Alleged Sexual Impropriety between Joseph Smith and

“A Girl by the Name of Knight”

Source:

E. L. Kelley and Clark Braden, Public Discussion of the Issues Between The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and The Church of Christ (Disciples) Held in Kirtland, Ohio, Beginning February 12, and Closing March 8, 1884 Between E. L. Kelley, of the Reorganized [p.264] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Clark Braden, of the Church of Christ. St. Louis: Clark Braden, 1884, 202.

Accusation:

“Mr. Moreton one of the first Apostles, told his daughter, Mrs. Hansbury, and her husband that Emma Smith detected Joe in adultery with a girl by the name of Knight, and that Joe confessed the crime to the officers of the Church.”[1]

Discussion:

In this allegation Clark Braden quotes an unidentified Mrs. Hansbury quoting an unidentified Mr. Moreton quoting an unknown source.

There are several incongruities with this account. At no time has there been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles with the surname of “Moreton.” Neither does there appear to be any record of a woman named “Hansbury” associated with the early history of the Church. In addition, no other accusations against Joseph Smith pair him with a “girl” named Knight in available anti-Mormon literature.

In Nauvoo, Vinson Knight died in July of 1842. The following month his widow, Martha McBride Knight was sealed to the Prophet. Born in 1805, Martha would have been thirty-seven years old and hardly a “girl.” Due to the sealing ceremonies, any relations between the two would have been marital and would not have constituted “adultery.” Other than the name of “Knight,” nothing in the story resembles Martha McBride’s life in any way.

The narrative itself bears vague similarities to the Fanny Alger story. William McLellin claimed that Emma found Fanny and Joseph together.[2] Joseph did discuss Oliver Cowdery’s claims regarding some “girl business” before the Far West High Council.[3] In Kirtland, there was a Church member, John Moreton, who apostatized for reasons that are unclear, but Moreton was never a Church leader of any significance.[4] Braden may have just confused the story with Fanny Alger.

Summary:

Like Braden’s other charges, this accusation has few strengths. Weaknesses include factual errors concerning the participants named. Also, the account is third-hand, late and without any second witness.

[1] E. L. Kelley and Clark Braden, Public Discussion of the Issues Between The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and The Church of Christ (Disciples) Held in Kirtland, Ohio, Beginning February 12, and Closing March 8, 1884 Between E. L. Kelley, of the Reorganized [p.264] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Clark Braden, of the Church of Christ. St. Louis: Clark Braden, 1884, 202.

[2] William McLellin, Letter to Joseph Smith, III, July 1872, Community of Christ Archives

[3] Donald Q. Cannon and Lyndon W. Cook, eds., Far West Record: Minutes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1844, April 12, 1838, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company,1983), 167-68 .

[4] Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, nineth ed., 1945, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft p.274