So, you can't be convinced otherwise?

I was talking with a good latter-day saint leader the other day who had studied the issue of polygamy extensively for many years. This fine person testified that I wouldn't find anybody who's investigated the subject more than him. But when I asked, "Have you read material outside of church-approved sources?" The response was, "No," coupled with this astute observation, "Joe, I know what you're getting at: that I've been propagandized."  I nodded my head in agreement.

His resolute reply, "But you still can't convince me Joseph didn't practice it secretly."

The Brighamite historians have done their job well, wouldn't you say? This person, having read only the church's (Brigham's) version, is not willing to look at the other side, he's so convinced! He's not even willing "to exercise a particle of faith" (Alma 32) in Joseph's side of the story! How? A lie, no matter how outrageously silly, repeated enough becomes "truth".*

This person then went on the offensive, "Joe, you do realize that propaganda works both ways. You say Brigham and his historians were writing propaganda portraying Joseph as a secret polygamist, but then by the same token I can say Joseph did the same thing, so that means YOU are being influenced by that propaganda!"

This person didn't realize he was again accusing Joseph Smith of trying to "propagandize" the members (lie to them). Moreover, he could not conceive that truth-telling (by Joseph) is not "propaganda." It's just plain tellin' the truth! Joseph wasn't promulgating false propaganda anymore than any innocent man would be by defending himself against false accusations.

Someone who examines only one side of a topic is akin to the person who rejects the Book of Mormon, claiming he's diligently studied Mormonism and KNOWS it's false. "But have you read the Book of Mormon?" Their reply is, NO. I've met many of these so-called "experts" on Mormonism over the years, who've never read the Book of Mormon.

And yet many latter-day saints do the same thing. Many, like my dear friend above, choose to avoid reading any non-mainstream, unapproved sources. This is akin to a judge or jury rendering a verdict without hearing the "other side".

If you are one of these LDS, then OF COURSE you'd be convinced Joseph secretly practiced polygamy! Do you think years (even decades) of reading carefully-crafted propaganda would not have an effect on you? The effect of which is to convince your mind and heart ABSOLUTELY that Joseph secretly practiced polygamy. But STOP and process that belief. That means he was a lying, deceitful "natural man" (Mosiah 3:19), "an enemy to God." Does that sound right to you?

Could I persuade you to look into Joseph Smith's side? Be a fair "juror", and don't pass judgment after only hearing the version of the Brighamites!

To be clear, I'm really not talking about "versions of history," I'm talking about truth. Think about the church's position, which is this: a man God chose and vouched for, and who stood in the presence of the Father and the Son was a liar, deceiver, and adulterer. If Joseph was a man of such lowly character, as the church insists, you'd be compelled to take EVERYTHING he said with a grain of salt. If he's a liar, you'd be a fool to listen to anything he said, wouldn't you? 

But Joseph wasn't a fraud. He was noble, pure and wise, just as you'd expect a true servant of God to be. Not perfect obviously. But "...no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins, a disposition to commit such was never in my nature," Joseph said. And let's not pretend: lying and having secret sex behind your wife's back is a great and malignant sin!

If you're interested in judging fairly, I'll make it simple for you. 

Listen to Joseph's OWN words for a few minutes. Watch this 30-min talk by lifelong LDS member Whitney Horning, in which she gives a concise summary of her book which exonerates Joseph from the official (and false) charge of the church that he was a deceiver, adulterer and liar, who just couldn't resist the lusts of the flesh in taking on so many wives, all while keeping his double life secret from from his wife.