Welcome to Part 37 in our series with Dr. John Turner covering his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.”

In this episode, we explore one of the most controversial and least understood rituals in early Mormonism: The Second Anointing. 

While Emma Smith was away, tensions continued to rise –but when she returned, the conflict between her and Joseph Smith regarding polygamy reached a breaking point. Already furious over plural marriage, Emma confronted Joseph in a series of explosive moments –demanding accountability, destroying symbolic gifts, and treating his reputation, his movement, and even his future. 

We follow the fallout from Emma’s return from St. Louis, including disputes involving figures like William Clayton and Eliza R. Snow, as well as the story of Flora Ann Woodworth –whose relationship with Joseph raises difficult questions about power, coercion, and consent.

As Emma pushes back, Joseph faces a real fear: that she could leave him and expose everything.

But then something changes.

At the center of this episode is the introduction of the Second Anointing –a secret, elite ordinance promising exaltation, godhood, and eternal salvation not just for the individual, but for their family line. We break down the ritual itself, the promise that “nothing but the shedding of innocent blood” can prevent godhood, the ability to seal others to eternal life, parallels to religious indulgences, and the spiritual framing of the ordinances for those who received it. 

We also examine how this moment may have shifted Emma’s resistance –and why, despite everything, she ultimately remained with Joseph until the very end.

If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here. Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible!

Purchase John Turner’s book here.

Let us know your thoughts on a Brigham Young series (comprising ten episodes) covering John Turner’s book Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet.

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