The Widow's Testimony: Uncovering the Truth of Dr. John C. Bennett's Scandal in Nauvoo

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The Widow's Testimony delves into the scandal of Nauvoo where Dr. John C. Bennett accused Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith of misconduct. It uncovers the intriguing story of Catherine Laur Fuller Warren and her family, shedding light on their journey from Niagara to Nauvoo, including the tragic events they faced. The narrative exposes the complexities of relationships, beliefs, and betrayals in the historical context of Mormonism.

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THE WIDOWS TESTIMONY Catherine Laur Fuller Warren and the Expos of Dr. John C. Bennett

BACKGROUND In 2001 asked to prepare a vignette of a notable Mormon woman Selected Elvira Annie Cowles, a direct maternal ancestor Compelled to research Annie and her family Reluctant Polygamist is result to be published April 2016 The Widow s Testimony discusses the core finding of my research

THE SCANDAL OF NAUVOO In 1842 Dr. John C. Bennett attacked the character of Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, accusing Joseph of sexual misconduct For years it has been assumed Dr. Bennett knew about Joseph Smith s teachings regarding Plural Marriage The truth is both more and less disturbing

OUTLINE Catherine: From Niagara to Nauvoo Bennett: From Savior to Scoundrel The Women s Testimony Denouement

CATHERINE LAUR From Niagara to Nauvoo

FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO: MARRIAGE Catherine Laur was born 1807 in Bertie, Ontario on the Canada side of Niagara Falls In 1825 the Erie Canal was completed, connecting the Hudson River at Albany to the Niagara River at Buffalo In 1829, Catherine Laur married Josiah Fuller of New York It seems Catherine had her son Josiah in 1830, when she was 23

FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO: MORMONISM Catherine s son, Benjamin, is born 1834 in Kirtland, Ohio Catherine s daughter, Sarah, is born about 1835 Another son, Moroni Napthali, is born 1838 in Caldwell County, Missouri The Fuller family is listed as in Nauvoo in the 1840 Federal Census with a girl and four boys A John Fuller is listed for Catherine s household in the 1842

FROM NIAGARA TO NAUVOO: MASSACRE In 1838 the Fullers lived in Caldwell County, Missouri, in a small village near the Shoal River The village boasted a blacksmith and a mill The Mill was owned by Jacob Haun On October 30, 1838, Josiah Fuller was one of 17 Mormons killed by a 250 member Missouri militia Some say the militia raped the widows of the dead

JOHN C. BENNETT From Savior to Scoundrel

FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL: PROTECTOR Dr. John Cook Bennett was made Quartermaster General of Illinois in June 1840 As Bennett arrived in Nauvoo, a woman and her child were killed by a mob from Missouri By September 1840, Bennett was in Nauvoo protecting the Smith Family during the death of Joseph Smith, Sr. Bennett wrote a City Charter to address the imminent threat and won passage of the Charter in December 1840

FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL: PUNISHED Dr. Bennett fell in love with a young woman Joseph Smith was informed Dr. Bennett had abandoned a wife and children Bishop George Miller was sent to investigate Joseph Smith required Bennett to end his courtship

FROM SAVIOR TO SCOUNDREL: PHILANDERER Dr. Bennett was trained in treatment of female hysteria After his courtship was broken off, Bennett began having an affair with his laundress, Sarah Pratt Bennett s adulterous affair was discovered and prosecuted on July 5, 1841 Sarah s husband, Orson Pratt, returned from Europe two weeks later

THE WOMEN Testimonies of May 1842

THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: INFORMANTS AND VICTIMS By December 1841, Joseph Smith had learned of a widespread network of sexual corruption Joseph and Emma Smith embarked on a comprehensive campaign rejecting immorality and spiritual wivery By May, several informants came forward to report suspicious behavior Several women reported being coerced into illicit intercourse during the first few months of 1842

THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: THE NYMAN SISTERS Matilda and Margaret Nyman were taken to Catherine Fuller s home by Chauncy Higbee Chauncy Higbee urged them to engage in illicit intercourse with him Matilda held out until William Smith told her it was a legitimate doctrine Matilda reported seeing John C. Bennett in the act with Sister Fuller

THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: CATHERINE CONFESSES Nearly a year ago I became acquainted with John C. Bennett, likely in June 1841 Bennett proposed unlawful intercourse on the third visit After vigorous debate, Bennett succeeded in seducing Catherine By mid-July, Catherine was propositioned by George Thatcher and yielded

THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: PARTIAL LIST OF STRIKERS *Dr. John C. Bennett, Mayor and General of the Nauvoo Legion *Chauncy Higbee, Bennett s Aide-de-camp *Joel S. Miles *George M. Thatcher *Jacob B. Backenstos, non-member, sheriff of Hancock County *Gustavus Hills, Nauvoo alderman Justus Morse Lyman O. Littlefield Darwin Chase, member of the Seventy William Smith, apostle, Joseph s brother

THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: NOT MORMON POLYGAMY There was no ceremony or covenant Women were expected to yield to many men Some of the men weren t even Mormon The whole purpose was sex and avoidance of procreation There was no purpose other than physical gratification

THE TESTIMONIES OF MAY 1842: WHY THE SEDUCERS SUCCEEDED Claiming betters were engaging in illicit intercourse Promising food in exchange for sex Giving medicine to prevent pregnancy Involvement of high profile individuals Claiming Joseph secretly taught the doctrine (circa Aug 1841)

DENOUEMENT

DENOUEMENT: CATHERINE AND HER FAMILY Catherine decided to end her involvement in April 1842 She married William L. Warren Catherine s family withdrew from the Mormon community During the Civil War, Moroni would claim his name was Maroni or Murroni and that he was born in Canada Decades later we see William Warren in the home of Catherine s son

DENOUEMENT: OTHER WOMEN Margaret would leave the Mormon community Matilda disappeared Women who were not publicly exposed remained with the Mormon community: Mary Clift Lucy Ann Munjar and unknown numbers of others

DENOUEMENT: BENNETT S REPENTANCE In fall 1843 Bennett was told about Celestial Marriage In December 1843, Bennett returned to Nauvoo In spring 1844, Bennett booked Marlboro hall and confessed Bennett was almost killed by the audience Marlboro was Bennett s last attempt to set the record straight

DENOUEMENT: JOSEPH AND EMMA Joseph Smith would covenant with dozens of women, mostly relatives of his most cherished colleagues No children are known to have been born to these dozens of women* except children of legal fathers Only two children born to polygamous wives prior to Joseph s death are known to have been engendered by the polygamous father. Both were conceived in April 1842 * During Joseph s lifetime

SELECT REFERENCES May 1842 statements before the Nauvoo High Council, LDS Archives MS/d/2375/Box 8/fd. Nauvoo, copied and included in the Valeen T. Avery Papers USU_COLL MSS 316, Box 24, Fd 14, Special Collections and Archives, Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library, Logan, Utah The Nauvoo City Council and High Council Minutes, John S. Dinger editor, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 2011 Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No 8, of May 15, 1844, Municipal Court http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/8375, retrieved 27 March 2014 May 29, 1844 issue of the Nauvoo Neighbor, http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor/1844/5-29-1844.pdf, retrieved 18 March 2014 Times & Seasons, July-August, 1842, http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/9200, retrieved Feb 22, 2014