Joseph Smith Fought
Polygamy
Vision Articles
How Men Nearest
the Prophet Attached Polygamy to His Name
in Order to Justify Their Own Polygamous Crimes
By Richard and
Pamela Price |
"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 6:411).
[ Joseph
Smith Fought Polygamy Index ]
Joseph's Anti-Bennett Crusade
|
In the last chapter it was mentioned that Joseph Smith called
for a special conference to be held in Nauvoo on August 29,1842.
At that time 380 elders volunteered to travel nationwide to distribute
a broadside (a two-paged newspaper) filled with affidavits and
certificates in a massive effort to convince the public, among
other things, that Dr. John Bennett had lied and that the Prophet
was not a polygamist. Joseph spearheaded this endeavor to set
forth the truth, which was one of his greatest efforts to prove
himself innocent of practicing plural marriage. It was such a
tremendous undertaking and was promoted with such zeal that it
can rightly be called a crusade. The information derived from
that crusade is still important and beneficial to the Saints of
today as they seek to understand what happened at Nauvoo in regard
to polygamy. Bennett made charges other than those of polygamy
against Joseph and the Saints, and that those charges were also
addressed in the affidavits. However, the majority of the contents
of the affidavits were directly connected to Bennett's polygamy
allegations.
As discussed in the previous
chapter, Joseph was arrested on August 8 by Missouri officials
on charges that he had been an accomplice in the attempted assassination
of former Missouri governor,Lilburn Boggs. The Prophet was released
the same day of his arrest by the Nauvoo Municipal Court. He then
went into hiding—first in Iowa, and then in Nauvoo, most
of that time hiding in his own home. Nevertheless, on Friday,
August 26, the Prophet met with some of the Church leaders in
the upper room of his Red Brick Store and planned the massive
campaign to counteract Bennett's falsehoods. Under that date the
history records concerning Joseph:
At home all day. In the evening, in council with some of the
Twelve and others. I gave some important instructions upon the
situation of the church, showing that it was necessary that
the officers that could should go abroad through the States,
and, inasmuch as a great excitement had been raised through
the community at large by the falsehoods put in circulation
by John C. Bennett and others, it was wisdom in God that the
elders should go forth and deluge the States with a flood of
truth, setting forth the mean, contemptible, persecuting conduct
of ex-Governor Boggs, of Missouri, and those connected with
him in his mean and corrupt proceedings, in plain terms, so
that the world might understand the abusive conduct of our enemies,
and stamp it with indignation.
I advised the Twelve to call a special conference on Monday
next, to give instructions to the elders, and call upon them
to go forth upon this important mission; meantime, that all
the affidavits concerning Bennett's conduct be taken and printed,
so that each elder could be properly furnished with correct
and weighty testimony to lay before the public. (RLDS History
of the Church 2:613; LDS History
of the Church 5:131–132; see also Dean C, Jessee,
The Papers of Joseph Smith 2 [Salt
Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1992]: 443–444)
The LDS history reports for Saturday the twenty-seventh:
In the assembly room with some of the Twelve and others, who
were preparing affidavits for the press. (LDS History
of the Church 5:132)
Joseph and the others prepared over twenty affidavits and certificates,
which helped prove that Dr. Bennett's allegations against Joseph
were false. The affidavits and certificates filled both sides
of the broadside. The paper was given the title Affidavits
and Certificates Disproving the Affidavits Contained in John C.
Bennett's Letters.
On Monday, August 29, a vast crowd of concerned Saints gathered
at the Grove near the Temple for the conference. As noted in the
previous chapter, the conference opened with Hyrum Smith, a member
of the First Presidency, presiding:
President Hyrum Smith introduced the object of the conference
by stating that the people abroad had been excited by John C.
Bennett's false statements, and that letters had frequently
been received inquiring concerning the true nature of said reports;
in consequence of which it is thought wisdom in God that every
elder who can, should go forth to every part of the United States,
and take proper documents with them, setting forth the truth
as it is.... They must go wisely, humbly setting forth the truth
as it is in God, and our persecutions, by which the tide of
public opinion will be turned. (LDS History
of the Church 5:136)
Near the close of Hyrum's address, Joseph, who had not been
seen in public for three weeks, walked up onto the stand and sat
down. Joseph's sudden appearance was a great surprise, for there
was speculation among the Saints that he had gone to Washington
or Europe, while others believed he was still in Nauvoo. A great
wave of joy passed through the audience. After Hyrum concluded
speaking, Joseph addressed the throng. In doing so, he provided
the spark of leadership which only he could give. He referred
to the affidavits and certificates which he had been busily preparing,
by giving both a plea and a prophecy when he proclaimed:
Let the Twelve send all who will support the character of
the Prophet, the Lord's anointed; and if all who go will support
my character, I prophesy in the name of the Lord Jesus, whose
servant I am, that you will prosper in your missions. (LDS History
of the Church 5:139)
After the Prophet spoke, 380 elders volunteered to go on missions
to spread the Affidavits and Certificates
throughout the nation (see Dean C. Jessee, The
Papers of Joseph Smith 2:447). It must have been a dramatic
moment in the history of the Church to see so many men volunteer
to leave their families, homes, and jobs to travel thousands of
miles to distribute the Affidavits and Certificates—and
to give their own testimonies that Joseph was not a polygamist.
The Documents Published in the Broadside
The affidavits and certificates are of great importance because
they provide insights into the distress of the Church at Nauvoo
and of Joseph's innocence.
Joseph issued the following statement as an introduction to
the Affidavits and Certificates broadside:
The whole of these affidavits are given by gentlemen of the
first respectability, of unquestionable character, and of known
reputation and veracity, and can of course be relied upon; and
what light do they represent Bennett in, but that of a perjured
wretch, a graceless vagabond, and a mean, vascillating, unprincipled
villian, and a disgrace to human society; and if their testimonies,
and the testimony of the City Council, cannot be relied upon,
then indeed are we in a poor case;—corrupt, fallen, and
dishonored,—But John C. Bennett is not the man to prove
us so; we must have different testimony to his, and that of
his partners in crime, to convict us of evil.
As John C. Bennett and the Sangamo Journal have called upon
several persons, in this city, to come out and make disclosures,
relative to the things about which they have been writing; they
have responded to the call, and publish the following:—(Affidavits
and Certificates Disproving the Statements and Affidavits Contained
in John C. Bennett's Letters, Nauvoo, Illinois, August
31,1842)
Here are the documents, or excerpts from them, which were published
in the broadside:
1. Affidavit of the City Council.
 |
| The home of Bishop Vinson Knight
who helped Joseph in his crusade against polygamy. |
We the undersigned, members of the city council of the City
of Nauvoo, testify that John C. Bennett was not under duress
at the time that he testified before the city council May 19th
1842 concerning Joseph Smith's innocence, virtue, and pure teaching—his
statements that he has lately made concerning this matter are
false ... Joseph Smith asked him if he knew any thing bad concerning
his public, or private character; he then delivered those statements
contained in the testimony voluntarily, and of his own free
will, and went of his own accord as free as any member of the
council.
We do further testify that there is no such thing as a Danite
Society in this city nor any combination, other than the Masonic
Lodge, of which we have any knowledge.
Wilson Law, John Taylor, W. Woodruff, Vinson Knight, H. C.
Kimball, John P. Green, William Marks, Geo. A. Smith, Geo. W.
Harris, N. K. Whitney, Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Orson
Spencer.
Note that this document was signed by five apostles (Taylor,
Woodruff, Kimball, Smith, and Young); by William Marks, the Nauvoo
Stake President; and by Bishops Whitney and Knight.
2. Affidavit of Hyrum Smith.
John C. Bennett endeavored to seduce them [certain women] and
accomplished his designs by saying it [polygamy] 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 their was such revelations and such commandments
[received by Joseph], and that it was of God. ...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; 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? Have I ever taught you that fornication
and adultery was right, or polygamy or any such practices? He
[Bennett] said you never did.
3. Affidavit of [President] Wm. Law.
I told him [Bennett] we could not bear with his conduct any
longer—that there were many witnesses against him, and
that they stated that he gave Joseph Smith as authority for
his illicit intercourse with females. J. C. Bennett declared
to me before God that Joseph Smith had never taught him such
doctrines.
Wm. Law.
4. Affidavit of Daniel H. Wells.
I hereby certify that on the 17th day of May last John C.
Bennett subscribed and swore to the affidavit over my signature
of that date ... in my presence, in the office where I was employed
in taking depositions of witnesses. The door of the room was
open and free for all or any person to pass or repass.... During
all this time if he was under duress, or fear, he must have
had a good faculty for concealing it, for he was at liberty
to go and come when and where he pleased, so far as I am capable
of judging. I know that I saw him in different parts of the
city, even after he had made these statements, transacting business
as usual.... I never heard him say any thing derogatory to the
character of Joseph Smith, until after he had been exposed by
said Smith, on the public stand in Nauvoo.
Daniel H. Wells.
5. Certificate of Elias and F. M. [Francis] Higbee.
I am and have been for a long time the personal friend of
Joseph Smith; and I will here say that I have never yet seen
or known any thing against him that I should change my mind.
It is true many reports have been and are put in circulation
by his enemies for political or religious effect, that upon
investigation are like the dew before the morning sun, vanish
away, because there is no real substance in them.
Could Dr. Bennett expect any man acquainted with all the circumstances,
and matters of fact which were developed both here and from
abroad, respecting his conduct and character, previous to his
leaving this place, for one moment to believe him—I answer
NO! he could not. And all his affidavits, that came from any
person entitled to credit, (I say entitled to credit, because
some there are who are not entitled to credit, as Dr. Bennett
very well knows) are in amount nothing at all, when summed up,
and render no person worthy of death or bonds.
F. M. Higbee's knowledge concerning the murder of a prisoner
in Missouri [which Dr. Bennett alleged], I am authorized to
say, by F. M. Higbee that he knows of no such thing—that
no prisoner [held by the Saints as Bennett claimed] was ever
killed in Missouri, to the best of his knowledge. And I also
bear the same testimony, that there never was any prisoner killed
there, neither were we ever charged with any such thing, according
to the best of my recollection.
Elias Higbee.
This is to certify that I do not know of the murder of any
prisoner in Missouri, as above alluded to.
F. M. Higbee.
6. Stephen H. Goddard's Letter to Orson Pratt.
Mr. Orson Pratt, Sir:—Considering a duty upon me I now
communicate to you some things relative to Dr. Bennett and your
wife, that came under the observation of myself and wife....
I took your wife into my house because she was destitute of
a house, Oct. 6, 1840, and from the first night, until the last,
with the exception of one night, it being nearly a month, the
Dr. was there as sure as the night came, and generally two or
three times a day—on the first three nights he left about
9 o'clock—after that he remained later, sometimes till
after midnight; what their conversation was I could not tell,
as they sat close together, he leaning on her... whispering
continually or talking very low—we generally went to bed
and had one or two naps before he left.
After being at my house nearly a month she was furnished with
a house by Dr. [Robert] Foster, which she lived in until sometime
about the first of June, when she was turned out of the house
and came to my house again, and the Dr. [Bennett] came as before....
They went over to the house where you now live and come back
after dark.... We went over several times late in the evening
while she lived in the house of Dr. Foster, and were most sure
to find Dr. Bennett and your wife together, as it were, man
and wife. Two or three times we found little Orson lying on
the floor and the bed apparently reserved for the Dr. and herself....
There are many more things which she [Mrs. Pratt] has stated
herself to my wife, which could go to show more strongly the
feelings, connexion, and the conduct of the two individuals.
Stephen H. Goddard.
7. Testimony of Mrs. [Stephen] Goddard.
Dr. Bennett came to my house one night about 12 o'clock, and
sat on or beside the bed where Mrs. Pratt was and cursed and
swore very profanely at her; she told me the next day that the
Dr. was quick tempered and was mad at her.... I concluded from
circumstances that she had promised to meet him somewhere and
had disappointed him; on another night I remonstrated with the
Dr. and asked him what Orson Pratt would think, if he could
know that you were so fond of his wife, and holding her hand
so much; the Dr. replied that he could pull the wool over Orson's
eyes....
My husband and I were frequently at Mrs. Pratt's and stayed
till after 10 o'clock in the night, and Dr. Bennett still remained
there with her and her little child alone at that late hour....
He was in the habit of sitting on the bed where Mrs. Pratt was
lying and lying down over her.
I would further state that from my own observation, I am satisfied
that their conduct was anything but virtuous, and I know Mrs.
Pratt is not a woman of truth, and I believe the statements
which Dr. Bennett made concerning Joseph Smith are false, and
fabricated for the purpose of covering his own iniquities, and
enabling him to practice his base designs on the innocent.
Zeruiah N. Goddard.
8. Affidavit of J. B. Backenstos.
Personally appeared before me Ebenezer Robinson acting Justice
of the Peace ... J. B. Backenstos, who being duly sworn ...
deposeth and saith, that some time during last winter [1841-1842],
he accused Doctor John C. Bennett, with having an illicit intercourse
with Mrs. Orson Pratt, and some others, when said Bennett replied
that she made a first rate go, and from personal observations
I should have taken said Doctor Bennett and Mrs. Pratt as man
and wife, had I not known to the contrary.
J. B. Backenstos.
9. Affidavit of J. Mcllwrick.
I do know that the sister of my wife, Martha Brotherton, is
a deliberate liar, and also a wilful inventor of lies; and that
she has also to my certain knowledge at sundry times, circulated
lies of a base kind, concerning those whom she knew to be innocent
of what she alleged against them. She has also stooped to many
actions which would be degrading to persons of common decency....
And I further state that I am acquainted with Gen. Joseph
Smith, President Brigham Young, and Elder Heber C. Kimball,
having had the privilege of being intimate with the latter gentleman
for several months in England. And I believe them to be men
who lead holy and virtuous lives, and men who exhibit a philanthropic
spirit to all the human family without respect of persons: and
I also know for a truth that the fore-named Martha Brotherton
has wickedly endeavored to injure the character of these gentlemen;
and besides myself can testify that the statements which she
has reported in different places are quite contrary to those
she related here.
John Mcllwrick.
We Elizabeth Brotherton, and Mary [Brotherton] Mcllwrick,
sisters of the said Martha Brotherton, concur in the above sentiments.
Elizabeth Brotherton.
Mary Mcllwrick.
10. Affidavit of Brigham Young.
I do hereby testyfy that the affidavit of Miss Martha Brotherton
that is going the rounds in the politics and religious papers,
is a base falsehood, with regard to any private intercourse
or unlawful conduct or conversation with me.
Brigham Young.
11. Affidavit of H. C. Kimball.
Heber C. Kimball, who being duly sworn according to law, deposeth
and saith that the affidavit of Miss Martha Brotherton, which
has been published in sundry newspapers is false and without
foundation in truth, and further this deponant saith not.
Heber C. Kimball.
12. Affidavit of Vilate Kimball.
Personally came before me, Ebenezer Robinson, a Justice of
the Peace ... Mrs. Vilate Kimball, wife of Heber C. Kimball
... and saith that the conversation said to have taken place
between her and her husband in presence of Martha Brotherton
is false: that nothing of the kind as stated in the affidavit
of the 13th July 1842, made by the said Martha Brotherton at
St. Louis, ever occurred, but is a base fabrication.
Vilate Kimball.
13. Affidavit of J. C. Bennett as Given May 17,1842.
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 contrary 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 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.
John C. Bennett.
14. Affidavit of Wm. Clayton.
Personally appeared before me Daniel H. Wells, an alderman
of said city of Nauvoo, William Clayton, who being duly sworn
according to law deposeth and saith; that he saw John C. Bennett
write the affidavit signed by said Bennett, and dated 17th day
of May A.D. 1842, and further that he was present and saw and
heard the oath administered to said Bennett by Daniel H. Wells
upon said affidavit, and that he is confident that said Bennett
made the affidavit of his own free will, and that no influence
whatever from any person was used over said Bennett at the time.
William Clayton.
15. Affidavit of C. L. Higbee.
Personally appeared before me Daniel H. Wells, an alderman
of said city, C. L. Higbee, who being duly sworn according to
law, deposeth and saith, that he never was taught anything in
the least contrary to the strictest principles of the gospel
or of virtue, of the laws of God or of man, under any circumstances
or upon any occasion, either directly or indirectly, in word
or deed by Joseph Smith, and that he never knew said Smith to
countenance any improper conduct whatever, either in public
or in private, and that he never did teach me in private or
public that an illicit intercourse with females was under any
circumstances justifiable and that he never knew him so to teach
others.
16. Affidavit of Stephen Markham.
Personally came before me, Ebenezer Robinson, a Justice of
the Peace in and for said county, Stephen Markham, who being
duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that on the—day
of—A.D. 1842, he was at the house of Sidney Rigdon in
the city of Nauvoo, where he saw Miss Nancy Rigdon laying on
a bed, and John C. Bennett was sitting by the side of the bed,
near the foot, in close conversation with her: deponant also
saw many vulgar, unbecoming and indecent sayings and motions
pass between them, which satisfied deponant that they were guilty
of unlawful and illicit intercourse, with each other.
Stephen Markham.
17. Sidney Rigdon's Letter.
Nauvoo, Aug. 27th,
1842 Editor of the Wasp.
Dear Sir: I am fully authorized by my daughter, Nancy, to
say to the public through the medium of your paper, that the
letter [the "Essay on Happiness"] which has appeared
in the Sangamo Journal, making part
of General Bennett's letters to said paper, purporting to have
been written by Mr. Joseph Smith to her, was unauthorized by
her, and that she never said to Gen. Bennett
or any other person, that said letter was written by said Mr.
Smith, nor in his hand writing, but by another person, and in
another person's hand writing. ...I would further state that
Mr. [Joseph] Smith denied to me the authorship of that letter.
Sidney Rigdon.
P. S. I wish the Sangamo Journal
and all papers that have copied Bennett's letters to copy this
also, as an act of justice to Miss Rigdon. S. R.
President Rigdon wrote the above letter in response to Dr. Bennett's
request that Elder Rigdon and Nancy respond publicly and declare
that Joseph was the author of the letter printed in Bennett's
infamous Sixth Letter. It is known today as the "Essay on
Happiness."
18. Certificates of William and Henry Marks.
Inasmuch as John C. Bennett has called upon me through the
Sangamo Journal to come out and confirm the statements which
he has made concerning Joseph Smith and others, I take this
opportunity of saying to the public, that I know many of his
statements to be false, and that I believe them all to be the
offspring of a base and corrupt heart, and without the least
shadow of truth, and further that he has used my name without
my permission. I believe him to be a vile and wicked adulterous
man, who pays no regard to the principles of truth or righteousness,
and is unworthy the confidence of a just community. I would
further state that I know of no Order in the Church which admits
of a plurality of wives, and do not believe that Joseph Smith
ever taught such a doctrine, and further, that my faith in the
doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
and in Joseph Smith, is unshaken.
William Marks.
[Certificate of Henry Marks]
Inasmuch as the Sangamo Journal has called upon me to come
out and make an expose against Joseph Smith; this is to certify
that I know nothing derogatory to the character of Joseph Smith,
neither in a religious or a moral point of view; and that Doctor
Bennett and the Journal used my name without my knowledge or
consent; and further that I believe Doctor Bennett to be a bad
man and unworthy of public confidence.
Henry Marks.
19. Certificate of Sidney Rigdon.
As there seems to be some foolish notions that I have been
engaged with J. C. Bennett, in the difficulties between him
and some of the citizens of this place [Joseph Smith and others],
I merely say in reply to such idle and vain reports that they
are without foundation in truth.
Sidney Rigdon.
20. Certificate of Miss Pamela M. Michael.
Inasmuch as J. C. Bennett has referred the people to me for
testimony against Pres. Joseph Smith, I take this opportunity
to state before the public that I know nothing derogatory to
his character, either as a Christian, or a moral man.
Mr. Bennett made use of my name without my knowledge or consent.
Pamela M. Michael.
21. A Statement by W. P. Rowell.
Being called on for what I know in regard to Dr. J. C. Bennett's
and [his] wife's character, I give it as follows:—
I knew them in Hocking City, Athens County, Ohio. I lived
in the neighborhood with them about one year—the year
of 1837. I consider Bennett a very bad character, and not worthy
the name of a gentleman; and on the other hand, I consider his
wife very respectable.... She left him in consequence of his
ill treatment of her at home, and his intimacy with other women.
W. P. Rowell.
The broadside ended with the following statement, which reflected
the Prophet's feelings about publishing the affidavits and certificates:
The foregoing documents are made public to rebut and disprove
the many slanderous reports that are constantly sickening the
public mind, from a perusal of Bennett's letters. There are
some things among these statements that necessity, for our reputation
as a religious society, has compelled us to make public, which
decency and humanity would have gladly dropped with the rest
of their infamy into their proper receptacle.
LDS Historians Neglected to Report Joseph's Crusade
There is an important factor that the Saints and the public
have not known concerning the story of Joseph's anti-polygamy
crusade. It is that the LDS historians purposefully neglected
to tell about the importance of the Affidavits
and Certificates and Joseph's tremendous effort to have
them spread nationwide. Although the majority of those affidavits
were quoted in the Times and Seasons,
the LDS historians did not list them together and explain their
significance in the fight against polygamy. They did not relate
that the special August 29 conference was specifically for the
purpose of raising a large missionary force to take the Affidavits
and Certificates broadside throughout the land, nor the
fact that Joseph had them printed and circulated to prove that
he was not involved in polygamy. Their early historians, who knew
the facts, only alluded to the certificates as being produced
to dispel Bennett's falsehoods, without mentioning that they were
a part of Joseph's anti-polygamy crusade. They did not give the
broadside the emphasis it deserved.
The lack of emphasis on Joseph's crusade by early LDS writers
was no doubt a purposeful omission of the facts, because they
did not want to publish anything that would show that Joseph had
fought against polygamy. They wanted the Saints and the world
to believe that he was a polygamist. This is another example of
their changing history in order to perpetuate their polygamy theology.
Conclusion
The nationwide crusade of distributing the Affidavits and Certificates
was successful in quelling Bennett's lies as far as members of
the Church and many fair-minded nonmembers were concerned. Those
documents were especially helpful for the Church missionaries,
who were meeting with opposition because of Bennett's published
falsehoods.
It has been shown that the Prophet did everything within his
power to convince those within and without the Church that he
was innocent of practicing polygamy. However, the LDS Church alleges
that Joseph married several plural wives during the summer of
1842—at the very time he was fighting Bennett's polygamous
allegations so strenuously. Since the entire city of Nauvoo was
alerted to the polygamy rumors, it would have been impossible
for Joseph to have practiced it that summer without it becoming
widely known. Further, it is absurd to believe that a righteous
and bold Prophet would deliberately lie to mislead the Saints
and the public by denying polygamy, at the very time he was marrying
a number of plural wives. The LDS claim staggers the imagination!
The Affidavits and Certificates
are extremely valuable today as evidence of the brave stand which
Joseph made while he was in hiding, a prisoner in a cramped underground
brick compartment at his own home.
The Prophet published a number of the affidavits not once, not
twice, but three times—(1) in the Affidavits
and Certificates broadside, (2) the Times
and Seasons 3:869–875), and (3) the Wasp
Extra for July 27,1842, and the Wasp
for September 3,1842, which is more proof of his innocence. The
affidavits and certificates of the leading Church and civic officials
of Nauvoo, properly sworn to before justices, are additional testimonies
of Joseph's monogamy. Those testimonies are as true today as they
were in 1842.
And, as Apostle William Smith published:
In fact, until the whole City Council of Nauvoo are impeached,
the Doctor [John C. Bennett] must stand before the public as
a perjured man. (Wasp Extra, July
27, 1842)
Joseph's anti-Bennett crusade is another convincing evidence
that he was not a polygamist—but that he fought against
the doctrine.
[ Joseph
Smith Fought Polygamy Index ]
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