Book Notice: Brian Hale'S 3-Volume "Joseph Smith'S Polygamy"

[David T]

[EDIT: I got Hales' name spelled wrong in the title. Sorry!]

Just got this press release from Kofford books:

Brian C. Hales’s Joseph Smith’s Polygamy Available February 26, 2013

From Greg Kofford Books

Vol. 1: History

ISBN: 978-1-58958-189-0; 638 pages; $36.95

Vol. 2: History

ISBN: 978-1-58958-548-5; 602 pages; $36.95

Vol. 3: Theology

ISBN: 978-1-58958-190-6; 332 pages; $26.95

All 3 volumes available in print and ebook

Greg Kofford Books is pleased to announce the publication of Brian C. Hales’s much-anticipated and monumental 3-volume set on Joseph Smith’s establishment of polygamy. Composing over a total of 1,500 pages and for the first time drawing on every known account, Joseph’s Smith’s Polygamy meticulously reconstructs both the history and the theological underpinnings of the often misunderstood practice.

Volumes 1 and 2: History take a fresh look at the historical development of Mormon polygamy during the life of Joseph Smith. Addressing difficult conundrums like the Fannie Alger relationship, polyandry, accounts of the “angel with a drawn sword,” and other fascinating details. Hales makes ample use of personal accounts and collected documents, especially the newly available Andrew Jenson Papers. This complex and nuanced history is enhanced by his thorough use of the private writings of Nauvoo participants and other polygamy insiders, including many accounts that have never been published. Joseph Smith’s Polygamy represents the most comprehensive history of early Mormon polygamy to date.

Volume 3: Theology explores an important and crucial aspect of early Mormon polygamy that has been ignored by virtually all other studies of the practice. In this volume Hales builds on his historical research and places polygamy within the context of Joseph Smith’s expanding theological teachings and worldview. Polygamy is interpreted amidst his broader teachings on the related topics of obedience to God’s will, marriage and family relations, the mechanics of eternal progression, salvation, and exaltation. Volume 3 acts as a capstone to the series, explaining not only what happened, but why.

All three volumes of Joseph Smith’s Polygamy will be available on February 26^th at local and online book retailers. It will also be available in ebook format for the Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple devices. For more information and early praise of the volumes, visit http://gregkofford.c...y-vol-1-history.

Advance Praise for Brian Hales’s, Joseph Smith’s Polygamy:

"Brian Hales wants to face up to every question, every problem, every fear about plural marriage. His answers may not satisfy everyone, but he gives readers the relevant sources where answers, if they exist, are to be found. There has never been a more thorough examination of the polygamy idea."

—Richard L. Bushman, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling

Speaking Engagements:

Brian C.Hales will be speaking about his research and signing copies at Benchmark Books (3269 S Main St #250, Salt Lake City) on February 27th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and at Pioneer Book (858 S State St, Orem) on March 9^th at 7:00 pm. He is also available for presentations, signings, or interviews. Inquiries and requests should be sent to Loyd Ericson at loyde@koffordbooks.com.

About the Author:

Brian C. Hales, board-certified anesthesiologist in Layton, Utah, graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. in biology and from the University of Utah, College of Medicine. This book is his seventh. His Modern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism: The Generations after the Manifesto (Salt Lake City: Kofford Books, 2007) was awarded the 2007 Best Book Award from the John Whitmer Historical Association.

From my experience, Hales is a good scholar, and while I may not always agree with his ultimate interpretations in some of the papers I've read by him, his laying out of sources (which both support and do not support his position) to allow the reader to decide the validity of his claims is appreciated and helpful. This is sure to be an important collection, and to generate much discussion in the LDS History community. I look forward to it.

Thought there were several here who would find this of interest as well. Check it out at Amazon here:

Joseph Smith's Polygamy: Volume 1: History

Joseph Smith's Polygamy: Volume 2: History

Joseph Smith's Polygamy: Volume 3: Theology

Edited February 4, 2013 by David T

[Brian 2.0]

Thanks for the heads up! This sounds fantastic.

[Duncan]

they only ship to the US? tsk tsk tsk

[iamse7en]

Just pre-ordered the books via Amazon for $66. I wish they'd give me the ebooks for free for ponying up that much money. Very excited to read though.

[Helen47]

Will Michael Quinn's response to Hale's 2012 MHA Calagary meeting be published. I am interested in how Hale trys to argue that Smith did not have sex with his polyandrous wives.

[juliann]

Will Michael Quinn's response to Hale's 2012 MHA Calagary meeting be published. I am interested in how Hale trys to argue that Smith did not have sex with his polyandrous wives.

I heard him at the FAIR conference and was very surprised at this. Hales is a treasure trove of information and because of that I find the need to base so much on what privately occurred in these situations of particular concern. If it is ever proven that there were marital relations (the discovery of a child, for instance), he will have inadvertently shown JS as a false prophet.

[Tacenda]

Will Michael Quinn's response to Hale's 2012 MHA Calagary meeting be published. I am interested in how Hale trys to argue that Smith did not have sex with his polyandrous wives.

I went to the last Sunstone and he mentioned there being strong evidence of there being atleast one of the polyandrous wives. Edited February 2, 2013 by Tacenda

[juliann]

I went to the last Sunstone and he mentioned there being strong evidence of there being atleast one of the polyandrous wives.

CFR please

[Calm]

If it is ever proven that there were marital relations (the discovery of a child, for instance), he will have inadvertently shown JS as a false prophet.

I will have to go back and reread his material, but I didn't get the impression he was that rigid about it. Makes a difference to hear someone in person with all the tone, etc.

[webbles]

Will Michael Quinn's response to Hale's 2012 MHA Calagary meeting be published. I am interested in how Hale trys to argue that Smith did not have sex with his polyandrous wives.

From my understand, Hale isn't trying to prove that Smith had sex with his polyandrous wives. He is trying to prove that the wives didn't have polyandrous sexual relationships. So if the wife is having a sexual relationship with Smith, then the wife is not having a relationship with her other husband until after Smith dies. And if the wife is having a relationship with her husband, then the the marriage with Smith is an eternal only relationship.. I actually like the reasoning.

[juliann]

He was arguing that the sealings were for "eternity only" and not in force until the next life. http://www.fairlds.org/fair-conferences/2012-fair-conference/2012-joseph-smiths-sexual-polyandry-and-the-emperors-new-clothes-on-closer-inspection-what-do-we-find

I do like his theory that the New and Everlasting Covenant superceded all other marriage vows in their minds.

He ends with

Joseph Smith’s sealings to legally married women are difficult to understand. By our standards, they are strange, but they did not break the strict law of chastity that Joseph Smith taught.

So in "proving" that JS didn't break the law of chastity, he has also proven that he did if solid evidence emerges. I believe it was in the Q & A that he said there would be polygyny in heaven because there are more righteous women. So despite the wonderful collection of data, I think his conclusions and interpretation of 132 are questionable.

Edited February 3, 2013 by juliann

[webbles]

He was arguing that the sealings were for "eternity only" and not in force until the next life. http://www.fairlds.org/fair-conferences/2012-fair-conference/2012-joseph-smiths-sexual-polyandry-and-the-emperors-new-clothes-on-closer-inspection-what-do-we-find

He was arguing that some of the sealings were for "eternity only". Take a look at his first diagram (the one with the 14 wives, their husbands, and "Eternity Only Sealing" and "Sealing with "Front" Husband". The bottom three are not "eternity only" sealings but actual "time and for all eternity" sealings. Also, in the paragraph that starts "The first one is Sylvia Sessions Lyon", he states that he believes that Josephine is Joseph and Sylvia's child.

[omni]

Can somebody please explain why it matters if Joseph had relations with his wives and why some try so hard to prove that he didn't? We know with 100% certainty that most if not all the other polygamous relationships were sexual based on the children they produced. The church was obviously okay with those poygamous relationships weren't they?

[juliann]

He was arguing that some of the sealings were for "eternity only". Take a look at his first diagram (the one with the 14 wives, their husbands, and "Eternity Only Sealing" and "Sealing with "Front" Husband". The bottom three are not "eternity only" sealings but actual "time and for all eternity" sealings. Also, in the paragraph that starts "The first one is Sylvia Sessions Lyon", he states that he believes that Josephine is Joseph and Sylvia's child.

But isn't he creating a situation to show that the women weren't having multiple relationships? My impression was that if they were with their husbands, it has to be shown they were only with Joseph in an afterlife. If they were free and clear, so to speak, no problem. It is all about getting rid of polyandry not polygny.

[webbles]

But isn't he creating a situation to show that the women weren't having multiple relationships? My impression was that if they were with their husbands, it has to be shown they were only with Joseph in an afterlife. If they were free and clear, so to speak, no problem. It is all about getting rid of polyandry not polygny.

Yes, he is trying to show that women were not having multiple relationships. He is attempting to show that in all the polyandrous relationships, only one pair of man/woman was sexually active. That could be either the Joseph Smith and the wife (in this case, it would be a "for time and eternity" sealing) and the husband is just a front (meant to help hide the relationship) or it could be the other husband and the wife (in this case, it would be a "for eternity only" sealing) and Joseph Smith has no relationship with her after the sealing.

I think most people just think that all the relationships were "for time and eternity" so Hale has to show that "for eternity only" sealings are possible and did actually take place. That is probably why a lot of the emphasis is on proving that. But he isn't trying to say that all the relationships were "for eternity only".

[volgadon]

CFR please

She said it is something that she heard, and she provided the setting.

[webbles]

Here's a pretty long response (93 pages) from Hale about Quinn's response to Hale's presentation at fair (I hope that makes sense). I don't know if Quinn's original response is available anywhere.

http://josephsmithspolygamy.com/BCH_RESPONSE_to_%20Quinn.pdf

[Tacenda]

CFR please

I sat there and watched him speak about it, using visuals even. I'll see if I can find it and get back to you. Edited February 3, 2013 by Tacenda

[Curtis Weber]

Yes, he is trying to show that women were not having multiple relationships. He is attempting to show that in all the polyandrous relationships, only one pair of man/woman was sexually active. That could be either the Joseph Smith and the wife (in this case, it would be a "for time and eternity" sealing) and the husband is just a front (meant to help hide the relationship) or it could be the other husband and the wife (in this case, it would be a "for eternity only" sealing) and Joseph Smith has no relationship with her after the sealing.

I think most people just think that all the relationships were "for time and eternity" so Hale has to show that "for eternity only" sealings are possible and did actually take place. That is probably why a lot of the emphasis is on proving that. But he isn't trying to say that all the relationships were "for eternity only".

Andrew Ehat first presented this idea back in 1985 and 1986 at Sunstone symposia: "Pseudo-Polyandry: Explaining Mormon Polygyny's Paradoxical Companion—The Microscopic View" and "Pseudo-Polyandry: Explaining Mormon Polygyny's Paradoxical Companion—The Macroscopic View"—unwieldy titles to be certain, but the documentary evidence is in there. I don't know whether Hales has found additional evidence about apparent polyandry (psuedo-polyandry in Ehat's language). The books ought to be a fascinating read.

[why me]

If it is ever proven that there were marital relations (the discovery of a child, for instance), he will have inadvertently shown JS as a false prophet.

I think that it would only prove that he got it wrong. Nothing more. What would prove Joseph to be a false prophet would be an original rough draft of the book of mormon written in Joseph's hand or in the hand of another.

Edited February 3, 2013 by why me

[Teancum]

I have long set studying about thus topic aside due to it being very polarizing from me. I have read most of the books out there on the topic. However I think I will need to get these books and pursue the topic further. Thanks for the heads up.

[Gervin]

What would prove Joseph to be a false prophet would be an original rough draft of the book of mormon written in Joseph's hand or in the hand of another.

This is only your particular criteria for indicting Jos. Smith as a false prophet. Not everyone would agree with your standard. A signed and notarized confession by Jos. Smith statig that he made it all up would not be enough proof for many people. For others, the Book itself is sufficient proof that he was a false prophet.

[juliann]

I think that it would only prove that he got it wrong. Nothing more.

Well, obviously. But it would be the anti talking point, right out of a Mormon book, for the next century.

Webbles, thanks for the clarification. And here is an interesting article on polyandry that shows how much is overlooked when it is just assumed something didn't or couldn't happen:

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/02/when-taking-multiple-husbands-makes-sense/272726/

[juliann]

I have long set studying about thus topic aside due to it being very polarizing from me. I have read most of the books out there on the topic. However I think I will need to get these books and pursue the topic further. Thanks for the heads up.

Be sure to take a good hard look at the verses in 132 that give a woman permission to be with two men without committing adultery if she is "annointed". It is either ignored entirely or explained away (or treated as an aberration) to the point no one even pays any attention to it. Polyandry is just as scriptural as polygyny.

[rameumptom]

IIRC, Brigham Young allowed a woman (whose husband was infertile), to have a second husband for time only, so as to raise up children/seed. Kind of a levirate marriage, I suppose.