Fanny Alger Affair/Old Major (John Turner 4 of 6)

Jun 23, 2025

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The origins of polygamy are murky. Was there an 1831 revelation on the topic? What was the nature of the Fanny Alger relationship? We’ll also discuss Zion’s Camp, and Joseph Smith’s dog, Old Major, who caused some issues with the troops. How did Liberty Jail affect Joseph Smith & the Church? John Turner tackles these questions. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/v9171F-vXok

Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/

Gospel Tangents

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Peering into Joseph Smith’s Story

We recently had the privilege of delving into the life of Joseph Smith with John Turner, author of the compelling biography, Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. The conversation unpacked some of the most intriguing and lesser-known episodes from Smith’s early life, providing valuable context and challenging common narratives.

Nuances of the Fanny Alger Controversy

One of the topics we explored was the Fanny Alger controversy. While historical sources on this episode are often late or secondhand, making it difficult to write about with confidence, John Turner found persuasive arguments that date Fanny Alger’s relationship with Joseph Smith to shortly before she left Kirtland in August or September of 1836.

Interestingly, there’s been discussion about whether this was an “adoptive sealing.” However, John said it’s considered unlikely to have been an adoptive sealing because Joseph Smith had not yet fully articulated or developed his understanding of sealing at that time. Oliver Cowdery, a key figure in the early church, certainly didn’t view it as such, remaining “very angry about it in early 1838.” Instead, it is most likely to have been “some sort of intimate relationship” that was disturbing to both Oliver Cowdery and Emma Smith. He said It is also considered unlikely to have been a plural marriage.

It’s worth noting that while sexual impropriety allegations were common against new religious movements, the Fanny Alger controversy, though a “live issue within the church for several years,” did not particularly resonate with the church’s external critics at the time in the context of plural marriage or polygamy. In fact, the Church’s 1835 Declaration on Marriage emphasized monogamy as the standard.

Zion’s Camp and the Tale of “Old Major”

Moving to 1834, we discussed Zion’s Camp, Joseph Smith’s march to Missouri. While often seen as a significant event for its larger purposes, it also had its lighter — and more human — moments. One such detail involves “Old Major,” Joseph Smith’s dog.

During the challenging and conflict-ridden trip, Old Major didn’t get along with another church member, Sylvester Smith (no relation to Joseph). The dog’s barking at night and potential attempts to bite Sylvester led to Sylvester speaking “rude things about Joseph Smith’s dog” and even wanting to shoot it. In a moment highlighting the “juvenile” but understandable “temper flared” nature of the trip, Joseph Smith reportedly threatened to shoot Sylvester Smith in response. This anecdote underscores that the participants of Zion’s Camp were “not all of one heart in mind.” Sylvester Smith later published a confession for opposing Joseph rudely, even managing to say the note was made “under duress.”

From a broader perspective, while the spiritual purpose of Zion’s Camp — the redemption of Zion — ultimately failed, it was ironically a “very positive thing for many of those who were participants.” Despite Zion not being redeemed and the march stopping short of engaging enemies or reclaiming property, the majority of marchers found their faith strengthened. This was partly because, by accepting the call, they were “further entering into Joseph’s story,” experiencing “divine promises and chastening and failures” alongside him. Joseph Smith highly valued this loyalty, rewarding many participants with “blessings with church offices.” He viewed their decision to stick with him despite difficulties as a testament to their loyalty and friendship.

The Enduring Trauma of Liberty Jail

Finally, our conversation delved into a period often overlooked: Joseph Smith’s four months in Liberty Jail (late 1838 to early 1839). While it might seem like an interlude in Joseph’s kinetic life, John Turner emphasized its profound significance.

These were “incredibly terrible months” for Joseph Smith. The jail was “squalid,” and he experienced a “very forlorn moment,” even feeling “abandoned by God.” Beyond the harsh conditions, Joseph faced a capital charge of treason. While we now know Missouri officials allowed him to escape, Joseph had to “contemplate with the horror of those four months and the possibility going forward that people in Missouri or elsewhere might want to arrest and execute him.”

This traumatic experience had a lasting impact. John Turner suggested that Joseph’s actions in Nauvoo, particularly concerning “politics and the judicial system,” which often seemed “reckless, provocative, sometimes unwise,” were likely influenced by the trauma of Liberty Jail. Joseph’s strong desire not to be “dragged back to Missouri” or “imprisoned where he might be vulnerable to his enemies” in places like Missouri or Carthage later on, was a direct consequence of his time locked up and facing possible execution.

These insights from John Turner’s work offer a nuanced and empathetic view into Joseph Smith’s life, highlighting both personal struggles and pivotal historical moments. To dive deeper, be sure to check out Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet!

Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/

Gospel Tangents

Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission