History of the Church 5:286; “There is a great noise in the city, and many are saying there cannot be so much smoke without some fire. Well, be it so. If the stories about Joe Smith are true, then the stories of John C. Bennett are true about the ladies of Nauvoo; and he says that the Ladies’ Relief Society are all organized of those who are to be the wives of Joe Smith. Ladies, you know whether this is true or not. It is no use living among hogs without a snout. This biting and devouring each other I cannot endure. Away with it. For God’s sake, stop it.” – Joseph Smith, February 21, 1843
Ephesians 4:29; “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Gossip in any way, shape or form isn’t godly behavior. However, Joseph’s behavior isn’t godly either!
Is it gossip if someone asks another about a leader’s shenanigans? No. If it’s taken care of in an appropriate manner.
Matthew 18:15-17; “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
My question is why did these people continue to allow Smith to behave this way? The people Smith was referring to were men and women who were building the Nauvoo temple. At the time he made this comment Smith had no less than 25 wives.
Additionally, why did Joseph say that if the stories about him were true then the stories about someone else were true as well? What did Bennett have to do with the fact that Smith was practicing polygamy? That’d be like me saying because I drive a car everybody else has to drive a car. Hello? This doesn’t make sense!!!
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