joseph C. Kingsbury the next day to copy it. Brothers Kingsbury and
Clayton compared the copy line by line to the original and found it correct.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> </span><a href="http://puremormonism.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-im-abandoning-polygamy.html"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://puremormonism.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-im-abandoning-polygamy.html</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This article was the primary inspiration of
this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-35022832980714102572012-06-22T23:07:00.003-07:002014-08-11T18:31:26.556-07:00Part 7 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 7</span></span></b><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith never
taught polygamy, and there was no revelation on polygamy or celestial marriage,
or anything of the kind. The church was governed entirely as a monogamy church
from 1832, at the time I became connected with it, up to the time of Joseph
Smith’s death.” </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">– John Taylor (not the apostle)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“An intelligent friend, who called
upon us this morning, has just returned from a visit to Nauvoo and the Mormons .
. . . He believes—just as we do—that they have been grossly misunderstood and
shamefully libeled . . . . [I]t is a faith which they say encourages no vice,
nor immorality, nor departure from established laws and usages; neither
polygamy, nor promiscuous intercourse, nor community of property.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">– Times and Seasons 2 [October 15,
1841]: 580.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Testimony During the Temple Lot Case<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emma Smith, as the wife of the Prophet,
was supplied money at Joseph’s office by both Joseph and High Priest James
Whitehead, who was Joseph’s private secretary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whitehead had been keeping records for Joseph
for over two years when the Prophet was killed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whitehead was working in Joseph’s office on
the day of the assassination. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
evidently did not turn Joseph’s private records over to the Twelve until 1847,
three years later, at Winter Quarters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whitehead testified under oath in the
famous Temple Lot Case</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I was there in
his office, as his private secretary, at the time he was killed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in his office on that day, and was
keeping the books at that time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Joseph Smith had
one wife and her name was Emma . . . . I never heard anybody claim, except Emma
Smith, that she was the wife of Joseph Smith</em></strong>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was never any woman who came to me, or
Joseph Smith in my presence, during the time of my employment as his private
secretary, for money, claiming that she was the wife of Joseph Smith, except
his wife Emma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was no
entry of that kind ever made on the books, of money paid by me or by him
[Joseph] to any woman claiming to be his wife, except Emma.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Temple Lot Case, 476 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teacher John Taylor (not the LDS
President) was one of those who investigated Dr. Bennett and Francis
Higbee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He testified: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I held the
position of teacher in the original church from September, 1832, until Joseph
Smith’s death in 1844. I performed the duties of teacher from the time I went
to Nauvoo until 1844. We had our bounds set off for us,—two teachers to each
ward to look after the members in the ward, to see that no backbiting, or evil
speaking, or iniquity was practiced, and see that all members of the church did
their duties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was my
mission to teach and instruct from the Book of Covenants, and the Book of
Mormon, and the New Testament. We went together from house to house and visited
every house . . . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was our duty in case we found anybody with more wives than one to
report them to the President of the Teachers’ Quorum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were twenty-four in the Teachers’
Quorum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an organized quorum, and
our instructions were if we found any case of that kind to report it to the
President of the Teachers’ Quorum, and the president would report them to Hyrum
Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the instruction that
Brother Hyrum Smith gave in the quorum</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not to report these alone [only], but
any other misdemeanor that we found in our wards, and they were all reported
alike to the President of the Quorum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
was about that time that John C. Bennett’s secret wife system came to be heard
of</i></b>, and it was talked around that there was such a thing as that; and
that was the reason that the instructions were given us, for [we] were told to
search it out and find what there was to it if we could. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the way it was, and so I got after
him [Bennett], and followed him, and saw him go into a house that did not have
a very good reputation. I followed him . . . . And one evening I traced him and
saw him go right into the house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During
the time that I was a teacher from 1832 up to 1844, there was no rule or law of
the original church that permitted the practice or principle of polygamy . . . .
after I reported John C. Bennett there was action taken on his case. He was cut
off from the church for that offense . . . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith
never taught polygamy, and there was no revelation on polygamy or celestial
marriage, or anything of the kind. The church was governed entirely as a
monogamy church from 1832, at the time I became connected with it, up to the
time of Joseph Smith’s death</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a man
by the name of [Hiram] Brown that taught that doctrine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was notified by the church authorities
[both Joseph and Hyrum], tried, and cut off from the church . . . . There was
another man by the name of Durfy who went to La Harpe, Illinois [in northeast
Hancock, County], and he told the people that he thought the time would come
when they would practice polygamy, or the same doctrine with reference to
plural wives that David and Solomon did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was what Durfy taught. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was reported to Hyrum Smith, and Hyrum
sat on a well curb and wrote a notice to him that such a doctrine was not to be
taught in the church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw that letter,
and it was a severe rebuke . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The letter I
referred to . . . is a letter that Hyrum Smith wrote and delivered to Mr.
Hewitt, to take to those brethren out where this man [Durfy] was preaching this
doctrine, or telling the people that the doctrine of plural marriage would
sometime be taught in the church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw
the letter at the time it was read to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw the handwriting, but I did not read it
myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The letter was read to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Hewitt read it to me, and I saw the
writing, the same as if you had a letter opened there and I should see it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw the writing when Mr. Hewitt was reading
it to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The full name of the man who
read it was Richard Hewitt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know
whose handwriting the letter was in. Mr. Hewitt said it was Hyrum Smith’s
handwriting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me that Hyrum Smith
wrote it and gave it to him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temple Lot
Case, 190–191, 192–193, Abstract of Evidence, 190–191 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John Taylor’s testimony further
corroborates the claim that Hyrum Smith was leading an effort to eliminate
polygamy from the Church.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other Newspaper Confirms – No Polygamy</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An article from the St. Louis, Missouri, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atlas</i> was republished in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It read: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="italic">“An intelligent
friend, who called upon us this morning, has just returned from a visit to
Nauvoo and the Mormons . . . . He believes—just as we do—that they have been
grossly misunderstood and shamefully libeled . . . . [I]t is a faith which they
say encourages no vice, nor immorality, nor departure from established laws and
usages; neither polygamy, nor promiscuous intercourse, nor community of
property.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times and Seasons</span> 2
[October 15, 1841]:<span class="italic"> 580.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Affidavit of Sarah Miller Proves that Dr. Bennett and
Higbee Were Spreading the Idea that Joseph Smith Revealed Polygamy</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like a cancer, Dr. John Bennett and
others had taught others in the Church that Joseph Smith had revealed
polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah Miller testified to the
following (not published until 1844):<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Nauvoo, May
24th, 1842. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some two or
three weeks since, in consequence of brother Joseph Smith’s teachings to the
singers, I began to be alarmed concerning myself, and certain teachings which I
had received from Chauncey L. Higbee, and questioned him (Higbee) about his
teaching, for I was pretty well persuaded from Joseph’s public teachings that
Chauncey had been telling falsehoods; but Chauncey said that Joseph now taught
as he did through necessity, on account of the prejudice of the people, and his
own family particularly [Emma], as they had not become believers in the
doctrine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I then become
satisfied that all of Chauncey’s teaching had been false, and that he had never
been authorized by any one in authority to make any such communication to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chauncey L. Higbee’s teaching and conduct were
as follows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he first came to my
house soon after the special conference this spring, Chauncey commenced joking
me about my getting married, and wanted to know how long it had been since my
husband died, and soon removed his seat near me; and began his seducing
insinuations by saying it was no harm to have sexual intercourse with women if
they would keep it to themselves, and continued to urge me to yield to his
desires, and urged me vehemently, and said he and Joseph were good friends, and
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he
[Joseph] teaches me this doctrine, and allows me such privileges, and there is
no harm in it and Joseph Smith says so</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I told him I did
not believe it, and had heard no such teaching from Joseph, nor from the stand
[the place where preaching services were held at Nauvoo], but that it was
wicked to commit adultery, &c. Chauncey said that did not mean single
women, but married women; and continued to press his instructions and arguments
until after dark, and until I was inclined to believe, for he called God to
witness of the truth, and was so solemn and confident, I yielded to his
temptations, having received the strongest assurance from him that Joseph
approved it and would uphold me in it. He also told me that many others were
following the same course of conduct. As I still had some doubts, near the
close of our interview, I again suggested my fears that I had done wrong, and
should loose the confidence of the brethren, when he assured me that it was
right, and he would bring a witness to confirm what he had taught. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he come
again, I still had doubts, I told him I understood he (Higbee), had recently
been baptized, and that Joseph, when he confirmed him, told him to quit all his
iniquitous practices,—Chauncey said it was not for such things that he was
baptized for, [he said] do you think I would be baptized for such a thing and
then go into it so soon again? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chauncey
Higbee, said it would never be known, I told him it might be told in bringing
forth [a child].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chauncey said there was
no danger, and that Dr. Bennet understood it, and would come and take it away,
if there was any thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOSEPH’S DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST CHAUNCY HIGBEE</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The People vs.
Chauncey L. Higbee<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In
an effort to further clear his name, on May 24, 1842, Joseph Smith brought a defamation
lawsuit against Chauncey Higbee in Illinois</b>.</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The case was eventually
thrown out for failure to appear since Joseph had to go into hiding based on
the false claims made by Dr. John C. Bennett and the attempted murder of
ex-governor Lilburn Boggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lawsuit,
which has since been covered up by the LDS Church, is strong evidence that
Joseph was against polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would
Joseph Smith bring a defamation lawsuit against Higbee when Higbee would
certainly attempt to prove that Smith was condoning polygamy and a polygamist
himself (truth is the ultimate defense to a defamation lawsuit)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph was trying to keep polygamy secret,
there is no logical reason why Joseph would actively pursue a defamation claim
but would have most certainly just let the matter go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to Richard and Pamela
Price:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“[The case] showed that Joseph
vigorously contended against that evil doctrine in private and in public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph had been guilty, he certainly would
not have sued a competent lawyer and insisted that the case be tried in
Carthage among his enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would a man
with plural wives sue a lawyer – in the state of Illinois, where polygamy was a
crime at that time (see Statutes of Illinois, Criminal Code, Section 121-122)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph had been guilty, Chauncey could
have easily proven it, and no doubt Joseph would have gone to jail for that
crime.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>. at 160.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oliver Cowdery’s Letter Against Polygamy</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oliver Cowdery’s answer to his sister’s
letter inquiring into the truth of polygamy demonstrated his patent opposition
to polygamy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The letter evinces that Oliver
neither knew of the supposed 1831 revelation, nor any officially sanctioned
polygamy in the Church prior to 1846. Oliver wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“TIFFIN, Seneca
County, Ohio,<br />
July 24,1846.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brother Daniel
and Sister Phoebe:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phoebe’s letter
mailed at Montrose [Iowa] on the 2nd of this month was received . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, Brother
Daniel and Sister Phoebe, what will you do? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has Sister Phoebe written us the truth? and if
so, will you venture with your little ones, into the toil and fatigue of a long
journey [to the West], and that for the sake of finding a resting place when
you know of miseries of such magnitude as have, as will, and as must rend
asunder the tenderest and holiest ties of domestic life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hardly think it possible, that you have
written us the truth [about polygamy], that though there may be individuals who
are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">guilty
of the iniquities spoken</i></b> of,—yet no such practice can be preached or
adhered to, as a public doctrine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such
may do for the followers of Mahomet; it may have done some thousands of years
ago; but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no people, professing to be governed by the pure and holy principles of
the Lord Jesus, can hold up their heads before the world at this distance of
time, and be guilty of such folly—such wrong—such abomination</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will blast, like a mildew, their fairest
prospects, and lay the axe at the root of the tree of their future happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You would like
to know whether we are calculating to come on and emigrate to California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this subject everything depends upon
circumstances . . . . We do not feel to say or do anything to discourage you
from going, if you think it best to do so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know, in part, how you are situated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the church, you have few, or no
friends, and very little, or no society—in it you have both, . . . [T]hough the
journey is frequently attended with toil, yet a bright future has been seen in
the distance, if right counsels were given, and a departure in no way from the
original faith, in no instance, countenanced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of what that doctrine and faith is, and was, I
ought to know, and further it does not become me now to speak . . . . May the
Lord have mercy on you, and protect and spare you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Truly your
brother and friend,<br />
Oliver Cowdery.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Saints’ Herald</i> 55 [January 15,
1908]: 56–57.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How to Recognize a False Angel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Smith revealed a test to determine
whether a person was being visited by a false angel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Joseph, if there was any
statement within the message delivered which contradicted a former revelation
which was from God, that message, and the angel who brought it, are from Satan.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Smith wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“There have also
been ministering angels in the church which were of satan appearing as an angel
of light:— A sister in the State of New York had a vision who said it was told
her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods an angel would appear
to her,— she went at the appointed time and saw a glorious personage descending
arrayed in white . . . he commenced and told her to fear God and said that her
husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one
hundred miles from home or he would not return; whereas God had called him to
go to the ends of the earth; and he has since been more than one thousand miles
from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage and
many things that were false.—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How it may be asked was this known to be a
bad angel? . . . by his contradicting a former revelation</i></b>.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 3 [April 1, 1842]: 747
(emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Section 132 entirely contradicts the
revelation of former D&C 101 and the Book of Mormon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, Section 132:1 states that David
and Solomon were justified in having many wives and concubines:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto
you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know
and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle
and doctrine of their having many </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wives</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">concubines</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In contrast Jacob 1:24 states:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Behold, David and </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Solomon</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
truly had many </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wives</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and concubines, which thing was </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">abominable</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
before me, saith the Lord.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="italic">Under Joseph’s test, Section 132 is false
doctrine.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Articles of Faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Articles of Faith were composed by </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr." title="Joseph Smith, Jr."><span class="italic"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Smith</span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> as part of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wentworth_Letter" title="The Wentworth Letter"><span class="italic"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">an
1842 letter</span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> sent to </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wentworth_%28mayor%29" title="John Wentworth (mayor)"><span class="italic"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Long”
John Wentworth</span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, editor of the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Democrat" title="Chicago
Democrat"><span class="italic"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chicago
Democrat</span></span></i></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="italic">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Article 12:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We believe in being subject to kings,
presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the</span>
law.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Joseph, was engaged in polygamy at this time as alleged
by the LDS Church, then Joseph was condoning, preaching, and violating the laws
of the land as polygamy was illegal at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Joseph have a secret double standard that
allowed the LDS Church to proclaim its adherence to the law while it secretly
violated the law? – Nonsense.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Was Murdered as a Result of the Polygamous Lie<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When discussing whether Joseph Smith revealed polygamy many
members quickly disregard the above facts as just simple anti-Mormon
distortions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is striking about this
position is how the LDS Church’s position on the murder of Joseph Smith falls
squarely within the anti-Mormon story – a story that originated with the
Joseph’s worse enemy Dr. John Bennett.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the official history of the LDS Church, Joseph
was imprisoned after Joseph, as the mayor of Nauvoo, voted on June 10, 1844 to
declare the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo Expositor</i> a public
nuisance for publishing “libelous and slanderous character” papers and ordered
the press destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The council also
discussed the conspiracy of “the Laws, Higbees, and Foster” to destroy
Joseph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=pGi-iiz6juYC&pg=PA432&lpg=PA432"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">History of the Church,</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>vol. VI (1912), p. 432 (“The Council passed an ordinance declaring the Nauvoo
Expositor a nuisance, and also issued an order to me to abate the said
nuisance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately ordered the
Marshall to destroy it without delay.” – Joseph Smith).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph was subsequently incarcerated on June
25, 1844 in Carthage, Illinois, as a result of his role in the destruction of
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo Expositor</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Joseph was acquitted of the charges</strong> but then
was continued to be held for inciting a riot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was murdered on June 27, 1844. With respect to the <em>Nauvoo Expositor</em> incident, Emma Smith said in an interview with Edmund C. Briggs:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>“I never had any reason to oppose him, for we were always on the best of terms ourselves, but he allowed some others to persuade him in some measures against his will, and those things I opposed. He was opposed to the destroying of the press of the Nauvoo <span class="italic">Expositor</span>, but the council overruled him by vote and he told them they were the cause of its destruction, but he would be held personally responsible for it; and I often heard Joseph contend against measures in council, and sometimes he would yield to them.”</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph’s alleged actions against the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo Expositor</i> are not disputed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the widely-believed reasons underlying Joseph’s actions are
disputed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were the severe
allegations of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo Expositor</i>
that led Joseph Smith to acquiesce to its destruction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to Wikipedia:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The paper’s criticism of Smith was
focused on three main points: (1) the opinion that Smith had once been a true </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophet" title="Prophet"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">prophet</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, but had become a fallen prophet
because of his introduction of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plural_marriage" title="Plural
marriage"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">plural marriage</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exaltation_%28LDS_Church%29" title="Exaltation (LDS Church)"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">exaltation</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and other controversial doctrines; (2) the opinion that as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Church" title="President of the Church"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">church president</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and Nauvoo mayor, Smith held too much power and desired to create a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy" title="Theocracy"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">theocracy</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> . . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and (3) the belief that Smith was corrupting
young women by forcing, coercing or introducing them to the practice of plural
marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In other words, Joseph was accused of being a fallen prophet
because Joseph was allegedly practicing polygamy with many women, including
young women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These anti-Mormon accusations
are not inordinately controversial if Joseph was truly such a polygamous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph was having polygamous sexual
relations with girls as young as fourteen, why would Joseph so vehemently
denounce and acquiesce to the the destruction of the newspaper based on these
allegations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although the murder of Joseph Smith is being rewritten by
the LDS Church (discussed below) into something more martyrdom like, apologists
of the LDS Church and anti-Mormons alike claim that Joseph allegedly supported the destruction of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo Expositor</i> in order to protect the secrecy of the Church’s
hidden polygamous doctrine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the secret was out. How would
the destruction of the newspaper after publication protect a secret?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, the LDS Church claims that Joseph was killed because of
his testimony of Jesus Christ</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and sealed his testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants
with his blood (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> D&C 135:1)
and died a martyr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The LDS Church is incorrect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joseph was murdered based on the false accusations of those closest to
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s more, the mob attacked
Joseph believing, as claimed by Dr. Bennett, et al., that Joseph was
instituting a Mormon harem with the young women in their communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The June 27, 1844 mob did <u>not</u> attack Joseph because
of the Book of Mormon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mob did <u>not</u>
attack Joseph because of Joseph’s testimony of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mob did <u>not</u> attack Joseph because
Joseph claimed to have direct communications with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mob <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">murdered</i>
Joseph because they believed he was a lecherous fiend preying on
young girls who burned the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo
Expositor</i> in order to cover up the truth, and was now seeking to establish
this polygamous theocracy in their communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you were alive in 1844 and believed the allegations
against Joseph (as the LDS Church still continues to hold as the truth), based
on the testimony of Dr. Bennett and William Law, and as secretly practiced by
Brigham Young et al., is it truly inconceivable that you would not have also
been party to or at least sanctioned the actions of the mob?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, doesn’t it make much more sense that Joseph's anger towards the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo Expositor</i>
was because it published an absolute lie that Joseph was engaging in polygamy even with
young girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider your own response
to a false vicious attack on your morality by a local newspaper under similar
circumstances and in 1844.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Joseph Smith was innocent of polygamy as argued herein,
his murder becomes even more sickening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only a month earlier, Joseph had proclaimed his innocence of
polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet the rumors continued to
spread, lead mostly by Bennett, William Law (who wanted the leadership of the
Church), the Higbees, and Brigham Young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole episode, including the mob that murdered Joseph Smith,
originated as an opposition to a beguiled public who believed the lies that
Joseph was an adulterous and polygamous devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In short, Joseph was killed because of the polygamous lie that is now
protected by the LDS Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now ask
yourself, who is on the side of Joseph Smith?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
Please continue to Part 8 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2533.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_2533.html</a>)</h3>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
The Temple Lot Case also known as the Temple Lot Suit and formally known as “The
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, complainant, vs. the
Church of Christ at Independence, Missouri” was a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">United States</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_case" title="Legal case"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">legal case</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> in the 1890s which addressed
legal ownership of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Lot" title="Temple Lot"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Temple Lot</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">, a
significant parcel of land in the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement" title="Latter Day Saint movement"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Latter Day
Saint movement</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the case,
the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reorganized_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter_Day_Saints" title="Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> (RLDS Church) claimed legal title of the land and asked the
court to order the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ_%28Temple_Lot%29" title="Church of Christ (Temple Lot)"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Church of
Christ (Temple Lot)</span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to cease its occupation of the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The RLDS Church won the case at trial, but
the decision was reversed on appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> </span>Joseph’s affidavit read:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Before me, Ebenezer Robinson, one of the
Justices of the Peace for said county personally came Joseph Smith, who, being
duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that at sundry times, in the
City of Nauvoo, county aforesaid, one Chancy L. Higbee has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">slandered and defamed the
character of the said Joseph Smith</i></b>, and also the character of Emma
Smith, his wife, in using their names, the more readily to accomplish his
purpose in seducing certain females, and further this deponont saith not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sworn to, and subscribed before me, in the
county aforesaid, this 24th day of May A.D. 1842. E. Robinson J. P.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Emphasis added). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
For example, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i> the statements of
Elder Anthony D. Perkins of the Seventy (e.g., “Persecuted for Bearing
Testimony of Jesus Christ” and “Joseph Smith’s life follows the pattern of
Lehi, Zenos, Zenock, and Stephen.”) </span><a href="http://lds.org/ensign/2009/08/the-path-to-martyrdom-the-ultimate-witness?lang=eng&query=martyrdom"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://lds.org/ensign/2009/08/the-path-to-martyrdom-the-ultimate-witness?lang=eng&query=martyrdom</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-66041570445135007592012-06-22T23:06:00.004-07:002014-08-10T15:20:24.432-07:00Part 6 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 6<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Do the Mormons believe in having
more wives than one? . . . No, not at the same time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they believe, that if their companion
dies, they have a right to marry again.” – Joseph Smith, July 1838<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
Relief Society’s Certificate against the Polygamy Charges<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Ladies’ Relief Society was only a few
months old, having had its first meeting on March 24, 1842.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times
and Seasons</i> 3 [April 1, 1842]: 743. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
response to Bennett’s libelous statement that the Relief Society was a “seraglio,”
the Relief Society published the following statement: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We the
undersigned members of the ladies’ relief society, and married females do
certify and declare that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we know of no system of marriage being
practised in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints save the one
contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants</i></b>,</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and we give this certificate to the public to show that J. C.
Bennett’s “secret wife system” is a disclosure of his own make. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 350px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emma Smith, President, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elizabeth Ann Whitney, Counsellor,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sarah M. Cleveland, Counsellor, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eliza R. Snow, Secretary,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary C. Miller,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Catharine Pettey,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lois Cutler, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sarah Higbee,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thirza Cahoon, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phebe Woodruff, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ann Hunter, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leonora Taylor,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jane Law, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sarah Hillman,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sophia R. Marks, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rosannah Marks,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Polly Z. Johnson,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Angeline Robinson, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Abigail Works.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 3 [October 1, 1842]:
940 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of the above women were wives of the
leaders of the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Joseph
Smith, either these women told the truth and knew there was no plural marriage
system in the Church or they manifestly lied to the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice that the Relief Society did not limit
their condemnation as to only the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">form</i>
of polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is noteworthy that the
name “Eliza R. Snow, Secretary,” appears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This indicates that the statement she made many years later that she was
married to Joseph Smith was false. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hyrum
Smith’s Letter in March 1844<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After being informed by Elder Richard Hewitt of polygamous
teachings in the Church, Hyrum Smith wrote the following letter: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Nauvoo, March 15, 1844.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To the brethren of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, living on China Creek, in Hancock County,
Greeting:—Whereas brother Richard Hewitt has called on me to-day, to know my
views concerning some doctrines that are preached in your place, and states to
me that some of your elders say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that a man having a certain priesthood, may
have as many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here [at Nauvoo]:
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say unto you that that man teaches false
doctrine, for there is no such doctrine taught here; neither is there any such
thing practised here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And any man that
is found teaching privately or publicly any such doctrine, is culpable, and
will stand a chance to be brought before the High Council, and lose his license
and membership also: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>therefore he had
better beware what he is about</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="italic"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i></span> 5 [March 15,
1844]: 474 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hyrum’s
Affidavit Against Dr. John C. Bennett<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hyrum Smith provided the following affidavit concerning Dr.
Bennett: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“On the seventeenth day of may,
1842, having been made acquainted with some of the conduct of John C. Bennett,
which was given in testimony under oath before Alderman G. W. Harris, by
several females, who testified that John C. Bennett endeavored to seduce them
and accomplished his designs by saying it was right; that it was one of the
mysteries of God, which was to be revealed when the people was strong enough in
the faith to bear such mysteries—that it was perfectly right to have illicit
intercourse with females, providing no one knew it but themselves, vehemently
trying them from day to day, to yield to his passions, bringing witnesses of
his own clan to testify that their was such revelations and such commandments,
and that it was of God; also stating that he would be responsible for their
sins, if their was any; and that he would give them medicine to produce
abortions, providing they should become pregnant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of these witnesses, a married
woman [who was not named] that he attended upon in his professional capacity,
whilst she was sick, stated that he made proposals to her of a similar nature;
he told her that he wished her husband was dead, and that if he was dead he
would marry her and clear out with her; he also begged her permission to give
him [her husband] medicine to that effect; he did try to give him medicine, but
he would not take it—on interogating her [of] what she thought of such
teaching, she replied, she was sick at the time, and had to be lifted in and
out of her bed like a child. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many other
acts as criminal were reported to me at the time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On becoming acquainted with these facts, I was
determined to prosecute him [Bennett], and bring him to justice.—Some person
knowing my determination, having informed him of it, he sent to me Wm. Law and
Brigham Young, to request an interview with me and to see if their could not be
a reconciliation made. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them I
thought there could not be, his crimes were so heinous; but told them I was
willing to see him; he immediately came to see me; he begged on me to forgive
him, this once, and not prosecute him and expose him, he said he was guilty,
and did acknowledge the crimes that were alleged against him; he seemed to be
sorry that he had committed such acts, and wept much, and desired that it might
not be made public, for it would ruin him forever; he wished me to wait; but I
was determined to bring him to justice, and declined listening to his
entreaties; he then wished me to wait until he could have an interview with the
masonic fraternity; he also wanted an interview with Br. Joseph; he wished to
know of me, if I would forgive him, and desist from my intentions, if he could
obtain their forgiveness; and requested the privilege of an interview
immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I granted him that privilege as I
was acting as master pro. tem. at that time; he also wished an interview first
with Br. Joseph; at that time Brother Joseph was crossing the yard from the
house to the store, he immediately come to the store and met Dr. Bennett on the
way; he reached out his hand to Br. Joseph and said, will you forgive me,
weeping at the time; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he said Br. Joseph, I am guilty, I
acknowledge it, and I beg of you not to expose me, for it will ruin me; Joseph
replied, Doctor! why are you using my name to carry on your hellish
wickedness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have I ever taught you that
fornication and adultery was right, or poligamy or any such practices?</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He said you never did</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did I ever teach you any thing that
was not virtuous—that was iniquitous, either in public or private? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He said you never did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you ever know anything
unvirtuous or unrighteous in my conduct or actions at any time, either in
public or in private? he said, I did not; are you willing to make oath to this
before an Alderman of the city? he said I am willing to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph said Dr. go into my office,
and write what you can in conscience subscribe your name to, and I will be
satisfied—I will, he said, and went into the office, and I went with him and he
requested pen ink and paper of Mr. Clayton, who was acting clerk in that
office, and was also secretary pro. tem. for the Nauvoo Lodge U. D. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wm. Clayton gave him paper, pen and
ink, and he stood at the desk and wrote the following article which was
published in the 11th No. of the Wasp [newspaper]; sworn to and subscribed
before Daniel H. Wells, Alderman, 17th day of May, A. D. 1842; he [Bennett]
called in Br. Joseph, and read it to him and asked him if that would do, he
[Joseph] said it would, he then swore to it as before mentioned; the article
was as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">STATE OF ILLINOIS,<br />
City of Nauvoo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personally appeared before me,
Daniel H. Wells, an Alderman of said city of Nauvoo, John C. Bennett, who being
duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith: that he never was taught any
thing in the least cantrary to the strictest principles of the Gospel, or of
virtue, or of the laws of God, or man, under any occasion either directly or
indirectly, in word or deed, by Joseph Smith; and that he never knew the said
Smith to countenance any improper conduct whatever, either in public or
private; and that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he never did teach me in private that an illegal illicit intercourse
with females was, under any circumstances, justifiable, and that I never knew
him so to teach others</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOHN C. BENNETT. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sworn to, and subscribed, before
me, this 17th day of May, 1842. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">DANIEL H. WELLS, Alderman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times and Seasons 3 [August 1, 1842]: 870–871
(emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is noteworthy that polygamy was
identified among the “illegal illicit intercourse with females.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would the debase Dr. Bennett tearfully
admit that Joseph never taught anything regarding polygamy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further, why would Hyrum subscribe to such a
false testimony in the form of an affidavit if it weren’t the truth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On June 15, 1842, less than one month after the Chauncey
Higbee-John Bennett Church trials ended, Brigham secretly took Lucy Decker
Seely (Mrs. William Seely) as his first plural wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
Stewart, <span class="italic"><u>Brigham Young and His Wives</u></span>, 85.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Bennett’s lascivious and sinful ideas
influence Brigham?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The Voice of Innocence from Nauvoo” (March 20, 1844)</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The <span class="italic"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nauvoo
Neighbor</i></span> for March 20, 1844, published an article entitled “Virtue
Will Triumph,” in which “The Voice of Innocence from Nauvoo” was
published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article informed the
readers that members of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo had held four
meetings, two on March 9 and two more on March 16, to consider the adoption of
certain resolutions contained within “The Voice of Innocence from Nauvoo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meetings were held at Joseph Smith’s Red
Brick Store, in the large assembly room (which was on the second floor).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was reported that an “overflowing” crowd
attended all four meetings, with different ladies being present at each
meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women heard the document
read, and unanimously adopted the preamble and resolutions presented to them
for their consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among other
declarations is the following (signed by Emma Smith and H. M. [Hannah] Ells):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Resolved unanimously</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That while we render credence to the doctrines
of Paul, that neither the man is without the woman; neither is the woman
without the man in the Lord, yet we raise our voices and hands against John C.
Bennett’s ‘spiritual wife system,’ as a scheme of profligates to seduce women;
and they that harp upon it, wish to make it popular for the convenience of
their own cupidity; wherefore, while the marriage bed, undefiled is honorable, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">let
polygamy, bigamy, fornication[,| adultery, and prostitution, be frowned out of
the hearts of honest men to drop in the gulf of fallen nature, ‘where the worm
dieth not and the fire is not quenched!’ and let all the saints say, Amen</i></b>!”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, polygamy is unequivocally categorized as a sin along
with bigamy, fornication, adultery, and prostitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At no time is there any equivocal language
identifying Bennett’s unsanctioned form of polygamy as different from Joseph’s
form of polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph never corrected or denounced these repeated official
publications against polygamy (Joseph was murdered on June 27, 1844).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, according to LDS Historian Andrew
Jenson, Joseph had at least twenty-seven wives in 1844.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
Andrew Jenson, <span class="italic"><u>Historical Record</u></span> 6 [May 1887]:
233–234.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Author Fawn M. Brodie published
the names of forty-nine alleged wives of Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
Fawn M. Brodie, <span class="italic"><u>No Man Knows My History</u></span>,
335-336.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd Compton, in a more recent
publication, lists Joseph’s wives as thirty-three, with an additional eight
“Possible Wives,” increasing the number of alleged wives to forty-one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
Todd Compton, <span class="italic"><u>In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of
Joseph Smith</u></span>, Signature Books, 1997,4,6,8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, either Joseph Smith was one of the biggest liars in history
who was able to convince a thousand others to also lie, or the above scholars
and the LDS Church have it wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is no other alternative.<span class="italic"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Please continue to Part 7 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_8764.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_8764.html</a>)</h3>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
“Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of
fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have
one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either
is at liberty to marry again.” D&C [1835 Edition] 101:4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-37169638137208270592012-06-22T23:05:00.004-07:002014-08-10T15:20:13.573-07:00Part 5 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 5</span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The clerk
of every church [branch] should keep a record of all marriages, solemnized in
his branch.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All legal
contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should
be held sacred and fulfilled.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of
fornication, and polygamy: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we declare
that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one
husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> . . . .</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We have given the above rule of marriage as the only one practiced in
this church</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">, to show
that Dr. J. C. Bennett’s ‘secret wife system’ is a matter of his own
manufacture; and further to disabuse the public ear, and shew that the said
Bennett and his misanthropic friend Origen Bachelor [who lectured with
Bennett], are perpetrating a foul and infamous slander upon an innocent people,
and need but be known to be hated and despised.” – Joseph Smith (Times and
Seasons 3:939) (emphasis added).</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“That we
will have no fellowship whatever with any Elder belonging to the quorums of the
Seventies who is guilty of polygamy or any offence of the kind, and who does
not in all things conform to the laws of the church.” – Presidents of the
Seventies (April 29, 1837).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Responses
by the Church and Joseph Smith to Dr. Bennett’s Malicious Accusations<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1842, Dr. John Bennett published a series of letters
denouncing Joseph Smith and alleging various lascivious polygamous doctrines
supposedly endorsed by the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
response, and as editor of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and
Seasons</i>, Joseph repeatedly denounced polygamy and printed affidavits
declaring his innocence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the July 8
and July 15, 1842 issues of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sangamo
Journal</i> reached Nauvoo, containing some of Dr. Bennett’s letters, Joseph
published eleven pages of statements and affidavits to prove Bennett’s
declarations false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 3 [August 1, 1842]: 868–878. Apostle William
Smith (Joseph’s brother) responded likewise with lengthy rebuttals in the
Nauvoo <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wasp</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph wrote of Bennett: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“He professed to be virtuous and
chaste, yet did he pierce the heart of the innocent, introduce misery and
infamy into families, reveled in voluptuousness and crime, and led the youth
that he had influence over to tread in his unhallowed steps;—he professed to
fear God, yet did he desecrate his name, and prostitute his authority to the
most unhallowed and diabolical purposes; even to the seduction of the virtuous,
and the defiling of his neighbor’s bed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.
. . . [H]e has published that the conduct of the Saints was bad—that Joseph
Smith and many others were adulterers, murderers . . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that we believed in and practiced
polygamy</i></b>.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 3 [August 1, l842]: 868–869 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Importantly, Joseph stated that Dr. Bennett had accused Joseph
of practicing <span class="italic">polygamy</span>, and that Joseph devoted most
of this issue of the <span class="italic"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times
and Seasons</i> </span>to prove that Bennett’s charges in this regard were
false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph had been guilty of
polygamy and yet published all this evidence claiming that he was not, then
Joseph was one of the greatest liars in history. Again, Joseph referred to polygamy generally and did not limit his denoucement as to the form of polygamy.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Within the eleven pages which Joseph
published he mentioned “a meeting of the citizens of the city of Nauvoo” which
was held at the “meeting ground” on July 22, 1842. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this gathering “about a thousand men” voted
that Joseph was innocent of Bennett’s charges, which included polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another petition was also signed by many
nonmembers who declared the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>.
at 869.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Included in Joseph’s eleven
pages were affidavits and certificates made by Hyrum Smith, William Law, Daniel
Wells, Elias and Francis Higbee, Pamela Michael, Sidney Rigdon, and William and
Henry Marks—exposing Bennett’s evil and upholding Joseph’s innocence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of this list, all but Hyrum had been called
upon by Bennett to “come out” and publish a statement against Joseph in the
newspapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, they all wrote
statements exonerating the Prophet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On September 1, 1842, thirty days after
Bennett’s seraglio (harem) story</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was published, Joseph
wrote a letter “To All the Saints in Nauvoo.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this letter (now a part of the Doctrine and
Covenants), the Prophet assured the Saints that he was innocent of all the
plural marriage charges against him by writing: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Forasmuch as
the Lord has revealed unto me that my enemies, both in Missouri and this state,
were again on the pursuit of me; and inasmuch as they pursue me without a
cause, and have not the least shadow or coloring of justice or right on their
side in the getting up of their prosecutions against me; and inasmuch as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their
pretensions are all founded in falsehood</i></b> of the blackest dye, I have
thought it expedient and wisdom in me to leave the place for a short season,
for my own safety and the safety of this people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>D&C 127:1 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What pretensions was Joseph referring to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By stating that “their pretentions are all
founded in falsehood,” the Joseph was once again declaring that the charges of
polygamy against him were false. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
order to make his denial of that doctrine more emphatic, Joseph also published
the Church’s law of marriage which he had caused to be written in the Doctrine
and Covenants in 1835.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, in the
September 1, 1842, issue of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and
Seasons</i>, Editor Joseph Smith republished the following from the Doctrine
and Covenants: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Inasmuch as the
public mind has been unjustly abused through the fallacy of Dr. Bennett’s
letters, we make an extract on the subject of marriage, showing the rule of the
church on this important matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
extract is from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and is the only rule
allowed by the church</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All legal
contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should
be held sacred and fulfilled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inasmuch
as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and
polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and
one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty
to marry again</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 3:909 (emphasis
added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(As explained below, the Article on
Marriage was Section 101 in the 1835 Edition, retained in the 1844 Nauvoo
edition, but was removed from the Doctrine and Covenants in 1876 when Brigham
Young inserted the dubious Section 132 on polygamy.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A month later, on October 1, 1842, to
further emphasize the law against polygamy and the Church’s stand for monogamy,
Joseph reprinted more of the law of the Church on Marriage in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He published: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“From the Book of Doctrine & Covenants of the<br />
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.<br />
ON MARRIAGE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the
custom of all civilized nations, marriage is regulated by laws and ceremonies:
therefore we believe, that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">marriages in this church of
Christ of Latter Day Saints, should be solemnized in a public meeting</i></b>,
or feast, prepared for that purpose: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high priest, high
priest, bishop, elder, or priest, not even prohibiting those persons who are
desirous to get married, of being married by other authority. — We believe that
it is not right to prohibit members of this church from marrying out of the
church, if it be their determination so to do, but such persons will be
considered weak in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marriage should
be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving; and at the solemnization, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the
persons to be married, standing together</i></b>, the man on the right, and the
woman on the left, shall be addressed, by the person officiating, as he shall
be directed by the holy Spirit; and if there be no legal objections, he shall
say, calling each by their names:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘You
both mutually agree to be each other’s companion, husband and wife, observing
the legal rights belonging to this condition; that is, keeping yourselves
wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when they have answered, ‘Yes,’ he shall
pronounce them “husband and wife” in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by
virtue of the laws of the country and authority vested in him:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘may God add his blessings and keep you to
fulfill your covenants from henceforth and forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
clerk of every church [branch] should keep a record of all marriages,
solemnized in his branch</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All legal
contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church, should
be held sacred and fulfilled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inasmuch
as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and
polygamy: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we declare that we believe,
that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in
case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again </i></b>. . . . <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We
have given the above rule of marriage as the <u>only</u> one practiced in this
church</i></b>, to show that Dr. J. C. Bennett’s ‘secret wife system’ is a
matter of his own manufacture; and further to disabuse the public ear, and shew
that the said Bennett and his misanthropic friend Origen Bachelor [who lectured
with Bennett], are perpetrating a foul and infamous slander upon an innocent
people, and need but be known to be hated and despised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times
and Seasons</i> 3:939 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph Smith published that the above
marriage law was the only rule of marriage in the Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph were truthful, then he was a
monogamist and was honest in declaring polygamy a false doctrine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Section 101 (of the 1835 Edition of the
Doctrine and Covenants) stated that “this church of Christ has been reproached
with the crime of fornication, and polygamy,” and that “one man should have one
wife.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joseph’s republishing of the Church’s marriage law <u>twice</u> is
evidence that he did not believe, teach, or practice plural marriage in the
Church, and that he went to great lengths to make that fact a matter of public
record</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also clear that Joseph
was denouncing all forms of polygamy and was not limiting his declaration to
only the form of polygamy practiced by Dr. Bennett.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other differences, between the Church’s
official marriage law and Bennett’s fabrication: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“[A]ll marriages in
this church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, should be solemnized in a public
meeting.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Bennett’s alleged
plural marriage ceremony, marriages were not conducted in a public meeting, but
in the secret Order Lodge; and that the couple to be married should be “standing
together,” while Bennett’s plural marriage document had them kneeling for the
ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Couples were instructed
to keep “yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your
lives.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This precludes any possibility
of the husband being a polygamist, for he vows to keep himself “from all others.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The clerk of every
congregation should “keep a record of all marriages.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Joseph had been married to thirty-three women,
then thirty-three primary marriage records would still exist—and the LDS Church
would have published them far and wide. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is a fact that not one primary marriage
record can be found for Joseph Smith, other than the record of his marriage to
Emma Hale in 1827</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why even
the LDS Church cannot state how many wives Joseph allegedly had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would God instruct Joseph to keep
records, yet secretly have Joseph to do the exact opposite?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph, as editor, concluded the article
in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> by repeating
that the above “rule of marriage” was “the only one practiced in this
church.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was another definite statement by him
which upholds monogamy and disproves polygamy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In that <u>same</u> issue of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i>, Joseph wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We have two
presses doing as much as can be expected from the limited resources of a people
twice plucked up by the roots, and plundered, even to their clothes, besides
the loss of a good printing establishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As far as truth can be spread and lies contradicted by two presses,
against several thousand [presses], it is done! and we have the gratification
of saying that things seem to work together for good to them that look for the
second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . . [A]nd we do sincerely hope,
that we as children of the kingdom, may <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">keep the law of God</i></b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
the law of the land</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>.
at 937.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When “several thousand” presses
throughout America, and major cities in England and France, published Bennett’s
seraglio story and the supposed illegal plural marriage ceremony of the LDS
Church, Joseph did not fight the battle alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leading men and women at Nauvoo promptly
published certificates denying Bennett’s claims and upholding Joseph Smith’s
innocence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the same issue of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> in which he
republished the marriage law the second time, Joseph also published two
certificates to show that “Dr. J. C. Bennett’s ‘secret wife system’ is a matter
of his own manufacture.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The certificate
stated: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="italic">“We the
undersigned members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and
residents of the city of Nauvoo, persons of families do hereby <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">certify
and declare that we know of no other rule or system of marriage than the one
published from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants</i></b>,</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a></span><span class="italic"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and we give this
certificate to show that Dr. J. C. Bennett’s “secret wife system” is a creature
of his own make as we know of no such society in this place nor never did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 350px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">S. Bennett,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">N. K. Whitney,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">George Miller,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Albert Pettey,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alpheus Cutler,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elias Higbee,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reynolds Cahoon,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John Taylor,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
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<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wilson Law,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">E. Robinson,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">W. Woodruff,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aaron Johnson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 3 [October 1, 1842]:
939–940 (emphasis added). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="italic"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These were men of prominence who were closely
associated with Joseph, who knew whether or not there was such a doctrine as
plural marriage being taught within the Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name of Brigham Young, who was en route
east on a mission, is missing from this list. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In June of 1842, four months before this
certificate was published, Brigham, who had a living wife, secretly married
Mrs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy Ann Decker Seely as his first
plural wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> Stewart, <u>Brigham Young and His Wives</u>, 85. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore, on April 29, 1837, the Presidents of the
Seventies of the Seventy at Kirtland adopted the resolution that polygamists
would not be tolerated within that body when they </span><a href="http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/NCMP1820-1846,7411"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">adopted a
resolution</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> which stated that they would have no fellowship with any Elder
“who is guilty of polygamy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> the Messenger and Advocate, May
1837, p. 511:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That we will have no fellowship
whatever with any Elder belonging to the quorums of the Seventies who is guilty
of polygamy or any offence of the kind, and who does not in all things conform
to the laws of the church</i></b>.”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also, on November 29, 1837, the Quorum of Elders met at
Kirtland and charged Elder Solomon Freeman with the crime of polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freeman, who was living with a wife at
Kirtland at the time, denied that he had two wives until he was confronted by
witnesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then admitted that he had
left a wife in Massachusetts without divorcing her, and had married another
woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="italic">Kirtland
Elders’ Quorum Record</span> [January 15, 1836–October 5, 1841], 35.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not defend himself on the basis that
Joseph was secretly preaching polygamy.<span class="italic"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
<br />Please continue to Part 6 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_8652.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_8652.html</a>)</h3>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Dr. Bennett contrived a story in which he charged that the Church’s Ladies’
Relief Society at Nauvoo, of which the Prophet’s wife, Emma, was president, was
a “seraglio.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stated that the Relief
Society was composed of women who were practicing the doctrine of plural
marriage for time and eternity with the high officials of the Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to make his story sound more
authentic, the shrewd doctor also published what he claimed was a copy of the
plural marriage ceremony that was supposedly used in the lodge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Bennett declared: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The most extraordinary and infamous feature
of the social and religious system established by the Mormon Prophet, and one
in which he closely resembles his master and model, Mahomet [Muhammad], is the
secret regulations he has formed for directing the relations of the sexes .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. The Mormon seraglio is very strictly and
systematically organized. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It forms a
grand lodge, as it were, and is divided into three distinct orders, or degrees.
The first and lowest of these is styled the ‘Cyprian Saints;’ the second, the
‘Chambered Sisters of Charity;’ and the third and highest degree is called the ‘Cloistered
Saints,’ or ‘Consecratees of the Cloister.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bennett, History of the Saints, 218, 220. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
“Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of
fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have
one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either
is at liberty to marry again.” D&C [1835 Edition] 101:4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-9264225156021369932012-06-22T23:04:00.003-07:002014-08-10T15:19:48.396-07:00Part 4 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 4</span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“NOTICE</span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we have
lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of
Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and
other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is to
notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church,
for his iniquity; and he is further notified to appear at the Special
Conference, on the 6th of April next, to make answer to these charges.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOSEPH
SMITH, <br />
HYRUM SMITH, <br />
Presidents of said Church.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Resolved
unanimously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That while we render
credence to the doctrines of Paul, that neither the man is without the woman;
neither is the woman without the man in the Lord, yet we raise our voices and
hands against John C. Bennett’s ‘spiritual wife system,’ as a scheme of
profligates to seduce women; and they that harp upon it, wish to make it
popular for the convenience of their own cupidity; wherefore, while the
marriage bed, undefiled is honorable, let polygamy, bigamy, fornication[,]
adultery, and prostitution, be frowned out of the hearts of honest men to drop
in the gulf of fallen nature, ‘where the worm dieth not and the fire is not
quenched!’ and let all the saints say, Amen!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– The Relief Society (March 20, 1844)</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“History
of Joseph Smith”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph began the year of 1844 by republishing a revelation
from the Doctrine and Covenants on marriage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Joseph was killed he was in the process
of publishing his PERSONAL history entitled “History of Joseph Smith.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his January 1844 account the Prophet
published a revelation which he had received in 1831, which stated that a man
was to have but one wife. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
prefaced the revelation with an explanation of how he came to receive the word
of God on the subject of marriage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“About this time came Lemon Copley,
one of the sect called Shaking Quakers; and embraced the fullness of the
everlasting gospel, apparently honest hearted, but still retained ideas that
the Shakers were right in some particulars of their faith [which included the
belief that it was not right to marry]; and in order to have more perfect understanding
on the subject [of marriage], I inquired of the Lord and received the following
revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Revelation to Sidney Rigdon, Parley
P. Pratt, and Lemon Copley, given March 1831 . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘And again, I say unto you, that
whoso forbiddeth to marry, is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of
God unto man: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife</i></b>, and they
twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of
its creation: and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to
his creation before the world was made.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> 5 [January
15, 1844]: 401–402 (emphasis added); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see
also</i> D&C 49:16 (May 1831) (“Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have
one </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/49?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">wife</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
and they twain shall be </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/49?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">one</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
flesh, and all this that the </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/49?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">earth</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
might answer the end of its creation.”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the claims of the LDS Church (excluding Brigham
Young’s ridiculous claims that polygamy was first revealed in 1829), Joseph
supposedly revealed the doctrine of polygamy in 1831.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, vol. ii, p. 95 (“As early as 1831 the rightfulness of a
plurality of wives under certain limitations and special conditions was made
known to Joseph Smith.”); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see also </i>the
Testimony of Orson Pratt, 1878, Millennial Star, vol. xl, nos. 49, 50 (“Joseph
had made known to [Lyman Johnson] as early as 1831, that plural marriage was a
correct principle.”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do the LDS
Church’s claims match Joseph’s statements written in his personal journal?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“On
Marriage” Declaration Against Polygamy</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The editor of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Millennial
Star </i>also sounded the warning against polygamy, and quoted from the article
“On Marriage” which had been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unanimously</i>
accepted as the law of the Church at Kirtland, and was published as the
marriage law in the 1835 Edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer advised:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And on another subject we wish
furthermore to add, that we, as a church, believe that all legal contracts of
marriage, made before a person is baptized into this church, should be held sacred
and be fulfilled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inasmuch as this church of Christ
has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that
we believe, that one man should have but one wife, and one woman but one
husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again </i></b>.
. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We wish these doctrines to be
taught by all that are in the ministry, that the people may know our faith
respecting them, and also to correct the public mind in respect to the church;
and we hope, that the Saints will hearken to this counsel for their own good,
and for the prosperity of the cause of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Latter-Day Saints’ Millennial
Star</i> 4 [January 1844]: 144 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph
and Hyrum Expelled Elder Hiram Brown for Teaching Polygamy</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Presidents Joseph and Hyrum Smith were informed that Elder
Hiram Brown of Michigan was preaching the doctrine of polygamy and other
corrupt doctrines, and they took immediate action by cutting him off from the
Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph and Hyrum Smith made the
following formal public announcement [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times
and Seasons</i> 5 [February 1, 1844]: 423 (emphasis added)].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“NOTICE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we have lately been credibly
informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, by
the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and
corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is to notify him and the
Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity;
and he is further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the 6th of
April next, to make answer to these charges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOSEPH SMITH, <br />
HYRUM SMITH, <br />
Presidents of said Church.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is apparent, Joseph and Hyrum took severe public action
against Elder Brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph and Hyrum
could have relegated this action to another Church official, but they wanted everyone
to know that Joseph and Hyrum opposed polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, there was no equivocation or denouncement of only the
“unauthorized” practice of polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As shown above, Joseph and Hyrum cut Brown off from the
Church on February 1, 1844. The LDS Church claims that only six months earlier, on July 12, 1843, Joseph supposedly received
the polygamous “revelation” known as Section 132 in the LDS Doctrine and
Covenants (and nearly three years from which the LDS Church claims Joseph first
revealed the doctrine).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either Joseph
and Hyrum were unabashed hypocrites and weak liars, or Section 132 is a fraud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<br />Please continue to Part 5 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_75.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_75.html</a>)</h3>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-55901827884526731572012-06-22T23:03:00.002-07:002014-08-10T15:19:36.736-07:00Part 3 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Inasmuch
as this church has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy;
we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman,
but one husband.” – D&C 101 (1835 and 1844 editions) (revelation dated,
December 16, 1833)</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I wish the
grand jury would tell me who they [the alleged plural wives] are – whether it
will be a curse or blessing to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
quite tired of the fools asking me. . . . What a thing it is for a man [Joseph]
to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only
find one.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Joseph Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Van
Wagoner:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Damned the Practice of
Polygamy</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard Van Wagoner is an LDS Church historian and writer
best known for his books </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Rigdon:_A_Portrait_of_Religious_Excess" title="Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sidney
Rigdon: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Portrait of Religious Excess</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and <u>Mormon Polygamy: A History</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard was a member of the LDS Church until the day he died in 2010.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His 1994 biography of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Rigdon" title="Sidney Rigdon"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sidney Rigdon</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
won awards from the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_History_Association" title="Mormon History Association"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mormon History Association</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whitmer_Historical_Association" title="John Whitmer Historical Association"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John Whitmer Historical Association</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without ever investigating the matter, Van
Wagoner never doubted that Joseph Smith revealed the doctrine of polygamy;
however, Van Wagoner’s work strongly indicates the LDS Church knowingly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">concealed</i> Joseph Smith’s discourses
against polygamy, an important fact in weighing the evidence of truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard Van Wagoner, <u>Sidney Rigdon: A
Portrait of Religious Excess</u>, p. 292:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The Prophet warned against ‘iniquitous
characters [who] say they have authority from Joseph or the First Presidency’
and advising them not to ‘believe anything as coming from us, contrary to the
established morals & virtues & scriptural laws . . .’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The sisters were urged to denounce any man
who made polygamous proposals</i></b> and to ‘shun them as the flying fiery
serpent, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whether they are Prophets, Seers, or Revelators</i></b>; Patriarchs,
Twelve Apostles, Elders, Priests, Majors, Generals, City Councilors, Aldermen,
Marshals, Police, Lord mayors or the Devil, [they] are alike culpable & <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shall
be damned for such evil practices</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Unequivocally and without qualification, Joseph was condemning
to hell any man who advocated polygamy, even if that man was the prophet himself.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would Joseph direct members to “denounce”
the prophet, i.e., Joseph Smith, if the prophet was surreptitiously preaching
polygamy behind closed doors?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Joseph
was a polygamous, wouldn’t Joseph at the very least insert conditional or
waffling language (e.g., “unauthorized polygamous
proposals”)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the LDS Church’s
repeated claims that Joseph was only referring to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unauthorized</i> polygamy as practiced in the orient and by Dr.
Bennett, the above language evinces that Joseph did not waffle or equivocate in
denouncing polygamy in all its forms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard Van Wagoner, <u>Mormon Polygamy: A
History</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The Prophet’s most pointed denial
of plural marriage occurred on 5 October 1843 in instructions pronounced
publicly in the streets of Nauvoo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Willard
Richards wrote in Smith’s diary that Joseph ‘gave instructions to try those who
were preaching, teaching, or practicing the doctrine of plurality of wives . . .
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joseph
forbids it and the practice thereof</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No man shall have but one wife</i></b>.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>. at 292 (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Van Wagoner’s footnote to the above quote, on
page 303 states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“When incorporating Smith’s journal
into the History of the Church, church leaders, under Brigham Young’s
direction, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deleted</i> ten key words from
this significant passage and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">added</i>
forty-nine others so that it now reads:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Gave instructions to try those
persons who were preaching, teaching, or practicing the doctrine of plurality
of wives; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for, according to the law, I hold the keys of this power in the last
days; for there is never but one on earth at a time on whom the power and its
keys are conferred and I have constantly said</i></b> no man shall have but one
wife at a time, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">unless the Lord directs otherwise</i></b>.” (Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Missing entirely from Joseph’s statement in the official rewritten
history is the primary directive, “Joseph forbids it and the practice thereof.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>In other words, LDS Church leaders, under the
direction of Brigham Young, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knowingly</i>
rewrote the above journal to convey the nearly opposite meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the very least, Brigham Young demonstrated
a penchant to falsify doctrine and alter Church history in order to support the
LDS Church’s claim that Joseph revealed polygamy</strong>.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fact alone should cause every member of
the LDS Church to suspect and question the veracity of Brigham Young’s claims;
unfortunately, many will fail to reach this rightful conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard S. Van Wagoner wrote in “The Making of a
Mormon Myth:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1844 Transfiguration of
Brigham Young” Dialogue, Vol. 28, No. 4, Winter 1995, pp.2–3:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Twelve’s nineteenth-century
propaganda mill was so adroit that few outside Brigham Young’s inner circle
were aware of the behind-the-scenes alterations that were seamlessly stitched
into church history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charles Wesley
Wandell, an assistant church historian who later left the church, was aghast at
these emendations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commenting on the
many changes made in the historical work as it was being serialized, Wandell
noted in his diary: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I notice the interpolations
because having been employed in the Historian’s office at Nauvoo by Doctor
Richards, and employed, too, in 1845, in compiling this very autobiography, I
know that after Joseph’s death his memoir was “doctored” to suit the new order
of things, and this, too, by the direct order of Brigham Young to Doctor
Richards and systematically by Richards.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More than a dozen references to
Brigham Young’s involvement in transposing the written history may be found in
the post-martyrdom record first published in book form in 1902 as History of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 April 1845 citation records Young saying: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I commenced revising the History of Joseph
Smith at Brother Richard’s office: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elder
Heber C. Kimball and George A. Smith were with me</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That this revision, or censorship,
of the official history came from Brigham Young is evidenced by an 11 July 1856
reference in Wilford Woodruff’s diary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apostle
Woodruff, working in the church historian’s office, questioned Young respecting
a “p[ie]ce of History on Book E-1 page 1681-2 concerning Hyr[u]m leading this
Church & tracing the [A]aronic Priesthood.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young advised, “it was not essential to be
inserted in the History & had better be omitted.” Woodruff then queried him
about “Joseph[s] words on South Carolina” (see D&C 87; 130:12-13) which had
recently been published in the Deseret News. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young said he “wished it not published.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years later Elder <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charles W. Penrose, a member of
the First Presidency, admitted that after Joseph Smith’s death some changes
were made in the official record “for prudential reasons.”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph’s
Letter in Liberty Jail<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Joseph denounced polygamy
in a letter he wrote to the Saints in Caldwell County, dated December 16, 1839</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(eight years <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> Joseph supposedly
introduced polygamy), ending with the warning that “if any person has
represented anything otherwise than what we now write they have willfully
misrepresented us.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Know assuredly Dear brethren, that
it is for the testimony of Jesus, that we are in bonds and in prison . . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Was it for committing adultery? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are aware that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">false and slanderous reports</i></b>
have gone abroad, which have reached our ears, respecting this thing, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">which
have been started by renegades, and spread by the dissenters, who are extremely
active in spreading foul and libelous reports concerning us</i></b>; thinking
thereby to gain the fellowship of the world . . . . Some have reported that we
not only dedicated our property, but likewise our families to the Lord, and
Satan taking advantage of this has transfigured it into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lasciviousness, a community of
wives [polygamy], which things are an abomination in the sight of God</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we consecrate our property to
the Lord, it is to administer to the wants of the poor and needy according to
the laws of God, and when a man consecrates or dedicates his wife and children
to the Lord, he does not give them to his brother or to his neighbor; which is
contrary to the law of God, which says, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘He
that looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already in
his heart.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now for a man to consecrate
his property, his wife and children to the Lord is nothing more nor less than
to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit the widows and fatherless, the sick
and afflicted; and do all he can to administer to their relief in their
afflictions, and for himself and his house to serve the Lord. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to do this he and all his house must
be virtuous and shun every appearance of evil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Now if any person, has represented anything
otherwise than what we now write they have willfully misrepresented us</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Times
and Seasons</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></b></span></span></span></a></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
[April 1840]: 82–85 (emphasis added).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A
Question and Answer on Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Joseph and other Church leaders were journeying from
Kirtland to Far West in the fall of 1837, they were asked by non-members if the
Church believed in polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
listed twenty “questions which are daily and hourly asked by all classes of
people whilst we are traveling.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One question
was, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one?</i></b>” <span class="italic"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elders’ Journal</i></span> 1
[November 1837]: 28.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph answered, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No,
not at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they believe,
that if their companion dies, they have a right to marry again</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>., July 1838: 43.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph was the editor of the <span class="italic"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elders’ Journal</i></span>,
so this statement came directly from him in 1838, i.e., five years after Joseph
allegedly married Fannie Alger. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See also</i> May 1, 1838, as quoted in “Teachings
of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” p. 119.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joseph either lied or was telling the truth – there is no middle ground
that Joseph was directing his condemnation as to the form of polygamy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph’s
Speech One Month before His Death<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Less than a month before Joseph’s martyrdom, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thousands</b> of Saints witnessed Joseph
denounce the doctrine of polygamy and those who would accuse him of
promulgating it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The address is in <u>The
History of the Church</u> under the title “</span><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=87gUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA408&lpg=PA408&dq=Address+of+the+Prophet-His+Testimony+Against+the+Dissenters+at+Nauvoo&source=bl&ots=j_dVPsx4Px&sig=f5E6lPEfpFUd_bDFS1HeL1I8s7o&hl=en&ei=ncslTOWEM8ncnAfSt9W8Bg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Address%20of%20the%20Prophet-His%20Testimony%20Against%20the%20Dissenters%20at%20Nauvoo&f=false"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Address of
the Prophet – His Testimony Against the Dissenters at Nauvoo</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,”
delivered Sunday, May 26, 1844, <u>Id</u>. Vol. 6, p. 408-412.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph declared: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Another indictment has been got up
against me [the polygamy indictment]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
appears a holy prophet [William Law] has arisen up, and he has testified
against me [causing the polygamy indictment to be brought forth] . . . . God
knows, then, that the charges against me are false. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I had not been married scarcely five
minutes, and made one proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I
had seven wives</i></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean to live
and proclaim the truth as long as I can. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This new holy prophet [William Law]
has gone to Carthage and swore that I had told him that I was guilty of
adultery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">spiritual wifeism</i></b></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, a man dares not speak or wink, for
fear of being accused of this . . . . <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">William Law . . . swears that I have
committed adultery.</i></b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
wish the grand jury would tell me who they [the alleged wives] are—whether it
will be a curse or blessing to me</i></b> . . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A man asked me whether the
commandment [revelation] was given that a man may have seven wives; and now the
new prophet has charged me with adultery . . . . Wilson Law [William’s brother]
also swears that I told him I was guilty of adultery . . . . I have rattled
chains before in a dungeon for truth’s sake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am innocent of all these charges, and you
can bear witness of my innocence, for you know me yourselves . . . . <u>What a
thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven
wives, when I can only find one</u></i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am the same man, and as
innocent as I was fourteen years ago [when charged with polygamy shortly after
his marriage to Emma Hale]; and I can prove them all perjurers</i></b>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>LDS History of the Church</u>, 6:410–411
(emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Joseph equated polygamy with adultery</strong> and stated that he was
the victim of repeated lies spread by Joseph’s enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without a doubt, Joseph stated that he was
monogamous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, <strong>Joseph
NEVER preached a public sermon nor made a public statement in favor of plural
marriage</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As noted by Richard and Pamela
Price:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In the same volume, on page 474,
is report of a sermon by the prophet from the stand in Nauvoo, June 6 [16],
1844.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one passage they report him as
saying:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘I have taught all the strong
doctrines publicly, and always taught stronger doctrines in public than in
private.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was about ten days before
his death and effectually disposes of the Utah claim that he taught the strong
(and rank) doctrine of polygamy in private, not daring to teach it in
public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salt Lake can hardly repudiate
its own version of these sermons . . .” p. 108.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
Please continue to Part 4 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_22.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against_22.html</a>)</h3>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Van_Wagoner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> In
Joseph F. Smith’s 1905 correspondence to Richard C. Evans of the “Reorganized”
church, Mr. Smith attached the same revised and false statement as key proof
that Joseph Smith was the founder of polygamy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Note that Joseph Smith had allegedly first entered into a polygamous relationship
in early 1833 with Fanny Alger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> was a
19th-century </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint" title="Latter Day
Saint"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Latter Day Saint</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> periodical published
monthly or twice-monthly at </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauvoo,_Illinois" title="Nauvoo,
Illinois"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Nauvoo</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">,
</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois" title="Illinois"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Illinois</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">,
from November </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1839" title="1839"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">1839</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
to February 15, 1846.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The publication
was the first to include such significant </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint" title="Latter Day Saint"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Latter Day
Saint</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> documents as “</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wentworth_Letter" title="The Wentworth Letter"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">The Wentworth Letter</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">,” the “</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Follett_Discourse" title="King Follett Discourse"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">King Follett Discourse</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">,” the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Abraham" title="Book of
Abraham"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Book of
Abraham</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">, the personal history of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr." title="Joseph
Smith, Jr."><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Joseph Smith,
Jr.</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">, and the announcement of the assassination of Joseph and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrum_Smith" title="Hyrum Smith"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Hyrum Smith</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially, the publication was edited by
Ebenezer Robinson and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Carlos_Smith" title="Don Carlos
Smith"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Don Carlos Smith</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> (a brother of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr." title="Joseph
Smith, Jr."><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Joseph Smith,
Jr.</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">). After the death of D.C. Smith in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1841" title="1841"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">1841</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr." title="Joseph
Smith, Jr."><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Joseph Smith,
Jr.</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> himself became the chief editor, assisted by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Taylor_%281808-1887%29" title="John Taylor (1808-1887)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">John Taylor</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">. In November </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1842" title="1842"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">1842</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">, Taylor became the
principal editor, assisted by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard_Richards" title="Willard
Richards"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Willard
Richards</span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The motto of the
paper was “Truth will prevail.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
“Spirtual wifeism” was a term used by the Cochranites in reference to polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-46950349132026933922012-06-22T16:59:00.001-07:002014-08-13T11:37:24.784-07:00Part 2 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part 2</span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>(Please start on Part 1: </strong><a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html"><span style="color: #2288bb;"><strong>http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case-against.html</strong></span></a><strong>)</strong><o:p></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“NOTICE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we have lately been credibly informed,
that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, by the name
of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and corrupt
doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is to notify him and the Church in
general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity; and he is
further notified to appear at the Special Conference, on the 6th of April next,
to make answer to these charges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– JOSEPH
SMITH, HYRUM SMITH, Presidents of said Church.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Wo unto
the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.” – 2 Nephi 9:34<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph
Smith vehemently preached against and opposed polygamy until the day he
died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brigham Young and several others
close to Joseph Smith rewrote Church history to bolster their claims in support
of the false polygamous doctrine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">As stated in Part 1, Joseph’s</span>
first alleged polygamous wife (of approximately thirty-four total wives), Fanny Alger,
supposedly married Joseph in early 1833 when she was only sixteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among many others, Helen Mar Kimball, age
fourteen</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
supposedly married Joseph in May 1843 (Joseph would have been thirty-seven). Furthermore, supposedly Joseph adulterously married ten other women who were already married at that time (discussed below).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did Joseph engage in what any reasonably moral person would
consider severe opprobrious behavior under Judeo-Christian standards?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, would a stalwart member of the
LDS Church share the story of Joseph’s polygamous relationships with his or her
children as a model of God’s chosen servant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God truly commanded
Joseph to engage in this conduct, shouldn’t every member of the LDS Church
proclaim the doctrine from the rooftops notwithstanding the social
repercussions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead, most LDS Church members and leaders (including
President Hinckley) have acknowledged the polygamy doctrine but quietly
consider it embarrassing and attempt to avoid any discussion of the
matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does this “revealed” LDS
doctrine (D&C 132) feel so wrong to so many good men and women of the LDS
faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover, why would God reveal a doctrine rightfully
considered reprehensible to good men and women around the world that would
forever stain and stifle the growth of Christ’s church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Millions of honorable men and women familiar
with the alleged Joseph Smith story will have nothing to do with the LDS Church
based on a genuine and rightful disdain of Joseph’s reported polygamous
crimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would God severely and irreparably
injure his own Church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, if the
doctrine was that important, why would God then have the Church distance itself
from its own practice?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mother, a firm believer in the LDS Church, stated several
times to me that she would not have joined the Church if she had been aware of
its claimed origins and belief in polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a missionary I was instructed to never bring up polygamy unless it
was in response to a direct question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How many others have joined the LDS Church ignorant of the Church’s true
polygamous hidden past and current doctrine – a knowing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">material</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">omission</i> under
legal contractual standards? </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph
Smith – A Moral Contradiction?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several
LDS scholars have published their confusion as to the apparent moral
contradiction of Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, Richard Bushman, and LDS scholar, wrote in <u>Joseph Smith – Rough
Stone Rolling</u> (sold in Deseret Book):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Of all the events, the resumption
of plural marriage was the most disturbing</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After marrying Fanny Alger sometime before
1836, Joseph, it appears, married no one else until he wed Louisa Beaman on
April 5, 1841 in Nauvoo .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In
the next two and a half years, Joseph married about thirty additional women,
ten of them already to other men</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothing confuses the picture of Joseph Smith’s character more than
these plural marriages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What lay behind
this egregious transgression of conventional morality?</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What drove him to a practice that put his
life and his work in jeopardy, not to mention his relationship with Emma?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was he a dominant male whose ego brooked no
bounds . . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The marital status of the plural
wives further complicated the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Within fifteen months of marrying Louisa Beaman, Joseph had married
eleven other women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eight of the eleven
were married to other men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All
told, ten of Joseph’s plural wives were married to other men</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them went on living with their first
husbands after marrying the Prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
reasons for choosing married women can only be surmised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all were married to non-Mormon men:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>six of the ten husbands were active
Latter-day Saints</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most
cases, the husband knew of the plural marriage and approved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The practice seems inexplicable today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would a husband consent?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Id</u>. pp. 437, 439 (emphasis added); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see also</i> </span><a href="http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(which has the names of the husbands).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even stalwart LDS members, 99% of which are unaware of these
facts, would likely find the above practice (if Joseph’s name were omitted)
sickening, contemptible, and deserving of world-wide condemnation under any
moral standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the confusion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the contradiction?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the embarrassment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the “secret” doctrine?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The LDS Church’s more current position on polygamy only adds
to the controversy as it incessantly strives to distance itself from its
polygamous roots and doctrine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, on September 8, 1998, President Gordon B.
Hinckley spoke of polygamy in an interview with Larry King:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HINCKLEY: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The figures I have are from – between two
percent and five percent of our people were involved in [polygamy]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very limited practice</i></b>; carefully
safeguarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In 1890, that practice was
discontinued</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The president of
the church, the man who occupied the position which I occupy today, went before
the people, said he had, oh, prayed about it, worked on it, and had received
from the Lord a revelation that it was time to stop, to discontinue it then. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s 118 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s behind us</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">KING: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But when the word [polygamy] is
mentioned, when you hear the word, you think Mormon, right</i></b>?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HINCKLEY: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You do it mistakenly</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no connection with us whatever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t belong to the church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are actually no Mormon fundamentalists .
. . .”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">KING: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“President Hinckley, when the press pays
attention to it, it does affect you, certainly, in a public relations sense?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HINCKLEY: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It does, because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people mistakenly assume that
this church has something to do with it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has nothing whatever to do with it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has had nothing to do with it for a very
long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s outside the realm of our
responsibility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people are not
members. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any man or woman who becomes
involved in it is excommunicated from the church.</i></b>”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Emphasis added).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">above quotation is cited directly as the LDS Church’s official position on
polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> </span><a href="http://mormon.org/faq/#Polygamy"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri;">http://mormon.org/faq/#Polygamy</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shockingly, President Hinckley also said that polygamy was “<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em></em></strong></span>not doctrinal” during the same interview: “</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>I condemn [polygamy]</em></strong>, yes, as a practice, because <strong><em>I think it is not doctrinal</em></strong>. It is not legal. And this church takes the position that we will abide by the law. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In stark contrast, D&C Section 132 states
that polygamy is the “new and an everlasting covenant; and If ye abide not that
covenant, then are ye </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">damned</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; for no one can </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">reject</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> this covenant and be permitted to
enter into my glory” and “for all those who have this law revealed unto them
must obey the same.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, polygamy is still permitted in
LDS temple sealing ordinances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
surprisingly, neither D&C Section 132 nor the practice of polygamy
performed in LDS temples were mentioned on the Church’s website or by Hinckley during his interview with Larry King.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>Do
President Hinckley’s responses above fairly and accurately portray the LDS
Church’s current position on polygamy or are his responses inherently
obfuscatory and deceptive? Of course, Hinckley must be familiar with D&C Section 132 and the LDS Church's practice in temples. Is it possible that Hinckley that Hinckley was attempting to reveal that D&C Section 132 was false? </strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">gain, if
D&C Section 132 was a revelation by God, why is the LDS Church so concerned
with distancing itself from its clear command and even appears to lie about its applicability in the modern LDS Church?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore, if the LDS Church does believe in “<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong></strong></span>obeying and sustaining the law," as stated by Hinckley and as written in the Articles of Faith, why did Joseph, Brigham, Hyrum, et al. purportedly all engage in the <strong>illegal</strong> practice of polygamy? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indeed, unknown to most members of the LDS Church, certain revisionists, including members of the former
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, have claimed that polygamy did not
originate with Joseph Smith but with Brigham Young who knowingly departed from
Joseph’s direct revelations and instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most people would scoff at these revisionists and have claimed that the “evidence
is overwhelmingly against this contention.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notwithstanding the self-serving and false suggestion that
the “evidence is overwhelmingly against this contention,” there is substantial
evidence that Joseph Smith was not the originator of polygamy and never
endorsed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their book <u><strong><span style="color: #20124d;">Joseph
Smith Fought Polygamy</span></strong></u>, Richard and Pamela Price forcefully concluded that
the polygamy doctrine originated from a combination of (1) the conversion of
the polygamous group known as the Cochranites, (2) the malefactor and slanderer
Dr. John C. Bennett (a prime enemy of Joseph Smith), and (3) Brigham Young and his
Cochranite supporters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, the
Prices argued that Joseph and Hyrum Smith not only never endorsed polygamy, but
repeatedly fought polygamy and tried to eradicate it from the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, due to the lies of Dr. Bennett,
William Law, Brigham Young, et al., Joseph and Hyrum were murdered as a result
of the polygamous lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately,
Joseph and Hyrum lost their battle against polygamy and the majority of the
members followed Brigham Young down a false doctrinal path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph
Denounced Polygamy and Anyone Who Taught It</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although the extent of Joseph’s condemnations of polygamy is
entirely ignored by the LDS Church, the fact that Joseph deplored polygamy is
generally not disputed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, without
ever addressing how often and how vehemently Joseph denounced polygamy,
apologists of the polygamous doctrine weakly claim that Joseph had to lie about
polygamy or Joseph and the Church would have faced immediate ruin from its
enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is strange how quick the LDS Church is willing to claim that
its own Prophet, Seer, and Revelator was a seasoned liar and shied away from
controversy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, this would seem to
be a clear violation of 2 Nephi 9:34:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, as poignantly explained by Joseph’s son, Joseph
Smith III (who was 11 ½ at Joseph’s death), Joseph never shrunk from
controversy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“To assert that Joseph Smith was
afraid to promulgate that doctrine [polygamy], if the command to do so had come
from God, is to charge him with a moral cowardice to which his whole life gives
the lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor does it charge him alone
with cowardice, but brands his compeers with the same undeserved opprobrium. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very fact that men are now found who dare
to present and defend it, is proof positive that Joseph and Hyrum Smith would
have dared to do the same thing had they been commanded so to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The danger to the lives of those
men would have been no more imminent, nor any greater in the preaching of ‘Celestial
Marriage,’ than it was in preaching the ‘Golden Bible’ and the doctrine that
Joseph Smith was a prophet blessed with divine revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the preaching of these tenets many lost
their lives; Joseph and Hyrum Smith were repeatedly mobbed, were imprisoned and
finally died, in the faith originally promulgated, but—if we may judge from
their public records,—not believers in polygamy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Smith III, Reply to Orson Pratt
[tract], 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, would God truly accept His servants’ repeated and
incisive condemnation of God’s own purported “new and everlasting covenant” as
expedient under the circumstances?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wouldn’t God protect his servants in proclaiming his true doctrine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To hold otherwise, would seem to deny the
protective power of God, as shown for example to Samuel the Lamanite</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
or his servants’ belief in exaltation in the afterlife notwithstanding the
persecutions of men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what if Joseph, Hyrum, Emma, and other leaders of the
Church were telling the truth and not cowardly liars as claimed by the LDS
Church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if Joseph Smith (and Hyrum
Smith) never entered into polygamous relationships with girls as young as
fourteen (as if this is this a ridiculous and apostate question to ask)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if Joseph Smith was the victim of a
doctrinal conspiracy that originated with Dr. John C. Bennett, Brigham Young,
and William Law?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<br />Please continue to Part 3 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case_22.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case_22.html</a>)</h3>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Compton" title="Todd Compton"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Compton, Todd</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> (December 1997), </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Sacred_Loneliness:_The_Plural_Wives_of_Joseph_Smith" title="In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith"><u><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith</span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span class="citation"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
For an online transcript of the interview, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i>
</span><a href="http://www.onlineutah.com/polygamyhinckley.shtml"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.onlineutah.com/polygamyhinckley.shtml</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
D&C 132:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my
servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and
understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle
and doctrine of their having many </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">wives</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> and </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">concubines</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behold, and lo, I am the Lord
thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">prepare</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> thy heart to receive and </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">obey</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> the instructions which I am about to
give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">covenant</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">; and if ye abide not that
covenant, then are ye </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">damned</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">; for no one can </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">reject</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> this covenant and be permitted to
enter into my glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all who will have a </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">blessing</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> at my hands shall abide the </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">law</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> which was appointed for that blessing,
and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6. And as pertaining to
the new and </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">everlasting</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> covenant, it was instituted for
the fulness of my </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">glory</span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; and he that receiveth a fulness
thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord
God.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <u>Journal
of Discourses</u>, vol. iii, p. 266.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It
has been claimed, chiefly by the sons of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the
founders of what is known as the ‘Reorganized Church of Latter-day Saints’ that
Joseph Smith never introduced the doctrine or the practice of the plurality of
wives in the church; but the evidence is overwhelmingly against this contention
. . . there is a large collection of affidavit upon the subject in the files of
the Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City, a number of which – ten in all – are
published in the Historical Record, together with many less formal statements
and evidences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the affidavits
are from women who were married to Joseph Smith, and some by those who
performed the ceremonies . . . and other person whose relationship to Nauvoo
events gave them exception opportunities to know the truth of the matters
whereof they testified.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> Helaman 13-16.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08527302146988002738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577433100233207637.post-76641111933669535672012-06-22T16:42:00.001-07:002014-08-21T19:01:22.265-07:00Part 1 - A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against Polygamy<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Case for Joseph Smith; A Case Against
Polygamy<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Benjamin R. Horton<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Part 1</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Review of the Book: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #486fae;">Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy</span></span></i></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">by<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard and Pamela Price</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></b></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Inasmuch
as this church has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy;
we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman,
but one husband.” – D&C 101 (1835 and 1844 editions) (revelation dated,
December 16, 1833)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What a
thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven
wives, when I can only find one.” – Joseph Smith (LDS History of the Church,
6:410–411)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And again,
I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry, is not ordained of God, for
marriage is ordained of God unto man: wherefore it is lawful that he should
have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh and all this that the earth
might answer the end of its creation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his
creation before the world was made.” – Joseph Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Tu ne cede
malis sed contra audentior ito.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></sup></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most LDS</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and non-LDS scholars largely accept that Joseph Smith had between twenty-seven to
forty-nine wives (most claim around thirty-four).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i>
</span><a href="http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As semi-officially recognized by the LDS
Church, Joseph’s first polygamous wife was allegedly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fanny Alger</b> who supposedly married Joseph at the young age of <strong>sixteen</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although undocumented, the marriage
of Fanny and Joseph most likely took place in Kirtland, Ohio sometime in
1833.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would have been sixteen years
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, Fanny was living in
the Smith home, perhaps helping Emma with house work and the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ann Eliza Webb recalls, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mrs. Smith had an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">adopted
daughter</b>, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">very pretty, pleasing
young girl</b>, about seventeen years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was extremely fond of her; no mother could be more devoted, and
their affection for each other was a constant object of remark, so absorbing
and genuine did it seem</i>.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shockingly, Fanny Alger was not the youngest <em>alleged</em> wife of
Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Helen Mar Kimball</b> was purportedly only fourteen when she claimed to
have married Joseph Smith in May 1843 (Joseph would have been
thirty-seven).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Ms. Kimball:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“[Joseph explained] the principle
of Celestial marriage . . . After which he said to me, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you will take this step, it will ensure your eternal salvation &
exaltation and that of your father’s household & all of your kindred</i>.[‘]
This promise was so great that I willingly gave myself to purchase so glorious
a reward.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I first learned of Fanny’s and Helen’s <strong>FALSE</strong> claims (which are
<u>not</u> disputed by the LDS Church), I was spiritually distraught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Because the LDS Church did not dispute these claims in any manner, I assumed Fanny and Helen were telling the truth. </span>Having served a two-year mission for the LDS
Church in Russia and being ignorant of the extent of Joseph’s purported reprehensible
polygamous deeds, I often engaged in spiritual acrobatics to explain polygamy
as the issue regularly arose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My most
common defense was that polygamy was part of an arcane “restitution of all
things” or was necessary to raise “a righteous seed,” practiced by only a very
few, but that it was no longer necessary under God’s plan (I knowingly never
mentioned the fact that LDS temples continue the practice of sealing more than
one woman to the same man and that polygamy was officially sanctioned in Section
132 of the Doctrine & Covenants constituting a higher celestial law as
accepted by modern Mormonism). Of course, I correctly emphasized that any current
polygamist in the LDS Church was immediately excommunicated.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notwithstanding my sincere but feeble efforts, and to my chagrin,
<strong>many moral people refused to join the LDS Church because of their legitimate contempt
for polygamy</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Also, m</span>ost converts joined the
LDS Church without knowledge of its polygamist past (a material omission).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made no sense to me why God built his
“perfect” church in such a manner to discourage good and upright people from
joining His church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not the only
missionary to share this sentiment – but missionaries were certainly not
trained to question their authorities or raise the issue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not surprisingly, many Mormons similarly view the polygamous
doctrine with embarrassment and derision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The LDS Church, the repository of most of the records, largely evades
any clear discussion of the doctrine as shown herein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, LDS Church manuals and other media
brazenly omit any mention of Joseph’s (and Brigham’s) supposed other
wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not until after my mission
that I became aware of the official but unspoken, shocking, and false position of the
LDS Church regarding Joseph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Believing the stories of Fanny Alger and Helen Mar Kimball (as supported by the LDS Church), spiritual acrobatics
no longer mattered, I rightfully refused to believe that God would instruct his
so-called “Prophet” to marry a sixteen-year-old “very pretty, pleasing young
girl” who was Joseph’s so-called “adopted daughter” in Joseph’s household, or
that God would command Joseph (at thirty-seven) to marry a fourteen-year-old
girl under the disingenuous promise of exaltation for her and her family</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, God would not tolerate let alone
command His chosen servant to engage in such adulterous and lascivious
behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on these claims, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I had no logical choice but to consider
Joseph Smith an impostor and a morally corrupt monster that exploited young
women to satisfy his wicked sexual desires</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
<strong>However, I was wrong about Joseph Smith!</strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several years later, I became aware of and
read the book <u>Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy</u> by Richard and Pamela
Price. I discovered the truth about Joseph Smith and the origins of Mormon polygamy and
the truth felt great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Joseph stated
in the King Follett sermon, “This is good doctrine. It tastes good. I can taste
the principles of eternal life, and so can you.” Thank you Richard and Pamela Price for your extensive research on the subject!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In short, the evidence overwhelmingly shows that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joseph Smith (and Hyrum Smith) did not
engage in or support polygamy but vehemently fought and preached against
polygamy until his death</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unknown to
LDS members, polygamy did not originate with Joseph Smith, but originated with a
polygamous sect known as the Cochranites</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[7]</span></span></u></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and other polygamous converts from England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Smith was the victim of a
successful doctrinal conspiracy led primarily by Dr. John Bennett and Brigham
Young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, Brigham shamefully but effectively
led the effort to rewrite and cover-up Joseph’s history to such an extent to
wrongfully convince the world that Joseph was the founder of polygamy in the
LDS Church thereby forever damning the growth of the LDS Church. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></u></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why
does it matter?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many ask why it matters whether Joseph Smith practiced and
founded polygamy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, if Joseph was
adamantly opposed to polygamy and not its originator, as the evidence strongly
shows, then Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph
F. Smith, et al. perpetrated a manifest fraud against God, Joseph Smith, the
LDS Church, and the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No moral man
should view these men as God’s chosen but as vile men, adulterers, and
slanderers whose lies contributed to the murder of Joseph Smith and were in
fact the greatest hindrances to the spread of Joseph’s true doctrine – i.e., millions
of virtuous people will have nothing to do with Joseph Smith because of the
lies of these men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, if Joseph Smith did in fact vehemently oppose
polygamy, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Section 132</b> of the
Doctrine & Covenants (as provided by Brigham Young under very dubious
circumstances) is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">patent</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">forgery</b> by Brigham Young and that any
continued practice of polygamy in the temples of the LDS Church constitutes an
abomination as taught by Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any
claim that polygamy is a so-called higher law in heaven is undoubtedly false
and all other doctrines originating with Brigham Young must be viewed with
extreme skepticism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further, all other
polygamous communities outside the LDS Church that also believe in Section 132 and
the teachings of Brigham Young must likewise abandon their fraudulent belief
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, it is probable that the current leaders of the LDS
Church are aware of (or knowingly remain ignorant of) Brigham’s fraud and nevertheless
continue to support Brigham as a great “Prophet” when in fact they may know Brigham
was a debase liar and a tyrant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would
the current leadership of the LDS Church knowingly continue to support the
treacherous Brigham Young? - In order to protect the current leaderships’ specious
claim to the priesthood keys of God’s kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fourth, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (now commonly known as the Community of Christ), including Emma Smith
and Joseph Smith III, were correct in their assessment of Brigham Young and the
false doctrines of the LDS Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
LDS Church should formally apologize to the Reorganized Church (Community of
Christ) and attempt to bridge the fallacious chasm the polygamists created
between these two churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, at the very least, if the chain of priesthood
authority is broken (how could the keys of the kingdom pass through the lies,
deceit, adultery, and lasciviousness of Brigham Young and others), the current President
of the LDS Church, Thomas S. Monson, is no more a prophet than Pope Benedict
XVI (who supposedly received his authority through a series of contemptible
Popes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any claim that the LDS Church, as
founded on the lies of Brigham Young, is God’s true and only church is plainly false
and should be rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I do not consider myself an enemy of the LDS Church but a
truth seeker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I firmly believe the LDS
Church has done many wonderful things in the world and has many wonderful
doctrines that contribute to a better and healthier people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a missionary, I personally saw many lives
become better through the LDS Church’s respectable teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the false histories and doctrines of
the LDS Church must be shunned and discarded in the most open and repentant matter
before the LDS Church can gain its integrity and earn a rightful place as a
Christian church.</span></div>
<h4>
Please read this discussion (10 Parts) and evaluate the evidence and decide for yourself whether Joseph was innocent of polygamy. If my position is correct, as the evidence shows, Joseph Smith certainly deserves to have his reputation as a virtuous and monogamous man restored. </h4>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">SUMMARY</span></strong></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<ul><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<li><div clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Not one child has been discovered through DNA evidence to be the issue of Joseph's alleged polygamous relationships (yet Joseph purportedly had thirty-four wives, thirteen of which claimed that Joseph's relationships were sexual). Further, Joseph had several children with Emma during this time. In contrast, Brigham Young had fifty-six children. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></ul>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<ul><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Chauncey L. Higbee, a lawyer, was able to exploit young women by claiming that Joseph Smith secretly sanctioned polygamy. On May 24, 1842, Joseph Smith, <strong>under oath</strong>, sued Higbee in the State of Illinois for slander related to his claims that Joseph was a polygamist. Clearly, Joseph would not sue an attorney in a state where polygamy was illegal - because truth is the ultimate defense to a slander cause of action. Higbee would have undoubtedly defended Joseph's suit by claiming that Higbee's allegations of Joseph's polygamous "secret doctrine" and practice were true. <strong>Either Joseph was insane and an intrepid liar, willing to bet his freedom that the Illinois court would not discover the "secret" truth, or Joseph only brought the slander claim against Chauncey because Joseph was truly innocent of polygamy</strong>. </span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></ul>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<ul><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Joseph repeatedly and unequivocally denounced polygamy (please read through the many quotes provided herein) as a vile and wicked practice up until the date of his death. One of his harshest sermons against polygamy occurred only one month and one day before his death ("I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made one proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives . . . I am innocent of all these charges . . . What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one." LDS History of the Church 6:410-11). The LDS Church claims that Joseph had over thirty wives at this time - Nonsense! <strong>Either Joseph was one of the biggest liars in history (and sexually exploited young teenagers under the promise of exaltation) as the LDS Church purports, or Joseph was innocent of the polygamy charge and Brigham Young fraudulently altered Joseph's history to support Young's claim to leadership</strong>.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></ul>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><ul><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Many other leaders of the Church (nearly all) repeatedly, publicly, and unequivocally denounced polygamy up until the date of Joseph's death and denied that Joseph Smith was preaching any such doctrine, secret or otherwise. These Church leaders submitted affidavits and public statements attesting to Joseph's innocence. Either these Church leaders were liars, conspiring with Joseph in covering up polygamy as a "secret doctrine" as the LDS Church claims, or they were telling the truth and Joseph was innocent of polygamy.</span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Emma Smith and Joseph Smith III (he was 11 1/2 years old at the time of Joseph's death) continually declared until the end of their lives that Joseph was innocent of polygamy. Emma denied every seeing D&C Section 132 or burning the original document. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Polygamy did not originate with Joseph Smith, but with a polygamous sect known as the Cochranites, many of which were converted to Mormonism (Brigham married one of the Cochranites). These polygamous practices were adopted by Dr. John C. Bennett, Brigham Young, and others. Joseph took substantial measures to expel those known individuals practicing polygamy (Brigham's polygamy remained a secret). </span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
</span><ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Material paragraphs of <strong>Section 101</strong> of the Doctrine and Covenants were <strong>intentionally deleted</strong> by Brigham Young when Brigham introduced Section 132 under VERY spurious circumstances. Section 101 (1835 edition) stated: <strong>"Inasmuch as this church has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband."</strong> Unbelievably, Section 132 was provided by Young (supposedly a revelation of Joseph Smith's) eight years after Joseph's death and not in Joseph's handwriting. Ridiculously, Young claimed that the original Section 132 (the one in William Clayton's handwriting, not Joseph's), was burned by Emma when Hyrum showed it to her, but that a second copy was fortuitously made beforehand by Joseph C. Kingsbury, the store clerk of Bishop Whitney (the copy that exists today). He also added that the Kingsbury copy of the revelation was inexplicably left in a desk drawer until discovered by Young many years after Joseph's death. Young also never explained why Joseph and Hyrum never mentioned the revelation or the Emma incident to anyone or why Joseph never made an attempt to authenticate the Kingsbury's copy since the original was purportedly destroyed. In other words, Section 132 has every telltale sign of being a complete fabrication. </span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><ul><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Brigham Young led the conspiracy to alter LDS Church history and even Joseph's personal journal in order to bolster his claim that polygamy originated with Joseph Smith. On April 1, 1845, Young brazenly recorded the following: "I commenced revising the History of Joseph Smith at Brother Richard's office: Elder Heber C. Kimball and George A. Smith were with me." Other polygamists, under Young's control and direction, submitted false affidavits decades after Joseph's death to further claim that Joseph revealed polygamy.</span></li>
</ul>
</span><br />
<h3>
<br />
Please continue to Part 2 (<a href="http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case.html">http://www.confessionsofanelder.blogspot.com/2012/06/case-for-joseph-smith-case.html</a>)<br />
</h3>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> You
can read the entire book for free online at </span><a href="http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Virgil’s Aeneid, Book VI, which means “Do not give in to evil but proceed every
more boldly against it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The
term “LDS” refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also known
as the Mormons. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">See</i> </span><a href="http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/02-FannyAlger.htm"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/02-FannyAlger.htm</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
(Emphasis added).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
See </span><a href="http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/26-HelenMarKimball.htm"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/26-HelenMarKimball.htm</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
(Emphasis added).</span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
This was another doctrinal issue I could never grasp, why would the LDS Church
excommunicate persons who were practicing exactly what was taught in Section
132?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– It seemed hypocritical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I raised the issue with my Bishop in a
personal interview when I was sixteen; however, he only scoffed at my question.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7577433100233207637#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #486fae;">[7]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
For example, see </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Cochran"><span style="color: #486fae; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Cochran</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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