John C. Bennett and plural marriage at Nauvoo

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Important introductory material on plural marriage available here

Answers portal
Plural marriage
RESOURCES
Joseph Smith era: Joseph Smith & intro When did it start? Spiritual witnesses BoM & polygamy D&C vs. Jacob 2 1835 D&C denial Polyandry Children? Emma Smith Marriages to young women Lustful motives? Not Biblical? Wives already married? Early Christian attitudes Post-Joseph Smith: Required for exaltation? Brigham in JD 11:269 Difficulties? Hiding Brigham's history? Law of Adoption Manifesto & politics? Post-Manifesto–present Post-Manifesto marriages Modern Church
PERSPECTIVES
MEDIA
OTHER PORTALS
Joseph Smith, Jr. Temples

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

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Wiki version

• John C. Bennett Prior to Nauvoo
• John C. Bennett in Nauvoo
  • Rise and Fall of Bennett
  • Sarah Pratt
• Fallout from the Bennett Affair
  • Bennett_and_Prostitution
  • Nancy Rigdon and Plural Marriage
  • Sidney Rigdon and Bennett's Charges

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John C. Bennett material is in three draft chapters. Given their length and difficulty of converting them to wiki format, they are presented here in downloadable PDF.

Click here to download.

Chapter #1: John C. Bennett before Nauvoo

• Bennett's checkered career before Nauvoo
• Psychiatric remarks on Bennett

Chapter #2: John C. Bennett in Nauvoo

• Bennett's motives
• Source and degree of Bennett's prominence
• Bennett's repeated immoralities and multiple "second chances"
• Sarah Pratt

Chapter #3: John C. Bennett and the Nancy Rigdon episode

• Bennett and prostitution
• Bennett and possible homosexuality?
• Nancy Rigdon
  • Bennett's version
  • Character of Nancy Rigdon
  • Rigdon family version
• Joseph's private visit with Sidney Rigdon
• Bennett's fall from grace
• George W. Robinson and John C. Bennett
• Joseph meets the Rigdon family
• Francis Higbee - post Bennett
• Stephen Markham's affidavit
• Divine intervention?

See also Brian Hales' discussion

Joseph Smith’s Pre-Nauvoo Reputation--Nancy Rigdon and Athalia Rigdon	Some charge an early involvement with Nancy and/or Athalia Rigdon, but these charges are implausible.
Three Changes after the February 1842 Angelic Visit	The third change, which occurred in April, came as Joseph Smith made his second proposal to a previously unmarried woman in Nauvoo and the first proposal since his marriage to Louisa Beaman.
John C. Bennett Impacts the Secret Expansion of Plural Marriage	John C. Bennett arrived in Nauvoo in September of 1840 and stayed less than two years. In spite of his relatively brief time living among the Saints, his impact upon the secret expansion of plural marriage was immense.
Was Bennett a Polygamy Confidant of Joseph Smith?	His accusations against Joseph Smith could not be based upon firsthand knowledge. Clearly, Bennett was positioned to hear rumors about polygamy and the identities of plural wives. However, his apparent distance from the nucleus of Nauvoo polygamy is obvious in his writings and accusations.

See also Brian Hales' discussion

William and Jane Law and the Prophet	William Law was Joseph's counselor, but eventually broke with the Prophet and helped publish the Nauvoo Expositor.
Plural Marriage and the Martyrdom
Did Joseph Smith Intend to Abandon Plural Marriage?	William Marks related that Joseph’s conversation denouncing plural marriage occurred “three weeks before his death” or around June 6. Perhaps Joseph had such a change of heart during the first week of June, but this seems unlikely and other parts of Marks’ recollection are implausible.