Nancy Rigdon said that Joseph Smith had proposed plural marriage to her. After she turned him down, he wrote a letter to her.
The letter has really problematic language in it, for me. It seems like he's just rationalizing polygamy and any other behavior that he might need to justify. This seems to point out exactly the problem of having just one central person be the mouthpiece for God. They can exploit their position when they are speaking only as a man while people think they are speaking for God.
Although the story of Joseph Smith proposing plural marriage to Nancy Rigdon was most famously told by John C. Bennett, a member of the First Presidency who later became an apostate, there are other contemporary sources that support it.
The letter is included in the official History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.134-136. In the History of the Church text online there is no information provided about who it is to, or why. Apparently Willard Richards was the scribe for Joseph's letter and delivered it to Nancy Rigdon.
Here is the text from BYU Studies online. Go to this link and scroll down until you see a big number 1: https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/5/8.html#HOC
Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received. That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another.
God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said, "Thou shalt utterly destroy." This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted—by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added. So with Solomon: first he asked wisdom, and God gave it him, and with it every desire of his heart, even things which might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation.
A parent may whip a child, and justly, too, because he stole an apple; whereas if the child had asked for the apple, and the parent had given it, the child would have eaten it with a better appetite; there would have been no stripes; all the pleasure of the apple would have been secured, all the misery of stealing lost.
This principle will justly apply to all of God's dealings with His children. Everything that God gives us is lawful and right; and it is proper that we should enjoy His gifts and blessings whenever and wherever He is disposed to bestow; but if we should seize upon those same blessings and enjoyments without law, without revelation, without commandment, those blessings and enjoyments would prove cursings and vexations in the end, and we should have to lie down in sorrow and wailings of everlasting regret. But in obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed; and as God has designed our happiness—and the happiness of all His creatures, he never has—He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances. Blessings offered, but rejected, are no longer blessings, but become like the talent hid in the earth by the wicked and slothful servant; the proffered good returns to the giver; the blessing is bestowed on those who will receive and occupy; for unto him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundantly, but unto him that hath not or will not receive, shall be taken away that which he hath, or might have had.
Be wise today; 'tis madness to defer:
Next day the fatal precedent may plead.
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time
Into eternity.
Next day the fatal precedent may plead.
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time
Into eternity.
Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive; and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose Him to be. He will be inquired of by His children. He says: "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find;" but, if you will take that which is not your own, or which I have not given you, you shall be rewarded according to your deeds; but no good thing will I withhold from them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all things—who will listen to my voice and to the voice of my servant whom I have sent; for I delight in those who seek diligently to know my precepts, and abide by the law of my kingdom; for all things shall be made known unto them in mine own due time, and in the end they shall have joy.
Here is another copy of the letter with more information and bolding of some of the wording:
http://www.i4m.com/think/history/smith_letter.htm
The following day Joseph Smith sent Nancy this letter, as recorded in the Official History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.134-136:
"Church Historian Footnote Reads: ..it is borne in mind that at this time the new law of marriage for the Church—marriage for eternity, including plurity of wives under some circumstances—was being introduced by the Prophet, it is very likely that the following article was written with a view of applying the principles here expounded to the conditions created by introducing said marriage system."
Joseph Smith to Miss Nancy Rigdon, 11 April 1842
"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received. That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another.""God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said "Thou shalt utterly destroy." This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted—by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added. So with Solomon: first he asked wisdom, and God gave it him, and with it every desire of his heart, even things which might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation."
"A parent may whip a child, and justly, too, because he stole an apple; whereas if the child had asked for the apple, and the parent had given it, the child would have eaten it with a better appetite; there would have been no stripes; all the pleasure of the apple would have been secured, all the misery of stealing lost."
"This principle will justly apply to all of God's dealings with His children. Everything that God gives us is lawful and right; and it is proper that we should enjoy His gifts and blessings whenever and wherever He is disposed to bestow; but if we should seize upon those same blessings and enjoyments without law, without revelation, without commandment, those blessings and enjoyments would prove cursings and vexations in the end, and we should have to lie down in sorrow and wailings of everlasting regret. But in obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed; and as God has designed our happiness—and the happiness of all His creatures, he never has—He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances. Blessings offered, but rejected, are no longer blessings, but become like the talent hid in the earth by the wicked and slothful servant; the proffered good returns to the giver; the blessing is bestowed on those who will receive and occupy; for unto him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundantly, but unto him that hath not or will not receive, shall be taken away that which he hath, or might have had."
Be wise today; 'tis madness to defer:
Next day the fatal precedent may plead.
Thus on till wisdom is pushed out of time
Into eternity.
"Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive; and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose Him to be. He will be inquired of by His children. He says: "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find;" but, if you will take that which is not your own, or which I have not given you, you shall be rewarded according to your deeds; but no good thing will I withhold from them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all things—who will listen to my voice and to the voice of my servant whom I have sent; for I delight in those who seek diligently to know my precepts, and abide by the law of my kingdom; for all things shall be made known unto them in mine own due time, and in the end they shall have joy."
- Official History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.134-136, See also "The Letter of the Prophet, Joseph Smith to Miss Nancy Rigdon," Joseph Smith Collection, LDS archives
- Official History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.134-136, See also "The Letter of the Prophet, Joseph Smith to Miss Nancy Rigdon," Joseph Smith Collection, LDS archives
Fair Mormon gives some more interesting information about this story:
Though much of Bennett's account is fabricated, virtually all historians have accepted that the letter attributed to Joseph by Bennett is legitimate, though the only source for the text is Bennett's anti-Mormon works [Emily's note: that's false, or else why is it in the official History of the Church?] (the letter's contents are discussed in (needs URL / links)).[20] We know little about what was going on between Nancy's receipt of the letter, dated between April 10–15, and the end of the month.[21] That Joseph was troubled by the visit with Nancy, however, is suggested by his sermon the next day: "[I preached in the grove, and pronounced a curse] upon all adulterers and Fornicators, and unvirtuous persons and those who have made use of my name to carry on their iniquitous designs."[22]
The prophet's remarks to the Relief Society on April 28 suggest that his concerns grew ever more acute. Joseph
did not know as he should have many opportunities of teaching them -- that they were going to be left to themselves -- they would not long have him to instruct them -- that the church would not have his instruction long, and the world would not be troubled with him a great while, and would not have his teachings. He spoke of delivering the keys to [both] this society and to the Church -- that according to his prayers God had appointed him elsewhere.Here is the story apparently told by John C. Bennett in his book History of the Saints (Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842) (http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1840s/ben1842b.htm#pg241a):
He exhorted the sisters always to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence in those whom God has appointed to honor, whom God has plac'd at the head to lead—that we should arm them with our prayers—that the keys of the kingdom are about to be given to them, that they may be able to detect every thing false—as well as to the Elders…He said if one member become corrupt and you know it; you must immediately put it away. The sympathies of the heads of the church have induc'd them to bear with those that were corrupt in consequence of which all become contaminated—you must put down iniquity and by your good example provoke the Elders to good works….[23]
Miss Rigdon is the eldest unmarried daughter of Sidney, Esq., and is a beautiful girl, of irreproachable fame, great moral excellence, and superior intellectual endowments. She is a young lady of many charms and varied attractions; but she, too, was marked out for theCloister. Joe could not suffer a pretty woman to escape without atrial. The inquisitorial seraglio must swallow up most cases, and secure the beautiful birds of gaudy plumage or fascinating charms. If they fail to be insnared by the Cyprian Saints, they are liable to be taken in the net of the Chambered Sisters of Charity; if they pass that fiery ordeal, the poisoned arrows of the Consecratees of the Cloister await them: but this girl passed the Rubicon with heroic firmness. Knowing that I had much influence with Mr. Rigdon's family, Joe Smith said to me, one day last summer, when riding together over the lawn, in Nauvoo, "If you will assist me in procuring Nancy as one of my spiritual wives, I will give you five hundred dollars, or the best lot on Main Street." I replied, "I cannot agree to it. Elder Rigdon is one of my best friends, and his family are now pure and spotless, and it would be a great pity to approach the truly virtuous." "But," said Joe, "the Lord has given her to me to wife. I have the blessings of Jacob, (meaning thereby a plurality of wives,) and there is no wickedness in it. It would be wicked to approach her, unless I had permission of the Lord; but, as it is, it is as correct as to have a legal wife, in a moral point of view." I replied that it might be so, but that he must see her himself, as I could not approach her on a subject of that kind. There I supposed the matter had ended; but, at the funeral of Mr. Ephraim R. Marks, Mrs. Hyde told Miss Rigdon that Joseph desired to see her at the printing-office, where Mrs. Hyde and Dr. Richards resided, on special business. She said she would go, and accordingly did; but Joe was busily engaged at his store. Dr. Willard Richards, however, one
242 HISTORY OF THE SAINTS.
of the holy twelve Mormon Apostles, and Spiritual High Priest, and Pander-General for Lust, whom I had long suspected as being up to his eyes in the business with Joe, came in, and said, "Miss Nancy, Joseph cannot be in to-day; please call again on Thursday." This she agreed to do; but she communicated the matter to Colonel Francis M. Higbee, who was addressing her, and asked his advice as to the second visit. I then came to a knowledge of the facts, and went immediately to Joe, and said to him, "Joseph, you are a Master Mason, and Nancy is a Master Mason's daughter, [so is Mrs. Pratt, the daughter of Mr. Bates;] so stay your hand, or you will get into trouble -- remember your obligation." Joe replied, "You are my enemy, and wish to oppose me." I then went to Colonel Higbee, and told him of Joe's designs, and requested him to go immediately and see Miss Rigdon, and tell her the infernal plot -- that Joe would approach her in the name of the Lord, by special revelation, &c., and to put her on her guard, but advise her to go and see for herself what Joe would do. He did so, and she went down. Joe was there, took her into a private room, (his favorite assignation room,) and LOCKED THE DOOR, undoubtedly thinking somewhat in the strain of the poet, --
But , trust me, all that Tully's zeal
Expressed for Plato's glowing pages,
All that, and more, for thee I feel!
Whate'er the heartless world decree,
Howe'er unfeeling prudes condemn,
NANCY! I'd rather sin with thee,
Than live and die a saint with them."
AMOURS AND ATTEMPTED SEDUCTIONS. 243
and right before God. He then attempted to kiss her, and desired her to kiss him. -- But we must again quote the bard to express the scene; --
But a thousand temptations beset me;
And I've thought as the dear little rubies you raised,
How delicious 'twould be -- it you let me!
"Then be not so angry for what I have done,
Nor say that you've sworn to forget me;
They were buds of temptation too pouting to shun,
And I thought that -- you could not but let me!
"When your lip with a whisper came close to my cheek,
O, think how bewitching it met me!
And plain as the eye of a Venus could speak,
Your eye seemed to say -- you would let me!
"Then forgive the transgression, and bid me remain,
For, in truth, if I go you'll regret me;
Or, O! -- let me try the transgression again,
And I'll do all you wish -- will you let me?"
Official Church links:
- BYU Studies has the History of the Church online
Link to Volume 5
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/hcpgs/hc.aspx?HC=/hc/6/1.html&A=617
Link directly to the correct page of Volume 5:
https://byustudies.byu.edu/hc/5/8.html#HOC
Apologetic sources:
Critical sources:
- http://www.i4m.com/think/history/smith_letter.htm
- http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1840s/ben1842b.htm#pg241a
Followup I'd like to do
- Find an image or see a physical copy of the History of the Church to understand what information is provided about the letter. The running text provided by BYU Studies doesn't seem to include a footnote or anything. I still don't know if there is any additional background as to how the text of the letter got into official Church History, since the content seems a little inflammatory.
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