It was fun to interview Cheryl Bruno, who occasionally blogs here at Wheat & Tares. Cheryl is the editor of “Secret Covenants: New Insights into Early Mormon Polygamy.” She has come up with some surprises to the polygamy narrative we’ve all been taught. Check out our conversation….
Cheryl Bruno edited “Secret Covenants” anthology on early Mormon polygamy. The author list includes Don Bradley, Susan Staker, William Victor Smith, and others. New authors include Mark Tensmeyer and Mary Ann Clements (another blogger here at Wheat & Tares.)
Early Mormon polygamy with New Insights and Perspectives
Cheryl mentioned a new controversy in polygamy studies: polygamy skeptics. “Secret Covenants” wasn’t written to address this issue, but Mark Tensmeyer udated his chapter to address some of these issues with evidence from Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Clair Barrus includes an essay on early revelations about polygamy, including as early as 1831. Don Bradley’s chapter discusses Joseph Smith’s polygamy, dating the Fanny Alger episode later than every other historian. Bradley thinks it was discovered in 1836, which prompted both Fanny and Joseph to leave Kirtland quickly. He does note the challenges of analyzing Fanny Alger’s history due to late or problematic sources. Cheryl praised Don Bradley’s chapter, calling it exciting and presenting new insights.
Emma Smith and Joseph Smith’s polygamy
Cheryl’s chapter discusses Emma Smith’s denial of Joseph Smith’s polygamy, and credits the late Johnny Stephenson for providing a lot of good sources for the chapter. Cheryl concludes that Emma likely did not participate in Joseph’s plural marriages. She mentions that William Marks received the endowment ceremony without accepting polygamy, so it is possible that Emma may not have accepted polygamy either. Cheryl has also published a new book on William Marks, an early leader. She along with John Dinger said Marks has been largely forgotten despite his importance to the Restoration Movement.
Have you read “Secret Covenants” yet? What are your comments on these new polygamy findings?
Wheat & Tares 
The church instability caused by 1820’s OH/PA/NY revivalism is interesting. Peop
Thanks to you and Cheryl for publicizing this new book.
I look forward to reading this new volume on early LDS polygamy.
An earlier book gave me a lot of insight: Merina Smith’s Revelation, Resistance, and Mormon Polygamy: The Introduction and Implementation of the Principle, 1830-1853. A couple of quick points from that book that I’ll be looking for in the Cherly Bruno volume of essays: (1) there was the private doctrine of polygamy as practiced by Joseph and a few close associates, quite different than the public doctrine which denied any such practice and which most Church members believed; and (2) there was no real initial doctrine driving or regulating the practice; it was the practice which sort of developed its own doctrine as the practice moved forward (in secret, so no public discussion of exactly what it was or wasn’t to be).
Dave B, I think everything you say is correct. Having just started Bruno’s book, it seems in line with your statement.
Polygamy was a secret practice that followed whatever Joseph decided. It’s hard to see God’s hand in something so secret.