SANDY, Utah — Gregory L. Smith knew that Joseph Smith had taught and
practiced plural marriage, but he wasn't prepared for the accusations
of womanizing he read in a book about Mormon polygamy. He was troubled
and wanted answers.
Smith, an independent researcher, shared his story on Friday, Aug. 7, at
the 11th annual Mormon Apologetics Conference presented by the
Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research.
The book claimed the reason the prophet Joseph was tarred and
feathered in 1832 was because of advances he made on a young
woman. Gregory Smith had never heard of this before. He wanted answers but knew
it would take a lot of time and work. He also realized he might fail.
"I might not be up to the challenge of finding answers, or recognizing
answers, or being satisfied with whatever answers might be out there,"
he said.
He decided to take it to the Lord.
"It was one of the most interesting experiences of my life," Smith
said. "Somewhat to my surprise, I found myself telling my (Heavenly)
Father something I had not anticipated. I explained to him what
bothered me, and then instead of begging for answers — or insisting
upon them, as I had half-planned — I told him that I would not forsake
him, our relationship, or my covenants. I told him that come what may,
I would do what he wanted."
Smith felt that he received an answer to this prayer that he could
investigate the questions he had and that he had nothing to worry
about. The incident that propelled him to prayer was a good example.
The book Gregory Smith read said "allegations in Hiram, Ohio, reportedly caused
problems for (Joseph) Smith in 1832. One account related that on 24 March (1832)
a mob of men pulled Smith from his bed, beat him and then covered him
with a coat of tar and feathers. Eli Johnson, who allegedly
participated in the attack 'because he suspected Joseph of being
intimate with his sister, Nancy Marinda Johnson, ... was screaming for
Joseph's castration.'"
The footnote, however, said that it was "unlikely" that any incident
between Joseph and Nancy Marinda Johnson led to the attack. Sidney Rigdon was
also attacked, and the leader of the mob, Simonds Ryder, said the
attack was over fears that Joseph was going to take their property.
What is more, Nancy Marinda Johnson did not even have a brother named Eli.
Gregory Smith learned the source for the accusation was a second-hand account
from a debate between a member of the Church of Christ (Disciples) and
an RLDS missionary in 1884.
"Why use (this false story) as evidence of womanizing, only to undercut
the evidence in a footnote?" Smith said. "Isn't the fact that this
claim is likely FALSE germane to the question of Joseph's early
supposed woman troubles?"
Smith also found the testimony of the supposed victim who said: "Here I
feel like bearing my testimony that during the whole year that Joseph
was an inmate of my father's house I never saw aught in his daily life
or conversation to make me doubt his divine mission."
Smith told the FAIR conference that this incident was a "good example
of how in answering even a relatively straight-forward question in
plural marriage, evidence can be slyly slanted or twisted beyond
recognition. I hope it will prove a cautionary tale for anyone who
studies this area on their own."
Smith continued to study questions about plural marriage. He understood
the struggles people have with the doctrine and practice. He knew how
easy it was to think the worst instead of the best. He found many
answers, and shares them with anyone who will listen. He still has
some unanswered questions, but they don't trouble him — and haven't since
the prayer he offered four years ago.
"No one likes to be thought foolish, or naive, or duped," Smith said. "I'm regarded
as a reasonably smart person. I'm a doctor. I study science. I love
evidence. I am a rationalist and a skeptic. I could have
gone before God and demanded answers — I want evidence, I want
closure. I could have issued him ultimatums."
Instead, there was a gift of grace. Even though he didn't realize it at
the time, Smith had made a decision that lead to the answers. "I chose ... to consecrate my brain and all that went with it."
In the end, Smith's quest had nothing to do with getting answers about
plural marriage — even though many of his questions had been answered.
Smith's quest had to do with trust. And it was that trust he most
wanted to share with conference participants.
"Do you trust Father? If you do, I have no worries. If you do not ... you must start there, because no answer of mine or anyone else's on a
historical matter can cure that problem." Smith said. "I will not bear
testimony of the history I've talked about, which may all change
tomorrow. But, I bear witness of the Lord of the outstretched arm, who
comes in our nights and days and clasps us to his chest, and who gives
back an hundred fold all the poor leavings we drop ... upon the altar
which is already stained with his far more impressive offering on our
behalf."
E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com