Church History Matters

066 The Nauvoo Expositor: the Spark That Lit the Fuse

Jun 4, 2024

The podcast delves into the controversial publication of the Nauvoo Expositor, exposing grievances against Joseph Smith. It explores the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding the decision to destroy the Expositor's press. The aftermath includes charges of riot and a warrant for Joseph Smith's arrest, leading to tragic events.

55:27

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Quick takeaways

The Nauvoo Expositor aimed to provoke a response by harshly criticizing Joseph Smith's character and teachings.

The city council's decision to destroy the Nauvoo Expositor sparked legal and ethical debates regarding press suppression.

The publication challenged both Joseph's religious and political standing, setting the stage for tragic events.

Deep dives

Publication of the Nauvoo Expositor

On June 7, 1844, the Nauvoo Expositor was published by dissenters of the church featuring harsh criticism against Joseph Smith, intending to provoke a response. The publication aimed to trap Joseph to take action against the printing press, leading to legal charges that could endanger him. The expose was aimed at challenging both Joseph's religious and political standing, raising questions on the legality and wisdom of the council's subsequent action.

Transparency and Deliberation in Decision-Making

01:50

Introduction

2min

Exploring the Impact of the Nauvoo Expositor and the Significance of Primary Documents

2min

Factors Contributing to the Tragedy of Joseph and Hiram Smith's Martyrdom

3min

The Nauvoo Expositor: A Catalyst of Conspiracy

23min

A Historical Account of a Plural Marriage Proposal and Consent

3min

The Legal and Ethical Dilemma of the Nauvoo Expositor

20min

The Aftermath of the Nauvoo Expositor's Destruction

3min

The first and only publication of the Nauvoo Expositor was issued on June 7, 1844. It was an expose sheet published by seven recently excommunicated dissenters of the church in which they lay bare their grievances against Joseph Smith as a prophet and politician in the most blistering, malignant, exaggerated, and provocative ways they could invent. This move was a calculated trap set to force the hand of Joseph and those close to him to take action against the Expositor’s printing press, which would open them up to legal charges that could get him to the county seat of Carthage where he could be killed.

On this episode of Church History Matters, we take a close look at the details of that single published edition of the Nauvoo Expositor to understand just what was so inflammatory and untenable in it that Joseph and the city council determined to take action against it despite the clear risks of doing so. We also look at questions about the legality (and wisdom) of their actions.

For show notes and transcript for this and other episodes go to https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/