Heber and Vilate Kimball Family
“The Life of Heber C Kimball” is a Biography of Heber Kimball written by the Orson F Whitney in 1888. Whitney was a historian and prior Editor of the LDS publication “The Millennial Star”. Subsequent to publishing this book Whitney was given a teaching post at BYU and made an Apostle of the Quorum of the 12 in 1906.
One of the most remarkable chapters in this book, XLVI, tells of how Joseph Smith introduced ‘celestial marriage’ (aka polygamy) to Heber. In this chapter the following is stated:
- An angel with a flaming sword commanded Joseph to institute polygamy among certain members, pg. 331
- Before revealing polygamy to Heber Kimball, Joseph tested him by requiring Heber to surrender his wife, Vialate, to Joseph for marriage, pg. 333-4
- After 3 days of torment and soul searching, Heber led his wife to Joseph’s house to present her to him as required, pg. 334
- After declaring that it was a sort of Abrahamic test which Heber passed, Joseph performed a marriage sealing between Vilate and Heber “then and there”, apparently outside of the temple in the Prophet’s own residence, pg. 335.
- Heber was told, by Joseph, to take a certain woman for a plural wife 3 times. Only after Joseph commanded Heber “in the name of the Lord” to do so did he obey. Joseph instructed Heber to hide this plural marriage from his first wife Vilate. pg. 335
- After reflecting upon the grave consequences such a deception may effect on his relationship with his first wife, Heber plead with Joseph to reconsider. Joseph inquired of the Lord who said that Heber should do as commanded, pg. 336
- Joseph chose the woman for Heber to marry – Sarah Noon. Heber was told that if he refused, he would lose his Apostleship and be damned, pg. 336
- After wedding the woman, Heber falls into a great despair and personal conflict – unable to reveal the source to his first wife, Vilate. She prays about the cause of Heber’s turmoil and has a vision of celestial marriage, which would confer “great exaltation and honor” upon her and would increase her husbands “kingdoms, and the power and glory, extending throughout the eternities” if she would accept it. She accepts ‘the principle’ pg. 337-8.
- Joseph reveals a small hint of the soon possibility of plural marriage in a sermon, which causes great excitement – leading to Joseph to modify his statement to suggest that it is not so soon after all, pg. 338
- Soon after this Helen Mar Kimball, the 14 year old daughter of Heber and Vilate Kimball, was given to Joseph Smith as a plural wife, pg. 339 (I have written before on just how this transaction took place. You can read about it here: Indulgences Restored)
Wow.
Vilate Kimball
That’s a memorable story! Read it for yourself. I propose the following questions to ask yourself:
- What would you do if you were in Heber Kimballs shoes?
- What if you were Vilate Kimball?
- Would you have such great faith?
- Is that faith in God or faith in a man who says he is of God?
- Is there any limit to what a Prophet of God can ask “in the name of the Lord”?
- When does the nature of the request by a prophet reveal them not to be a prophet of God, but a charlatan using the name of God for personal gratification?
This experience of having a man, claiming to be a prophet or other enlightened person, ask a follower to do something outside the realm of normal accepted behaviour as a test is not unique to Mormon history. Unethical controlling groups created and maintained by totalistic leaders who demand allegiance of their followers not uncommonly use this “allegiance test” to bind their followers to them. (Some people call these groups “Cults”, but that term is not very helpful.) In some cases it takes the form of illegal actions, which would not only tend to tie the follower to the leader through passing the test, but also through fear of legal consequences if they separate from the group and go public. Indeed, polygamy was illegal at the time of Heber’s test.
What is more telling is what the leader does once they have bound their followers to them through these sorts of allegiance tests. The story of Helen Mar Kimballs marriage to Joseph Smith directly followed Heber and Vilate’s remarkable test. Some former mormons see this sequence of events as a manipulation which allowed Joseph to find his way into marriage with the 14 year old. I leave that judgement to the reader.
If you examine some literature from people who counsel parents who permit dangerous cult leaders to abuse their children you might see some uncomfortable parallels when reviewing Joseph’s interactions with the Kimball family:
Parent Participation in Child Abuse
Victims of mind control are capable of being persuaded to commit acts that they would not normally do outside the cult. “The victim of thought reform typically commits criminal acts fully aware of their wrongfulness [according to society’s standards]. He [or she] acts consciously, even enthusiastically, and without overt coercion.”The cult member “may have even felt the decision to be his own at the time; he may truthfully have said he was acting of his own free will.” As a result of thought reform, the member’s allegiance lies primarily with the cult’s leader, causing the member to adhere stringently to the leader’s requests and teaching.
A parent’s willingness to participate in or allow the abuse of his or her children at the leader’s request is one indicator the leader uses to test the parent’s devotion to the cult. It is important to remember that the cult member has absolute faith that the leader’s instructions are biblically based or that the leader possesses unquestionable higher knowledge and enlightenment. If the parent or child should object to their leader’s commands, the member is considered to lack loyalty and allegiance to the cult, prompting public ridicule or some other punishment. Abusive practices are further facilitated by the fact that the members have been taught never to question or criticize the leader. As a result, the members are unable to protect their children from the cult’s child abuse practices.
Journal of Family Law, Volume 29, Number 3, 1990-91
Wow! This stuff just keeps getting clearer and clearer to me. How can a man of God, do this? Was he one was my next question or was he not??? The level of manipulation is utterly disgusting. This incident was also recorded in a historical book called wife number 19. Written by Brigham Young’s 19th wife. Anyone who is a believing member and finished the story above with a “in tack” testimony…. not even wavering a bit should check themselves. Check the facts, truth is truth right?? On the official churches website is where I began to understand if all I had heard in class was true…. and there it was, hidden in a thing called the Essays! Joseph Smith practiced polygamy… but, when I came to the part where he only did this without consummating the marriage I was suspicious! Why would he hound women and their husbands if all he wanted the women for was to marry them spiritually?? And, I was right to be suspicious!
Part truths are on the churches website, so disappointing, so devastating to me—- who was a defender of the faith, outspoken, deliberate, well intended…… but wrong! No wonder the church leaders are constantly drumming don’t search the internet!!! They are honestly afraid of the outcome, and I don’t blame them! Everything I found was written by church sanctioned historians, LDS writers, journal entries, the Book of the Prophets, The Journal of Discourses, etc. Every single author affected by what they found and latter resigned membership as well.
Never once did the BOM instruct this institution of Polygamy or Polyandry, in fact it condemns it! How is it that JS was able to convince his believers it was imposed on him? His story just kept getting bigger and bolder……. they MUST do what he say’s or he will be killed. (How many of us can stand up to being blamed for someone else’s death, if their instructions are disobeyed? ….especially someone you believe to be a Man of God!!!!
Joseph Smith’s word, his pressure, power and promises of grandeur were too much for the individual to bare. Especially, if that individual was being pressured and put upon by “the Lords chosen one”!!! JS was a very beguiling, smart and strong brute of an individual who I believe was a convincing, quick thinker. Evidence and early history of the prophet, Joseph Smith and his character, his Law, his rule among the saints is becoming more main stream. I wish members knew just a fraction of what I have discovered.
My testimony imploded when I found out the modern church has spun a very different version of Polygamy than what REALLY took place. I started out trying to prove that what I had found out IN CHURCH of all places, was wrong. I was taught for years in church, home evening lessons, stake conferences, ward conferences, general conferences that polygamy was practice by a few chosen good men to care for widows and young mothers whose husbands were killed off by the anti-Mormon mobs. And, ONLY if the 1st wife agreed.
What I have discovered in early journals, church history, The Book of the Prophets, The Journal of Discourses , web cast and web pods and a book written in the time of Brigham Young by his 19th wife after she escaped his harem is a completely different story than what most members believe and know of. All these stories ring of the sameness… of the way it truely was. The people who did not know each other had identical and freakishly similar stories of many events in the LDS early history. Stories of theft from surrounding communities by Mormon raids, antagonizing locals, of polyandry, polygamy, JS marring 14 year old girls, secrecy, women and young women forced into believing that Polygamy was divine order. So much more…
Early church history tells of the lies and cover ups committed to keep polygamy secret from the outside world. Once the saints got to the Salt Lake Valley, FAR WEST…. remember the trips killed many of the early saints Polygamy and Polyandry was unleashed…. Brigham Young who practiced and believed in Polygamy set for a standard for the practice and no man or woman or young woman was safe from the damage of polygamous relationships of old. Many, Many women were married off only to see their husband once in a great while, forced to care for themselves and whatever off spring they beget. Many were forced to live in the same household, small, dark quarters that bread jealousy, despair, depression and suicides!! Many were married off after knowing the man for a day or two, with NO CHOICE!
Is the BOM true…………….. probably not. I don’t believe it is……. simply based on the nature and history of the author. Remember, JS tried to sell the copyright of of the Book of Mormon in Canada after it was published….for money. Why would he do that if God himself and Heavenly visitors were the vessels in which it was delivered to JS? Why would he not be afraid that God would punish him as he had done to so many other prophets in the past? Why???? I know, do you yet?
I too am amazed as I have discovered more about polygamy during the early days of the church. Here is one such instance of Brigham Young proposing to Martha:
“He then came and sat before me, and said, “This is our private room, Martha.” “Indeed, sir,” said I, “I must be highly honored to be permitted to enter it.” He smiled, and then proceeded–“Sister Martha, I want to ask you a few questions; will you answer them?” “Yes sir,” said I. “And will you promise not to mention them to any one?” “if it is your desire, sir,” said I, “I will not.” “And you will not think any the worse of me for it, will you Martha?” said he. “No, sir” I replied. “Well,” said he, “what are your feelings towards me?” I replied, “My feelings are just the same towards you that they ever were, sir.” “But, to come to the point more closely,” said he, “have not you an affection for me, that, were it lawful and right, you could accept of me for your husband and companion?”
Joseph Smith’s Poligamy (pg 52).
It is not hard to think of Brigham and Joseph and many of the church leaders as charlatans if you read these accounts critically. Especially when there are so many people who have used religion to take advantage of others. We hate being duped and many of the current philosophies and understanding we have in the world today make it seem obvious the church is a phony. However… there are also accounts that support these men as being men of God:
“In 1898, Zina was questioned regarding her relationship with the Prophet:
Q. Can you give us the date of the marriage with Joseph Smith?…
A. No I do not remember. It was something too sacred to be talked about; it was more to me than life or death. I never breathed it for years. I will tell you the facts. I had dreams. I am no dreamer–but I had dreams that I could not account for. I know this is the work of the Lord; it was revealed to me, even when young. Things were presented to my mind that I could not account for. When Joseph Smith revealed this order, I knew what it meant; the Lord was preparing my mind to receive it…
Perhaps, the most astonishing account supporting polygamy is the one given by Lucy of her acceptance of plural marriage. Her account was published in 1888:
In the year 1842, President Joseph Smith sought an interview with me, and said: “I have a message for you. I have been commanded of God to take another wife, and you are the woman.”My astonishment knew no bounds. This announcement was indeed a thunderbolt to me. He asked me if I believed him to be a prophet of God. “Most assuredly I do,” I replied. He fully explained to me the principle of plural or celestial marriage. He said this principle was again to be restored for the benefit of the human family, that it would prove an everlasting blessing to my father’s house, and from a chain that could never be broken, worlds without end. “What have you to say?” he asked. “Nothing.” How could I speak, or what could I say? He said, “if you will pray sincerely for light and understanding in relation thereto, you shall receive a testimony of the correctness of this principle. I thought I prayed sincerely, but was so unwilling to consider the matter favorably that I fear I did not ask in faith or light. Gross darkness instead of light took possession of my mind. I was tempted and tortured beyond endurance until life was not desirable. Oh that the grave would kindly receive me, that I might find rest on the bosom of my dear mother. Why should I be chosen from among thy daughters, Father, I am only a child in years and experience, no mother to counsel [she died in January, 1842]; no father near to tell me what to do in this trying hour [he was on a mission to a warmer climate to help his health]. Oh, let this bitter cup pass. And thus I prayed in the agony of my soul.
The Prophet discerned my sorrow. He saw how unhappy I was, and sought an opportunity of again speaking to me on this subject, and said: “Although I cannot, under existing circumstances, acknowledge you as my wife, the time is near when we will go beyond the Rocky Mountains and then you will be acknowledged and honored as my wife.” He also said, “This principle will yet be believed in and practiced by the righteous. I have no flattering words to offer. It is a command of God to you. I will give you until tomorrow to decide this matter. If you reject this message the gate will be closed forever against you.”
This aroused every drop of Scotch in my veins. For a few moments I stood fearless before him, and looked him in the eye. I felt at this moment that I was called to place myself upon the altar a living sacrifice–perhaps to brook the world in disgrace and incur the displeasure and contempt of my youthful companions; all my dreams of happiness blown in the four winds. This was too much, for as yet no shadow had crossed my path, aside from the death of my dear mother. The future to me had been on bright, cloudless day. I had been speechless, but at last found utterance and said: “Although you are a prophet of God you could not induce me to take a step of so great importance, unless I knew that God approved my course. I would rather die. I have tried to pray but received no comfort, no light,” and emphatically revolted against it. Said I, “The same God who has sent this message is the Being I have worshipped from my early childhood and He must manifest His will to me.” He walked across the room, returned and stood before me with the most beautiful expression of countenance, and said: “God Almighty bless you. You shall have a manifestation of the will of God concerning you; a testimony that you can never deny. I will tell you what it shall be. I shall be that joy and peace that you never knew.”
Oh, how earnestly I prayed for these words to be fulfilled. It was near dawn after another sleepless night when my room was lighted up by a heavenly influence. To me it was, in comparison, like the brilliant sun bursting through the darkest cloud. The words of the Prophet were indeed fulfilled. My should was filled with a calm, sweet peace that “I never knew.” Supreme happiness took possession f me, and I received a powerful and irresistible testimony of the truth of plural marriage, which has been like an anchor to the soul through all the trials of life. I felt that I must go out into the morning air and give even to the joy and gratitude that filled my should. As I descended the stairs, President Smith opened the door below, took me by the hand and said: “Thank God, you have the testimony. I too have prayed.” He led me to a chair, placed his hands upon my head, and blessed me with every blessing my heart could possibly desire.
The first day of May, 1843, I consented to become the Prophet’s wife, and was sealed to him for time and all eternity, at his own house by Elder William Clayton.
Littlefield, Reminiscences of Latter-day Saints, 46-48
Either the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the biggest conspiracies and deceptions of all time or it is Christ’s church. Here is why I believe:
When I’m doing what I’m supposed to I feel the gospel is so right–I feel closer to God and feel something letting me know its all true and in those times it seems crazy to doubt.
I see people in the church living Christlike lives who radiate more peace and light than I see anywhere else. When I am living it I feel that in myself. Can I live something not true and feel so good about it, content, and be so full of joy? How can it be so perfectly fulfilling when I live it? How can it bring more joy than anything else I experience in life? How come when I testify of the gospel and of the church I feel such peace and happiness? If there is something of greater truth I can’t imagine it because the gospel feels so good when I am living it. I felt that testimony burn when testifying of the church as a missionary: it wasn’t just a feeling or emotion I created–many times it came unexpectedly. I also feel it when I believe and then ask God to confirm it. Sometimes, when I have a believing heart, he confirms it without me asking. That confirmation is real and more powerful than any other feeling.
It makes sense that there is spirit that leads us to the truth. If we could only find truth using logic, those with the opportunity of schooling would have the best chance of finding truth and making it back to God. What kind of earth life test would that be? The Spirit allows us all to be on the same playing field: if we act according to our conscience and the things we believe to be true, we receive more guidance and are led towards more and more truth.
I believe doubt robs the ability to progress. I would rather make the decision to believe, and progress in the church that helps me grow closer to God and feel greater happiness than anything I know, than doubt and spend my life wandering without direction because I decided it wasn’t convincing enough. I feel my conviction of the truthfulness of the gospel grow deeper and feel closer to God the more I try to live it and that is the biggest witness to me of it being true.
I realize I must decide what I believe and then not look back because that’s the only way to get anywhere. I believe I have been given enough witnesses from the Spirit to make that decision. I have decided to believe. I feel absolutely at peace and happy to say I know God lives and is our Father, I know Christ is our Savior, they used the Prophet Joseph Smith to restore all the blessings needed for us to return to God and to help those around us to do the same. President Monson is currently the prophet who is leading Christ’s church with Christ’s help and command. We are working as Christ’s church to prepare ourselves and the world for Christ’s Second Coming. The Book of Mormon is evidence of all these things and is the special witness God has given us to help us learn of the truth and share the truth with others. If we read and pray without doubt we can know the Book of Mormon it is true though a powerful feeling of love, peace, and joy–a greater feeling than any other experience can create.
Joseph was the Prophet of the Restoration, not the all-time prophet for the House of Israel. The Lord gave this same power to the Prophets of the Old Testament.