Contradictions
Between John C. Bennett’s and John Rigdon’s Versions |
|
Bennett’s Version |
Rigdon’s Version |
Prior to Joseph’s attempt, Nancy
Rigdon was tipped off once regarding his plot. |
Prior to Joseph’s attempt, Nancy
was not tipped off. |
Nancy played along with Joseph’s
plot in order to catch him in the act. |
Nancy was taken completely by
surprise by Joseph’s plot. |
In 1842, Joseph asked to
meet Nancy . . . |
In 1843 or 1844, Joseph
asked to meet Nancy . . . |
On April 9 .
. . |
At latter part of the one year
or the first part of the next . . . |
On a Saturday . . . |
On a Sunday . . . |
While at funeral of Ephraim
Marks. |
While at a regular Church
service at the Temple Grove. |
Meeting was arranged by twenty-six-year-old
Marinda Hyde . . . |
Meeting was arranged by unknown
“old lady” . . . |
Who
lived with her two children . . . |
Who “lived alone” . . . |
In part of the Printing
Office. |
In her “own home.” |
They met at Printing Office. |
They met at old lady’s home. |
Nancy walked alone to
Printing Office. |
Nancy walked with old lady to
her home, where they took off their bonnets. |
First meeting attempt failed. |
First meeting attempt succeeded. |
Actual meeting occurred five
days later—on Thursday. |
Actual meeting occurred that
very same day—on Sunday. |
Willard Richard and Marinda Hyde
named as key players (and inferred they also were having an affair). |
Willard Richard and Marinda Hyde
not named (and no affair inferred). |
Joseph arrived
first evidently alone. |
Nancy
arrived first with the “old lady.” |
Nancy entered room
where Joseph was waiting. |
Joseph entered room
where Nancy was waiting. |
Joseph took her to
a second, more private room and locked the door. |
“old
lady” left the room, where Joseph and Nancy remained. |
Joseph immediately suggested
they have an affair. |
Joseph immediately proposed marriage. |
Joseph only secondarily offered
marriage. |
Joseph mentioned no secondary
offer. |
Marriage was offered only if
affair made Nancy uncomfortable. |
No mention of affair. |
Joseph locked the door to detain
Nancy. |
No mention of locked door, nor
of Nancy being detained. |
Nancy detained until she
threatened to scream to “alarm the neighbors if he did not open the door
and let her out immediately.” |
Nancy nonchalantly “took her
bonnet and went home.” |
Joseph departed
first, leaving Nancy behind. |
Nancy departed
first, leaving Joseph behind. |
Joseph left
Nancy in the Printing Office. |
Nancy left
Joseph “at the old lady’s house.” |
Before he departed, they agreed
Joseph would write Nancy a “doctrinal letter” of explanation. |
No such significant factor was mentioned. |
After the meeting, Nancy
was instructed by twenty-six-year-old Marinda Hyde. |
Before the
meeting, Nancy was instructed by an unnamed “old lady.” |
No mention of
Joseph ever going to Rigdon home to make amends. |
Joseph went to Rigdon home twice
to make amends to entire Rigdon family (father, mother, brother, sister,
and more). |
As promised, Joseph dictated an
important doctrinal letter to Nancy . . . |
No mention of such important
letter. |
Which Apostle Willard
Richards personally delivered to Nancy. |
No mention of Richards ever
being involved during any portion of entire episode. |
Letter became known as the famed
essay on “Happiness.” |
No mention of the famed essay
on “Happiness.” |
Table taken from:
Richard Price and Pamela Price, Joseph
Smith Fought Polygamy, 3 vols. (Independence, Miss.: Price Publishing
Company, 2018), 3:331-33