John C. Bennett

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Engraving of John C. Bennett in a Napoleon-like pose as General of the Nauvoo Legion.

Dr. John C. Bennett (1804–1867) was an American physician and a ranking and influential—but short-lived—leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, who acted as second in command to Joseph Smith, Jr. for a brief period in the early 1840s.

Bennett had a mysterious and dubious past in other cities where he had risen to prominent positions, only to leave dishonorably after a scandal. He kept this past hidden while he became influential enough to be considered for leadership positions in the church hierarchy and the city of Nauvoo, Illinois. Bennett became an Assistant to the President of the Church and Counselor in the First Presidency, the mayor of the city of Nauvoo, General of the Nauvoo Legion, and the chancellor of the University of Nauvoo. Eventually, however, rumors of adultery, homosexuality, unauthorized polygamy, and the performance of abortions emerged. He was expelled from his position and became a bitter antagonist of Joseph Smith and his church.

While Bennett was mayor, he was caught in private sexual relations with women in that city. He told the women that the practice, which he termed "spiritual wifery," was sanctioned of God and Joseph Smith, and that Joseph Smith did the same. When discovered, he privately confessed his crimes and was disciplined accordingly. Bennett even signed an affidavit that Joseph Smith had no part in his adultery. Although he vowed to change, he continued his scandalous behavior. When he was caught again, his indiscretions were exposed publicly and he was excommunicated from the church and stripped of public office.

After Bennett left Nauvoo in May 1842, he claimed to have been the target of an attempted assassination by Nauvoo Danites, who were disguised in drag. He soon became very antagonistic towards the church, reportedly even vowing to drink the blood of Joseph Smith Jr. In 1842, he wrote a scathing exposé of Joseph Smith, entitled History of the Saints, accusing Smith and his church of crimes such as treason, conspiracy to commit murder, prostitution, and adultery. When Joseph Smith, Jr. later ran for President of the United States, Bennett actively campaigned against him throughout the United States. He was accused of having a part in Smith's assassination in 1844, but a connection has never been proven.

Following Smith's death, Bennett surprised many by returning briefly to Mormonism and joining forces with James Strang--one of several Mormons contending for leadership of the movement. Bennett united with Strang and his followers who founded their own Mormon community on Beaver Island in Michigan. With Bennett's enthusiaistic support, polygamy was introduced into the Michigan Mormon community. Shortly thereafter, amidst yet more charges of sexual misconduct, Bennett left the Strangite community and Mormonism once and for all.

One of Bennett's legacies was the introduction of the term "spiritual wifery" to Mormonism, apparently borrowed from Cochranism. This term was later associated with polygamy and used in the national dialogue against, and activism against Mormon polygamy.