Joseph, Polygamy and Deception

January 19, 1841 - The Lord has seen and accecpts
the actions of John C. Bennet:

16 Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help you in
your labor in sending my word to the kings and people
of the earth, and stand by you, even you my servant
Joseph Smith, in the hour of affliction; and his
reward shall not fail if he receive counsel.
17 AND FOR HIS LOVE HE SHALL BE GREAT, for he shall
be mine if he do this, SAITH THE LORD. I HAVE SEEN THE
WORK WHICH HE HATH DONE, WHICH I ACCEPT IF HE
CONTINUE, AND WILL CROWN HIM WITH BLESSINGS AND GREAT
GLORY.
(D&C 124:16-17)

See the following letter from Joseph Smith to Governor
Carlin on John C. Bennett Affairs, as recored in the
History of the Church:

"Nauvoo, June 24, 1842

Dear Sir:-IT BECOMES MY DUTY TO LAY BEFORE YOU SOME
FACTS RELATIVE TO THE CONDUCT OF OUR MAJOR-GENERAL,
JOHN C. BENNETT, WHICH HAVE BEEN PROVEN BEYOND THE
POSSIBILITY OF A DISPUTE, AND WHICH HE HIMSELF HAS
ADMITTED TO BE TRUE IN MY PRESENCE.

IT IS EVIDENT THAT HIS GENERAL CHARACTER IS THAT OF AN
ADULTERER OF THE WORST KIND, AND ALTHOUGH HE HAS A
WIFE AND CHILDREN LIVING, CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAVE
TRANSPIRED IN NAUVOO, HAVE PROVEN TO A DEMONSTRATION
THAT HE CARES NOT WHOSE CHARACTER IS DISGRACED, WHOSE
HONOR IS DESTROYED, NOR WHO SUFFERS, SO THAT HIS
LUSTFUL APPETITE MAY BE GRATIFIED; AND FURTHER, HE
CARES NOT HOW MANY OR HOW ABOMINABLE THE FALSEHOODS HE
HAS TO MAKE USE OF TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WICKED PURPOSES,
EVEN SHOULD IT BE THAT HE BRINGS DISGRACE UPON A WHOLE
COMMUNITY.

Some time ago it having been reported to me that some
of the most aggravated cases of adultery had been
committed upon some previously respectable females in
our city, I TOOK PROPER METHODS TO ASCERTAIN THE TRUTH
OF THE REPORT, AND WAS SOON ENABLED TO BRING
SUFFICIENT WITNESSES BEFORE PROPER AUTHORITY TO
ESTABLISH THE FOLLOWING FACTS:
MORE THAN TWENTY MONTHS AGO Bennett went to a lady in
the city and began to teach her that promiscuous
intercourse between the sexes was LAWFUL and no harm
in it, and requested the privilege of gratifying his
passions; but she refused in the strongest terms,
saying that it was very wrong to do so, and it would
bring a disgrace on the Church.

Finding this argument ineffectual, HE TOLD HER THAT
MEN IN HIGHER STANDING IN THE CHURCH THAN HIMSELF NOT
ONLY SANCTIONED, BUT PRACTICED THE SAME DEEDS; AND IN
ORDER TO FINISH THE CONTROVERSY, SAID AND AFFIRMED
THAT I BOTH TAUGHT AND ACTED IN THE SAME MANNER, BUT
PUBLICLY PROCLAIMED AGAINST IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE
PREJUDICE OF THE PEOPLE, AND FOR FEAR OF TROUBLE IN MY
OWN HOUSE. By this means he accomplished his designs;
he seduced a respectable female with lying, and
subjected her to public infamy and disgrace.

Not contented with what he had already done, he made
the attempt on others, and by using the same language,
SEDUCED THEM ALSO."
(Joseph Smith, History of The Church, Vol. 5, p.
42-44)

The facts are:
* The Mormon god told Joseph Smith in January, 1841,
that he had seen what John C. Bennet has done and
approved if he continued his actions (verse 17).
* Joseph Smith claims "beyond possibility of dispute"
that John C. Bennet was an "adulterer of the worst
kind" and had been attempting to gratify his passions
for more than 20 months prior to June, 1842. This
brings us to a date that is no later than in the Fall
of 1840!

Therefore, according to Joseph Smith, John C. Bennet
was an "adulterer of the worst kind" before the 1841
revelation and he continued in his passions through
June of 1842. Either the Mormon god approved of
adultery of the worst kind, or this prophecy was a
complete fabrication.

July 12, 1843 - The "new and everlasting covenant
of Plural Marriage":

6 AND AS PERTAINING TO THE NEW AND EVERLASTING
COVENANT, IT WAS INSTITUTED FOR THE FULNESS OF MY
GLORY; AND HE THAT RECEIVETH A FULNESS THEREOF MUST
AND SHALL ABIDE THE LAW, OR HE SHALL BE DAMNED, SAITH
THE LORD GOD.
(D&C 132:6)

"NOW IF ANY OF YOU WILL DENY THE PLURALITY OF WIVES,
AND CONTINUE TO DO SO, I PROMISE THAT YOU WILL BE
DAMNED; and I will go still further and say, take this
revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has
given, and deny it in your feelings, and I promise
that you will be damned."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 266)

"SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUPPOSED THAT THE DOCTRINE OF PLURAL
MARRIAGE WAS A SORT OF SUPERFLUITY, OR NON-ESSENTIAL,
TO THE SALVATION OR EXALTATION OF MANKIND. In other
words, SOME OF THE SAINTS HAVE SAID, AND BELIEVE, THAT
A MAN WITH ONE WIFE, SEALED TO HIM BY THE AUTHORITY OF
THE PRIESTHOOD FOR TIME AND ETERNITY, WILL RECEIVE AN
EXALTATION AS GREAT AND GLORIOUS, IF HE IS FAITHFUL,
AS HE POSSIBLY COULD WITH MORE THAN ONE. I WANT HERE
TO ENTER MY SOLEMN PROTEST AGAINST THIS IDEA, FOR I
KNOW IT IS FALSE. There is no blesssing promised
except upon conditions, and no blessing can be
obtained by mankind except by faithful compliance with
the conditions, or law, upon which the same is
promised. THE MARRIAGE OF ONE WOMAN TO A MAN FOR TIME
AND ETERNITY BY THE SEALING POWER, ACCORDING TO THE
WILL OF GOD, IS A FULFILLMENT OF THE CELESTIAL LAW OF
MARRIAGE IN PART-AND IS GOOD SO FAR AS IT GOES-AND SO
FAR AS A MAN ABIDES THESE CONDITIONS OF THE LAW, HE
WILL RECEIVE HIS REWARD THEREFOR, AND THIS REWARD, OR
BLESSING, HE COULD NOT OBTAIN ON ANY OTHER GROUNDS OR
CONDITIONS. BUT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE LAW,
NOT THE WHOLE OF IT. THEREFORE, WHOEVER HAS IMAGINED
THAT HE COULD OBTAIN THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSINGS
PERTAINING TO THIS CELESTIAL LAW, BY COMPLYING WITH
ONLY A PORTION OF ITS CONDITIONS, HAS DECEIVED
HIMSELF."
(Joseph F. Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 20, p.
29)

8 Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the
Lord God, and not a house of confusion.
9 Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that
is not made in my name?
10 Or will I receive at your hands that which I have
not appointed?
11 And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord,
except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained
unto you, before the world was?
12 I AM THE LORD THY GOD; and I GIVE UNTO YOU THIS
COMMANDMENT--THAT NO MAN SHALL COME UNTO THE FATHER
BUT BY ME OR BY MY WORD, WHICH IS MY LAW, SAITH THE
LORD.
(D&C 132:8-12)

52 AND LET MINE HANDMAID, EMMA SMITH, RECEIVE ALL
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN UNTO MY SERVANT JOSEPH, AND
WHO ARE VIRTUOUS AND PURE BEFORE ME; AND THOSE WHO ARE
NOT PURE, AND HAVE SAID THEY WERE PURE, SHALL BE
DESTROYED, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
53 For I am the Lord thy God and ye shall obey my
voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall
be made ruler over many things; for he hath been
faithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will
strengthen him.
54 AND I COMMAND MINE HANDMAID, EMMA SMITH, TO ABIDE
AND CLEAVE UNTO MY SERVANT JOSEPH, AND TO NONE ELSE.
BUT IF SHE WILL NOT ABIDE THIS COMMANDMENT SHE SHALL
BE DESTROYED, SAITH THE LORD; for I am the Lord thy
God, and WILL DESTROY HER IF SHE ABIDE NOT IN MY LAW.
(D&C 132:52-54)

62 And IF HE HAVE TEN VIRGINS GIVEN UNTO HIM BY THIS
LAW, HE CANNOT COMMIT ADULTERY, for they belong to
him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he
justified.
(D&C 132:62)

* Verse 6: Plural marriage was to be an everlasting
covenant. Everyone who is NOT living the law of
plural marriage today is damned and will NOT receive
celestial glory.
* Verse 8 states that God's house is not a house of
confusion. This is a given for an all knowing God.
However, Mormon doctrine is full of the confusion of
contradictons and inconsistences.
* Verse 12 states that no man shall come unto the
Father but by me OR BY MY WORD, WHICH IS MY LAW...
This is an absolute contradiction to the Bible in
Galations 2:16 and Galations 3:10-11.

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works
of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh
be justified.
(Gal 2:16)

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are
under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every
one that continueth not in all things which are
written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the
sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall
live by faith.
(Gal 3:10-11)

* Verse 53 states Joseph Smith would be strengthened.
Less than one year later he was dead at the hands of
his enemies. Emma Smith, who despised and later
denounced polygamy, was not destroyed and continued to
live until she died in 1879, despite this revelation
stating, "I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her
if she abide not in my law."
* Verse 62 is not only contrary to the Bible, but
contrary to Section 101:4 of the 1835 addtion of the
Doctrine and Covenants, which says,
"Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached
with the CRIME OF FORNICATION, AND POLYGAMY: WE
DECLARE THAT WE BELIEVE, THAT ONE MAN SHOULD HAVE ONE
WIFE; AND ONE WOMAN, BUT ONE HUSBAND, EXCEPT IN CASE
OF DEATH, WHEN EITHER IS AT LIBERTY TO MARRY AGAIN."

In 1835, when this edition of the Doctrine and
Covenants was published, Joseph Smith had taken Fanny
Alger to be his second wife. On the day of her
marriage to Joseph, Fanny was 19 years old.
(Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pedigree
Resource File, Disc #67, Pin #90054, Submission
#1354978-0821103100902)

Mormon Apostle Joseph F. Smith, who later became the
prophet of the church, indicated that polygamy had
been a revelation as early as 1832:
"To put this matter more correctly before you, I here
declare that the principle of plural marriage was not
first revealed on the 12th day of July, 1843. It was
written for the first time on that date, but it had
been revealed to the Prophet many years before that,
perhaps as early as 1832."
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 20, p. 29)

Joseph Smith was practicing polygamy against the laws
of the land and the declaration in the 1835 edition of
the Doctrine and Covenants yet he publicly denied any
involement with polygamy even to his death. Joseph
Smith's integrity had become severely comprised the
very day his god told him to take on more wives.

From 1835 until his death, Joseph Smith had taken for
himself over 30 wives.
(Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pedigree
Resource File, Disc #67, Pin #90054, Submission
#1354978-0821103100902)
(See also: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, Historical Record, Vol. 6, p. 233)

"But, for the information of those who may be assailed
by THOSE FOOLISH TALES ABOUT THE TWO WIVES, WE WOULD
SAY THAT NO SUCH PRINCIPLE EVER EXISTED AMONG THE
LATTER-DAY SAINTS, AND NEVER WILL; this is well known
to all who are acquainted with our books and actions,
the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants; and also
all our periodicals are very strict and explicit on
that subject, indeed far more so than the bible."
(Millennial Star, Vol. 3, p. 74)

"INASMUCH AS THIS CHURCH OF CHRIST HAS BEEN REPROACHED
WITH THE CRIME OF FORNICATION, AND POLYGAMY: WE
DECLARE THAT WE BELIEVE, THAT ONE MAN SHOULD HAVE ONE
WIFE; AND ONE WOMAN, BUT ONE HUSBAND, EXCEPT IN CASE
OF DEATH, WHEN EITHER IS AT LIBERTY TO MARRY AGAIN. It
is not right to persuade a woman to be baptized
contrary to the will of her husband, neither is it
lawful to influence her to leave her husband. All
children are bound by law to obey their parents; and
to influence them to embrace any religious faith, or
be baptized, or leave their parents without their
consent, is unlawful and unjust. We believe that
husbands, parents and masters who exercise control
over their wives, children, and servants and prevent
them from embracing the truth, will have to answer for
that sin.
WE HAVE GIVEN THE ABOVE RULE OF MARRIAGE AS THE ONLY
ONE PRACTICED IN THIS CHURCH, TO SHOW THAT Dr. J. C.
Bennett's 'secret wife system' IS A MATTER OF HIS OWN
MANUFACTURE;"
(Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, p. 939)

"In the present instance, after the sham quotations of
Sidney and his clique, from the BIBLE, BOOK OF MORMON,
AND DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, to skulk off, under the
'dreadful splendor' of 'spiritual wifery,' which is
brought into the account as graciously as if the law
of the land allowed a man a plurality of wives, is
fiendish, and like the rest of Sidney's revelation,
just because he wanted 'to go to Pittsburg and live.'
Wo to the man or men who will thus wilfully lie to
injure an innocent people!"
(Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, p. 715)

Joseph Smith mentions that the Book of Mormon also
preaches against polygamy:

23 BUT THE WORD OF GOD BURDENS ME BECAUSE OF YOUR
GROSSER CRIMES. For behold, thus saith the Lord: THIS
PEOPLE BEGIN TO WAX IN INIQUITY; THEY UNDERSTAND NOT
THE SCRIPTURES, FOR THEY SEEK TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES IN
COMMITTING WHOREDOMS, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS WHICH WERE
WRITTEN CONCERNING DAVID, AND SOLOMON his son.
24 Behold, DAVID AND SOLOMON TRULY HAD MANY WIVES AND
CONCUBINES, WHICH THING WAS ABOMINABLE BEFORE ME,
SAITH THE LORD.
(Jacob 2:23-24)

So the Bible, Book of Mormon and the original Doctrine
and Covenants preach against having more than one wife
and claim it is an abomination before God. Despite
these clearly defined words on the subject, Joseph
practiced it in full force and then lied about it. As
members began to learn of Joseph's "scecret wives",
many left the church angry and disillusioned including
some of the most faithful and obediant.