...
I once heard a rumor
...
Of course rumors are not proof -- and they often do not rise even
to the status of evidence. But they do provide possible leads for
further historical investigation. It was rumored that Joseph Smith
was bedding multiple female followers, long before the rumor was
backed up with sufficient evidence, as to constitute proof.
We in the Reorganization were always supposed to be proud of
Sister Catherine Smith Salisbury -- she was the faithfully honest
sister of Joseph Smith, Jr., who had seen the light and joined
with the RLDS in her later years -- obviously a source of much
truth and light, when it came to learning about early Mormonism.
Or -- perhaps not.
Consider this 1867 newspaper report, speaking of 1830-31:
In further illustration of the strange superstitions characterizing these pioneer disciples of
Mormonism, and to complete the chain of facts going to make up this truthful history, it is proper
to add one other important incident, which has never appeared in any accepted record of the saints.
Enthusiastic members of the brotherhood -- perhaps, it should be said the more visionary of the
believers -- had plied the "spirit of prophecy" in foretelling the advent of a miraculous birth in
association with an unmarried daughter of Joseph Smith, sen. This predicted event was to astonish the
gentile world as a second advent of triune humanity. Harris was exceedingly happy in the belief of
a forthcoming prophet or Messiah under the Mormon dispensation, and spoke unreservedly of an
"immaculate conception in our day and generation."
The ample shrewdness of the prophet had probably been called in requisition to allay some unfavorable
surmises on the part of his observing disciple, who was a frequenter at the family mansion, and it
is apparent that the theory invented was readily adopted by Harris. Rigdon had been an occasional
sojourner at Smith's for a year or more, though the reader may fail to perceive what this circumstance
had to do with the case. The upshot of the story is, that soon after the family started for Ohio, the
miracle eventuated somewhere on the route, in the birth of a lifeless female child! The accident was
readily set down to the account of Divine intervention to avenge some act of Mormon disobedience,
and Harris was thus easily reconciled.
(The New York World, Nov. 27, 1867)
cf:
Geauga Gazette, Painesville, Ohio, May, 1831:
Every breeze wafts to us some new rumor from this prolific source
of fantasies, some of which proved true and some false. Fame now
whispers in sly and obscure hints, something about a miraculous
conception, from which we conclude the Mormon public mind is being
prepared for the nativity of some wonderful personage....
http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/OH ... htm#051731
This same Sister Catherine (whether or not she was pregnant without
any proper marriage in 1831), swore that Sidney Rigdon never made
an appearance at the Smith residence in Manchester. But even that
witness statement is fraught with error (or duplicity). I do not think
we can trust Catherine Smith Salisbury to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, when it comes to relating early Mormon history.
Witnesses such as Sister Catherine had a vested interest in keeping quiet,
(or actively cover over), any hidden event which might make the Church
look bad, and which might actually endanger the Saints themselves.
Catherine joined the Church that professed her brothers Joseph, Hyrum
and William to have been lifelong monogamists, who battled valiantly
against secret polygamy at Nauvoo.
Are we to accept Catherine's testimony regarding no Rigdon presence among
the Smiths until 1831? And, if we do that, must we also believe that her
brothers were monogamists?
I counsel that we exercise great caution in accepting early Mormon/RLDS
testimony at face value -- we need not ALWAYS believe those witnesses.
UD