Question:
Mormons/Lds have you heard of the Sarah Pratt story?
2009-09-28 21:43:18 UTC
Sarah Pratt claimed in an interview that, while in Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith, was attracted to her and intended to make her "one of his spiritual wives" while Orson (Sarah's husband) was in England on missionary service.[8] To Smith's proposal Sarah replied, "Am I called upon to break the marriage covenant … to my lawful husband! I never will. I care not for the blessings of Jacob, and I believe in NO SUCH revelations, neither will I consent under any circumstances. I have one good husband, and that is enough for me."[9] Pratt issued an ultimatum to Smith: "Joseph, if you ever attempt any thing of the kind with me again, I will tell Mr. Pratt on his return home. Depend upon it, I will certainly do it," [10] a warning that elicited the threat from Smith, "Sister Pratt, I hope you will not expose me; if I am to suffer, all suffer; so do not expose me. … If you should tell, I will ruin your reputation, remember that."
Fifteen answers:
2009-09-29 13:39:20 UTC
SOURCE? We don't know what really happened. There are lots of "stories" that were printed or stated by enemies of the LDS church.



What's your purpose for this "question" beyond bashing the LDS church?
Truth_Seeker
2009-10-02 13:17:34 UTC
It's a many sided story and you will find information to support it and defend it. The fail LDS wiki site uses a book made by writer Todd Compton, In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith.. Here is the disclaimer also referenced with this book:

NOTE: While this work is a valuable collection of many primary sources about early plural marriage, many members of FAIR reject many of the faulty conclusions which the author draws from the data.





So I suggest ROSSpkof and everyone who quoted references from that book read the whole thing and you can use quotes from it!
Julianna G (Duck with a gun)
2009-10-01 09:36:20 UTC
The first time I heard about this was a few months ago on R&S, and I did my research (apparently unlike you) and found, from LDS and non-LDS sources, that the accusations you present here are based on the writings of the man who actually WAS sleeping with Sarah, who built her a house, lived in it with her, and, according to witnesses, was caught more than once in bed with her by friends and neighbors of hers.

She was interviewed long after all this had blown over, and (in front of witnesses) denied the allegations against Joseph Smith, contending that he had NEVER made any such advances or statements against her. In fact, the only reason the accusations came up to begin with is that she and her lover were told to cease their immoral behavior, and he (the lover) chose to publish accusations against the prophet, forcing him to publicly denounce both the accusations and the character of the accuser.

You don't have to believe what the LDS church believes, but before you continue the lying that others have begun, you really ought to do your research. It makes your questions and opinions slightly more credible.
Master M
2009-09-29 13:33:33 UTC
anything coming from an anti or an ex I'm suspicious of because they repeatedly lie, distort or omit and I have to ask in the story: what am I not being told? (can you tell me? Would you affirm there is nothing else to this story that isn't left out at all? ANYthing?)



Given the origin - I really don't pay it any attention. I know what I believe and it has nothing to do with this story.



I like phrog's answer. But yes there is something always left out, I certainly wouldn't go running after this story going "OH MY GOSH REALLY????" just because I saw it on Y!A - just like I didn't just go running after the LDS church without doing some serious study.



(Edit, why are there two Sara S's - one asking and one answering Sara S's question both with the exact same avatar? Just wondering)
phrog
2009-09-29 06:28:59 UTC
this comes from John C Bennett's book - here is what Orson, Sarah's husband had to say about that:

"JC Bennett has published lies concerning myself, and family, and the people with which I am connected.....His book I have read with the greatest disgust. No candid man can or will believe it. He has disgraced himself in the eyes of all civilized society, who will despise his very name." Orson tried hard to stand by Sarah, and at first believed her --- but it was not long after that he discovered lies she had told and was convinced of JS's innocence in this matter.

Bennett was a known adulterer, and was accused of even having an affair with Sarah.

Sarah herself lived a life of duplicity claiming both support to the church and Orson while at the same time undermining that same faith in her children. and the more evidence that came out about her own 'discretion's', the more frantic her fabrications and duplicities became. in short, she was scrambling to hold onto some form of respect. in the end, her stories made her a witness to be treated @ least with great caution.



so we have Bennett, who was a known repeat adulterer and lied over even trivial matters again and again.....and Sarah, who waited until any accusing her were safely dead before presenting anything in her own defense, and she admitted to several repeated deceptions of her husband and her neighbors, and perjured herself in Wyl's works. All in all neither were very reliable witnesses and it seems, in light of other's comments concerning the same, that those things they claimed against JS were simply that - unsubstantiated claims.
homme
2016-10-07 06:21:48 UTC
no longer a bloody recognize it!! She did no longer look disillusioned in any respect final nighttime and as for repeating that it grew to become into an in depth and loving courting - bollocks, because of the fact of this she offered her tale bearing directly to the fights and the certainty she caught her arm by way of a window then!
2009-09-29 04:14:31 UTC
Lucy Walker refused to become Joseph's wife unless God himself manifest his will to her. Three months after Joseph's initial invitation, she had a remarkable spiritual experience that changed her mind and attitude. She wrote:

"My room became filled with a heavenly influence. To me it was in comparison like the brilliant sun bursting through the darkest cloud…My Soul was filled with a calm, sweet peace that I never knew. Supreme happiness took possession of my whole being. And I received a powerful and irristable testimony of the truth of the marriage covenant called ‘Celestial or plural mariage.’ Which has been like an anchor to the soul through all the trials of life. I felt that I must go out into the morning air and give vent to the Joy and grattitude that filled my Soul. As I descended the stairs, Prest. Smith opened the door below; took me by the hand and said: ‘Thank God, you have the testimony. I too, have prayed.’ He led me to a chair, placed his hands upon my head, and blessed me with Every blessing my heart could possibly desire."

This pattern was repeated over and over as women who were invited to participate in Celestial marriage received heavenly confirmation through profound spiritual experiences.

Mary Elizabeth Rollins saw an angel in her bedroom. Sarah Leavett had a heavenly vision. The idea of practicing polygamy was no more attractive then than it is today; were it not for the pure testimony of the Holy Ghost, few would have practiced it.
ME
2009-09-29 18:58:04 UTC
I'm not a Mormon but yes I've heard it. But only ex Mormons and anti Mormons who happen to belong to a rival Christian sect bring it up.



Secular scholars on the other hand do not. They tend to agree that Joseph Smith was a loving loyal husband to Emma Smith. There is no proof he actually practiced polygamy, but plenty of proof that he believed in polygamy.
gumby
2009-09-28 21:47:16 UTC
what are your number references from? wikipedia?



Yeah, I've heard that. Funny that her "story" only came out after she was excommunicated from the church for adultery. That adultery was testified about by both Mormons and non-Mormons alike with multiple witnesses. I wonder why she didn't tell anyone sooner? She just happened to find it convenient to tell AFTER she was exed? Also funny that her husband shortly thereafter left her and returned to the church.
tjsgigante
2009-09-29 13:38:09 UTC
Phrog's, Gumby's and Scuttle's answers make more sense then what you put down.
Darth Yoda
2009-09-29 13:36:35 UTC
Sarah S., Go ahead and do Satan's work. I am sure you are making him proud.
Temple Clothes
2009-09-28 22:33:10 UTC
More evidence of Joseph Smith's sexual predation is the heart-wrenching story of Lucy Walker. The Walker family arrived in Nauvoo in the spring of 1841 and by January 1842, Lucy’s mother had contracted and died of malaria, leaving her husband, John, with 10 children to care for. In the family’s time of grief and need for each other, what did JS do? He broke up the Walker family by sending John away on a two-year mission to the eastern states and Lucy’s siblings to live in different members’ homes. He saved 15-year-old Lucy for his house and subsequently informed the lonely and vulnerable girl, “I have a message for you, I have been commanded of God to take another wife, and you are the woman.” Lucy recorded, “My astonishment knew no bounds. This announcement was indeed a thunderbolt to me.” (ref. http://www.wivesofjosephsmith.org/23-...).



To coax Lucy to agree to become his plural wife, he told her that doing so “would prove an everlasting blessing to my father’s house.” (Ibid.) What Mormon girl grieving for her deceased mother, longing for her father, and separated from her siblings would deny “an everlasting blessing” to her father and his family?



The psychological trauma that JS put Lucy through was made clear by her words of prayer: “Oh that the grave would kindly receive me that I might find rest on the bosom of my dear mother...Why – Why Should I be chosen from among thy daughters, Father I am only a child in years and experience. No mother to council; no father near to tell me what to do, in this trying hour. Oh let this bitter cup pass. And thus I prayed in the agony of my soul.” (Ibid.)



JS told Lucy that the marriage would have to be secret. He then intensified the psychological pressure by giving her an ultimatum: “It is a command of God to you. I will give you untill to-morrow to decide this matter. If you reject this message the gate will be closed forever against you.” (Ibid.)



Lonely and wounded psychologically and emotionally, Lucy agreed to marry JS. She recalled, “Emma Smith was not present and she did not consent to the marriage; she did not know anything about it at all.” (Ibid.) Lucy did not know that JS was violating a direct commandment from the Lord – “and the first give her consent” – by secretly marrying her.



Of all the females in Nauvoo that JS could have approached about becoming his latest plural wife, he targeted, isolated and manipulated an inexperienced and highly vulnerable teenage girl young enough to be his daughter.



What kind of church leader would treat girls and women in such a manipulative and abusive manner? One drunk on his own ecclesiastical power.
2009-09-29 12:34:59 UTC
still Joseph could have gone behind Sarah back and married her for all time and eternity without her consent upon her death.
Eliza
2009-09-29 14:31:12 UTC
Lies, lies, and more lies.
2009-09-28 21:51:59 UTC
joseph smith is dumb dumb dumb.. dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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