George D. Smith, Nauvoo Polygamy (new book)

[_Ray A]

I never realised it affected you that much, TD.

For those who want some insight into the book, here is George Smith's earlier Dialogue article (It was republished in Volume 34, Number 1, 2, Spring/Summer 2001):

Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy, (Dialogue, Volume 27, Number 1, Spring 1994).

[_Seven]

Ray
You'll probably require an ice-pack on your head to cool down while reading it, TD.

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the heads up. I'll have to double my yoga and meditation practice next week; light a few extra candles and engage in some serious pranayama!

Actually I tend to get really, really sad when reading about the treatment of girls and women by early LDS leaders. I could only read one chapter of In Sacred Loneliness at a time due to the tears. It was a heart wrenching experience for me.

In my extended family we have records from valiant, dedicated LDS women who describe the horror that was/is polygamy. Hard to read for sure!

So, I'll go slowly! ;-)

~td~

I had planned on reading the book this month but just dove into reading "Saints" by Orson Scott Card.
I am now entering the polygamy section and don't think I can handle a double dose of it right now.

[_Nevo]

Can you tell us who the authors are?

Gregory Smith wrote the long one. Richard White wrote the short one.

Thanks. I'm not familiar with Richard White--presumably this isn't the Stanford historian. I confess I was hoping to see the book reviewed by professional historians rather than amateur apologists, but I suppose it is fitting given Smith's non-professional status.

Anyway, I look forward to reading what they have to say.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I confess I was hoping to see the book reviewed by professional historians rather than amateur apologists, but I suppose it is fitting given Smith's non-professional status.

Todd Compton's book was reviewed by Richard Lloyd Anderson, Scott Faulring, and Danel Bachman, but my selection of reviewers won me no plaudits from the critics.

Greg Smith's review is surprisingly well-informed and detailed. I learned quite a bit from it.

[_Ray A]

Greg Smith's review is surprisingly well-informed and detailed. I learned quite a bit from it.

When will that be available online (free)?

[Anonymous]

Todd Compton's book was reviewed by Richard Lloyd Anderson, Scott Faulring, and Danel Bachman, but my selection of reviewers won me no plaudits from the critics.

True enough. I guess what I'm getting at is that I prefer reviews that aren't written in a partisan, defensive tone--especially when the work under consideration (like Compton's) is a good faith attempt at responsible scholarship. I would rather see a more respectful, evenhanded approach, as exemplified in Richard Bushman's review of Marquardt and Walters's Inventing Mormonism. I am not optimistic that Greg Smith will deliver this.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Nevo: I'm an omnivore. I enjoy both dispassionate academic reviews and (intellectually serious) apologetic responses.

When will that be available online (free)?

Sheesh.

Oh well. If you must know . . .

I expect the Review to come from the press before the end of February, and anticipate the reviews being placed on line 1-3 weeks thereafter. But I'm generally wrong on these matters.

[_Ray A]

Sheesh.

Oh well. If you must know . . .

I expect the Review to come from the press before the end of February, and anticipate the reviews being placed on line 1-3 weeks thereafter. But I'm generally wrong on these matters.

Thanks. Just wanted to avoid making a contribution to your private Gulfstream VI Apolojet, which apparently needs some additional platinum bathroom fixtures.

[_beastie]

I'm in the middle of the book right now, albeit reading it very slowly due to juggling it with two other books. It's been very interesting, and I think a focus on Nauvoo only was needed, due to the fact that polygamy in Nauvoo was quite different than later Utah polygamy. I was already familiar with much of this information, due to Wagoner and Compton, but there's been one element that this book emphasizes that feels new (maybe the other books mentioned it as well and it didn't strike me as much then) - that is that Joseph Smith viewed the practice of celestial marriage as a "privilege and favor" he would grant to certain men.

I think that Joseph Smith enjoyed polygamy for obvious reasons, and felt he had found a way to gratify his desire for other women while not offending God at the same time. It was a "favor" he would grant to other men if they proved loyal. In a way, it almost seems to me that Joseph Smith viewed it as a "get out of jail free" card.

I do not believe that was the attitude of most Utahn polygamists, although there can be zero doubt that sexual attraction and desire was a factor in these marriages.

[_TAK]

The next FARMS Review, at press, features two reviews of this book.

Two hatchets are better than one?