Everywhere Smith went, trouble followed, and at the heart of these troubles, was his provocative challenge to the normative. Whether it be sexuality, commerce, politics – Smith’s ideas challenged the newly emergent republic of the United States. In fact, many historians have argued that it was his challenge to normativities that actually reinforced monogamy and capitalism as being quintessential to the American consciousness.
Tag: Joseph Smith
Rebel Mormons & Sexual Nonconformity
In testimony submitted to the BC Supreme Court in a Charter Reference determining whether Canada’s criminalization of polygamy is consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Dr. John Walsh testified that within the mainstream Latter Day Saint (Mormon) Church, there are two prevailing ideological camps regarding the practice of polygamy. Those in…