Orson and Sarah Pratt

[_Yahoo Bot]

Bakenstos collected some affidavits to use in Sarah's church court attesting to her relationship with Bennett.

A Mrs. Goddard found Sarah and Bennett in a highly compromising position in bed.

Yellow journalist W. Wyl helped Sarah write out a statement in 1886 when Sarah had her request for a pension rejected which stated that Mrs. Goddard came to her later and recanted, claiming that she, Mrs. Goddard, had been pressured into signing. This hearsay statement I have a real problem with on a number of fronts.

Interestingly, however, on his way out of the Church, Dr. Robert Foster said that a witness to John C. Bennett's illegal seductions included Sarah Pratt.

John C. Bennett swore out an affidavit exonerating Joseph Smith in the matter on May 17, 1842.

Joseph Smith declared privately and publicly to Orson Pratt that he had had nothing to do with Sarah, and that whatever happened was between Sarah and John C. Bennett.

Orson apparently became suicidal and a frantic effort was made to find him. Whatever he did, he reconciled himself to Joseph's version of the events and stayed married to Sarah. Sarah never returned mentally or spiritually to the Church.

I have a lot of problems with Van Wagoner's research. As I recall, he is an optometrist or something like that. I was very disturbed by his book when it came out and took a trip to Salt Lake to check out some of his cites. It was upon this occasion that my eyes were really opened as to the quality of historical research and the ability to turn the evidence in a way you'd want.

Van Wagoner does not give any credit to the fact that Wyl wrote Sarah's account, nor that it came 40 years after the event, nor that it came after Brigham Young refused her a pension. Van Wagoner does not mention that Mrs. Goddard's "recanting" was purely Sarah's claim.

[_why me]

It seems Zee is ignoring what Bob is writing about sarah and orson. Sarah was bitter and an antimormon. Difficult to trust her side of the story as bob has proved.

Here is an interesting article:

http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/polyandry.pdf

[_why me]

Van Wagoner does not give any credit to the fact that Wyl wrote Sarah's account, nor that it came 40 years after the event, nor that it came after Brigham Young refused her a pension. Van Wagoner does not mention that Mrs. Goddard's "recanting" was purely Sarah's claim.

Zee is not interested in reading such accounts. He is at the moment like a child in a candy store selecting only sour balls to suck on to please his tastebuds. The more sweet candy he ignores.

[_zeezrom]

Why Me! Give me some time dude! I'm still digesting the fact that Orson married a 16-yr old at the age of 57! Now I'm compiling a list of prophets that married under-age girls. This is going to be a great list that I plan to share.

Next I will move on to the discussion of the accusation at hand.

Before looking, I must say I find it interesting that people are so willing to accuse Sarah of adultery to protect Joseph Smith (who happened to lie to us about Shulem!)

[_truth dancer]

Hey Zee,

while the allegation that Joseph accused Sarah of adultery is serious and troubling and I would love to explore this further, I can't get past the 57-yr old marrying a 16-yr old girl. What!! I'm at a loss of words. I guess BY and others did this too. I just never really looked at it for what it is. Old men sleeping with young girls in the name of religion.

I'm at a loss here. Why would the church not apologize for this?! Why would they not get up and say - sorry, big mistake. Incredible.

I need to take another look at all the prophets and apostles in regards to marrying young girls.

I keep hearing, "But look at the fruit of Joseph Smith - what great work he started."

Yeah...

It is sickening... disgusting beyond belief. It seems easy for some apologists to dismiss it, ignore it, pretend it wasn't a big deal, but most decent men who have daughters, and others who have at least a minimal sense of care for children, see this for the cruel, abusive, and disturbing practice it was. These men were sexual predators. Period.

What amazes me is how religion can so distort the mind and soul, that this sort of behavior is acceptable; how people will follow a leader to the point they can be engage in rape and sexual abuse of children.

And, the bottom line... what sort of God would ever command such cruelty? Astounding that many members believe this is the God of the universe speaking.

~td~

[_why me]

Why Me! Give me some time dude! I'm still digesting the fact that Orson married a 16-yr old at the age of 57! Now I'm compiling a list of prophets that married under-age girls. This is going to be a great list that I plan to share.

Next I will move on to the discussion of the accusation at hand.

Before looking, I must say I find it interesting that people are so willing to accuse Sarah of adultery to protect Joseph Smith (who happened to lie to us about Shulem!)

Zee, you seem to be trying to out yourself from the LDS church. You do seem to be a child in a candy shop picking sour balls and then complaining about the taste. Bob gave you great responses. We need to remember that members were very much aware of what was going on with BY or other GAs at that time. And many of these women who were polygamous wives knew the truthfulness of the principle through their experiences with the holy spirit.

[_Yoda]

Bob...I'm really trying to understand what you meant by this statement:

The evidence seems to indicate that Sarah committed adultery with John C. Bennett, who claimed he was acting on behalf of Joseph Smith.We don't quite know the facts here, but it may be apparent that Sarah believed Bennett, and that for a while Orson believed that Joseph Smith was behind it.

Please clarify. Are you saying that Sarah had the affair with Bennett because she believed that Joseph wanted her to?

[_lostindc]

These kinds of Church history stories make me want to puke...

I hate finding them but I still desire to know the truth.

[_truth dancer]

Hi Walmart,

And many of these women who were polygamous wives knew the truthfulness of the principle through their experiences with the holy spirit.

This makes me sick.

It reminds me of the men, convicted of rape who claim their victims wanted it.

These GIRLS, like many other girls who fall victim to powerful cult and religious leaders were coerced and abused; their perpetrators used God as an excuse.

~td~

[_zeezrom]

Zee, you seem to be trying to out yourself from the LDS church. You do seem to be a child in a candy shop picking sour balls and then complaining about the taste. Bob gave you great responses. We need to remember that members were very much aware of what was going on with BY or other GAs at that time. And many of these women who were polygamous wives knew the truthfulness of the principle through their experiences with the holy spirit.

Why Me. I'm not ignoring Y-Bot. I was the one who originally said it could be a rumor, remember? I'm shelfing that issue for the moment because this issue with the old prophets marrying young girls is a big deal, okay?

You are right about the sour balls. I could just focus on Pratt's first wife Sarah and say what an awesome person she is. I could do the same with Emma. I want all the truth.

By the way - these young girls did not KNOW the truthfulness of what they did. Do we need to get into Wayne Bent and Warren Jeffs again?