Too much

[Kalikala]

I’ve spent too much time with my nose in books today. I’m trying to put together an email on polygamy and in rereading so many of these sources I’m filled with so much anger and grief. I wish I could give Emma a big hug and hold her while she cried. She endured so much.

Also, I can’t even read apologist writings anymore without feeling sick. I feel no joy today.

[Red Ryder]

Don't feel bad for too long.

Emma is not exactly innocent in perpetuating the fraud. She played her part and became a victim only after it spiraled out of control to the point Joseph starting having sex with the women in his congregation.

She knew there wasn't any real gold plates. She knew he was a quite the oral cunning linguist and possibly dictated the whole thing.

[moksha]

She knew he was a quite the oral cunning linguist and possibly dictated the whole thing.

Historian Colonel Angus would most likely agree with your analysis, but his fellow historian Felice EiIattto might describe him as a blowhard.

As to the topic, many members struggle when they learn the details of Joseph Smith's polygamy practice.

[Thoughtful]

Polygamy triggers me the same way learnimg about the holocaust does. I've had to step back because otherwise arson becomes appealing.

[MoPag]

I’ve spent too much time with my nose in books today. I’m trying to put together an email on polygamy and in rereading so many of these sources I’m filled with so much anger and grief. I wish I could give Emma a big hug and hold her while she cried. She endured so much.

I feel you there!

Also, I can’t even read apologist writings anymore without feeling sick. I feel no joy today.

I've gotten to the point where apologists for polygamy/polyandry just disgust me.

[græy]

She knew he was a quite the oral cunning linguist and possibly dictated the whole thing.

Historian Colonel Angus would most likely agree with your analysis, but his fellow historian Felice EiIattto might describe him as a blowhard.

Wait a second... what are we talking about here?

[Corsair]

Also, I can’t even read apologist writings anymore without feeling sick. I feel no joy today.

The apologist explanation is one of the flimsiest on FairMormon. I get the feeling that Brian Hales had to simply go all in with his faithful support of the church narrative. But, it simply does work for many people. Often, the smallest bit of explanation is sufficient to get a believing Mormon to not want to discuss it further. Consider "It was only for support of widows" or "it was for eternity only" or "no sex was involved". Refutations take far too much explaining than a believer will normally want to endure. I was able to get an apologist friend to admit that the full range of plural marriage apologetics would be received rather poorly if they were presented to a Young Women's class.

Historian Colonel Angus would most likely agree with your analysis, but his fellow historian Felice EiIattto might describe him as a blowhard.

Wait a second... what are we talking about here?

I know what we are supposed to be talking about here, but Christopher Walken is a comedy genius. This clip is "technically" safe for work, but I don't recommend it. You will not be fooling anyone unless they are a really innocent person.

[Not Buying It]

According to William Law, Emma didn't deserve a great deal of sympathy:

“Did Emma, the elect lady, come to your house and complain about Joseph?”

“No. She never came to my house for that purpose. But I met her sometimes on the street and then she used to complain, especially because of the girls whom Joseph kept in the house, devoting his attention to them. You have overrated her, she was dishonest.”

“Do you mean to say that she was so outside of the influence Joseph had over her?”

“Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Let me tell you a case that will be full proof to you. Soon after my arrive in Nauvoo the two L[awrence] girls came to the holy city, two very young girls, 15 to 17 years of age. They had been converted in Canada, were orphans and worth about $8000 in English gold. Joseph got to be appointed their Guardian, probably with the help of Dr. Bennett. He naturally put the gold in his pocket and had the Girls sealed to him. He asked me to go on his bond as a guardian, as Sidney Rigdon had done. “It is only a formality,” he said. Foolishly enough, and not yet suspecting anything, I put my name on the paper. Emma complained about Joseph’s living with the L[awrence] girls, but not very violently. It is my conviction that she was his full accomplice, that she was not a bit better than he. When I saw how things went I should have taken steps to be released of that bond, but I never thought of it. After Joseph’s death, A. W. Babbitt became guardian of the two girls. He asked Emma for a settlement about the $8000. Emma said she had nothing to do with her husband’s debts. Now Babbitt asked for the books and she gave them to him. Babbitt found that Joseph had counted an expense of about $3000 for board and clothing of the girls. Now Babbitt wanted the $5000 that was to be paid Babbitt, who was a straight, good, honest, sincere man, set about to find out property to pay the $5000 with. He could find none. Two splendid farms near Nauvoo, a big brick house, worth from $3000 to $4000, the hotel kept by Joe, a mass of vacant town lots, all were in Emma’s name, not transferred later, but transferred from the beginning. She always looked out for her part. When I saw how things stood I wrote to Babbitt to take hold of all the property left by me in Nauvoo and of all claims held by me again in people in Nauvoo. And so the debt was paid by me–Emma didn’t pay a cent.”

See http://www.mrm.org/law-interview .