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Marinda Nancy Hyde was the first wife of Orson Hyde.

Orson was a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and was sent by Joseph Smith to Jerusalem to dedicate the Holy Land for the return of the Jews and the return of the Tribes of Israel.

The story is a common one told in church, and I've heard it said that because of the blessing of Hyde that the Jewish state of Israel now exists.

What I just found out was the while Orson was away on a mission doing this great work that first Willard Richards and the Joseph Smith established some sort of illicit relationship with Marinda Hyde. Even the church acknowledges that Marinda was sealed to Joseph Smith while Orson was away.

This whole story is so beyond celestial that I can't get over it. How do the apologetics spin this? Can anyone give me better sources, either supporting or refuting this story?

Sources
http://josephsmithpapers.org/person/marinda-nancy-johnson-hyde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinda_Nancy_Johnson
http://bycommonconsent.com/2008/12/23/nauvoo-polygamy-some-thoughts/

This whole story is so beyond celestial that I can't get over it

That's because it's spun by Fawn Brodie. The "illicit relationship" was an earlier and unsupported accusation. Despite the sealing to Joseph Smith, there is no evidence of polyandry either.

An interesting tidbit:

John D. Lee remembered that Orson gave his permission: “Hyde’s wife, with his consent, was sealed to Joseph for an eternal state.
John D. Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, or, The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee and W. W. Bishop, eds. (St. Louis: Byron, Brand, 1877), 147. Lee added “but I do not assert the fact.

I recommend you start here:

http://josephsmithspolygamy.org/history-2/plural-wives-overview/marinda-nancy-johnson/

The first alleged liaison with young Nancy Miranda Johnson was when Joseph Smith and his wife were living with the Johnson Family. This resulted in the Prophet and Sydney Rigdon being tarred and feathered by a mob, which also tried to make the Prophet drink some poison (supposedly containing a lethal dose of saltpeter and demon rum). Sydney even went a little crazy and blamed the Prophet's behavior for making this happen. The mob and Elder Rigdon failed to consider that a secret wedding ceremony may have been conducted ahead of this alleged tryst. So there, a possible crystal clear mitigating factor!

The mob and Elder Rigdon failed to consider that a secret wedding ceremony had been conducted ahead of this alleged tryst. So there!

Once again, no evidence and the two known possible sealing dates are a decade later.

bcspace wrote:John D. Lee remembered that Orson gave his permission

Well, that's a remarkable memory, since Orson was on the other side of the world at the time of both Joseph's teaching the concept of sealing and of his actual sealing to the lonely Sister Hyde. Do you suppose Orson called home via seer stone?

Well, that's a remarkable memory, since Orson was on the other side of the world at the time of both Joseph's teaching the concept of sealing and of his actual sealing to the lonely Sister Hyde.

Interesting you would say that since Orson Hyde returned from his mission on Dec. 7, 1842 and for Marinda we have a May 1843 sealing date to Joseph Smith:

Marinda personally testified concerning a second sealing through a signed affidavit “that on the [blank] day of May A.D. 1843, at the City of Nauvoo, County of Hancock, State of Illinois, She was married or Sealed to Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of Said Church, according to the laws of the same, regulating Marriage; in the presence of Eliza Maria Partridge Lyman, and Emily Dow Partridge Young.”
Joseph F. Smith Affidavit Books, 1:15, 4:15, CHL.

moksha wrote:The first alleged liaison with young Nancy Miranda Johnson was when Joseph Smith and his wife were living with the Johnson Family. This resulted in the Prophet and Sydney Rigdon being tarred and feathered by a mob, which also tried to make the Prophet drink some poison (supposedly containing a lethal dose of saltpeter and demon rum). Sydney even went a little crazy and blamed the Prophet's behavior for making this happen. The mob and Elder Rigdon failed to consider that a secret wedding ceremony may have been conducted ahead of this alleged tryst. So there, a possible crystal clear mitigating factor!

Hi moksha!! From bcspace's link:

Brodie’s willingness to believe Braden’s claims without significant scrutiny is unfortunate. Todd Compton observed: “There is no good evidence supporting the position (found in Brodie, No Man Knows My History, 119, 462) that Joseph Smith was married to Marinda Johnson . . . or had an affair with her, in 1831, and was mobbed by ‘her brother Eli’ and others as a result.”10 Nor is there any documentation to suggest that Braden’s version of the mob’s motives was known to anyone during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Marinda recalled in 1877: “I feel like bearing my testimony that during the whole year that Joseph was an inmate of my father’s house I never saw aught in his daily life or conversation to make me doubt his divine mission.”11

Hi moksha!! From bcspace's link:

Ah yes. Something MUST have happened between them therefore the criticism is true...

bcspace wrote:Interesting you would say that since Orson Hyde returned from his mission on Dec. 7, 1842 and for Marinda we have a May 1843 sealing date to Joseph Smith:

There are two sealing dates, Brain Hales writes,

So whether the first date is in error or two sealing ceremonies were performed is unclear.

We have an example with Emily Dow Partridge where Joseph Smith married Emily without Emma's consent or knowledge and later performed a second ceremony with Emma's approval. For Miranda given the conflicting dates I think a similar scenario is likely. Joseph Marries her while Orson is away, and then does another ceremony later with his knowledge. The second ceremony essentially being a cover up.

There are two sealing dates, Brain Hales writes,

Yes. The quote I provided said exactly that. However as one can see, the first sealing date is more in the realm of speculation.