The SANGAMO JOURNAL publishes "JOE SMITH'S MORALITY. What Joe's morality amounts to, can be learned from his letter to Miss Rigdon, which will be found in the 6th communication of Gen. Bennett, in this paper. Joe Smith, in the letter alluded to, undertakes to sustain by the Scriptures, by reason, argument, and GOD'S REVELATION TO HIMSELF, the lawfulness of his "spiritual wife doctrine." Joseph Smith's letter to Nancy Rigdon is given by John C. Bennett, former Assistant P resident of the Church, in his exposee of Mormonism: "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it, . . . That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said, thou shalt not kill, -- at another time he said, thou shalt utterly destroy. This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted -- by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are pl
aced. Whatever God requires is right, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, . . . " Mormon leaders deny that Joseph wrote the letter and claim it is made up by Bennett. However long after the Mormons have moved to Utah the same "essay" is published in the History of the Church and later in "Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith" as being by Joseph Smith. (1)
-- Aug 20, 1842
[Amasa M. Lyman] Lyman was ordained an apostle at age 29 on 20 August 1842 by Brigham Young. He served twenty-five years as an apostle, including one and a half years in the church First Presidency as counselor to the prophet Joseph Smith. Amasa served with Zion's Camp, and was imprisoned with Joseph Smith in the Richmond jail. He was a regent of the University of Nauvoo, a justice of the peace, and a company captain in the first two pioneer treks to Utah. He helped to lead a detachment of the Mormon Battalion from Pueblo to the Great Salt Lake Valley, and helped to lay out the wards of Salt Lake City. He later served ten years in the Utah Territorial Legislature. He scouted the western and southern approaches to Utah and designed a defense against potential attack from enemies. He and Porter Rockwell evaluated the valley around Utah Lake for its first settlement. (2)
Amasa Mason Lyman: Elected regent for University of Nauvoo 20 August 1842. (3)
Amasa Mason Lyman: Ordained apostle 20 August 1842, filling vacancy created by Orson Pratts excommunication. (3)
Amasa M Lyman: Ordained apostle 20 Aug. 1842 to replace Orson Pratt , but never sustained as "prophet, seer, and revelator" (4)
Orson Pratt: Excommunicated 20 Aug. 1842 by three apostles (4)
Three apostles excommunicate Orson Pratt and ordain his replacement, Amasa Lyman, in the Quorum of the Twelve. Pratt is excommunicated for his anger against Joseph Smith who, Pratt found out from his wife, had propositioned Pratt's wife, Sarah, while Pratt was absent on a mission. Joseph, in maintaining his innocence, calls Sarah Pratt "a whore from her mother's breast." (1)
Footnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Utah History Encyclopedia: Amasa M. Lyman, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/l/LYMAN%2CAMASA.html
3 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
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