Joseph Smith Affidavits—from the LDSChurch Archives—Ms 3423—Folder 2
Transcriber’s notes:
- The documents in this folder are unbound loose sheets.
- Within the limits of what a careful transcriber can ensure, errors of spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage are those of the original author or scribe.
- This transcription has been compared against available published versions of these documents and is more accurate, the published versions having frequently been misread and standardized.
- Some of the affidavits in these folders are handwritten copies of the originals; others are the originals. In either case, they are the versions that appear to be the earliest and most reliable. I have noted only significant variations in other copies.
- Italicizing and underlining in the transcription indicate underlining in the originals.
Key to Transcription Symbols:
Folder #xFolder number indicates the folder of the collection Ms 3423 in which the document was found.
Image #xThe image numbers are numbers that were assigned to each document page when it was put into digital form. They do not reflect page numbers on the documents themselves, which are generally unpaginated.
______Lines like this above and below text mark off separate documents.
\example/ Words set off like this were added above the line.
[e/i]Letters within brackets, where a “/” divides them indicate that the first letter was written over the second.
[text here]Bracketed text in any form other than [x/y] was added to clarify meaning, indicate omissions, and supply document titles and dates.
[Affidavit of X]Document titles written in brackets were added by me.
Affidavit of XDocument titles written without brackets are internal to the document, generally having been written on the back of the original. These titles were usually added by the Church Historian.
Book 2, page #XNotations like “copied to Book 2, page #X” indicate where the document was copied into the bound Joseph Smith Affidavits.
Folder 2, images 3-4
Z. H. Gurley’s letter to Lyman O. Littlefield [April 15, 1886]
[Typescript copy of letter published in the newspaper—Utah State Journal (Logan), June 5, 1886. The letter discusses the circumstances surrounding Gurley’s securing an affidavit from Leonard Soby to the effect that Joseph Smith did practice polygamy. Rather than transcribe this letter, I’m including a PDF copy of the Utah State Journal article in which this letter, and a letter to Gurley from Littlefield, were printed. While the exchange is not highly relevant to Joseph Smith’s practice of polygamy, it sheds light on the context and accuracy of Soby’s statement.]
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Folder 2, images 5-6
[Zina Huntington—Historian’s brief note about her first marriage being mentioned in the Times and Seasons and of her affidavit, which was not quoted—not transcribed.]
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Folder 2, images 7-8
Affidavit of Orson Hyde to the sealing of wives to him by Prest. J. Smith
Copied in Book 2, p. 45
Springtown, Sept. 15, 1869.
I, Orson Hyde, do hereby certify and declare according to my best recollection that on the 4th day of Septr. I was married to Miss Marinda N. Johnson, in Kirtland, Ohio, in the year of our Lord 1834, and in the month of Feby. or March [1843], I was married to Miss Martha R. Browitt, by Joseph Smith, the martyred Prophet and by him she was sealed to me for time, and for all eternity. \In Nauvoo, Ills./ And in the month of April of the same year 1843, I was married by the same person to Mrs. Mary Ann Price, and by him she was sealed to me for time and for all eternity \in Nauvoo, Ills./, while the woman to whom I was first married was yet living and gave her cordial consent to both transactions, and was personaly present to witness the ceremony’s.
Orson Hyde
Sworn to and subscribed to before me this the 15th day of Septr. 1869, at Springtown, Sanpete Co. U.T.
George Brough Justice of Peace.
I hereby certify that the above named George Brough is a Justice of the Peace for the Precinct of Springtown in the county of Sanpete, U. T., and that he is duly qualified in accordance with law; in testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the County Court of Sanpete County, U. T. at my office [in Manti] this Sep 16, A.D. 1869.
[SEAL] Wm. T. Reid CountyClerk.
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Folder 2, images 9-10
[Handwritten duplicate of the above; no significant variation—not transcribed.]
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Folder 2, images 11-16a
Statement of Joseph A. Kelting, taken in California by B. H. Roberts
For some time previous to the death of Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, I lived at Nauvoo, Handcock County, Illinois. I acted for some years as agent for Bishop \George/ Miller, and was also a deputy sheriff in HandcockCounty. Wh I heard rumors of to the effect that Joseph Smith was practicing polygamy; the matter frequently being repeated, especially by the Wm and Wilson Law and the Higbees. Calling at the house of the prophet one day, early in the spring of 1844, on some business or other not now remembered, the prophet invited me into a room up stairs in his house, called the Mansion. After \we/ entered the room he locked it \the door,/ and then asked me if I had heard the rumors connecting him with polygamy. I told him I had. He then began a defense of the doctrine by referring to the Old Testament. I told him I did not want to hear that as I could read it for my self. He claimed to be a prophet—I believed him to be prophet—and I wanted to know what he had to say about it. He expressed some doubts as to how I might receive it, and wanted to know what stand I would take if I should not believe what he had to say about it. I then pledged him my word that whether I believed his revelation or not I would not betray him. He then informed me that he had received a revelation a revelation from God which taught the correctness of the doctrine of a plurality of wives, and commanding him to obey it. He then acknowledged to having married several wives. I told him that was all right. He then said he would like a further pledge from me that I would not betray him. I asked him if he wanted me to ex accept the principle by marrying a plural wife. He answered yes. A short time after this I married two wives in that order of marriage.
On the occasion of Alexander H Smith, son of the prophet, visiting me in this country some few years ago I related to him the above circumstances.
I also know that previous to the death of the prophet Joseph Smith there was a movement on foot looking to the removal of the church from Illinois to the west. Joseph Smith was the one who took the lead in that matter and called up certain brethren to go on an exploring expedition to seek a suitable location for the church; and I was among the number selected to go.
Joseph A. Kelting
State of California}
County of San Bernardino}s.s.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
A Notary Public this First day of March
A.D. 1894
D. Johnston
Notary Public in and for San BernardinoCounty,
State of California
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Folder 2, images 17-20
[Statement of Joseph A. Kelting, 1903]
[Note: The term “moot” in this document means “discuss” or “introduce for discussion.”]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA}
State of California}s.s.
County of San Bernardino.}
Joseph A. Kelting, being first duly sworn, says, I was born October 13th, 1811, at Philadelphia—P.A., and my present residence is Colton, San Bernardino County, California.
I first knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet, in Ohio. I once called upon him afterwards at his residence in Nauvoo, Illinois, and told him I wanted a private interview. We walked up stairs together. His wife, Emma, was down stairs, and he did not wish her to hear what we were going to talk about.
We went into the front room, and he locked the door. I told him it was mooted about that he was teaching plural marriage, and asked him the question, “Are you mooting plural marriage?”
His answer was, “[I] cannot answer you, as you are both a lawyer and sheriff of HancockCounty, and it might militate against you as an officer as well as against us.”
I said, “Joseph, whatever you tell me as your friend is safe; I came here to find this out, and I assure you upon the square (and we were both Masons) it shall never injure you in any shape.”
“I did moot plural marriage,” said the Prophet.
“Did you have a revelation to teach this?” I asked.
“I did,” he answered.
“Have you more than one wife sealed to you by this authority,” I asked.
“I have,” said he.
After giving me this information, he referred me to Brigham Young if I wanted any more on this subject, Brigham seeming to be the man he trusted most with this matter, and was putting him to the front.
The Prophet assured me that the revelation was as authoritative and binding as any revelation given through him up to that time; and, in fact, that it was paramount to all the rest.
William Law was once his right hand man, but he apostatized because of this principle. He told me on one occasion that he left the Church because, said he, “I had only wife and could obtain no more, but yet to gain eternal life one must have half a score?” Joseph on the other hand, said he, “could cast his snares around and gather in Snow-birds, Partridges and N[i/o]gthingales,” meaning by this, girls whom he had married whose names were indicated by the names of these birds.
Joseph stuck to plural marriage to his death. Emma Smith, to my own personal knowledge, promised to stand by Joseph on this question of polygamy, but she failed to keep faith with her promise.
Joseph Smith was a mighty man and borrowed from no one; he was original and inspiring in his talk.
I was his attorney at Carthage, and while I went to Nauvoo to get a little evidence he was killed in cold blood.
The mob was afraid of Joseph and they killed him, as they did Hyrum, because they were afraid of their influence.
J. A. Kelting
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of September, 1903.
J. B. Hanna.
Notary public.
Notary Public
in and for the County of San Bernardino, State of California
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Folder2, images 21-22
[Affidavit of Lucy Walker Smith Kimball, 1902]
United States of America,}
State of Utah.}
County of SaltLake.}
LUCY WALKER SMITH KIMBALL, being first duly sworn, says:
I was a plural wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith and was married for time and eternity in Nauvoo, State of Illinois, on the first day of May, 1843, by Elder William Clayton. The Prophet was then living with his first wife, Emma Smith, and I know that she gave her consent to the marriage of at least four women to her husband as plural wives, and that she was well aware that he associated and cohabited with them as wives. The names of these women are E1iza and Emily Partridge, and Maria and Sarah Lawrence, all of whom knew that I too was his wife.
When the Prophet Joseph Smith first mentioned the principle of plural marriage to me I felt indignant and so expressed myself to him, because my feelings and education were averse to anything of that nature. But he assured me that this doctrine had been revealed to him of the Lord, and that I was entitled to receive a testimony of its divine origin for myself. He counselled me to pray to the Lord, which I did, and thereupon received from him a powerful and irresistible testimony of the truthfulness and divinity of plural marriage, which testimony has abided with me ever since.
On the 8th day of February, 1845, I was married for time to President Heber C. Kimball, and bore to him nine children. And in this connection allow me to say to his everlasting credit that during the whole of my married life with him he never failed to regard me as the wife for eternity of his devoted friend, the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Lucy Walker Smith Kimball.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 17th day of December, 1902.
[SEAL]James Jack
Notary Public.
My Commission Expires, Aug. 6th 1905.
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Folder 2, 23-24
[Lucy Kimball statement duplicate—no significant variation—not transcribed]
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Folder 2, 25-26
Affidavit of Martha McBride Kimball
Sealed to Joseph Smith
Copied in Book 2, page 36
[Note: Martha’s married surname is consistently spelled “Kimble” in this document.]
Territory of Utah,}
County of Millard} ss.
Be it remembered that on this eighth day of July, A. D. 1869 personaly appeared before me Edward Partridge Probate Judge in and for said county, Martha McBride Kimblewho was by me sworn in due form of law, and upon her oath saith, that sometime in the summer of the year 1842, at the city of Nauvoo, County of Hancock, State of Illinois, she was married or sealed to Joseph Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Heber C. Kimble one of Twelve Apostles in said Church according to the 1aws of the same regulating marriage.
Martha McBride Kimble
Subscribed and sworn to by the said Martha McBride Kimble the day and year first above written
[SEAL]Edward Partridge
Probate Judge
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Folder 2, images 27-28
[Martha McBride Kimball duplicate—no significant variation—not transcribed]
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Folder 2, images 29-32
Affidavit [on] Celestial Marriage, Joseph C. Kingsbury [1886]
In reference to the Affidavit of Elder William Clayton, on the subject of the Celestial Order of Patriarchal Marriage,published in the Deseret Evening News of May 20th 1886; andparticularly to the statement made therein concerning myself, ashaving copied the original revelation written by Brother Claytonat the dictation of the Prophet Joseph, I will say that BishopNewel K. Whitney handed me the revelation above referred to oneither the day it was written or the day following, and statingthat it was asked me to take a copy of it. I did so, and thenread my copy of it to Bishop Whitney, who compared it with theoriginal which he held in his hand while I read to him. When Ihad finished reading, Bishop Whitney pronounced the copy correct,and Hyrum Smith coming into the room at the time to fetch theoriginal, Bishop Whitney handed it to him. I will also statethat this copy, as also the original, are identically the same asthat published in the present edition of the Book of Doctrine andCovenants.
I will add that I also knew that the Prophet Joseph Smithhad married other women besides his first wife—Emma; I was wellaware of the fact of his having married Sarah Ann Whitney, theeldest daughter of Bishop Newel K. Whitney and Elizabeth AnnWhitney, his wife. And the Prophet Joseph told me personallythat he had married other women, in accordance with the revealedwill of God, and spoke concerning the principle as being acommand of God for holy purposes.
Joseph C. Kingsbury
Territory of Utah}
County of SaltLake}ss
I hereby certify that the foregoing statement of Joseph C. Kingsbury concerning the Revelation on \the/ Celestial Order of Patriarchal Marriage and the making of a copy thereof by him, was by said affiant read in my presence on this 22nd day of May A.D. 1886, previous to his signing the same, that after reading it as aforesaid and on the date aforesaid, he did thereupon subscribe his name thereto, and was then \and there/ at his request duly sworn to the same by me, as to its correctness in every particular, and did so swear that the same is true.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal, this 22nd day of May A.D. 1886, at my office in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, U. T.
Chas. W. Stayner
Notary Public
Salt Lake Co. U. T.
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END OF FOLDER 2 ______