Saints: The Standard of Truth Part 26: The Partridge Sisters

I'm prepared to engage Mormon missionaries in the knock on your door. Perhaps the book is in 101 will help someone only published by Baker available at your favorite Christian bookstore .1 examines the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from a biblical perspective viewpoint when Mormonism is sponsored by Mormonism research ministry since 1979 Mormonism research ministry has been dedicated to equipping the body of Christ with answers regarding the Christian faith in a manner that expresses gentleness and respect. And now, your host for today's viewpoint on Mormonism.

So glad you could be with us for this edition of viewpoint on Mormonism.

I'm your host, Bill McKeever, founder and director Mormonism research ministry and with me today is Eric Johnson. My colleague at MRM we continue looking at the book Saints. The standard of truth. It's a history book published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 2018 and as we been mentioning as we go through our study of this book and it's not meant to be exhaustive.

There are some things that we like about it and there are some things of course, that we are concerned about that one of the things that we like about it is certainly it is much more transparent than some histories in the past but at the same time there still a lot that is not included that we feel probably could have been but then who are we to tell the Mormon church what to put in their own history books. That's up to them where only critiquing what we're finding in here and will also talk about some of the things that are not in this book, but now we have gotten to the point in chapter 40 beginning on page 481. It tells us that we are now in the time period in Nauvoo when the Saints have moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, which, as we mentioned last week, formerly was known as commerce, Illinois. Thousands of Latter Day Saints have come to this this community and this is where the issue of plural marriage really comes out in full force.

It says on page 41 that were at the date of January 10, 1843 but I want to begin on page 482 because in this narrative, we are now going to be introduced to the Partridge sisters, Eliza and Emily Partridge and the reason why I pleased. I guess you could say Eric that the story of the Partridge sisters is mentioned here is because it shows that I think the church is trying to be as honest as possible, but in doing so I think what the church has done is shown that many of us who were reading this with a critical eye and we admit we are that Smith was really a scoundrel. I think you're right and the Partridge sister surprise me that this would actually be in the book because the history of Joseph Smith's polygamy and all of the things is associated with it.

If you're in a pick to that you want to show how dubious Joseph Smith was in the whole affair of marrying other women. I think they show that because number one there sisters and the Old Testament and the Pentateuch says you're not supposed to marry sisters second, you have them getting married to Joseph Smith privately without Emma knowing later, Emma decides that she's going allow Joseph to have multiple wives and so they do this again. I think this is a very interesting case will especially since it proves what I think we been saying for many many years. You can't talk about the subject of plural marriage, as it is related to Mormonism without also talking about all of the lies that had we been told in order to protect this alleged commandment from God. And this is what bothers me is a Christian we been reading in this book that polygamy plural marriage was a commandment from God.

It was a commandment. It was a commandment over and over they emphasize it was commandment leave and try to see as it was a commandment in the Old Testament, which we've shown that that's not true was never a commandment in the Old Testament. Yet even though it was a commandment from God, look at all the lies that have to be told in order to protect this commandment and not just lies but secrecy people not talking about it.

Let's get on with the story of Emily Partridge choose mentioned along with her sister at the bottom of page 482 of the book Saints it says as the end of winter approached a bitter chill still hung in the air while Emily Partridge wash close intended children at the Smith home for more than two years she and her older sister Eliza had been living and working with this mess, not far from where their mother lived with her new husband let me stop you there because one thing you do notice if you allow your daughter, or maybe even your wife to come in contact with Joseph Smith that he either lives in your house for a time where you live in his house for a time, there's probably a good chance you're going to be propositioned by Joseph Smith in order to become a plural wife and this is one of those cases, these young girls were working in the Smith home and Joseph Smith is going to propositioned them. But what is it Sam page 483 Emily belonged to the relief Society and talked often with the women around her. Occasionally she would hear whispers about plural marriage more than 30 Saints had quietly embrace the practice, including two of her stepsisters and one of her stepbrothers Emily herself knew nothing about it first hand. Let's talk about the relief Society the relief society was a women's auxiliary that Joseph Smith put together and put his wife Emma in charge. She was the first president of the relief Society.

These women would gather it sounds like on a weekly basis and some rumor started circulating about Joseph Smith and this actually kind of hints to that occasionally Emily would hear whispers about plural marriage will in their book Mormon enigma Emma Hale Smith, the two Mormon authors Linda King Newell and baleen Tibbets Avery. They talk about the relief Society and this is one of the areas.

When I read their book that really just upset me because it shows Joseph Smith know how else to put Eric to being the line scoundrel that he was, and I have often said a man who will light it was wife will lie to anybody but yet Mormon's just kind of gloss over this part of their history. There was a disagreement between Joseph Smith and his wife Emma over some of these rumors about polygamy and Joseph Smith's involvement in it and at the bottom of page 114 in the book Mormon enigma.

These two Mormon authors write about this from her remarks. It appears that Joseph had deflected her anger by explaining that he had neither sanctioned nor participated in John Bennett's spiritual wife doctrine.

Eliza's nose minute state quote Mrs. president said this day was an evil day, that there is much evil in this as in any other place said she would, that the society were pure before God that she was afraid that under existing circumstances.

The sisters were not careful enough to expose iniquity.

The time had been when Charity had covered a multitude of sins. But now it is necessary that sin should be exposed" Emma said that heinous sins were among us that much of this iniquity was practiced by some in authority, pretending to be sanctioned by Pres. Joseph Smith Mrs. president continued by exhorting all who had erred to repent and forsake their sins said that Satan's forces were against this church that every saint should be at the post."

Now it mentions John Bennett this is John C. Bennett, at the very beginning of John Bennett's relationship with the Mormons he was held in a very high regard. Joseph Smith had a lot of trust for John Bennett but even Saints the book Saints talks about John Bennett and what he did. They talk about this exposé that he wrote about Joseph Smith. That's mentioned in that section that you just read Eric on page 478 of the book Saints it says around the same time, John Bennett published a book length exposé.

This would be around the fall of 1842 a book length exposé of Joseph and the Saints.

He also started giving lectures on what he called the secret wife system at Nauvoo tantalizing audiences with wild rumors he had heard and plenty he had made up himself about Joseph's plural marriages, though it's interesting when it mentions John C.

Bennett in the book Saints, it does talk about the fact that you know that was a very real thing and some of what John Bennett was saying was actually correct that getting back to the story of Emily and Eliza Partridge. We look at page 483 towards the bottom.

Now the date is March 4, 1843 on March 4.

A few days after her 19th birthday Joseph asked to speak with Emily at the home of Heber Campbell.

She set out as soon as she finished work Hermine ready to receive the principle of plural marriage as expected, Joseph taught it to her and asked if she would be sealed to him. She agreed and Heber perform the ordinance. Four days later, her sister Eliza was sealed the Joseph to the sisters could now talk to each other and share what they understood and felt about the covenants they made. So here. Joseph Smith marries these two sisters and now were up to March 8 because Eliza is married to Joseph Smith. Four days after her sister Emily and then on page 484. It goes on to say that the saints continued to defend Joseph against the accusations in John Bennett's exposé that I mentioned to you earlier. Much of what John had written was embellished or flatly untrue, but his claim that Joseph had married multiple women was correct and then look at what it says about Joseph Smith's brother on aware of this fact.

Hiram Smith and William Law fiercely denied all of John's statements and unwittingly condemn the actions of saints who obediently practice plural marriage so Joseph Smith, he knows what he's doing. He doesn't even tell his brother Hiram Smith about this.

He doesn't tell his wife Emma about this, he remains silent while all these rumors are spreading. And yet, what's sad is you have Emma in the relief Society meeting. Hearing these rumors and admonishing those listening to her that we need to quench these rumors and she's talking to some of the very women who are the purpose for those rumors on page 484. It continues as far as the leaders not knowing it says once during a council meeting, Smith had barely broach the issue.

When William interrupted and William is his brother. If an angel from heaven was to reveal to me that a man should have more than one wife. I would kill him.

Now that's pretty strong language and yet Joseph could have easily said hey guys, let me just tell you the men that are on the inside that this is what God has shown me and were working this out, but you need to know the truth but instead he just lets these guys look like fools. Not only lets his brother look like a fool, but I would argue to makes his wife look like a fool. Now I ask you if your letter decent woman listening to us right now.

Put yourself in Emma's position.

Would you look at your husband is being the virtuous man that many latter-day Saints tend to think he was.

It doesn't sound like he was to me. We get on the next page 485 talks about Brigham Young because Brigham Young was kind of upset about a lot of what's going on, but it says it will bring him and his wife Marianne had come to know through prayer and inspiration that they should practice plural marriage with Maryann's consent rhythm had been sealed to a woman named Lucienne Decker in June 1842 a year after Joseph had first taught him the principle Lucy had separated from her husband and had young children to care for Lucy had separated from her husband working to begin tomorrow shall talking about just that. Thank you for listening. If you would like more information regarding his research ministry. We encourage you to visit our website at www.mrm.org you can request a free newsletter research. We hope you join us again as we look at another viewpoint is sharing your faith with the light of day, saying it helps to know what their church is taught in several basic topics. For this reason, this research ministry has provided its crash course is a crash course, Mormonism includes concise articles highlighting what LDS leaders and church manuals have taught on issues that will probably come up in a typical conversation.

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