Posted by:
Jim Huston
(
)
Date: September 07, 2012 10:41PM
As early as 1818-1819 the group was talking about spiritual wivery. Jacob Cochran would assign women to the men - legal marriages were not considered valid. He would move the women from time to time - shift them between the men. It was said by one of the people that approximately 50% of the women in the group were assigned to him at one point or another.
http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/NE/miscne00.htmHe used the passage in the bible about 7 women taking hold of one man to justify polygamy. In his case, polygamy was always with less than 7 women at one time.
He also was working on a commune where everything was common which is thought to be one of the incidents behind the United Order.
http://www.cesnur.org/2005/pa_miller.htmHe was on trial several times with five indictments for adultery and open and gross lewdness 1819 alone.
Here is part of the testimony of Abigail Bond from one of the trials.
>That on the sixth of December last, she went to Mr. Cochran's house in Saco, at about nine o'clock in the morning -- Cochran came out of a back room, and said Eliza Hill was sick, and wished for all
>(about twenty) to pray for her -- He went to Eliza's bed and got into bed with her, and the others began praying.
>Q. Did you see Cochrane undress himself except his linen and go into the bed, and afterwards conduct in an indecent manner.
>A. I saw him undress except his linen and go into the bed, and he put his arm round Eliza Hill, and then told the others to pray. They laid in bed about an hour, then Eliza began to praize the Lord, and both got up and walked about almost naked. He took hold of her hand and led her into another room, and came out and said Eliza Hill had taken cold by sleeping alone, and some of the brethren must go in and lodge with her.
The "Unitarian" publication tied the BoM and some of the Mormon teachings to Cochranism.
Jacob Cochran was also known as a "Mesmerizer" or hypnotist.
There were a number of conversions among the Cochranites. Enough that in 1930 7 of the 12 were in Saco, Maine for a conference with the new members.
>Shortly after the Book of Mormon was published in March 1830, Latter Day Saint missionaries began to make their way into the Boston area, where they found that making converts among the Cochranites was fruitful. So successful were they that a Church conference was held in Saco, Maine (the heart of the Cochranite area), August 21, 1835, at which nine of the newly ordained apostles were in attendance (RLDS History of the Church 1:583; Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 2 [October 1835]: 204¬207; LDS History of the Church 2:252). The LDS reference states that seven of the Twelve met in conference at Saco, Maine.
Another interesting tidbit:
>William Hyde, Cowdery and Miles had adjoining farms at Freedom. Warren A. Cowdery and William Marks were certainly acquainted before they became Mormons (along with area residents Samuel Miles, Sr., William Hyde and Lyman Wight). All of these men lived in close proximity to the Cochranites
Here is a site with the Price's book on line.
http://www.restorationbookstore.net/jsfp-index.htmThis all occurred while Smith was alive and well and in charge. The Price book makes claims as far as dates that have been proven false. Smith got "Spiritual Wivery" from the Cochranites, but incorporated it into Mormonism.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2012 10:44PM by Jim Huston.