There are large numbers of materials on the web and otherwise, that give detailed account on how Joseph Smith was able to convince good number of folks that he was a Prophet. Naturally there was a great deal of skeptics. In fact his “preaching” pissed off so many people in both New York and Pennsylvania, that Prophet’s life was threatened. Old charges of being a “bullshit artist” and “imposter” kept creeping up. In addition there were accusations of adultery, theft and embezzlement of funds. Things had gotten so bad that Prophet Smith and his loyal “flock” had to flee to the frontier territory of Missouri, and Nebraska. In the process of establishing his “Church”, Joseph Smith managed to alienate not only none-believers, but also those who were his first converts (including his wife, Emma Hale-Smith and his son). Curiously enough, majority of early Mormon’s who broke away from Smith were still convinced that he was a Prophet, although an asshole or as some people would say a “complicated” and “controversial” person. One little episode in Joseph’s life was especially interesting. When he was caught having an affair with a teenage house-keeper, Prophet Smith announced that he wasn’t “cheating”. But he never denied that “he had a sexual intercourse with that woman”. Quit an opposite. Joseph called a meeting of the Church Elders and announced that “plural marriages”, sealed by “his authority or authority of the Church” was a sure way to heaven. He then proceeded to marry, or just have an affair with up to 27 women, some as young as 14 years old and some married to other men. Naturally not every member of Joey’s congregation was happy about the “plural wives” business. But not to worry, the Prophet had an answer to the nay-Sayers: “The women and their families would benefit spiritually from a close tie to the Prophet”. The women in turn were told that “submitting to plural marriage would ensure your eternal salvation and exaltation and that of your father's household”. A father who gave his daughter in plural marriage was assured that the marriage would ensure "honor and immortality and eternal life to all your house both old and young." A number of Josepth’s pals (or “appostols” as he called them) took this theory as far as telling women that screwing outside of marriage was also fine, as long as it was kept secret. This and many other shannanigans led to the arrest worrant issued by the state of Illinois for Joseph Smith and a several “appostoles”. Fearing that angry town folks would retaliate against himself and members of his Church, Smith turned himself in. But it didn’t help. While waiting a trial in the county jail, Prophet Joseph Smith was shot and killed by an angry mob that stormed the prison building. The chucrh leadership then went to a fellow named Brigham Young, who, fearing further hate crimes against Mormons, led them far West through the Rocky Mountains. There they settled on the shores of Salt Lake. Brigham Young went on to establish a Salt Lake City, became a governor of Utah Territory and commander of the Mormon Militia. Brigham Young also commissioned a stone temple in the center of Salt Lake City. Near the temple he built his own recidence and adjecent “Lion House” that accomodated his 55 wives and children. Since the early days of Joseph Smith and Brigham Younhg the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has turned from a quirky cult into a major religious movement with 13 million followers world wide (Asia and Latin America count more Mormons then USA). Salt Lake City has became the most secular city in Utah, with it’s mayor traditionaly being a none Mormon and sometimes even a Democrat. The Winter Olympic Games in 2002 and waves of outdoor sport junkies from the East Cost and Mid-West added to the divercity. The “near by” Park City is a play-ground for the “rich and famouse”, especially with it’s annual Sundance Film Festival adding to the glamour. It must be noted that despite reports of abuses by Prophet Smith and other “apostoles”, many “plural wives” of governor Young and other male church members were very smart, educated and capable women. They entered the marriage voluntarily after reaching adulthood and did so because they belived that this is their way to solvation and heaven. Even though polygamy was banned by the Church of Latter-Day Saints more then 100 years ago in the Utah’s bid to gain statehood, a number of Mormon fundamentalists still practice it. In my opinion all of the abuses with teenage girls forced into “plural marriages” are results of the ban. I am going to argue that polygamy should be made legal. If a grown, educated woman, belives that it’s her duty to share a husband with other wives in order to reach Heaven, why should the government stop her? Or as the belivers say: “I’d rather have 10% of the 100% man, then have 100% of the 10% man”.
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