Most modern American women would have walked out of a relationship with the philandering, Joseph Smith, whose "god" was willing to approve polygamy and give Joe as many "virgins" as he wanted (see D&C 132). However, the nineteenth century saw many gullible, credulous people drawn into numerous Utopian-type cults, and the Mormons were no different. Smith used every trick in the playbook to gather around him those who supported him as "the mouthpiece of 'god'" and his word (not God's) was certainly the law in Nauvoo and wherever Mormons lived. He was the anointed king over Israel, after all. Emma Smith, the only lawful wife of Joseph Smith was accused of poisoning her abusive husband (and most women today would understand, if not approve, of such a thing), but it appears Smith probably was food poisoned (perhaps E-coli), given the non-refrigeration circumstances of the 19th century. Anyway, a Mormon magazine has a great article about poor Emma, how she lived her life in the shadow of Joe (who used his position for power, money and SEX), and how her character was attacked by Joe's successor, Brigham, who didn't give a rat's burp about the financial circumstances Joe left her in - possibly due to the fact that Joe was a nut when it came to spending money, p***ing out gold watches to his plural wives, and living high on the hog in his mansion in Nauvoo. Smith was a sex addict (not to mention he liked the sacramental wine), and his lifestyle caught up with him in terms of debt and the law. Seeking to flee across the Mississippi river, he and Hyrum returned when Smith was accused of cowardliness (not by Emma, but by LDS leaders), but the cult blames Emma for his return to stand trial. In the end, Joe's lifestyle, his lies and his sexual proclivities finally caught up with him, and his life was taken unlawfully - too, bad, because it would have been a lot better had he stood trial for treason, of which he was guilty!

I suggest to all that are interested in true history that they read this link: https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-c..._V17N03_89.pdf