A man who almost became prophet is nearly forgotten in Mormon History! Why don’t we know more about William Marks? Cheryl Bruno & John Dinger have teamed up to write this important biography of William Marks, a man who joined several Mormon schisms before his death in the RLDS Church. It was fun to sit down with Wheat & Tares own Cheryl Bruno and John Dinger to discuss their new biography on William Marks.
Discovery and Collaboration on William Marks
John Dinger recounts his discovery of William Marks while editing Nauvoo High Council and city council minutes. John highlights Marks’ integrity and involvement in various aspects of Nauvoo life, including his defense of Sidney Rigdon during Rigdon’s excommunication. Cheryl explains her interest in Marks through her research on Freemasonry and her collaboration with John on the biography. John and Cheryl discuss their decision to collaborate on the biography, emphasizing the benefits of their combined perspectives.
William Marks’ Early Life and Church Involvement
Marks joined the church in Freedom, New York, and later moved to Kirtland, where he became a trusted figure for Joseph Smith. At one point, Joseph deeded the Kirtland Temple to William Marks to save it from creditors. John explains Marks’ role in Kirtland, including his management of Joseph Smith’s businesses and properties. He eventually deeded it back to other church members. Cheryl highlights Marks’ involvement in Kirtland and his eventual arrival in Missouri, where he arrived just as Mormons were being kicked out of Missouri.
Marks’ Role in Nauvoo and His Leadership Style
John and Cheryl discuss Marks’ role in Nauvoo, including his appointment as stake president and his contributions to the city’s government. Because the city was so new, the High Council basically served as the City Council. Marks’ leadership style is described as collaborative and inclusive, emphasizing mediation and discussion. Cheryl notes Marks’ opposition to polygamy and his refusal to participate in it, despite being invited into the Quorum of the Anointed. John and Cheryl explore the complexities of Marks’ position within the church and his eventual departure from Nauvoo. Marks never agreed to polygamy.
Marks’ Relationship with the Smith Family and the Martyrdom
Cheryl describes Marks’ close relationship with the Smith family, including his role in dressing Joseph Smith’s body after the martyrdom. Emma Smith preferred to have William Marks lead the church, but he declined, throwing his support behing Sidney Rigdon. John and Cheryl discuss the aftermath of the martyrdom, including Marks’ defense of Sidney Rigdon and the subsequent excommunication of Rigdon. Because if his defense of Rigdon, Marks faced harassment and challenges, including the theft of his property. John and Cheryl explain the misconception that Marks was excommunicated, clarifying that he left Nauvoo without being excommunicated. He left due to harrassment and mistreatment.
Marks’ Involvement with James Strang and the Baneemy-ites
Cheryl outlines Marks’ involvement with James Strang and the Strangites, including his eventual disillusionment with the group. John and Cheryl discuss Marks’ subsequent association with Charles Thompson and the Baneemy-ites, focusing on their efforts to find a place of gathering. Marks left both groups.
Did Joseph Renounce Polygamy?
Marks’ letters from this period provide insights into his beliefs and his frustration with being deceived by various church leaders after Joseph Smith. In one of these letters, John highlights Marks’ account of a meeting with Joseph Smith, where Joseph expressed regret over polygamy. Marks made the claim as least 5 times throughout his life. John believes Joseph did say those words, but is skeptical if Joseph was serious about polygamy being a mistake.
Marks’ Legacy and Contributions to the Reorganized Church
John and Cheryl discuss Marks’ role in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, including his ordination of Joseph Smith III. Marks’ contributions to the Reorganized Church are seen as crucial in legitimizing the group and attracting followers. John emphasizes the importance of Marks’ account of his meeting with Joseph Smith, which provided a significant historical record. Cheryl and John conclude by highlighting the nuanced and complex nature of Marks’ life and his lasting impact on Mormon history. John and Cheryl discuss Marks’ role in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, including his ordination of Joseph Smith III. Marks’ contributions to the Reorganized Church are seen as crucial in legitimizing the group and attracting followers. John emphasizes the importance of Marks’ account of his meeting with Joseph Smith, which provided a significant historical record. Cheryl and John conclude by highlighting the nuanced and complex nature of Marks’ life and his lasting impact on Mormon history.
Both John and Cheryl felt that Marks is an important and largely forgotten man in Church history. In her MHA presentation, Cheryl asked those in attendance if anyone knew more than 2 things about William Marks, and 1 person raised their hand. Were you aware of the large role Marks played in the early Restoration Movement? What do you think of his defense of Sidney Rigdon?
Wheat & Tares 
As a member of Community of Christ(RLDS) and docent at Liberty Hall, Joseph Smith III’s home in Lamoni, I have known about William Marks most of my life.
JS, III made a special trip back to Illinois to ask his mom, Emma specifically if his father had been involved in polygamy. She, for reasons I can only guess at, but don’t really understand, told him no, he hadn’t been.
William Marks told him that he had personal knowledge that he had been involved in polygamy. JS III’s response was that if his Dad had been, it was wrong.
Joseph Smith III still appointed him to the First Presidency. This set a pattern of the RLDS/Community of Christ President Prophets appointing people to the Presidency that they had major disagreements with.
I think that this is a rare thing for organizations. It is beyond the scope of this comment to go into more detail, but I have personally known church leaders that had large basic disagreements with each other, but still held each other in love, and were able to work together in spite of these differences.
We even have a formal “Statement of Faithful Disagreement”.
William Marks set an example for Community of Christ that still helps guide our branch of the Restoration.
It’s interesting to see how Brigham Young stifled Mormonism’s development after Smith died. Smith’s free-wheeling “translations” and revelations stopped. All that was left was what Smith had written up to that point. Emma, Rigdon and Marks were run off by Brigham’s Nauvoo supporters. All three opposed polygamy…..
I finished reading Poe’s works a couple months ago. His free-wheeling literary creations parallel Smith’s, especially the space travel science fiction. Poe also invokes old Gothic influences, similar to Smith’s fanciful American recreations of ancient Israel. American minds were moving in the same progressive channels in the 1830’s. Poe made a lasting American mark on world literature, inspiring Jules Verne and RL Stevenson.
What a wonderful discussion of a man who went to heroic efforts to defend what he thought was right. Indeed, William Marks was the epitome of the classic advice of the proverbial Door Mouse: “Feed your head.” Marks fed his head by constant study and hard work. He certainly deserves more attention than he has received.
thanks Bruce. Next week Cheryl and I will dive into Emma’s denials.
Once more DORMOUSE. And the song is about taking LSD.
Winners write history and both LDS and RLDS/CoC must feel like winners because William Marks is forgotten in the LDS History and central in the RLDS History.
I think an interesting point to investigate would be the leadership qualities that Joseph Smith either had or didn’t have because there are so many questions about the state of the church at the time of his martyrdom. For instance, the state of the first presidency with Sidney Rigden gone and William Law the one that printed the Nauvoo Expositor that had its press scattered on orders from Joseph Smith. Why was the majority of the twelve except for Joseph’s brother William on a mission to England? Why was there a Co-presidency with Hyrum that replaced the first presidency? What role did both the living of and denial of polygamy have to do with the mess? Why did Brigham ignore Emma when he got back from England? Why did Joseph’s and Hyrum’s families split and go to the LDS and RLDS churches? Why did the church essentially explode with the high number of groups that left Nauvoo to start their own churches?
While a lot of research has been done, there are still questions.
Instereo IMO the common thread is Brigham Young’s polygamy. Emma, Rigdon and Marks opposed it and were hastily expelled by the LDS. Once Joseph was gone it was a foregone conclusion.
When I visited Nauvoo in the 1980’s it was evident that RLDS retained the historic Mormon properties. The polygamists left town and had no use for them afterwards.
Speculating a little further on Brigham Young’s polygamy….
-Open polygamy in Illinois would have resulted in the destruction of Nauvoo by the residents of Illinois. The Missouri War would have been trivial in comparison. Young “lit out for the territories” to protect polygamy.
-The relative secrecy of LDS vs RLDS/COC is rooted in concealing polygamy. The closed-ness of LDS assemblies to outsiders starts there.
-The early LDS missionary trips to Europe recruited poor young women for polygamy in Utah.
-Smith’s candidacy for president triggered the breakup. He put Mormonism in the public eye and the public didn’t like what it saw. Brigham Young preserved the privacy.