[Emma Smith] Emma writes a letter to Governor Carlin defending Joseph. (1)
Joseph Smith denies claims of polygamy and cites the Article on Marriage, saying a man should have one wife. (2)
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith continued to receive letters from his wife and various others at his secret retreat at Brother Edward Sayer's. (3)
-- Aug 18, 1842
Joseph Smith writes to Newell Whitney, Newell's wife and seventeen-year-old daughter Sarah Ann who became Joseph's plural wife three weeks earlier: "Dear, and Beloved, Brother and Sister, Whitney, and &c.-I take this oppertunity to communi[c]ate, some of my feelings, privetely at this time, which I want you three Eternaly to keep in your own bosams; for my feelings are so strong for you since what has pased lately between us, that the time of my abscence from you seems so long, and dreary, that it seems, as if I could not live long in this way: and if you three would come and see me in this my lonely retreat, it would afford me great relief, of mind, if those with whom I am alied, do love me, now is the time to afford me succour, in the days of exile, for you know I foretold you of these things. I am now at Carlos Graingers, Just back of Brother Hyrams farm, it is only one mile from town, the nights are very pleasant indeed, all three of you can come and See me in the fore pa
rt of the night, let Brother Whitney come a little a head, and nock at the south East corner of the house at the window; it is next to the cornfield, I have a room intirely by myself, the whole matter can be attended to with most perfect safty, I know it is the will of God that you should comfort me now in this time of afiliction, or not at [al]l[;] now is the time or never, but I hav[e] no kneed of saying any such thing, to you, for I know the goodness of your hearts, and that you will do the will of the Lord, when it is made known to you; the only thing to be careful of; is to find out when Emma [Smith] comes then you cannot be safe, but when she is not here, there is the most perfect safty: only be careful to escape observation, as much as possible, I know it is a heroick undertakeing; but so much the greater frendship, and the more Joy, when I see you I will tell you all my plans, I cannot write them on paper, burn this letter as soon as you read it; keep all locked up i
n your breasts, my life depends upon it. one thing I want to see you for it is to git the fulness of my blessings sealed upon our heads, &c. you will pardon me for my earnestness on this subject when you consider how lonesome I must be, your good feelings know how to make every allowance for me, I close my letter, I think Emma [Smith, his first wife] wont come tonight[,] if she dont dont fail to come to night. I subscribe myself your most obedient, and affectionate, companion, and friend." (4)
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith wrote a letter to the Newel K. Whitney Family. (3)
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith's wife, Emma Smith, encouraged him to change his hiding spot immediately, and they accordingly traveled together to Carlos Granger's place. (3)
[Polygamy] to 18 Aug 1842 Smith writes love letter to arrange night with plural wife. To arrange night liason with plural wife, Newel K. Whitney's daughter Sarah Ann, Smith writes "... the only thing to be careful of; is to find out when Emma comes then you cannot be safe, but when she is not here, there is the most perfect safty. ... Only be careful to escape observation, as much as possible, I know it is a heroick undertakeing; but so much the greater friendship, and the more Joy, when I see you I will tell you all my plans, I cannot write them on paper, burn this letter as soon as you read it; keep all locked up in your breasts, my life depends upon it. ... I close my letter, I think Emma wont come tonight if she dont, dont fail to come to night, I subscribe myself your most obedient, and affectionate, companion, and friend. Joseph Smith." SOURCE: Joseph Smith, Jr., to Newel K. Whitney, Elizabeth Ann Whitney, etc., 18 August 1842, George Albert Smith Family Papers, Special
Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. The text and the signature of this document are in the handwriting of Joseph Smith, Jr. This document has been reproduced in Dean C. Jessee's masterful The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1984), pp. 539-40. See also In Sacred Lonliness, page 349,-350 (5)
Footnotes:
1 - Emma Smith, Woman of Faith, http://emmasmithmormon.com
2 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
3 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
LDS History Timeline
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