Dr. Christopher Smith, a non-LDS historian, discussed his chapters in Cheryl Bruno’s book “Secret Covenants.” He and Don Bradley argued that Fanny Alger was sealed to Joseph Smith as an adopted daughter, not a wife, based on Eliza Jane Churchill Webb’s testimony. This theory reconciles the sealing power’s restoration in 1836 with the affair’s timing. Smith also explored Joseph Smith’s consistent proposal patterns to his wives, including Emma. He suggested that the sealing power, initially for adoptive purposes, was later reinterpreted for polygamy. Smith’s view, influenced by his belief in Joseph Smith’s narcissistic personality, contrasts with traditional moral judgments.
Contributions to “Secret Covenants” and Fanny Alger Chapter
Dr. Smith discusses his two chapters in Cheryl Bruno’s book “Secret Covenants,” focusing on Emma Smith and Joseph’s other proposals. He explains his collaboration with Don Bradley on the Fanny Alger chapter, which initially started as an editing task. Dr. Smith describes the argument that Fanny Alger was sealed to Joseph as an adopted daughter, not a wife. He highlights the continuity in Joseph’s proposals to his plural wives, including Emma, and how these proposals set a pattern for his relationships.
Challenges and Findings in the Fanny Alger Chapter
Dr. Smith elaborates on the controversy surrounding the date of Fanny Alger’s sealing ceremony and its implications for Joseph Smith’s character. Some date the relationship between Joseph & Fanny to as early as 1833, while Don Bradley dates it to 1836. Chris explains the adoption sealing ceremony hypothesis and its explanatory power in interpreting other sources. He discusses the testimony of Eliza Jane Churchill Webb and her family, which supports the adoption sealing theory. He addresses the rumor about Oliver Cowdery’s early polygamy rumors. It is true that Oliver adopted a 10-year-old a girl into his household, Adeline Fuller, and it seems likely that Oliver adopted Adeline at the same time Joseph adopted 18-year-old Fanny Alger.
Oliver Cowdery’s Excommunication and the High Council Trial
Dr. Smith recounts the events leading to Oliver Cowdery’s excommunication, including the High Council trial in Missouri. Chris speculates on the arguments Joseph Smith might have used to defend his relationship with Fanny Alger during the trial. Dr. Smith discusses the theological development of the sealing power and how it was initially intended for adoptive purposes. Chris believes the original adoptive sealing morphed into polygamy in Joseph’s mind. Chris connects the adoption sealing theory to the broader theological history of the sealing power in the Mormon church.
Brigham Young’s Law of Adoption and Its Origins
Dr. Smith explains Brigham Young’s law of adoption and how it differed from Joseph Smith’s teachings in Nauvoo. He suggests that Brigham Young modeled his law of adoption on the adoptive practices observed in Kirtland, including Fanny Alger’s sealing to Joseph. Dr. Smith discusses the implications of this law for creating a priesthood lineage and the hereditary nature of priesthood in the church. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context and rationalizations behind these practices.
Personal Beliefs and Moral Judgments
Rick asked Dr. Smith about his personal beliefs regarding Joseph Smith and the moral implications of Joseph’s actions. Dr. Smith shares his view that Joseph Smith had narcissistic personality disorder, comparing him to Donald Trump. He explains his approach to academic history, focusing on understanding historical events and rationalizations without imposing personal moral judgments. Dr. Smith clarifies that his research aims to present the facts and historical context, leaving moral commentary to others.
Joseph Smith’s Marriage Proposals: Similarities and Patterns
Rick introduces the topic of Joseph Smith’s marriage proposals, emphasizing the similarities between his proposals to Emma and other women. Chris discusses the secrecy and social taboos surrounding Joseph Smith’s proposals, noting that these elements were present in his relationship with Emma as well. He explains the pattern of Joseph Smith living in the households of his prospective wives, using Emma’s household as an example. Other women, including the Partridge sisters lived in Joseph’s household as well. The conversation highlights the role of divine commandment in Joseph Smith’s proposals, with Emma being told that marrying him was necessary for retrieving the golden plates, and an angel with a drawn sword commanding polygamy.
Shared Housing and Divine Commandment
Chris elaborates on the shared housing pattern, mentioning that Joseph Smith lived with or near many of his prospective wives. He noted the role of endorsements from trusted individuals, such as Samuel Lawrence & Josiah Stoal, in Joseph Smith’s proposals. Joseph Smith’s proposal to Emma was sprung on her as a surprise, similar to his later proposals to other women. The theme of divine commandment is reiterated, with Joseph Smith using religious motives to justify his proposals.
Emma’s Involvement and the Partridge Sisters
Rick & Chris discuss the possibility of Emma’s involvement in the sealings with the Partridge sisters. Chris explains that Emma initially did not participate in the sealings but eventually became involved. The conversation touches on the idea that Emma was not part of the second marriage with the Partridge sisters, as suggested by Cheryl Bruno. Historians generally believe Emma was involved in the sealings, making Cheryl’s contrarian viewpoint interesting.
Romantic Elements in Joseph Smith’s Proposals
Chris explores the romantic elements in Joseph Smith’s proposals, noting that early proposals had a romantic component. The conversation includes examples of romantic interest, such as Joseph Smith’s admiration for Emma’s beauty and the whispers of romantic involvement with Fanny Alger. There was change in Joseph Smith’s approach, moving from romantic to religious motivations in his later proposals. The conversation highlights the lack of romance in later proposals, with women like Lucy Walker describing their marriages as devoid of romantic interest.
Helen Mark Kimball and the Adoptive Sealings
Helen Mar Kimball was reluctant to marry Joseph Smith, noting that her parents pressured her into it. The conversation includes the idea that Joseph Smith may have used the concept of adoptive sealings to make his proposals more palatable. Helen Mar Kimball may have believed the marriage was more of a formal ceremony than a real marriage, initially. The conversation touches on the idea that Joseph Smith may have used the adoptive sealings to avoid the appearance of sexual relationships.
Sexual Relations and Pregnancies
Rick & Chris discuss the possibility of sexual relations in Joseph Smith’s marriages, with a focus on teenage brides. Chris believes that Joseph Smith was careful to avoid pregnancies, using various methods of birth control. The conversation includes examples of children believed to be Joseph Smith’s, with genetic testing later revealing otherwise. Joseph Smith’s theological rationale for polygamy included the idea of increasing his kingdom, both in wealth and wives.
Feedback and Scholarly Reactions
Rick asked about the feedback and scholarly reactions to Chris’s chapters in the book. The popular reaction so far has been positive, but some see the adoptive chapter as apologetic. Chris hopes for other scholars to engage with the evidence and offer their perspectives. He has a desire for the discussion to continue, even if it means facing criticism from those who disagree with his work.
Have you read these chapters on adoptive sealings and Joseph’s marriage proposals? What do you think of the book Secret Covenants? Do you think Chris and Don’s interpretation that Fanny was sealed adoptively and turned into a romance later as plausible?
Wheat & Tares 
When Fanny was asked about her relationship with Joseph later in her life, she did not characterize herself as his daughter. Instead, she seemed intentionally vague saying “That is all a matter of my own, and I have nothing to communicate.” Were she his adopted daughter, I suspect she would have said as much–that arrangement being much less embarrassing than the alternative (i.e. an illicit affair or plural marriage).
As Chris states in the interview, it was likely an adoptive relationship that morphed into a polygamist relationship. Nothing about “That is all a matter of my own, and I have nothing to communicate” contradicts what Chris believes might have happened.
I think far too many people look only at the headline and ignore the details. They erroneously think that if this was an adoptive relationship initially that means nothing romantic happened. That’s not the case at all. Oliver Cowdery called the relationship, “a dirty, nasty, filthy scrape” which means at minimum, something inappropriate happened. The inappropriate relationship likely meant something romantic happened, morphing from an adoptive sealing to a marriage sealing. It’s hard to know if if was a sexual relationship, but something affectionate, and inappropriate, at minimum happened. Both Don and Chris cited a reference that Fanny may have been pregnant when the relationship was discovered.
This is why I find Chris & Don’s chapter so intriguing. It better explains all the contradictions, and explains how Brigham’s Law of Adoption likely started with Joseph and Fanny, and happened right after Elijah’s appearance in the Kirtland Temple, turning the “hearts of the fathers to the children, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse.” The explanatory power is amazing, but it takes people digging into the details and not reading just the headline.
It’s a fascinating thesis for sure and definitely takes some getting used to. It’s not an apologetic argument at all, but I can see how some look at the headline and think it is apologetic. It’s not.
Fascinating interview by Dr Smith. His theories and timing of the Alger events and his analyzes about Joseph Smith’s proposals are insightful and impressive.
I hope his financial circumstances improve. His commitment to Mormon history has been laudatory. We will miss his scholarship and perspective.
Considering how many possible children (of Joseph’s polygamous wives) have been ruled out by DNA I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Joseph never sired a child with Fanny Alger either. I could wrong about that–time will tell–but even so I love the work being done by Don Bradley. I marvel out how well he’s able to bring the historical record to life.