Full Debate: Did Joseph Smith Practice Polygamy

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Did Joseph Smith Practice Polygamy? A Formal Debate

Key Concepts:

• Polygamy vs. "Celestial Plural Marriage" (a term not used by Joseph Smith)
• Doctrine and Covenants 132 (D&C 132)
• Navu Expositor
• Testimony of "traitors" (William Law, etc.) vs. other witnesses
• Spiritual wifery (John Bennett's system)
• Keys of the Kingdom
• Historical record reliability
• Book of Mormon stance on polygamy
• Old Testament examples (David, Solomon, Abraham, Jacob, Moses)

1. Opening Statement (Jacob Hanson): Affirmative - Joseph Smith Practiced Polygamy

• Main Argument: The evidence overwhelmingly supports that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy.
• Key Point: D&C 132 is central to the argument. If Joseph Smith wrote it, the debate is over.
• Evidence for D&C 132 Authorship:
  • Joseph Smith's Journal (July 12, 1843): Records receiving a revelation in the presence of Hyrum Smith and William Clayton.
  • William Clayton's Journal (July 12, 1843): Describes writing a 10-page revelation on the order of the priesthood, referencing Moses, Abraham, David, and Solomon having multiple wives and concubines.
  • August 1843 High Council Meeting: Witnesses (William Marks, Austin Cowles, Leonard Soby) stated D&C 132 was introduced at this meeting. These men were anti-polygamists, negating claims of a Brigham Young conspiracy.
  • Franklin Richards' Journal (August 12, 1843): Confirms the meeting discussed the reestablishment of the Old Testament practice of plural marriage.
  • Leonard Soby's Notarized Statement (1886): Affirms Hyrum Smith read the revelation on celestial marriage, and it originated with Joseph Smith.
  • Navu Expositor (May 1844): Quotes parts of D&C 132, indicating a leak.
• Fanny Alger Incident: Oliver Cowdery's letter referencing a "nasty, filthy scrape" with Fanny Alger suggests a relationship between Joseph and Fanny. Fanny's family members claimed she was married to Joseph. Fanny never denied the claims.
• William Clayton's Journal Entries: Cryptic entries later explained as records of Joseph Smith's marriages to Lucy Walker and Margaret Moon.
• Brigham Young's Journal Entry (January 6, 1842): Coded language indicating Joseph Smith was "wedded and sealed" to Agnes Smith. Agnes Smith confirmed this event, even after leaving the church.
• Sydney Rigdon's Admission (1846): Admitted Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and he warned him against it.
• Other Groups: While Emma Smith and the RLDS Church denied polygamy, Strangites, William Smith, and followers of Lyman Wight all believed Joseph introduced plural marriage.
• Scriptural Justification: The Book of Mormon (Jacob 2) condemns unauthorized polygamy but allows it when God commands it. Old Testament figures (Jacob, Abraham, Moses, David) had multiple wives. Nathan the prophet gave David his wives (2 Samuel 12:7-8).
• Anticipated Rebuttal: Anticipates the argument that Brigham Young altered the historical record. Counters by including witnesses who were not aligned with Brigham Young.
• Fighting Unauthorized Polygamy: Joseph Smith fought against unauthorized polygamy and spiritual wifery while practicing celestial plural marriage.
• Conspiracy Theory: The opposing argument requires a large-scale conspiracy involving 70+ people in Joseph's inner circle.
• Keys of the Kingdom: If Joseph Smith did not pass on the Keys of the Kingdom to Brigham Young, then either someone else holds them, or Joseph Smith failed, and the church is in apostasy.
• Conclusion: The historical record clearly indicates Joseph Smith introduced plural marriage, and the keys are still on Earth.

2. Opening Statement (Jacob Isbell): Negative - Joseph Smith Did Not Practice Polygamy

• Main Argument: Joseph Smith was an enemy to polygamy from his earliest days as president of the Church.
• Critique of Terminology: Jacob Hanson uses terms like "Celestial Plural Marriage" that Joseph Smith never used.
• Definition of Polygamy: Challenges Jacob Hanson to define polygamy and show that Joseph Smith ever lived the principles taught in D&C 132.
• Lack of Evidence:
  • No scriptures revealed by Joseph Smith support polygamy.
  • Sources claiming Joseph Smith practiced polygamy are "traitors" who sought to kill him (William Law, Navu Expositor).
  • No speeches by Joseph Smith support polygamy.
  • No private communications from Joseph Smith support polygamy.
  • No offspring from Joseph Smith with any plural wives, despite fertile women involved.
• Book of Mormon Contradiction: The Book of Mormon condemns the practices of David and Solomon, yet D&C 132 justifies them.
• Internal Inconsistencies of D&C 132:
  • Falsely claims Abraham practiced polygamy (Hagar was a surrogate, not a wife).
  • Falsely claims Isaac and Moses were polygamists.
  • Contradicts the Book of Mormon regarding David and Solomon.
• Delayed Publication of D&C 132: The Latter-day Saints did not see D&C 132 until September 14, 1852, eight years after Joseph Smith's death. Brigham Young claimed it was locked in his desk.
• Brigham Young's Influence: Spelling errors in D&C 132 are consistent with the writings of Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.
• Polygamy as a Requirement for Salvation: Brigham Young taught that polygamy was a requirement for salvation and exaltation for 30 years.
• D&C 132 Not Added to Canon Until After Brigham Young's Death: D&C 132 was not added to the canon of scripture until three years after Brigham Young's death.
• Abandonment of Polygamy: The practice of polygamy was abandoned by the church, indicating it is not an eternal doctrine.
• Parallels to King Noah: Draws parallels between Brigham Young and King Noah, who built luxurious mansions on the backs of the poor and practiced polygamy.
• Joseph Smith vs. the "New Order of Things":
  • Charles Wesley Wandell's testimony that Joseph Smith's memoir was "doctored" by Brigham Young to suit the "New Order of Things."
  • D&C 5: This generation is to have its word through Joseph, not through claims made 30 years after his death.
  • Original D&C 101: Published under Joseph Smith's direction, stating the church is charged with fornication and polygamy, condemning it.
  • Heber C. Kimball's teachings about the afterlife: A fictional spirit world fantasy where Joseph Smith offers men thousands of wives.
  • D&C 121: Joseph Smith's teachings on priesthood power being exercised through persuasion, longsuffering, and gentleness, contrasted with Brigham Young's teachings that a woman needs no divorce if she finds a man with higher priesthood.
• Joseph Smith's Corrections to the Bible: Joseph Smith corrected biblical passages to remove any justification for polygamy.
• Conclusion: Joseph Smith condemned the doctrine of many wives and concubines.

3. Rebuttal (Jacob Hanson):

• Main Point: Jacob Isbell ignored the historical record and focused on his interpretation of D&C 132 and quotes from Brigham Young.
• Ignored Evidence:
  • D&C 132 was read in the August 1843 High Council meeting.
  • Wives who left the church never denied being married to Joseph Smith.
  • Anti-polygamists (William Marks, Leonard Soby, Sydney Rigdon) said Joseph practiced polygamy.
  • Scriptures (Samuel, Nathan) and Jacob 2:30 authorize polygamy under certain circumstances.
• Joseph Smith's Stance on Polygamy:
  • Joseph Smith condemned John Bennett's "spiritual wifery" (unauthorized polygamy).
  • Joseph Smith's letter to the Relief Society: Allowed for messages delivered by his own mouth or by actual revelation and commandment.
  • Eliza R. Snow's testimony: The Relief Society's condemnation of polygamy was about Bennett's actions, not Joseph Smith's.
• Abraham's Polygamy: Abraham had a child with Hagar at Sarah's request, fulfilling God's promise of posterity.

4. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The debate centers on whether Joseph Smith practiced polygamy. Jacob Hanson argues affirmatively, citing D&C 132, historical accounts, and scriptural justifications. Jacob Isbell argues negatively, claiming Joseph Smith opposed polygamy, D&C 132 is not from God, and the historical record is unreliable due to the influence of Brigham Young. The core disagreement lies in the interpretation of historical evidence, the validity of D&C 132, and the definition of polygamy itself.