Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history - Revision history

GregSmith at 07:40, 19 May 2024

2024-05-19T07:40:58Z

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	Rather, Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church. At this period, women were jailed for refusing to testify against husbands; hundreds of men were in hiding or in prison. “Words are inadequate to convey the feelings of those times—the hurts to individuals and families, to the church. . . . Families were torn apart, left to provide as best they could.”<ref>S. George Ellsworth, “Utah’s Struggle For Statehood,” ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 31/1 (Winter 1963): 66.</ref>		Rather, Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church. At this period, women were jailed for refusing to testify against husbands; hundreds of men were in hiding or in prison. “Words are inadequate to convey the feelings of those times—the hurts to individuals and families, to the church. . . . Families were torn apart, left to provide as best they could.”<ref>S. George Ellsworth, “Utah’s Struggle For Statehood,” ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 31/1 (Winter 1963): 66.</ref>

			{{Critical sources box:Alleged whitewashing of Church history/CriticalSources}}{{blankline}}

	=Modern day example=		=Modern day example=
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	{{SeeAlso\|Alleged whitewashing of Church history}}		{{SeeAlso\|Alleged whitewashing of Church history}}
	{{Critical sources box:~~Alleged whitewashing of Church~~ history/CriticalSources}}		{{Critical sources box:Brigham Young's statements regarding plural marriage/Hiding history/CriticalSources}}

	{{endnotes sources}}		{{endnotes sources}}
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GregSmith: /* Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church */

2024-05-19T07:40:00Z

Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:40, 19 May 2024
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	Rather, Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church. At this period, women were jailed for refusing to testify against husbands; hundreds of men were in hiding or in prison. “Words are inadequate to convey the feelings of those times—the hurts to individuals and families, to the church. . . . Families were torn apart, left to provide as best they could.”<ref>S. George Ellsworth, “Utah’s Struggle For Statehood,” ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 31/1 (Winter 1963): 66.</ref>		Rather, Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church. At this period, women were jailed for refusing to testify against husbands; hundreds of men were in hiding or in prison. “Words are inadequate to convey the feelings of those times—the hurts to individuals and families, to the church. . . . Families were torn apart, left to provide as best they could.”<ref>S. George Ellsworth, “Utah’s Struggle For Statehood,” ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 31/1 (Winter 1963): 66.</ref>

	~~{{Critical sources box:Brigham Young's statements regarding plural marriage/Hiding history/CriticalSources}}~~

	=Modern day example=		=Modern day example=

GregSmith: /* Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church */

2024-05-19T07:39:42Z

Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:39, 19 May 2024
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	Rather, Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church. At this period, women were jailed for refusing to testify against husbands; hundreds of men were in hiding or in prison. “Words are inadequate to convey the feelings of those times—the hurts to individuals and families, to the church. . . . Families were torn apart, left to provide as best they could.”<ref>S. George Ellsworth, “Utah’s Struggle For Statehood,” ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 31/1 (Winter 1963): 66.</ref>		Rather, Woodruff likely feared the very real risk of spies and government agents using the information to prosecute members of the church. At this period, women were jailed for refusing to testify against husbands; hundreds of men were in hiding or in prison. “Words are inadequate to convey the feelings of those times—the hurts to individuals and families, to the church. . . . Families were torn apart, left to provide as best they could.”<ref>S. George Ellsworth, “Utah’s Struggle For Statehood,” ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 31/1 (Winter 1963): 66.</ref>

			{{Critical sources box:Brigham Young's statements regarding plural marriage/Hiding history/CriticalSources}}

	=Modern day example=		=Modern day example=

GregSmith: /* Modern day example */

2024-05-19T07:38:36Z

Modern day example

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:38, 19 May 2024
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	This is a strange claim, since it is fairly common knowledge, both inside and outside of the Church, that Brigham was a polygamist. Many US history textbooks used in public high schools mention Brigham's polygamy, for example, and many news stories and other mentions of the Church in modern media will mention polygamy, so it would seem odd (and a bit futile) for the Church to attempt to rewrite this aspect of its history by means of a single lesson in a single manual.		This is a strange claim, since it is fairly common knowledge, both inside and outside of the Church, that Brigham was a polygamist. Many US history textbooks used in public high schools mention Brigham's polygamy, for example, and many news stories and other mentions of the Church in modern media will mention polygamy, so it would seem odd (and a bit futile) for the Church to attempt to rewrite this aspect of its history by means of a single lesson in a single manual.

	~~{{Critical sources box:Brigham Young's statements regarding plural marriage/Hiding history/CriticalSources}}~~

	=What does ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'' say about Brigham's wives?=		=What does ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'' say about Brigham's wives?=

GregSmith: /* Modern day example */

2024-05-19T07:38:14Z

Modern day example

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	Some even insisted that the Church manual, ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'', attempted to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife.		Some even insisted that the Church manual, ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'', attempted to "hide history" by portraying Brigham Young (a well-known polygamist) as having only one wife.

	This is a strange claim, since it is fairly common knowledge, both inside and outside of the Church, that Brigham was a polygamist. Many US history textbooks used in public high schools mention Brigham's polygamy, for example, and many news stories and other mentions of the Church in modern media will mention polygamy, so it would seem odd (and a bit futile) for the Church to attempt to rewrite this aspect of its history by means of a single lesson in a single manual.		This is a strange claim, since it is fairly common knowledge, both inside and outside of the Church, that Brigham was a polygamist. Many US history textbooks used in public high schools mention Brigham's polygamy, for example, and many news stories and other mentions of the Church in modern media will mention polygamy, so it would seem odd (and a bit futile) for the Church to attempt to rewrite this aspect of its history by means of a single lesson in a single manual.

			{{Critical sources box:Brigham Young's statements regarding plural marriage/Hiding history/CriticalSources}}

	=What does ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'' say about Brigham's wives?=		=What does ''The Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'' say about Brigham's wives?=

GregSmith at 09:52, 16 May 2024

2024-05-16T09:52:17Z

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GregSmith at 09:46, 16 May 2024

2024-05-16T09:46:11Z

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 This is a strange claim, since it is fairly common knowledge, both inside and outside of the Church, that Brigham was a polygamist. Many US history textbooks used in public high schools mention Brigham's polygamy, for example, and many news stories and other mentions of the Church in modern media will mention polygamy, so it would seem odd (and a bit futile) for the Church to attempt to rewrite this aspect of its history by means of a single lesson in a single manual.
 ===The use of square brackets is an accepted editorial convention when a later author wants to use an earlier author's words but change them slightly to fit a different purpose===
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-{{SeeAlso|Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history}}
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 [[es:Pregunta: ¿Las historias mormones tienen una larga tradición de omitir la mención del matrimonio plural como causa de los problemas de los santos en Illinois?]]
 [[es:Pregunta: ¿Wilford Woodruff criticó la decisión de asistente historiador Andrew Jenson de publicar los nombres de los que estaban casados con Joseph Smith porque quería ocultar el hecho de que José estaba casado con otras mujeres?]]

GregSmith at 09:42, 16 May 2024

2024-05-16T09:42:18Z

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 The claim that an “LDS educator” discussed the Illinois troubles “without even mentioning plural marriage” is thus likewise false. All of these claims are disproven by the references that are offered to support them.
 {{SeeAlso|Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history}}
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 [[es:Pregunta: ¿Las historias mormones tienen una larga tradición de omitir la mención del matrimonio plural como causa de los problemas de los santos en Illinois?]]

GregSmith at 09:32, 16 May 2024

2024-05-16T09:32:46Z

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	The claim that an “LDS educator” discussed the Illinois troubles “without even mentioning plural marriage” is thus likewise false. All of these claims are disproven by the references that are offered to support them.		The claim that an “LDS educator” discussed the Illinois troubles “without even mentioning plural marriage” is thus likewise false. All of these claims are disproven by the references that are offered to support them.



	{{SeeAlso\|Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history}}		{{SeeAlso\|Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history}}

GregSmith at 09:32, 16 May 2024

2024-05-16T09:32:34Z

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	The author's claim that these six histories omit plural marriage as a cause for difficulties in Nauvoo is clearly false.<ref>Other histories that include mention of plural marriage as contributing to the problems in Nauvoo include ''Church History in the Fulness of Times, CES Manual for Religion 341–43'', 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2003), 256, 263, 268, 274; Glen M. Leonard, ''Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and BYU Press, 2002), chap. 13; and {{RSR\|pages=529}}</ref>		The author's claim that these six histories omit plural marriage as a cause for difficulties in Nauvoo is clearly false.<ref>Other histories that include mention of plural marriage as contributing to the problems in Nauvoo include ''Church History in the Fulness of Times, CES Manual for Religion 341–43'', 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2003), 256, 263, 268, 274; Glen M. Leonard, ''Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and BYU Press, 2002), chap. 13; and {{RSR\|pages=529}}</ref>

	===Roberts: Contrary to the author's claim about Roberts’s Comprehensive History, Roberts described plural marriage===		===Roberts: Contrary to the author's claim about B.H. Roberts’s ''Comprehensive History'', Roberts described plural marriage===

	Contrary to G.D. Smith’s claim about Roberts’s Comprehensive History, Roberts described plural marriage, concluding, “Bearing this situation in mind, I am sure the reader will better appreciate the many complications which follow in this Nauvoo period of our history.”<ref>{{CHC\|pages=93-110\|vol=2}}</ref> Roberts’s discussion of the ''Expositor'' reminds the reader of “the introduction of the practice of the new marriage system of the church, permitting under special conditions a plurality of wives,” and notes that the dissident paper had “charged the Prophet with exercising illegal authority, both in ecclesiastical and civil affairs; with the introduction of the plural wife system, and other supposed doctrinal heresies; with gross immoralities; and malfeasance in the administration of the affairs of the church.”		Contrary to G.D. Smith’s claim about Roberts’s ''Comprehensive History'', Roberts described plural marriage, concluding, “Bearing this situation in mind, I am sure the reader will better appreciate the many complications which follow in this Nauvoo period of our history.”<ref>{{CHC\|pages=93-110\|vol=2}}</ref> Roberts’s discussion of the ''Expositor'' reminds the reader of “the introduction of the practice of the new marriage system of the church, permitting under special conditions a plurality of wives,” and notes that the dissident paper had “charged the Prophet with exercising illegal authority, both in ecclesiastical and civil affairs; with the introduction of the plural wife system, and other supposed doctrinal heresies; with gross immoralities; and malfeasance in the administration of the affairs of the church.”

	Roberts did not deny that errors by the Saints played a role:		Roberts did not deny that errors by the Saints played a role:
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	===Joseph Fielding Smith: Admits the introduction of plural marriage by Joseph Smith and writes that the Prophet was arrested on a charge of polygamy===		===Joseph Fielding Smith: Admits the introduction of plural marriage by Joseph Smith and writes that the Prophet was arrested on a charge of polygamy===

	For his claim that plural marriage was ignored as a cause of Joseph’s death, G.D. Smith also cites Joseph Fielding Smith’s Essentials of Church History. Yet Joseph Fielding Smith both admits the introduction of plural marriage by Joseph Smith and writes that the Prophet was arrested on a charge of polygamy.<ref>{{Book:Smith:Essentials in Church History/Full title\|pages=282, 300–301}}</ref>		For his claim that plural marriage was ignored as a cause of Joseph’s death, G.D. Smith also cites Joseph Fielding Smith’s ''Essentials of Church History''. Yet Joseph Fielding Smith both admits the introduction of plural marriage by Joseph Smith and writes that the Prophet was arrested on a charge of polygamy.<ref>{{Book:Smith:Essentials in Church History/Full title\|pages=282, 300–301}}</ref>

	===Berrett argues that one of the new doctrines that set the Saints apart was "the doctrine of plural marriage"===		===Berrett argues that one of the new doctrines that set the Saints apart was "the doctrine of plural marriage"===
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	That Berrett’s work was originally published by the church’s Educational Department in 1937 (a fact not noted in G.D. Smith’s footnote) is significant.		That Berrett’s work was originally published by the church’s Educational Department in 1937 (a fact not noted in G.D. Smith’s footnote) is significant—this is not an effort to hide anything.

	===Whitney tells the well-known story of Joseph requesting Vilate Kimball as his wife===		===Whitney tells the well-known story of Joseph requesting Vilate Kimball as his wife===

	G.D. Smith’s footnote also suggests that Orson F. Whitney’s biography of Heber C. Kimball supports his ~~view~~. Whitney’s biography tells the well-known story of Joseph requesting Vilate Kimball as his wife and introduces the martyrdom by declaring that “''without doubt'', the revelation of the great principle of plural marriage ''was a prime cause'' of the troubles which now arose, ''culminating in the Prophet’s martyrdom'' and the exodus of the Church into the wilderness.”<ref<{{Book:Whitney:Life of Heber C. Kimball\|pages=323–29, {{ea}}</ref>		G.D. Smith’s footnote also suggests that Orson F. Whitney’s biography of Heber C. Kimball supports his claim. Whitney’s biography tells the well-known story of Joseph requesting Vilate Kimball as his wife and introduces the martyrdom by declaring that “''without doubt'', the revelation of the great principle of plural marriage ''was a prime cause'' of the troubles which now arose, ''culminating in the Prophet’s martyrdom'' and the exodus of the Church into the wilderness.”<ref<{{Book:Whitney:Life of Heber C. Kimball\|pages=323–29, {{ea}}</ref>

	===Arrington and Bitton: “An additional element [that] contributed to the Mormons’ problems in Illinois—as if more were required—were the rumors of plural marriage that began to circulate in Nauvoo"===		===Arrington and Bitton: “An additional element [that] contributed to the Mormons’ problems in Illinois—as if more were required—were the rumors of plural marriage that began to circulate in Nauvoo"===
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	===Godfrey: “Saints were accused of believing in plural marriage...this doctrine and practice became a major source of non-Mormon resentment.”===		===Godfrey: “Saints were accused of believing in plural marriage...this doctrine and practice became a major source of non-Mormon resentment.”===

	G.D. Smith even goes so far as to claim that “one LDS Educator in 1967 wrote about the ‘causes’ of conflict in Nauvoo and mentioned Joseph’s death as a watershed moment . . . without mentioning plural marriage.” He cites the seventh chapter of Kenneth W. Godfrey’s 1967 PhD dissertation for this claim.<ref name="godfrey">{{Book:Godfrey:Mormon Non-Mormon Conflict}} G.D. Smith’s footnote (p. 450) mistakes the title, citing “Non-Mormon Conflict” instead of “Mormon Non-Mormon Conflict.”</ref> This chapter is actually entitled “Plural ~~Marriage.”~~ “As early as 1836,” wrote Godfrey, the “Saints were accused of believing in plural marriage. But it was not until the Nauvoo period . . . that this doctrine and practice became a major source of non-Mormon resentment.”<ref name="godfrey"></ref>{{Rp\|91}} Godfrey discusses the first hints of plural marriage in 1831, the Fanny Alger marriage, and Oliver Cowdery’s angry reaction.		G.D. Smith even goes so far as to claim that “one LDS Educator in 1967 wrote about the ‘causes’ of conflict in Nauvoo and mentioned Joseph’s death as a watershed moment . . . without mentioning plural marriage.” He cites the seventh chapter of Kenneth W. Godfrey’s 1967 PhD dissertation for this claim.<ref name="godfrey">{{Book:Godfrey:Mormon Non-Mormon Conflict}} G.D. Smith’s footnote (p. 450) mistakes the title, citing “Non-Mormon Conflict” instead of “Mormon Non-Mormon Conflict.”</ref> This chapter is actually entitled “Plural Marriage”—a strange title to use if not about plural marriage!

			“As early as 1836,” wrote Godfrey, the “Saints were accused of believing in plural marriage. But it was not until the Nauvoo period . . . that this doctrine and practice became a major source of non-Mormon resentment.”<ref name="godfrey"></ref>{{Rp\|91}} Godfrey discusses the first hints of plural marriage in 1831, the Fanny Alger marriage, and Oliver Cowdery’s angry reaction.

	When he treats the Nauvoo period, Godfrey notes that “by 1841 or 1842 plural marriage was secretly being practiced with increased frequency.” Godfrey even follows, without comment, Brodie’s exaggerated estimate of forty-nine wives for Joseph.<ref name="godfrey"></ref>{{Rp\|95}} He also details the secrecy surrounding plural marriage and the deception used to maintain it:		When he treats the Nauvoo period, Godfrey notes that “by 1841 or 1842 plural marriage was secretly being practiced with increased frequency.” Godfrey even follows, without comment, Brodie’s exaggerated estimate of forty-nine wives for Joseph.<ref name="godfrey"></ref>{{Rp\|95}} He also details the secrecy surrounding plural marriage and the deception used to maintain it:
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	The claim that an “LDS educator” discussed the Illinois troubles “without even mentioning plural marriage” is thus likewise false.		The claim that an “LDS educator” discussed the Illinois troubles “without even mentioning plural marriage” is thus likewise false. All of these claims are disproven by the references that are offered to support them.



	{{SeeAlso\|Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history}}		{{SeeAlso\|Alleged whitewashing of polygamy in Church history}}