BWS denies that JS taught polygamy was necessary for exaltation.

Date
1892
Type
Speech / Court Transcript
Source
Bathsheba W. Smith (Bigler)
LDS
Hearsay
Scribed Verbatim
Direct
Reference

United States Testimony 1892, Temple Lot Case, pg. 319-320, MS 1160, Church History Library

Scribe/Publisher
8th Circuit Court of Appeals (USA)
People
Joseph Smith, Jr., Bathsheba W. Smith (Bigler)
Audience
8th Circuit Court of Appeals (USA)
Transcription

590 Q:-Did Joseph Smith teach you that a man must have more than one wife? A:-To be exalted?

591 Q:-Yes madam? A:-No sir. I never heard of that.

592 Q:-But you were taught that a man must be sealed to his wife? A:-Yes sir, that his own wife must be sealed to him.

593 Q:-But you were never taught by Joseph Smith, that a man must have two wives sealed to him? A:-No sir.

594 Q:-He did not teach that, not did any one else teach that in Nauvoo prior to Joseph Smith's death? A:-Yes sir, I believe they did, but I don't know it for certain. I only think they did, for I don't know anything positively about that.

595 Q:-Well now they teach here in Salt Lake City,-President Woodruff and President Young and President John Taylor, taught you and all the rest of the ladies, here in Salt Lake that attended church that a man must be sealed? A:-No sir.

596 Q:-Well what was it? A:-That a woman must be sealed to a man, but not a man sealed to a woman.

597 Q:-That a man in order to be exalted in the kingdom celestial must have more than one wife? A:-Yes sir, they taught that a man could have more than one wife.

598 Q:-That is what they taught? A:-Yes sir.

599 Q:-And that was a means of exaltation? A:-Yes sir, and I believe that Joseph said that a man that had one wife had a jewel, and a man that had more than one wife had more jewels.

600 Q:-Who did you say said that? A:-Joseph Smith.

601 Q:-Did you hear that? A:-Did I hear him say that?

602 Q:-Yes madam? A:-No sir.

603 Q:-You are not willing to swear to that as a fact? A:-No sir, but I have heard that a good many times.

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