History of Joseph Smith & Polygamy

[PattyCake]

I have read many a book with respect to the true nature of the history with regards to Joseph Smith and how this religion 'began'.

I tried to temporarily delete this thread with no luck. I want to post my knowledge of the history of Joseph Smith and how the FLDS evolved however I don't have the time to dedicate to this important issue in the short term.

What do I do?

[Spangle]

I have read many a book with respect to the true nature of the history with regards to Joseph Smith and how this religion 'began'.

I tried to temporarily delete this thread with no luck. I want to post my knowledge of the history of Joseph Smith and how the FLDS evolved however I don't have the time to dedicate to this important issue in the short term.

What do I do?

That is an interesting topic. But be warned, such a discussion can be had with any religion. Been there, done that. If you think it can't be done with yours, remember, everyone thinks that. Including those that follow Smith. How you will feel while your religion is being picked aprart, is how they will feel. And how you would try to defend, attack, explain, etc.. so would they.

I wouldn't start any such discussion without rules in place dealing with how to 'chat' about it. Respect being high on the list. IT's not as easy as it seems.

[PattyCake]

That is an interesting topic. But be warned, such a discussion can be had with any religion. Been there, done that. If you think it can't be done with yours, remember, everyone thinks that. Including those that follow Smith. How you will feel while your religion is being picked aprart, is how they will feel. And how you would try to defend, attack, explain, etc.. so would they.

I wouldn't start any such discussion without rules in place dealing with how to 'chat' about it. Respect being high on the list. IT's not as easy as it seems.

Well since this didn't get deleted, here's my original post. You will see that I am attempting to be respectful & that I TOO acknowledge the past of my own religion.



I have a few things to add over the next few days or weeks. Please know that today's 'modern' Mormons, I respect. It is not today's modern Mormons that I will be discussing. The religion that exists today is far different from how it began.

It is the history I have huge problems with. Should you belong to the church, please know I am not attempting to bash you or your beliefs. You love the Lord like I do and you are a child of God no matter how you came to believe in him.

I have many an issue as to how the religion evolved from the likes of someone like Joseph Smith. I think there are too many of us that are not aware of the history nor evolution of what occured in the beginning parts of this 'religion'. I find Joseph Smith to be a con artist, a criminal and even his own wife had a lot to say against her own husband.

In order to understand the current conditions of FLDS, it's own evolution and how women decide to seemingly 'choose' to stay under circumstances like that, we need to understand the religion that they believe in. I hope this thread stays and we can have a healthy discussion on how FLDS came to be good, bad or ugly.

I believe this is an appropriate post as it completely relates to todays FLDS church - NOT mainstream Mormons!

I'll come back soon to post my thoughts on Joseph, his upbringing, his childhood and his previous scams & crimes prior to the creation of the Mormon religion.

Everything I will post will either have a link or a source. You can decide for yourself.

While I respect & love my fellow Mormon and I have friends that are within this religion, I believe the beginnings of this religion was out of a lust for money & well.... lust of young women / teens.

I am not spewing falsehoods, not making up stories. I've had a sincere desire to educate myself about the evolution of religions including my own Catholicism. And yes even Catholics have commited many crimes in biblical history all in the name of religion & God. There are many priests in jail as we speak for unspeakable crimes, I admit, I may be pointing a finger at the FLDS CHURCH - I know there's 3 more fingers pointing back at me.

I believe in order to understand the current FLDS we need to understand the underlying reasons and motivations. It stems completely back to Joseph Smith and the battle that ensued after his death as well. It is then that the church split... it is from then that todays FLDS still hold the original writings and intentions of Joseph Smith to be the REAL way to live.

[awareness]

What books have you read?

The most comprehensive book Ive read about Joseph Smith Jr, his life and the beginnings of LDS is "No Man Knows My History" by Fawn Brodie. Ms. Brodie herself was a LDS.

PS - the Mormon church had at least one other split. Like after Joseph Smith died, I think one of his sons and Emma formed the Reformed Church of Latter Day Saints in Independence, MO (IIRC, the book is at home for me to verify 100%).

Then the other split happened after polygamy was renounced and FDLS as we know it today was born.

[missyjane77]

It is my understanding that Smith encouraged polygamy. Said it was what God wanted. I believe he actually received a "vision" stating such. I could be wrong though. He encouraged this practice until it was looked down upon by the US Government, at which time he received another "vision" saying that polygamy was wrong.

[Spangle]

It is my understanding that Smith encouraged polygamy. Said it was what God wanted. I believe he actually received a "vision" stating such. I could be wrong though. He encouraged this practice until it was looked down upon by the US Government, at which time he received another "vision" saying that polygamy was wrong.

He kept the vision a secret, except to those he wish to share it with. Mainly, those who's daughters he wanted to marry. LOL! It was kept from his first Wife. Who claims it's all lies and he didn't do any of that stuff.

Basicly,he didn't have to do what the others had to do to get this thing rolling. He didn't have to take home his second, third, etc.. wives. He just had the 1 at home. SHE didnt' have to 'accept' any other wives. His other wives were secret and mostly continued to live with their parents.

He truelly had his cake and ice cream..

The men who followed.. not so nice. They were given wives, took them home. and all "H" broke loose. Not a happy home anymore for them. Doubt they ever got cake served again. It wasn't like they fell in love with another wife and took her home happly to join the family. The first set ups were widows and women needing husbands. Some where older, some where younger, etc.. It was a mess..

But once it was started, They didn't want to admit it was wrong. For the men who gave their daughters to Joseph Smith, they wouldn't want to back down. Cause that would mean their daughters were not wives, but whores. It would matter not that their Father forced them. At that time, it made a big difference to the woman and her kids. A widow could be remarried. A whore, could never be married and was stuck being a whore for the rest of their live... Those families had a vested interest in making sure it 'took.'

[weasel]

If anyone would like a good, informative book about mormonism, try "Under the Banner of Heaven". It's the story of the Lafferty boys killing a young mother and her infant daughter. Very, very good.

[WholeLottaRosie]

If anyone would like a good, informative book about mormonism, try "Under the Banner of Heaven". It's the story of the Lafferty boys killing a young mother and her infant daughter. Very, very good.


I have that book on its way to me now - ordered it last week. I also just got The Refiner's Fire, The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844 by John L Brooke. I read part of it from the library but it was interlibrary loan and I had to return it before finished,so I decided to buy it. FASCINATING book. I have no clue why the Mormons are so interesting to me.

When I get and read Under the Banner of Heaven maybe we can discuss it. If anyone knows of any other good books, please share them!

[WholeLottaRosie]

I got the book, Under the Banner of Heaven, Friday and am half through. This is a GREAT book, and while it is really stirring up emotion in me, and has left me very angry, I am still glad I am reading it. The author does a really good job of explaining many things. Unfortunately, I doubt I can really post or discuss my opinions without getting banned, and am probably just going to take a nice little break after I finish it. But, if one wants to know about the faith, in an relatively easy to digest format, this book is one of the best I have encountered. I thought (prior to reading it) that I knew a great deal, but, I was very wrong.

[Glow]

A little info on your book...

The title is drawn from an 1880 address by John Taylor, the third president of the LDS Church, defending the practice of polygamy: "God is greater than the United States, and when the Government conflicts with heaven, we will be ranged under the banner of heaven against the Government.

[WholeLottaRosie]

A little info on your book...

The title is drawn from an 1880 address by John Taylor, the third president of the LDS Church, defending the practice of polygamy: "God is greater than the United States, and when the Government conflicts with heaven, we will be ranged under the banner of heaven against the Government.

Yes, it is. That is explained in the book. I have finished the book. As mentioned it is very disturbing in many ways, however, it is a fascinating read and one I would highly recommend, even if it is upsetting.

I am currently coming off that with a pleasant little fiction hiatus, and, then am going to read The Refiner's Fire. I just ordered the Brodie biography, one on Mountain Meadows and am probably going to add a few more.

I have no idea why I have a need to read all this. Not Morman, but I have had a fascination for years.

[weasel]

Yes, it is. That is explained in the book. I have finished the book. As mentioned it is very disturbing in many ways, however, it is a fascinating read and one I would highly recommend, even if it is upsetting.

I am currently coming off that with a pleasant little fiction hiatus, and, then am going to read The Refiner's Fire. I just ordered the Brodie biography, one on Mountain Meadows and am probably going to add a few more.

I have no idea why I have a need to read all this. Not Morman, but I have had a fascination for years.


It is upsetting, isn't it? But I have to say, I learned alot about mormonism from this book. I'll never look at mormons, or any other organized religion, the same way again. Have you read the one on Mountain Meadows yet and if so, did you like it?

[sunflowerchick]

It is my understanding that Smith encouraged polygamy. Said it was what God wanted. I believe he actually received a "vision" stating such. I could be wrong though. He encouraged this practice until it was looked down upon by the US Government, at which time he received another "vision" saying that polygamy was wrong.

First of all, polygamy didn't start with Joseph Smith. There were prophets in the Bible who were also polygamists.

Secondly, it wasn't Joseph Smith who had a vision that polygamy was wrong. He was dead by that point. The new leader of the LDS Church was the one who did that, and it was after the Momons had migrated to Utah due to the persecution they were facing.

Thirdly, I am not sure what good it does to discuss history if no one knows what the history actually is. A conversation like this could be helpful if everyone has their facts straight, but honestly to come in here and make accusations about someone that MILLIONS of people view as a prophet, that is just wrong.

Fourthly, I am not pointing any fingers at anyone specifically, but how does discussing the history of the LDS church help determine anything about the FLDS church. They are two completely different things! Even the leaders of the LDS church have said that.

Finally, if you really want to read a book that will give you the history of the LDS church, try the Book of Mormon.

This is just my opinion and I certainly don't mean to offend anyone, but I also know that when you talk about religion you always offend people even if you say you don't want to.