mentalgymnast wrote:thechair wrote:-Finally, acceptance of polygamy in light of these objections forces one to distort one’s conscience and moral thinking.
The practice of polygamy in the early church comes to us through the filters of history. As such, and knowing that there were many detractors of the prophet, I am willing to give Joseph and others the benefit of a doubt that they believed that they were carrying out the will of the Lord. Why? Because I take it at face value that IF Joseph was a prophet that we would observe in the natural course of events strong positions taken by both those that support Joseph and his calling and those that were vehemently opposed to him.
So we have John C. Bennett at one time saying:
...the Arch Seducer, and his Apostles, were signally repulsed: but in hundreds of other cases, they succeeded to their hearts’ content in their black hearted work of deep degradation, corruption and sorrow.
He said this about Joseph and his apostles in response to Mrs. [Sarah Marinda Bates] Pratt, Miss [Nancy] Rigdon, and Miss Brotherton's statements that were given and then later published in Bennett's
History of the Saints.
Yet earlier Bennett had said:
...my heart is filled with indignation, and my blood boils within me, when I contemplate the vast injustice and cruelty which Missouri has meted out to that great philanthropist and devout Christian, General Joseph Smith.
So what happened here? Were the women who Bennett used to defame Joseph Smith trustworthy? It depends on which side of the fence you live on.
TESTIMONY OF J. McILWRICK - 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, such as lying on the top of a young man when he was in bed, and seeking Aristotle’s work from a young seaman’s box. 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 forenamed Martha Brotherton has wickedly endeavored to injure the character of these gentlemen; and many besides myself can testify that the statements which she has reported in different places, are quite contrary to those she related here. JOHN McILWRICK.
We Elizabeth Brotherton, and Mary McIlwrick, sisters of the said Martha Brotherton, concur in the above sentiments.
ELIZABETH BROTHERTON. MARY McILWRICK.
Sworn to, and subscribed, before me, this 27th day of August A. D. 1842. E. ROBINSON, Justice of Peace, for Hancock Co. Ill.
So is Martha to be believed? Sarah? Nancy Rigdon?
My point is that we have almost what could be called a schizophrenic historical record that either demonizes and/or lionizes Joseph Smith and the early brethren. One can take a position for either. One can also find reasons to discard the principle of plurality of wives simply on principle. I get that. It all comes down to whether or not God is behind the restoration or not. In one of Joseph's three(?) recorded sermons in Nauvoo he as a matter of fact said that if he were to share all that God had revealed to him that there were those on the stand where they sat who would immediately rise up and destroy/kill him for preaching blasphemy.
If I revealed all that has been made known to me, scarcely a man on this stand would stay with me.' and 'Brethren, if I were to tell you all I know of the kingdom of God, I do know that you would rise up and kill me.
I think that we see the same today in a limited sense. The practice of polygamy was a hard doctrine. It produced both negative and positive results/consequences. No one is going to argue that. But the fact is, life is messy. There is opposition that results from contradictions and opposing forces within a system that is built on law/commandments. Personally, I believe that this is the reason that we observe, and always have, the multiplicity of various religions and systems of philosophical thought. There have been and will always be many religions or what have you that branch off of pure religion based upon what folks are willing/desirous to take with them and own.
Joseph Smith said that we would be amazed at the liberality of God and His way, methods, and means to bring about the happiness of His children. It's a lot BIGGER in scope than any of us can imagine. I see polygamy as part of restoration of all things and a doctrine/practice that under certain conditions and at different times is acceptable to Him. Others are not so willing and like those sitting on the stand when Joseph preached are only able to accept that which they can live with based upon their own understanding. That understanding may not encompass all that God understands.
Another thing that I try to keep in mind are these words that Joseph Smith gave us:
Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs that I am charged with doing; the wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature, like other men. No man lives without fault.
Going back to John C. Bennett. Much of what we have in regards to Nauvoo polygamy, on the negative side, filters through his writings. To be honest with ourselves we should consider whether Bennett and others are the perpetrators of those things that Joseph later claimed he was not guilty of. Again, from looking at many historical sources and trying to look at it from all sides, I am willing to cut some slack and give Joseph the benefit of a doubt that he believed/knew that he was doing the will of the Lord. But as he said, "No man lives without fault."
Joseph was obviously trying to coerce this young woman into seduction and she rejected him. Sidney Rigdon was also outraged, but there were other Mormon men willing to turn their daughters over to the "prophet". Just like there were people who gave their children to David Koresh and David Berg to rape.