Thirty-Seven (1842)and wanted to be involved in the blueprint of the ordinance, Joseph bruised their egos
and told them they were not ready for what he knew. It was at this period of time that
it became widespread knowledge among the people of the Church that Joseph was not
telling them everything. And none would ever understand why he told them that they
would rise up against him and kill him if he revealed all that he knew.^50
Joseph’s secrecy began to wear on Sidney and Bennett, more particularly Sidney, who
had been at Joseph’s side for so many years, but who was now realizing that he knew nothing
about the man whom he had revered as a “prophet, seer, and revelator.”^51 The relationship
between Joseph and Sidney began to unravel; and because of the hurt pride and ego of Bennett
and Sidney in relation to the secrecy of the presentation of the Endowment, Joseph did not want
them in attendance when he first revealed it on May 4, 1842.^52
The Real Reasons for John C. Bennett’s Fall and Hatred for Joseph
The prejudices for or against John Bennett in the histories written of him—as told
either by LDS/Mormon biographers or by others who are generally less slanted towards
Mormonism—are easily detected, depending on the person telling the story. This is not
Bennett’s biography; therefore, a detailed account of his life and what he did is not
necessary in order to understand his relationship to Joseph. The most important thing to
know is that Joseph knew John Bennett from the beginning.^53 He knew the stumbling block
Bennett would create for the Saints. But the Saints wanted him and what he could offer. So
Joseph supported Bennett as long as he could.
Official church records have charged Bennett of being a womanizer and adulterer;^54
and in doing so, attempted to demonize him in order to save face for the Church. However,
once Joseph started entering into “spiritual unions”^55 with many women (some of whom
Bennett had his eye on), Bennett likewise accused Joseph of using his position and authority
in an unfair and unequal way, unbecoming of a “prophet of God.” What Bennett didn’t
know at the time was why Joseph was sealing the women to him. (See Appendix 2 on
polygamy.) But Bennett’s main contention with Joseph was that he was never acceptable in
the eyes of God to know what Joseph knew. Bennett concluded that God knew his heart was
right and that he was just as worthy as Joseph of understanding all that Joseph knew; and
that if Joseph was truly a prophet, then Joseph would know how great he (Bennett) was.
It is the disposition of almost all men to consider another to be a “fallen” prophet
when the latter disagrees with their opinion or condemns them as unrighteous. This is
especially true when men think that they “know” in their own minds that God understands
the true virtue of their own hearts. Each time Joseph kept something from Bennett,
explaining that only he, Joseph, was allowed the knowledge of the “mysteries,” by
command of God, Bennett became more suspicious of all Joseph’s claims. In the end,
Bennett could only come to one determination about Joseph—that he was a fraud. However,
because he never completely read or had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, Bennett could
not convince others that Joseph was a fraud—a fallen prophet maybe, but not a fraud.
A Dangerous Book of Mormon Scripture Used as Justification for Murder
Joseph knew that Bennett’s distrust and dislike for him was intensifying. But it
wasn’t until Bennett found out that he was not invited to the premier of the Endowment
that his mind begin to ponder a verse in the Book of Mormon that he had not read himself,