Alleged Sexual Impropriety between Joseph Smith and

Marinda Nancy Johnson (Again)

Source:

William Hall, The Abominations of Mormonism Exposed; containing many Facts and Doctrines concerning that singular people during seven years' membership with them, from 1840 to 1847, Cincinnati, 1852, 113.

Accusation:

Before I came into the Church, Orson Hyde had become dissatisfied with the doctrine, and had left the Mormons in consequence of it. Being a man of slender means, he was obliged to betake himself to cutting cord-wood for a support. This business was not agreeable – he soon found his hands blistered and himself wearied, and began to long for the fleshpots of Egypt. He returned and desired Joe Smith to reinstate him, in his former office, as one of the Twelve Apostles. The conditions imposed by Joe Smith, some of us would consider a little tough. They were these: All the money he had so hardly earned had to be given up to Joe, and, also his wife, as a ransom for his transgression, to obtain his former standing. Many jokes were cracked at his expense, and he was despised throughout the camp.

Discussion:

This flowery narrative is the sole evidence for Fawn Brodie’s 1839 dating of a plural marriage between Joseph Smith and Marinda Nancy Johnson Hyde. Non-LDS author Lawrence Foster assessed: “William Hall’s account [is] of extremely dubious accuracy and must be evaluated with the caution used in evaluating any malicious gossip.”[2] Regardless, Brodie writes: “Hall’s account, if true, would indicate that Marinda Nancy Hyde became Joseph Smith’s plural wife in April 1839, when Hyde was reinstated as an apostle.”[3]

Unfortunately for Brodie’s reconstruction, the details provided are not consistent with historical evidences. In late 1838, Orson Hyde imbibed the spirit of apostasy with former Quorum of the Twelve President Thomas Marsh. The two former leaders left the body of the Saints near Far West, Missouri and headed east. At Richmond they were befriended by other dissenters and asked to write an affidavit affirming Joseph Smith’s alleged crimes. Both men signed an accusatory document, which was sent to Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs, who used it as evidence against the Church.

Whether Orson was mentally compromised due to recent sicknesses at the time of his participation with Marsh is not clear. Regardless, he would soon regret his decision.[4] On March 30, 1839 he wrote a letter to Quorum of the Twelve President Brigham Young saying: “As to the terms upon which I can be received back into my place I shall not be particular: for to live in this way I cannot: and to join any other Society, I have no more disposition…” Then he appealed: “Brigham, will you forgive me? Will the church forgive me? If so, God will forgive me.”[5] Orson F. Whitney, grandson of Heber C. Kimball, described Orson Hyde’s interactions with his grandfather:

“About this time” [April 1839], says Heber, “Orson Hyde came to me feeling very sorrowful for the course he had pursued the past few months; he said it was because of fear… and now lamented his folly and asked me what he should do. I told him to give up his school, remove his family and gather with the Church. He wanted to know if I thought the brethren would forgive him. I said, ‘Yes.’ He then asked, ‘Will you defend my case?’ And I promised him I would.”…

Heber enlisted as his fellow champion of the cause of Brother Hyde, President Hyrum Smith… when at the next conference of the Church [May 4], Joseph presented the name of Orson Hyde to the congregation for their [disciplinary] action, Hyrum and Heber pleaded for him so earnestly that the Prophet said: “If my brother Hyrum and Heber C. Kimball will defend Orson Hyde, I will withdraw my motion.”[6]

In fact, Hyde reported to Allen Stout that he had received a “vision in which it was made known to him that if he did not make immediate restitution to the Quorum of the Twelve, he would be cut off and all his posterity, and that the curse of Cain would be upon him. I invited him to ride with me, which he was very thankful for as he was very much fatigued.” [7] Stout observed that although he “was not much in love with apostates so soon after my exit from prison… I saw that Brother Hyde was on the stool of repentance, and he did repent good and got back to his place in the Twelve.”[8]

Summary

William Hall’s story concerning Marinda Nancy Johnson Hyde appears to be inconsistent with several other historical documents that are more plausible and closer to the events themselves. In addition, there is nothing to substantiate Orson’s making a small fortune “cutting cord-wood for a support” or giving any financial remuneration to the Prophet. The allegation that Marinda would be part of a barter to return Hyde to the Quorum is also unsupported. Additionally, Hall’s reference to a “camp” of Latter-day Saints during this period seems anachronistic.

It appears that Brodie’s inclusion of Marinda Johnson as an 1839 sexual partner of the Prophet is based upon one dubious report that most historians would have sought to verify and on failing to do so, would have discarded.

[1] William Hall, The Abominations of Mormonism Exposed; containing many Facts and Doctrines concerning that singular people during seven years' membership with them, from 1840 to 1847, Cincinnati, 1852, 113.

[2] Lawrence Foster, Religion and Sexuality: Three American Communal Experiments of the Nineteenth Century. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981, 308en93.

[3] Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, 2nd rev. ed. New York, 1971, 463. Brodie goes on to admit: “It may be, however, that she was not taught polygamy until December 1841, when Hyde was on a mission to Palestine.” (Ibid.)

[4] Another of Hyde’s biographers, Howard H. Barron, wrote that after his estrangement, Orson remained “near the Saints and began teaching school [and] repented quickly.” (Orson Hyde, Missionary, Apostle, Colonizer. Bountiful, Utah, 1977, 105.)

[5] Orson Hyde to Brigham Young, March 30, 1839, Brigham Young Collection, CHL; quoted in Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Orson Hyde: The Olive Branch of Israel, Salt Lake City: Agreka Books, 2000, 106-07.

[6] Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball. Salt Lake City, 1888; 2nd ed., 1945, 244-45.

[7] Allen Stout, Journal, BYU Special Collections, typescript, 12-13.

[8] Allen Stout, Journal, BYU Special Collections, typescript, 12-13.