Problem #5 - The Cynical View Fails to Account for Numerous "Charismatic" (or "Spiritual") Experiences Reported by Many Participants

The cynical approach to Joseph Smith's plural marriage teachings fails to account for the numerous account of "charismatic" or "spiritual" experiences that were pivotal for many who accepted and practiced the principle in Nauvoo. Fawn Brodie conceded: “At an early age [Joseph Smith] had what only the most gifted revivalist preachers could boast of – the talent for making men see visions.”[1]

Several of Joseph Smith's plural wives left accounts of their conversion experiences. In a 1902 signed statement, Mary Elizabeth wrote:

I was sealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet by commandment, in the spring of 1831. The Savior appeared and commanded him to seal me up to everlasting life, gave me to Joseph to be with him in his kingdom even as he is in the Father’s Kingdom. In 1834, [Joseph] was commanded to take me for a wife. I was a thousand miles from him. He got afraid. The angel came to him three times, the last time with a drawn sword and threatened his life. I did not believe. If God told him so, why did he not come and tell me? The angel told him I should have a witness. An angel came to me – it went through me like lightning – I was afraid. Joseph Said he came with more revelation and knowledge than Joseph ever dare reveal. (Brigham Young sealed me to him, for time and all eternity – Feb. 1842.) Joseph said I was his before I came here and he said all the Devils in Hell should never get me from him.[2]

Lucy Walker shared her experience several times:

When the Prophet Joseph Smith first mentioned the principle of plural marriage to me I felt indignant and so expressed myself to him, because my feelings and education were averse to anything the nature. But he assured me that this doctrine had been revealed to him of the Lord, and that I was entitled to received a testimony of its divine origin for myself. He counselled me to pray to the Lord, which I did, and thereupon received from him a powerful and irresistible testimony of the truthfulness and divinity of plural marriage, which testimony has abided with me ever since.[3]

I went to live with Joseph Smith’s family as a maid and after I had grown up, Joseph asked me if I would marry him. I felt highly insulted and he said that if I wanted to know whether the principle was true, I could go to God and find out. One night after supper I went out into the orchard and I kneeled down and prayed to God for information. After praying I arose and walked around the orchard and kneeled again and repeated this during the night. Finally as I was praying the last time, an angel of the Lord appeared to me and told me that the principle was of God and for me to accept it.[4]

Desdemona Fullmer reported a night vision in which an angel told her that the polygamy doctrine was true.[5]

Other Nauvoo plural wives received similar manifestations. Vilate Kimball's daughter Helen described:

My father’s heart was raised at the same time in supplication, and while pleading as one would plead for life, the vision of her mind was opened, and as darkness fleeth before the morning sun, so did her sorrow and the groveling things of earth vanish away, and before her she saw the principle of celestial marriage illustrated in all its beauty and glory, together with the great exaltation and honor it would confer upon her in that immortal and celestial sphere if she would but accept it and stand in her place by her husband’s side. She was also shown the woman he had taken to wife, and contemplated with joy the vast and boundless love and union which this order would bring about, as well as the increase of kingdoms, power and glory extending throughout the eternities, worlds without end.

Her soul was satisfied and filled with the Spirit of God. With a countenance beaming with joy she returned to my father, saying, “Heber, what you kept from me the Lord has shown to me.”

She related the scene to me and to many others, and told me she never saw so happy a man as father was, when she described the vision and told him she was satisfied an knew that it was from God.[6]

Elizabeth Whitney recalled that she and her husband, Bishop Newell K. Whitney:

Joseph had the most implicit confidence in my husband’s uprightness and integrity of character, and so he confided to him the principles set forth in that revelation, and also gave him the privilege of reading and making a copy of it, believing it would be perfectly safe with him… My husband revealed these things to me. We had always been united, and had the utmost faith and confidence in each other. We pondered upon the matter continually, and our prayers were unceasing that the Lord would grant us some special manifestation concerning this new and strange doctrine. The Lord was very merciful to us; He revealed unto us His power and glory. We were seemingly wrapt in a heavenly vision, a halo of light encircled us, and we were convinced in our own bosoms that God heard and approved our prayers and intercedings before him. Our hearts were comforted and our faith made so perfect that we were willing to give our eldest daughter, then seventeen years of age, to Joseph, in the order of plural marriage. Laying aside all our traditions and former notions in regard to marriage, we gave her with our mutual consent.[7]

Some Church leaders reported premonitions. Brigham Young received special "reflections that were upon my mind while in England. But this was not until after I had told him what I understood."[8] Lorenzo Snow recalled: "It was revealed to me before the Prophet Joseph Smith explained it to me. I had been on a mission to England between two and three years and before I left England I was perfectly satisfied in regard to something connected with plural marriage."[9]

Nauvoo High Council member James Allred remembered that “he did not believe it at first, it was so contrary to his feelings, but he said he knew Joseph was a prophet of God so he made a covenant that he would not eat, drink or sleep until he knew for himself, that he had got a testimony that it was true, that he had even heard the voice of God concerning it.”[10] Another councilor, Thomas Grover recalled a vision of a future plural wife: "On a sudden there stood before me my oldest wife that I have now and the voice of the Lord said that 'This is your companion for time and all Eternity.'"[11]

Church member Martha Jane Knowlton Coray had a peculiar dream that convinced her of the propriety of plural marriage.[12] Another Latter-day Saint, Samuel Amos Woolley, recounted his own dream-vision verifying the validity of plural marriage.[13] Additional similar experiences from other Nauvoo polygamists are alluded to in numerous "testimonies" of the correctness of the principle of plural marriage.

It seems that without this extra-worldly contribution, most Nauvoo polygamists would not have acquiesced to the commandment to practice it.

[1] Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, 2nd rev. ed. New York, 1971, 74.

[2] Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, “Statement” signed Feb. 8, 1902 (Vesta Crawford Papers, MS 125, bx1 fd 11. Original owned by Mrs. Nell Osborne, SLC (courtesy Juanita Brooks). See also Juanita Brooks Papers, USHS, MSB103, bx16, fd 13; BYU special collections, Ms 1132.

[3] Lucy Walker, Affidavit dated December 17, 1902, MS 3423, CHL; Journal History, May 1, 1843; Joseph Fielding Smith, Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1905) 68-69; Joseph F. Smith affidavit books, 1:66; 4:68. This affidavit contains the exact same wording as a second affidavit dated October 24, 1902 entitled: “Oath of Lucy Walker Smith: Wife of Joseph Smith, Jr.,” photocopy in possession of the author.

[4] Untitled typed sheet “The following was given by Judge D. H. Morris of St. George, Utah…” copy in Vesta P. Crawford Collection, Marriott Library, University of Utah, MS 125, bx 1, fd 5.

[5] Desdemona Fullmer, Autobiography, [not MS 734 in CHL], quoted in D. Michael Quinn papers – Addition – Uncat WA MS 244, bx 1, Yale University, Special Collections.

[6] Helen Mar Kimball Whitney, “Scenes and Incidents In Nauvoo,” Women’s Exponent, October 15, 1881, vol 10, no. 10, 74. Reprinted in Jeni Broberg Holzapfel and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, eds., A Woman’s View: Helen Mar Whitney’s Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1997, 136-39. See also Helen Mar Kimball Whitney, Why We Practice Plural Marriage, Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1884, 56-59; Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, nineth ed., 1945, Salt Lake City: Book Craft 326-27.

[7] Edward Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom. New York City: n.p., 1877, 368-69; Elizabeth Ann Whitney, “A Leaf from an Autoibiography,” Woman’s Exponent, December 15, 1878, vol. 7, no. 14, 105; see also Carol Cornwall Madsen, ed., In Their Own Words: Women and the Story of Nauvoo. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994, 202.

[8] Brigham Young, June 23, 1874, Journal of Discourses, 18:241.

[9] Lorenzo Snow, “Discourse,” Millennial Star, 61 (August 31, 1899) 35: 548; see also Eliza R. Snow, Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1884, 405.

[10] James Allred, "Statement,” October 15, 1854. CHL. Copy of typescript in Richard Van Wagoner Collection, Marriott Library, University of Utah, bx 13.

[11] Thomas Grover to Brigham Young, 14 October 1870, Brigham Young Collection, CR 1234, 1, (Reel 45) LDS CHL, pages 1-2.

[12] Howard Coray, “Reminiscences,” CHL; quoted in Richard Neitzel Holzapfel & Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, Women of Nauvoo, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992, 96; see also Howard Coray, Reminiscences, pages 25-26, CHL, MS 8142.

[13] Andrew Jenson, “Plural Marriage,” Historical Record 6 (July 1887): 231.