Mormon Stories Podcast Early Mormon Missionary Polygamy with Native Americans? - John Turner Pt. 10 | Ep. 2048
Aug 8, 2025
John Turner, a professor and author of "Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet," dives into controversial topics regarding early Mormon practices. He discusses whether Joseph Smith authorized missionaries to take Native American women as plural wives, shedding light on the complexities of polygamy and intermarriage within the church. Turner also addresses listener queries, revealing the historical tensions surrounding early missionary efforts and the implications of these relationships in the broader narrative of Mormon history.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ezra Booth's Public Break And Criticisms
- Ezra Booth left the church, published biting newspaper letters, and joined later anti-Mormon compilations.
- Booth accused Joseph of pretended revelations and poor leadership, fueling early public skepticism.
Edward Partridge's Hard Sacrifice And Rebuke
- Edward Partridge stayed in Missouri, separated from family, and resented Joseph's demands and property selections.
- Joseph publicly rebuked Partridge for unbelief, leaving long-standing tension between them.
Polygamy Timeline Remains Ambiguous
- Turner and Dillon note the church essay implies an early-1830s revelation but cites D&C 132 written in 1843.
- Turner calls the essay's linking of an 1830s revelation to the 1843 text ambiguous and misleading.
