Here's the same story, two different ways.
First, anti-Mormon George Smith in his book "Nauvoo Polygamy":
Although he is known to have initially opposed polygamy, he finally gave in and married his first wife's sister, Mercy Fielding Thompson, on August 11, 1843, followed by Catharine Phillips and, evidently, Lydia Dibble Granger that same month, then Louisa Sanger on September 17 - a total of four plural wives in just over a month.
Hyrum had denounced the pervasive rumors regarding his brother's involvement with women as late as May 14, 1843, yet it appears that he may have performed some sealings before this date at which time Joseph had already married twenty-four supernumerary wives and convinced eleven other men to go and do likewise. But before indulging in the practice himself, Hyrum had proclaimed that "many wifes & concubines" was an "abomination in the Sight of God" and that "if an angel should come and preach such doctrine, someone would be sure to see his cloven foot and cloud of blackness over his head." A week later, Joseph's secretary, Willard Richards, warned that "a plot" was "being laid" by "bro H and others," with the intent to "entrap the brethren" with women. The previous year, Hyrum had publicly defended the prophet and his ever-reliable senior apostle, Brigham Young, against accusations of improper proposals to Martha Brotherton, Sarah Pratt and Nancy Rigdon.
Hyrum's May exhortation against the "abomination" he detected in the church came only two months before the revelation on plural marriage. Surprisingly, Hyrum experienced an abrupt change of heart by August and would be the one to announce his brother's revelation to the Nauvoo High Council. To persuade his skeptical older brother, Joseph had told Hyrum that if he embraced the doctrine, he could have his deceased wife, Jerusha Barden, sealed to him in the next world. In addition, he could have his current wife, Mary Fielding, sealed to him as an eternal companion. And furthermore, if he wished, he could have his wife's sister Mercy sealed to him, as well. Hyrum appeared to be tempted. To influence his deliberations, Brigham confided to Hyrum that his brother Joseph had "many wives."
"Nauvoo Polygamy: ...but We Called It Celestial Marriage", page 335
Now, here it is as told by Truman Madsen:
Madsen on Joseph Smith's Marriages
I thought the contrast was interesting.
It's also a good example of the advantage the Church has if it takes an proactive approach to "inoculation" in its history. If people get the "birds chirping in the background" version of these stories, they'll be less bothered when they get the "Hyrum appeared to be tempted..." version.
