Joseph Bates Noble's life story set in the context of a court deposition of a land dispute between two offshoot branches of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

From the perspective of Protestant America, nineteenth-century Mormons were the victims of a peculiar zealotry, a population deranged––socially, sexually, even racially––by the extravagances of belief they called “religion.” Make Yourselves Gods offers a counter-history of early Mormon theology and practice, tracking the Saints from their emergence as a dissident sect to their renunciation of polygamy at century’s end. Over these turbulent decades, Mormons would appear by turns as heretics, sex-radicals, refugees, anti-imperialists, colonizers, and, eventually, reluctant monogamists and enfranchised citizens. Reading Mormonism through a synthesis of religious history, political theology, native studies, and queer theory, Peter Coviello deftly crafts a new framework for imagining orthodoxy, citizenship, and the fate of the flesh in nineteenth-century America. What emerges is a story about the violence, wild beauty, and extravagant imaginative power of this era of Mormonism—an impassioned book with a keen interest in the racial history of sexuality and the unfinished business of American secularism.

A few weeks ago while visiting my cousin I was given the opportunity, for the first time, to see the legion sword of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Holding the sword, I felt a spirit like I’ve never felt before almost like holding hands with the prophet himself. This legion sword has been hidden away for 165 years and not to be on display. It has been handed down from father to son in the Noble family for a special purpose in giving testimony to Joseph Bates Noble a defender and body guard to the prophet. This is his story.

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In the last several years a wealth of information has been published on Joseph Smith's practice of polygamy. For some who were already well aware of this aspect of early Mormon history, the availability of new research and discovered documents has been a wellspring of further insight and knowledge into this topic. For others who are learning of Joseph's marriages to other women for the first time, these books and online publications can be both an information overload and a challenge to one's faith. In this short volume, Brian C. Hales (author of the 3-volume Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology) and Laura H. Hales wade through the murky waters of history to help bring some clarity to this episode of Mormonism's past. As Joseph Smith's participation in plural marriage involved more than just the Prophet and his first wife Emma, this volume also includes short biographical sketches of the 35 other women who were sealed to Joseph but whose stories of faith, struggle, and courage have been largely forgotten and ignored over time. While we may never fully understand the details and reasons surrounding this practice, Brian and Laura Hales provide readers with an accessible, forthright, and faithful look into this challenging topic so that we can at least come toward a better understanding. Praise for Joseph Smith's Polygamy: Toward a Better Understanding "Few matters of LDS history have proven to be as faith-sensitive as Joseph Smith's plural marriages. While a number of efforts have been made in recent years to shed light on this challenging phenomenon, nothing has brought greater clarity, enlightenment, and, particularly for believing Saints, spiritual reassurance, than has the work of researcher Brian Hales. He and his wife Laura have now rendered a monumental service to Mormons and interested observers by bringing clarity and better understanding to this topic. I for one am grateful for the context, perspective, and both straightforward and faithful answers provided for so many of the questions surrounding Nauvoo polygamy. It is a book that will be read and discussed for years to come." - Robert L. Millet, Professor Emeritus of Religious Education, Brigham Young University

Enjoy the ride into my book. Hopefully it's a wake up call to many. It takes a glimpse into the spirit world and a ride into hell. It share unusual experiences surrounding the Legion sword once held by the Prophet Joseph Smith. It speaks of the Prince of America with a focus upon the United States Constitution with many miracles and warnings. Let it be know the anger of the Lord is kindled and his sword is about to fall upon the world. It is not a day of many words. It is a day where changes are awaiting even nigh at our very doors. There are no neutrals in the approaching war.

This is a new release of the original 1927 edition.

Joseph Smith, Jr., founded the Mormon Church. He was killed less than fifteen years later. Critics of Smith have long believed he was corrupt and dangerous. But even believers have been split. Smith's wife and sons defended a man who was honorable and monogamous. Apostles in the Church formed by Smith defended a prophet who was honorable. But they also claimed Smith taught plural marriage. Hundreds of thousands of 19th-century Mormons defended the practice of plural marriage, despite hardship and national oppression. Stout takes a fresh look at the history and allows us to see the complex reality that birthed these radically divergent viewpoints. Along the way, she gives the reader a window into the reasons for the secrecy, unifying the disparate perspectives on Smith and his contemporaries into an understandable whole. The 7th edition incorporates new insights from emerging documents and the research of other historians, validating and strengthening the patterns Stout had sketched out in previous editions. Reviews Reluctant Polygamist is a remarkable example of investigative journalism, almost a murder mystery or spy thriller in the making... There are some very scary bad guys in this story-and Joseph is not one of them. - Jeff Lindsay, LDS FAQ: Mormon Answers, MormanityBlog Reluctant Polygamist asks the reader to accept the complexity and ambiguity of LDS plural marriage, rather than going for a simplistic explanation. I think that's a real service. - Gregory A. Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism For an unexpected look at the secrets lurking around Nauvoo in the days of Joseph Smith, I highly recommend the Reluctant Polygamist as a very good place to start. Meg Stout has provided us the opportunity to see Joseph in a new light. - Gerald A. Smith, historian, blogger Meg's recent book built up my faith, and gave me faithful answers to the questions I had about Joseph's polygamy versus Brigham's polygamy. It also totally unpacked/explicated/untangled the "spiritual wifery" accusations from real sealing/eternal marriage/eternity-only-sealing. - Bookslinger, blogger