Alleged Sexual Impropriety between Joseph Smith and

Widow Fuller (via Melissa Schindle)

Source:

John C. Bennett in “Bennett’s Second and Third Letters,” Sangamo Journal, July 15, 1842. See also John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints: Or an Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism. Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842, 253-254.

Accusation

MRS. MELISSA SCHINDLE, wife of Col. George Schindle. -- I now proceed to give the affidavit of Mrs. Schindle, which is in the following words, to wit: -- State of Illinois |ss. McDonough County, | Personally appeared before me, Abraham Fulkerson, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county, Melissa Schindle, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that: In the fall of 1841, she was staying one night with the widow Fuller, who has recently been married to a Mr. Warren, in the city of Nauvoo, and that Joseph Smith came into the room where she was sleeping about 10 o'clock at night, and after making a few remarks came to her bedside, and asked her if he could have the privilege of sleeping with her. She immediately replied no. He, on the receipt of the above answer told her it was the will of the Lord that he should have illicit intercourse with her, and that he never proceeded to do any thing of that kind with any woman without first having the will of the Lord on the subject; and further he told her that if she would consent to let him have such intercourse with her, she could make his house her home as long as she wished to do so, and that she should never want for anything it was in his power to assist her to -- but she would not consent to it. He then told her that if she would let him sleep with her that night he would give her five dollars -- but she refused all his propositions. He then told her that she must never tell of his propositions to her, for he had ALL influence in that place, and if she told he would ruin her character, and she would be under the necessity of leaving. He then went to an adjoining bed where the Widow [Fuller] was sleeping -- got into bed with her and laid there until about 1 o'clock, when he got up, bid them good night, and left them, and further this deponent saith not.

MELISSA (her X mark) SCHINDLE.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 2d day July, 1842. A. FULKERSON, J. P. (seal).[1]

Discussion:

Perhaps the biggest weakness of this allegation is that is comes from John C. Bennett, a known prevaricator and opportunist. Several authors consider him a "polygamy-insider" at Nauvoo, but recent research demonstrates that he was not.

Regarding the affidavit, Schindle’s illiteracy, indicated by her signing an “X,” shows that she would have required assistance from other individuals in composing the document, including possibly John C. Bennett. Two weeks after the affidavit was published, Melissa Schindle’s moral character was questioned in Nauvoo’s secular newspaper, The Wasp in a July 27, 1842 “Extra” edition: “Who is Mrs. Schindle? A harlot.” At her Church court before the Nauvoo High Council, May 25, 1842, Catherine Fuller accused Bennett of sleeping with Melissa Schindle.[2] D. Michael Quinn lists her as one of Bennett’s “free-love” companions.[3]

The description of events recounted in the affidavit includes several details that initially enhance its overall believability. However, plausibility questions arise. In Nauvoo in 1841, it is puzzling that a man, even Joseph Smith, might have been allowed to wander at ten o’clock at night into a room where women were already in bed sleeping.

Schindle’s claim that Joseph Smith “told her it was the will of the Lord that he should have illicit intercourse with her” depicts him as an adulterous hypocrite, one who acknowledges from the onset that the relationship would have been “illicit.” Such a depiction of the Prophet greatly contrasts numerous other public and private evidences showing Joseph Smith taught and practiced a different moral standard. Also, that such hypocrisy would have been unnoticed by others would be surprising. The Book of Mormon sexual standard that placed extra-marital relations next to murder in severity (Alma 39:5) was well known to Latter-day Saints.

An additional assertion with plausibility concerns centers on the Prophet’s offering Schindle to “make his house her home” if she would acquiesce. It appears that Emma Smith, the Prophet’s legal wife, would not have tolerated such an arrangement at their Nauvoo Homestead. (The Smith’s did not move into the spacious Nauvoo Mansion until August of 1843.) This proposal could only be looked upon as unfulfillable.

The offering of money, “five dollars,” is also singular. In his plural marriage proposals, Joseph never offered material perks or financial favors to his potential polygamous wives. Plural wife Lucy Walker recalled Joseph telling her as he discussed a plural sealing with her: “I have no flattering words to offer.”[4]

In the affidavit, Schindle declares she refused Joseph Smith’s advances and then witnessed sexual relations between him and Catherine Fuller. On May 25, Catherine was called up to the Nauvoo High Council on charges of “unchaste and unvirtuous” behavior, not with Joseph Smith, but with John C. Bennett and other men:

The defendant confessed to the charge and gave the names of several others who had been guilty of having unlawful intercourse with her stating that they taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the Church also taught and practiced it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right but becoming convinced that it was not right and learning that the heads of the church did not believe nor practice such things she was willing to confess her sins and did repent before God for what she had done and desired earnestly that the Council would forgive her and covenanted that she would hence forth do so no more.[5]

Questions also arise concerning is the possibility that Joseph and widow Fuller might have shared an “adjoining bed” in full view of Schindle. How readily would the couple have engaged in sexual intercourse in that setting with at least one spectator? Available documents indicate that Joseph Smith used the utmost secrecy and discretion in his associations with his plural wives. But in this account, after the alleged deed was done, “he got up, bade them good night [both of them apparently], and left them.”

Summary:

While this accusation is in the form of a signed affidavit, the precise level of involvement of the accuser is unknown (since she could not read what was written). The allegation contains multiple implausibilities, no secondary corroboration, and contradictory testimony from the reported victim, Catherine Warren. Also Melissa Schindle’s checkered past and sexually intimate friendship with Bennett do not enhance her credibility.

[1] John C. Bennett in “Bennett’s Second and Third Letters,” Sangamo Journal, July 15, 1842. See also John C. Bennett, The History of the Saints: Or an Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism. Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842, 253-254.

[2] Catherine Fuller testimony before the Nauvoo High Council, May 25, 1842; copy of holograph in Valeen Tippitts Avery Collection USU,

[3] D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994, p.536.

[4] Affidavit dated December 17, 1902, Journal History, May 1, 1843; Lyman Omer Littlefield, Reminiscences of Latter-day Saints: Giving an Account of Much Individual Suffering Endured for Religious Conscience, Logan, Utah: Utah Journal Co, 1888, 47.

[5] Nauvoo Stake High Council Minutes, 1839 October – 1845 October, LR 3102 22: CHL. Printed in Fred Collier, the Nauvoo High Council Minute Books of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Hanna, Utah: Collier’s Publishing Co., 2005, 57-58.