Ep 190 – Joseph Fought Polygamy

On this episode, we discuss Joseph Smith’s public and private denials of polygamy. It was a controversial practice in Victorian-era America and he had concluded by the final year of his life that it would lead to the next mass-exodus of Mormons, or possibly the ruin of the sect altogether. Some have used his statements to claim he never engaged in polygamy. We deal with a few of the arguments and discuss the context surrounding his multiple statements against polygamy to inform a skeptical reading of the sources. Yes, he fought polygamy, but only when it got out of his control. We also discuss Jacob Cochran and the free-love sect referred to as the Cochranites, as well as the many parallels between it and Mormonism.

Links:

Joseph Smith polygamy denials
https://faenrandir.github.io/a_careful_examination/joseph-smith-polygamy-denials/

Cochranites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Cochran

Publications about Cochranites
http://olivercowdery.com/gathering/JCochran.htm#1834-000

Jacob Cochran legal troubles 1819
https://www.newspapers.com/image/585594796/?terms=Jacob%2BCochran

Exposes of Cochranism
http://olivercowdery.com/gathering/JCochran.htm

Orsimus F. Bostwick and Buckeye’s Lamentation for Want of More Wives
http://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/JS0170.pdf

Show links:

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Music by Jason Comeau http://aloststateofmind.com/
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Legal Counsel http://patorrez.com/