Christian Universalism (1820) is a school of Christian theology which includes the belief in the doctrine of universal reconciliation, the view that all human beings and all fallen creatures will ultimately be restored to right relationship with God in Heaven. It includes the reality of an afterlife without the possibility of eternal presence in hell. Joseph grew up with that and may have swung a bit on this topic after his formative years.
Polyandry (Ancient Greek: polys—many, anēr—man) is a form of polygamy whereby a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. Polyandry is contrasted with polygyny, involving one male and two or more females.
Extract: Why William and Jane Law Left the LDS Church in 1844 by Grant H. Palmer
Published in John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 32, no. 2 (Fall/Winter 2012):43-51.
William and Jane Law were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until sometime in 1843. Even as late as June 7, 1844, they affirmed their belief in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants in their founding newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor. The Laws’ problems were not with the foundational scriptures of the church but rather with the grandiosity and narcissistic behavior of Joseph Smith during the last two years of his life. William Law is the most credible and important person to have left the hierarchy of the LDS church since Oliver Cowdery. This paper examines three paramount concerns of William and Jane Law that contributed to their leaving the church and Nauvoo in 1844.
William Law was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 and his family migrated to western Pennsylvania about ten years later. William then migrated to Canada, near Toronto, where he met and married his wife Jane. They joined the LDS church in 1836 in Toronto, then moved to Nauvoo in 1839. In January 1841, William was elevated to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Joseph Smith's second counselor. He served in this capacity until January 1844, and by April, he and Jane were excommunicated from the church. The Law family left Nauvoo in mid-June of 1844, never to return. His last forty years were spent in Apple River, Illinois, and Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where he was a medical doctor. He died in 1892. My research indicates that William had the reputation of being a "good man" during his entire life, although at times he came across as somewhat self-righteous.1 In my opinion, William Law is the most credible and important person to have ever left the First Presidency of the LDS Church. In this paper I examine three paramount concerns of William and Jane Law that contributed to their leaving the church and Nauvoo in 1844.
I. The Laws left because Joseph Smith ordered the death of his enemies
II. The Laws left because of Joseph Smith's immoral proposals
III. The Laws left because Smith set up a political Kingdom within the U.S. government
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Laws’ final testimony of Joseph Smith and Mormonism <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
During the last two years of Joseph Smith's life, William and Jane Law said they had first hand experience of Joseph Smith breaking at least six of the Ten Commandments and many of the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Law wrote:
The gospel of Jesus Christ, as we find it recorded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in which we most firmly believe, and upon which we base our hopes of eternal salvation, does not admit of murder, false swearing, lying, stealing, robbing, defrauding, polygamy, adultery, fornication, and blasphemy. And yet those evils have been introduced into the Church at Nauvoo, by Joseph Smith and others, for the purpose of accomplishing their base designs. We have always disapproved such things and opposed them both privately and publicly, and for our opposition to them, we were driven from our homes in Nauvoo.40
Thus the Laws indicted Joseph Smith with: blasphemy or using God's name in vain, committing murder, committing adultery, stealing and robbing from the gentiles, bearing false witness, and coveting the wives of other men (Ex. 20:3-17).41 In William's final diary entry, he wrote that Smith, "Was one of the false prophets spoken of by Christ who would come in sheep's clothing but inwardly be a ravelling [ravening] wolf. His works proved it [Matt. 7: 15-16].... He claimed to be a god, whereas he was only a servant of the Devil, and as such met his fate."42
Between June 23 and July 11, 1843, Joseph Smith receives a commandment that is mentioned in a July 12, 1843 revelation: "A commandment I give unto my handmaiden, Emma Smith ... which I commanded you [Joseph] to offer unto her" (D&C 132: 51). William Law, Smith's counselor in the first presidency, described the content of this "offer"-revelation that Smith used to appease Emma. Law wrote: "Joseph offered to furnish his wife, Emma, with a substitute for him, by way of compensation for his neglect of her, on condition that she would forever stop her opposition to polygamy and permit him to enjoy his young wives in peace and keep some of them in her [mansion] house and to be well treated, etc."19
While Joseph and Emma Smith agreed to this sexual offer, William and Jane Law did not. Jackson, continuing with his narrative said that "He [Joseph] and Emma had both tried to persuade her [Jane Law] of the correctness of the doctrine, but that she would not believe it to be of God."20 With the Laws having rejected the offer, Joseph Smith received D&C 132, on July 12, 1843. Verses 51-52, 54, now instruct Emma:
That she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham .... Let my handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph .... I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment, she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her.
William Law recorded Joseph and Emma's comments on these verses: "He [Joseph] thought the revelation would cause her [Emma] to submit peacefully, as it threatened her removal if she did not." Emma confided to Law that the revelation, which she did not believe in, was a "threat against her life," if she did not comply.21 Law said that Emma, "Spoke repeatedly about that pretended revelation ... [and] says[,] 'I must submit or be destroyed. Well, I guess I have to submit.'"22 Emma submitted to Joseph's instruction, but Joseph continued his proposals to single and married women until December of 1843, including Jane Law.
Several months after this sexual "substitute" for Joseph incident, probably during November-December, Joseph Smith made a play for the "attractive" thirty-year-old Jane Law.23 William wrote in his diary on May 13, 1844, that, "He [Smith] had lately endeavored to seduce my wife, and had found her a virtuous woman."24 Alexander Neibaur, a close friend of Joseph Smith, recorded: "When Mr[.] Law came home [one evening,] he Inquired who had been in his Absence. she said no one but Br Joseph. he then demanded what had pass[ed.] Mrs[.] L[aw] then told [him] that Joseph wanted her to be Married to him."25
Watch on youtube: The Prophet Puzzle (2 Josephs) Published on Sep 21, 2012 (1996 presentation re-created)
This is Dan Vogel's "'Prophet Puzzle' Revisited" paper delivered at the Mormon History Association in Snowbird, Utah, 18 May 1996. As no recording exists, what follows is a re-creation. It explores the theory that Joseph Smith was a "pious deceiver" or "sincere fraud"—a person who deceives for holy or religious purposes and may believe that it is according to God's will.
Hi Dan,
This is an excellent presentation. Thank you so much. Do you happen to have a text version of it as well ? I resonate with the term pious fraud. With regards to D&C 132:60+ and your comment
"Verses 61-62 are anti-polyandrous and contradict JS's previous marriages to 11-14 married women. Verse 60 is about JS's repentance and warns his followers not to judge him."
I would liked to have seen proper repentance (disannulling the sealings) and a confession. But otherwise yes, it does look like a subtle admission or should we say damage control.
JS attitude: Somewhere I have sinned, but I won't confess it and tell you what it is and I may do it again. God has it all covered and he is ok with me. I suspect JS does have a severe character flaw. So here are some questions that will help me to assess repentance.
DID SMITH CEASE TO APPROACH MARRIED WOMEN AFTER WRITING SECT 132 ? DID HE THEN ABIDE TO THE FIRST WIFE'S CONSENT REQUIREMENT ? DID HE APOLOGIZE TO EMMA AT LEAST ? AND WHAT ABOUT THE WILLIAM LAW AND EMMA STORY ? http://mormonthink.com/grant7.htm
Polyandry (Ancient Greek: polys—many, anēr—man) is a form of polygamy whereby a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. Polyandry is contrasted with polygyny, involving one male and two or more females.
Extract: Why William and Jane Law Left the LDS Church in 1844 by Grant H. Palmer
Published in John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 32, no. 2 (Fall/Winter 2012):43-51.
William and Jane Law were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until sometime in 1843. Even as late as June 7, 1844, they affirmed their belief in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants in their founding newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor. The Laws’ problems were not with the foundational scriptures of the church but rather with the grandiosity and narcissistic behavior of Joseph Smith during the last two years of his life. William Law is the most credible and important person to have left the hierarchy of the LDS church since Oliver Cowdery. This paper examines three paramount concerns of William and Jane Law that contributed to their leaving the church and Nauvoo in 1844.
William Law was born in Northern Ireland in 1809 and his family migrated to western Pennsylvania about ten years later. William then migrated to Canada, near Toronto, where he met and married his wife Jane. They joined the LDS church in 1836 in Toronto, then moved to Nauvoo in 1839. In January 1841, William was elevated to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Joseph Smith's second counselor. He served in this capacity until January 1844, and by April, he and Jane were excommunicated from the church. The Law family left Nauvoo in mid-June of 1844, never to return. His last forty years were spent in Apple River, Illinois, and Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where he was a medical doctor. He died in 1892. My research indicates that William had the reputation of being a "good man" during his entire life, although at times he came across as somewhat self-righteous.1 In my opinion, William Law is the most credible and important person to have ever left the First Presidency of the LDS Church. In this paper I examine three paramount concerns of William and Jane Law that contributed to their leaving the church and Nauvoo in 1844.
I. The Laws left because Joseph Smith ordered the death of his enemies
II. The Laws left because of Joseph Smith's immoral proposals
III. The Laws left because Smith set up a political Kingdom within the U.S. government
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Laws’ final testimony of Joseph Smith and Mormonism <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
During the last two years of Joseph Smith's life, William and Jane Law said they had first hand experience of Joseph Smith breaking at least six of the Ten Commandments and many of the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Law wrote:
The gospel of Jesus Christ, as we find it recorded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in which we most firmly believe, and upon which we base our hopes of eternal salvation, does not admit of murder, false swearing, lying, stealing, robbing, defrauding, polygamy, adultery, fornication, and blasphemy. And yet those evils have been introduced into the Church at Nauvoo, by Joseph Smith and others, for the purpose of accomplishing their base designs. We have always disapproved such things and opposed them both privately and publicly, and for our opposition to them, we were driven from our homes in Nauvoo.40
Thus the Laws indicted Joseph Smith with: blasphemy or using God's name in vain, committing murder, committing adultery, stealing and robbing from the gentiles, bearing false witness, and coveting the wives of other men (Ex. 20:3-17).41 In William's final diary entry, he wrote that Smith, "Was one of the false prophets spoken of by Christ who would come in sheep's clothing but inwardly be a ravelling [ravening] wolf. His works proved it [Matt. 7: 15-16].... He claimed to be a god, whereas he was only a servant of the Devil, and as such met his fate."42
Between June 23 and July 11, 1843, Joseph Smith receives a commandment that is mentioned in a July 12, 1843 revelation: "A commandment I give unto my handmaiden, Emma Smith ... which I commanded you [Joseph] to offer unto her" (D&C 132: 51). William Law, Smith's counselor in the first presidency, described the content of this "offer"-revelation that Smith used to appease Emma. Law wrote: "Joseph offered to furnish his wife, Emma, with a substitute for him, by way of compensation for his neglect of her, on condition that she would forever stop her opposition to polygamy and permit him to enjoy his young wives in peace and keep some of them in her [mansion] house and to be well treated, etc."19
While Joseph and Emma Smith agreed to this sexual offer, William and Jane Law did not. Jackson, continuing with his narrative said that "He [Joseph] and Emma had both tried to persuade her [Jane Law] of the correctness of the doctrine, but that she would not believe it to be of God."20 With the Laws having rejected the offer, Joseph Smith received D&C 132, on July 12, 1843. Verses 51-52, 54, now instruct Emma:
That she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham .... Let my handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph .... I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment, she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her.
William Law recorded Joseph and Emma's comments on these verses: "He [Joseph] thought the revelation would cause her [Emma] to submit peacefully, as it threatened her removal if she did not." Emma confided to Law that the revelation, which she did not believe in, was a "threat against her life," if she did not comply.21 Law said that Emma, "Spoke repeatedly about that pretended revelation ... [and] says[,] 'I must submit or be destroyed. Well, I guess I have to submit.'"22 Emma submitted to Joseph's instruction, but Joseph continued his proposals to single and married women until December of 1843, including Jane Law.
Several months after this sexual "substitute" for Joseph incident, probably during November-December, Joseph Smith made a play for the "attractive" thirty-year-old Jane Law.23 William wrote in his diary on May 13, 1844, that, "He [Smith] had lately endeavored to seduce my wife, and had found her a virtuous woman."24 Alexander Neibaur, a close friend of Joseph Smith, recorded: "When Mr[.] Law came home [one evening,] he Inquired who had been in his Absence. she said no one but Br Joseph. he then demanded what had pass[ed.] Mrs[.] L[aw] then told [him] that Joseph wanted her to be Married to him."25
Watch on youtube: The Prophet Puzzle (2 Josephs) Published on Sep 21, 2012 (1996 presentation re-created)
This is Dan Vogel's "'Prophet Puzzle' Revisited" paper delivered at the Mormon History Association in Snowbird, Utah, 18 May 1996. As no recording exists, what follows is a re-creation. It explores the theory that Joseph Smith was a "pious deceiver" or "sincere fraud"—a person who deceives for holy or religious purposes and may believe that it is according to God's will.
Hi Dan,
This is an excellent presentation. Thank you so much. Do you happen to have a text version of it as well ? I resonate with the term pious fraud. With regards to D&C 132:60+ and your comment
"Verses 61-62 are anti-polyandrous and contradict JS's previous marriages to 11-14 married women. Verse 60 is about JS's repentance and warns his followers not to judge him."
I would liked to have seen proper repentance (disannulling the sealings) and a confession. But otherwise yes, it does look like a subtle admission or should we say damage control.
JS attitude: Somewhere I have sinned, but I won't confess it and tell you what it is and I may do it again. God has it all covered and he is ok with me. I suspect JS does have a severe character flaw. So here are some questions that will help me to assess repentance.
DID SMITH CEASE TO APPROACH MARRIED WOMEN AFTER WRITING SECT 132 ? DID HE THEN ABIDE TO THE FIRST WIFE'S CONSENT REQUIREMENT ? DID HE APOLOGIZE TO EMMA AT LEAST ? AND WHAT ABOUT THE WILLIAM LAW AND EMMA STORY ? http://mormonthink.com/grant7.htm