MORMON HISTORIAN: “Sometime in late 1835 or early 1836, in a priesthood ceremony performed by Levi Hancock, Joseph secretly married Fanny Alger, a domestic living in the Smith home. When Oliver Cowdery and Emma Smith learned of the relationship, they did not consider it a legitimate marriage. Joseph was unable to convince them the polygamous marriage was approved of God. Fanny left the area and married a non-member a few months later and never returned to the Church.” –Brian C. Hales. [source]
SCRIPTURE HEADING: “Visions manifested to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. … 13–16, Elijah returns and commits the keys of his dispensation as promised by Malachi.” –D&C 110, section heading. [source]
SCRIPTURE HEADING: “Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of plural marriage.” –D&C 132, section heading. [source]
COMMENTARY: If you just guess the order a true prophet would do things in, you’d get it exactly backwards. I’m not sure why some Mormons are so insistent on defending Joseph’s mistakes at the same time that they admit he is an imperfect human. Let’s just call it like it is: polygamy was never commanded of God. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
