John C. Bennett
| John C. Bennett | |
|---|---|
Engraving of John C. Bennett in a Hand-in-waistcoat pose in his role as Major General of the Nauvoo Legion
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| Assistant President of the Church | |
| April 8, 1841 – May 11, 1842 | |
| End reason | Excommunicated and removed from position |
| 1st Mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois | |
| In office | |
| February 1, 1841 – May 17, 1842 | |
| Successor | Joseph Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Cook Bennett August 3, 1804 Fairhaven, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died | August 5, 1867 (aged 63) Polk City, Iowa, United States |
| Resting place | Polk City Cemetery 41°46′23″N 93°42′07″W / 41.773°N 93.702°W |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Rider |
| Parents | John Bennett Abigail Cook |
John Cook Bennett (August 3, 1804 – August 5, 1867) was an American physician and a ranking and influential—but short-lived—leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, who acted as Mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion for a brief period in the early 1840s.
Bennett's involvement in the Latter Day Saint movement came after several encounters with the community that had left him unimpressed. He nevertheless wrote several letters to Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois, in which he declared his desire to join the movement. Bennett was essential to the passing of the Nauvoo city charter in the Illinois Legislature, the provisions of which he had helped craft. He even garnered praise for his lobbying efforts on behalf of the Mormons from the young Abraham Lincoln.
His efforts on behalf of the Mormons, and the long time he spent living in the Mansion House in Nauvoo, secured for Bennett the confidence of Smith. Smith was instrumental in promoting Bennett to ever greater civic and ecclesiastical responsibilities in Nauvoo. Bennett became a Counselor in the First Presidency, the mayor of Nauvoo, General of the Nauvoo Legion, and the chancellor of the University of Nauvoo.
Bennett was excommunicated from the church for adultery on May 11, 1842. Rumors of adultery, homosexuality, unauthorized polygamy emerged. Contemporary sources indicate that Bennett used his trusted position as a doctor to allay fears of women he attempted to seduce; telling them that he could cause abortions by administering medicine, should they become pregnant. While Bennett was mayor, he was caught in private sexual relations with women in the city. He told the women that the practice, which he termed "spiritual wifery", was sanctioned by God and Smith, and that Smith did the same. When discovered, he privately confessed his crimes, produced an affidavit that Smith had no part in his adultery and was disciplined accordingly.
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