Comments on: Brigham Young and Misunderstood Mormon practices

By: Joe Geisner

Joe Geisner — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:53:17 +0000

Ardis,

I am not sure what I wrote in my comment that would illicit such an attack on me and my honesty. I realize personal attacks by you without evidence is not beyond your talents as I pointed out with your review of “Blood of the Prophets”. This kind of “foot stomping” by you because of my comments reminds me of your reaction to David Bigler’s excellent appraisal of the Utah War. I guess I should see this reaction as a compliment.

By: David G.

David G. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:54:26 +0000

I first learned about William Law from Truman Madsen’s JS tapes on my mission.

By: Ardis Parshall

Ardis Parshall — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:14:46 +0000

You had been taught anything about William Law? How is it that some teacher (seminary? Sunday School?) discussed William Law with you while so many people are surprised by Nauvoo polygamy, or Mountain Meadows, or other topics that actually had a lasting effect on the church?

Begging your pardon, but are you sure you remember being taught anything about William Law before you began reading Mormon history on your own? the Expositor in general terms, perhaps, but William Law?

And for the record, I challenge your glib exchange of William Law’s personal traits for Joseph Smith’s. I know what you’re saying, but you’re so far wrong that I won’t assent to it by silence.

By: Joe Geisner

Joe Geisner — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:50:36 +0000

I think Ardis is correct that polygamy was less of a cause for national distaste of Mormonism. Wasn’t it Senator DuBois who said that the real issue was the theocracy? That aside I think this shows what a good job Joseph Smith III did in convincing people his father was not a polygamist. Much of the trials about Temple Lot and Kirtland Temple were for JSIII about who was “right” and who was “wrong” and polygamy was the main issue in the who was “right”.

I also think our church shares responsibility when it comes to the image of Joseph Smith. I will never forget my reaction to Lyndon Cook’s article in BYU Studies about William Law. I realized that the William Law I had been taught was in fact the Joseph Smith I had been taught and vice-versa. Cook’s article is one of the two best articles ever done by BYU Studies. I highly recommend it.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:25:28 +0000

Clean Cut, there are three biographies on BY in the works right now. Between the three, you should get just what you’re looking for.

Steve C., that is correct. BY had Orson Pratt publicly declare Plural Marriage in August 1852.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:02:51 +0000

Just a thought about the original issue–Wasn’t during BY’s administration that plural marriage was “officially” proclaimed?

By: Clean Cut

Clean Cut — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:03:36 +0000

I’ve been craving a biography about Brigham Young along the lines of “Joseph Smith, Rough Stone Rolling” by Richard Bushman. I think it’s time we get a real good, honest look at Brigham in his totality. Question is, who’s qualified to do it right?

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:15:28 +0000

John: There have been some rumors and speculations, but no children have been absolutely verified. Ugo Perego, a DNA specialist, has been examining DNA from alleged descendents and has disconfirmed every one so far.

That being said, that testing can only be done on descendents through a male line, and the most likely possible child, Josephine Fisher, was a female. Ugo said that we are still a ways off from being able to test her descendents, but we are progressing to that point.

Brian Hales also believes there is another likely child that died in Nauvoo, but we will have to wait on his documentation until his (first volume) book on JS’s polygamy comes out next year.

By: John Turner

John Turner — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:00:53 +0000

Velska, are there any documented (or likely) offspring from Joseph’s plural marriages?

By: Velska

Velska — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:55:22 +0000

I have read so many comments lately claiming that most LDS probably don’t know that JS practiced polygamy that it makes me wonder who those LDS are. I don’t myself know any. Or perhaps it is because polygamy isn’t at the core of our discussions where I circulate. But we know that JS practiced polygamy.

One observation, though. Joseph’s arrangement in Nauvoo hardly was that of the Beehive house of Brigham Young. That can probably be agreed upon. Even that story about Emma pushing Eliza R. Snow down the stairs is of dubious origin. But despite the motive that the Utah Church would have had in mid-to-late 19th century to identify offspring from Joseph’s polygamous unions, they mostly failed to do so. And some that were identified as possible offspring of Joseph have lately been disputed because those sons didn’t have his DNA.

Even if you dislike apologetics, reading FAIR can be informative.