Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful vignettes of life in Kirtland in the time of Joseph Smith
This book gives us a real flavor of life in Kirtland during the years the Latter-day Saints (Mormons) lived there.The author lets the people of that time speak to us through their personal journals, newspapers, and books.While the author does provide a brief introduction in order to give us context for each vignette, he let's us learn about the events and times directly from those who lived them.

While the next to the last chapter discusses the Church leaving Kirtland, the last chapter gives us helpful and inspiring information about the Church returning to Kirtland in the 1950s and the growth of the Church since that time.If you visit the city now you can not only enjoy the rebuilt historical sites and visitors' center, you can also note the beautiful church buildings the local residents use for worship and other meetings throughout the week.

It is a delightful book to read and is designed mainly for members of the Church and others who are interested in the Church during the early 1830s.It is not meant to be a critical history or to strike up controversy and I am thankful for that.

Mr. Anderson also provides us with illustrations, tables, and the inside covers have a map of the city from those times (well, town).There are also endnotes and a helpful index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Excellent Resource on Joseph Smith
Madsen, through extended research and study, has written a concise, factual history of Joseph Smith, Jr. the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Without all the vitrolic, twisted truths and outright lies of many of the books about Joseph Smith, this book takes the reader through the events of Joseph life as well as his beliefs. It is honest. It is truthful. It is a breath of fresh air amongst the numerous books on this religious pioneer.

A Wonderful View of Joseph Smith
You can instantly tell after picking up this book the great love and devotion of the author, Truman G. Madsen, for the Latter-Day Prophet, Joseph Smith.This great knowledge and love really made this book a fantastic read that was hard to put down.

The chapters are actually different lectures that he gave about the prophet which where later compiled into this book.Each lecture focused on a different aspect of Joseph Smith's life.Truman G. Madsen has a lot of knowledge about him as he told many stories that I had never even heard of regarding Joseph Smith.

If you love Joseph Smith then this is a wonderful book to pick up.It will increase your love and understanding for the prophet.

Good Compilation
This is the written form of Brother Madsen's first tape series on The Prophet Joseph. The book will be found to be easy and fulfilling reading. He references all of the stories that he tells on the tapes to make for eaiser research. The book is well done and is a great refrence for the causual reader or the soon to be Joseph Smith scholar. ... Read more

Book Description
Jeremiah, prophet to ancient Judah, said it: "When the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him." Fulfillment of prophecy is the test which has been applied through the ages to identify those who truly speak in the name of God.

The Prophecies of Joseph Smith is written to bear witness that the Lord has spoken, in these last days, through Joseph Sr-Rith, the Mormon prophet.  Contained in this book are hundreds of prophetic statements which have seen full and complete fulfillment.

This unique volume cites the prophecies, describes the circumstances under which they were uttered, and then explains in detail how they were fulfilled. Not only does it report many of the prophecies made by Joseph Smith, it also documents many prophecies made by others about Joseph.  The scriptures, too, contain numerous prophecies about Joseph Smith and about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in which Joseph played a prominent role.  Almost 200 of the prophecies cited are from the Bible or other scriptural sources, and the exact nature of the fulfillment of these scriptural prophecies is also recorded.

Included in the book are many detailed maps and outlines which show the major events in Joseph's life, and correlate those events with key LDS historical sources.  Also included are numerous charts, photographs and drawings which explain major prophecies, doctrinal principles, and historical events. The book is rich in historical data and the narrative is written in a smooth, readable style that will hold the interest of both young and old.

Here is a volume filled with rich insights and new understandings for the seeker of truth.  In this time of confusion, it provides knowledge and stability to those who are searching for a personal testimony of God's ministration to His people through prophets today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good...but not exactly what I was expecting
This book had some many good points to it, but it was not exactly what I expected it to be. Published in 1983, or something like that, this book lacked some of the more modern findings and scholarship. That was one thing that I was disappointed with. I also was hoping that it would detail more the prophecies that Joseph Smith himself made. This book does do that to a degree, and it does do a wonderful job at proving that Joseph DID make many legitimate prophecies. However, much of it focuses on scriptural passages that can be interpreted in many ways. Personally, I do believe that Joseph's life and ministry was foretold in the scriptures, but I was looking for more definitive evidence than just scriptural speculation.
That being said, this book does point out that Joseph Smith did indeed make and fulfill many legitimate prophecies. Some of these include the Deccan Jessop incident, the burning of Missouri during the Civil War and Joseph promising Willard Richards that he would escape Carthage unhurt. However, I give it four stars because it did not quite make my expectations. In actuality, I would give this book three and a half stars, but seeing how that is not possible, I will go with four.

Joseph Smith as a Prophet
Many critics, such as the Tanners, claim that Joseph Smith never made a genuine fulfilled prophecy in his life (e.g., see the chapter "False Prophecies" in "Mormonism: shadow or reality"). However, Crowther shows that Joseph smith made several dozen prophecies that have been fulfilled, and many prophecies from antiquity have been fulfulled by him, something that could not have been faked over time and time again by Joseph smith, if, as critics believe, he were a fraud.

Over 400 prophecies from scriptural texts are dealt with in this volume. For those wishing to learn of the truthfulness of the prophetic claims of Joseph Smith, this is an important addition to one's LDS library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Nibley explodes the techniques and methods of anti-mormon writings
Here we have Hugh Nibley at his most polemic.This is a collection of writings responding to anti-Mormon literature ranging from Fawn McKay Brodies "No Man Knows My History", to the apostate critics of the early church, to the writings of one Brigham Young's wives (divorced wife).Nibley's writing is sharp, is often quite funny, and some critics have found it a bit harsh.I found it all delightful.

Again, the audience Nibley is writing for is not unbelievers.He is not interested in trying to win over people who have every intention of never being won over.Instead, he is providing assurance and help for those who have been hit over the head again and again that their faith and belief is foolish.Nibley demonstrates that their faith makes a great deal of sense.He helps us see the inherent contradictions within the arguments of various critics and how they end up recycling the same false stories again and again.What is quite interesting is that these critics all cite each other hoping to gain credibility by these citations.However, the stories are falsehoods based upon little more than rumor and malice.

This is a big book and while it is a great deal of fun, I don't think it is Nibley's most important work.However, if you find yourself becoming confused by writings critical of Joseph Smith and the church, here is a good place to go to help you find solid ground.

A well meaning but non-scholarly defense of Mormon prophets
Dr. Hugh Nibley is a well loved figure in Mormonism today.He has taught legions of students at Brigham Young University in Provo and his books are to be found in many Latter-Day Saint homes.

In this book, Nibley attempts to defend the Mormon prophets from their critics.I've not read all the essays in this book, but I have read No Ma'am That's Not History which is a response to Fawn M. Brodie's 1945 biography of Joseph Smith (revised in 1971).

His defense is well meaning but it is non-scholarly.He does many of the things in his own writing that he accuses Brodie of doing.He accuses Brodie of bias and accuses her of selectively using sources which fits her preconceived ideas.Yet Nibely does this often in his own work.He accuses Brodie of violating the law of parsimony (also known as Occam's Razor) yet he violates the law of parsimony far more than Brodie does.He refuses to admit that Mormonism has changed and has changed greatly since its founding in 1830.In no where else is this as evident as in Mormonism's teaching of God.In Mormon 7:7, the Book of Mormon states that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God.Yet Mormonism later came to accept polytheism (or henotheism as some Mormon apologists prefer).Rather than one God, now there is more than one god, and faithful Mormons may become gods in their own right.

Thus, using the law of parsimony, the most logical deduction is that the development of Mormonism was evolutionary.Nibley is unwilling to make this logical deduction.

In No Ma'am That's Not History, Nibley later degenerates into taking quotes out of context, putting words into Brodie's mouth, and name calling.

This is a well-meaning defense of Mormonism, but I must warn prospective readers that despite the veneer of scholarship, these are decidedly non-scholarly defenses of Mormonism and do not deserve the name of scholarship.

For the open-minded.
I really don't think we can put Hugh Nibley into a book, much less a box.But this book comes in third, after "Approaching Zion," and "Temple and Cosmos: Beyond This Ignorant Present."

This book covers the Joseph Smith ground, and deals with the long and noble tradition of telling tales about Joseph Smith.It is really an omnibus reprint of several other books.

"No Ma'am, That's Not History."This is Nibley's famous response to Fawn Brodie's "No Man Knows My History."This book, or booklet, can be read in one setting, but it is a sound and full refutation of Brodie's rather overrated book.I have read it, and, no, it is not a slam-dunk.Aside from its original purpose of outlining Brodie's absurdities, it also demonstrates Nibley's methodology in responding to the critics:he has the primary sources in order, and uses a scathing and well-honed logic to lustrate his points.This mini-book is a great gateway for Nibley novices.

"A Note on F. M. Brodie."This article rounds out Nibley's discussion on Brodie, and serves as a coda and outro to the previous section.

"Censoring the Joseph Smith Story."This is one of the funniest history you will ever read.Nibley runs among the footnotes of Anti-Mormon literature, and illustrates how the stories of Joseph Smith have been embellishes and exaggerated over time, as one anti-Mormon critic mindlessly quotes another, without ever reading the primary documents.It is a good illustration of not only the perils of plagiarism, but of the childhood game of "Telephone."

"The Myth Makers."This book is the transcript of the celebrated court case of "Joseph Smith v. The World." We Nibley's Shakespearian background shines through in this acidic and stinging satire.It reads as a play, or a Socratic dialogue, where every one of Smith's critics since Dogberry takes the stand against Joseph Smith. The key, and the very subtle point to this book, is that Joseph Smith never takes the stand.

"Sounding Brass."This book deals specifically about the tall tales surrounding Brigham Young, and his plural wives. It deals with the later anti-Mormon literature, especially about the book "Wife No. 19."The crown jewel of this book is Part 3: How To Write An anti-Mormon Book (A Handbook for Beginners).Nibley lists the 35 rules essential for any and every anti-Mormon book.I think Rule 17: "In Place of Evidence, Use Rhetoric!" (p. 495ff) should be memorized by every undergrad everywhere, since we fall prey to rhetoric so easily.One I understood this rule, my mind was reborn into a whole new and better organ.There is a difference between rhetoric and evidence.Rhetoric is just a series of arguments, rationales, ratiocinations, and philosophies without any evidence, data, facts, or proof.Confusing evidence and rhetoric is confusing a cookie with a cookie sheet.Your jaw will thank you for choosing the right one.This one paragraph alone justifies the books existence, and makes it worth our hard-earned dollar.

This book is a great gift for anyone curious about anti-Mormon literature, or if you yourself are curious about an intelligent response, or weather there is any intelligence at all in this ever popular genre of books.

Essential reading for apologetics and critics
In this thorough book, Nibley reveals the real stories behind criticism of the LDS (Mormon) Church.Once you understand where some of these tales originated, the weak foundations of the most frequently-heard attacks onthe Church become crystal clear, and sometimes sadly laughable.Nibley'sdry humor is delightful and his enthusiasm is contagious.This book is aMUST-read if you are interested in the LDS Church.It is particularlyimportant if you've been misled by the critics.Read this book and checkNibley's historical sources before you believe what you read elsewhere. ... Read more

Book Description
If Joseph's first vision failed to secure his father's full attention, this recital did. Unlike the vision of Jesus which tapped into his mother's visionary heritage, Joseph's 1823 story emerged from the symbols available in Joseph Sr.'s world--seer stones, dreams, guardian spirits, and enchanted treasures. In the interim, Joseph had learned to speak his father's language. Like Joseph Sr., young Joseph had had a remarkable dream in which an "attendant spirit" told him of a box that contained "wisdom and understanding." Upon finding the container, Joseph was confronted by something that frightened him--not the host of threatening beasts that caused his father to flee for his life, but a toad-like creature that transformed itself into the spirit of a little old man who struck him. That Joseph's 1823 encounters with a spirit over a gold book essentially supported Joseph Sr.'s dreams was recognized by Abner Cole, editor of the Palmyra Reflector, who understood in 1831 that the spirit's "tidings corresponded precisely with revelations made to, and predictions made by the elder Smith, a number of years before." How could Joseph Sr. not believe this account?

The Smith family soon forgot their religious differences as they gathered nightly to hear Joseph Jr.'s stories. Lucy reports that "we sat up very late and listened attentively to all that he had to say to us." On the night following Joseph's first trip to the hill, Alvin suggested that the family get up early the next morning in order to finish their labor an hour earlier than usual, thus having more time in the evening to hear more of Joseph's account. The following day, the family pursued their labors with excited anticipation for what they might hear that evening.

At last, just before sunset, Lucy recalled that the family was "ready to be seated and give our undivided attention to Joseph's recitals." Joseph charged them with secrecy about the gold plates, for as he explained, "the world was so wicked that when they did come to a knowledge of these things they would try to take our lives and as soon as we obtained the plates our names would be cast out as evil by all people." Lucy said the family was "astonished" by such talk. Joseph went on to say that if they were wise and prudent, God would make all things known to them. He turned to his father, asking, "Do you believe it?" Joseph Sr. replied, "Why yes certainly ... he has all power and wisdom, knowledge and understanding and of course can teach us all things if we are worthy and we will try to live in such a [way] as to deserve the favor of God." This exchange reveals something of the intellectual and moral superiority the son was beginning to assume. Brother William remembered that "the whole family were melted to tears, and believed all he said."

Joseph quickly emerged from his former stance of quiet observer to the center of attention at these nightly gatherings. "Every evening we gathered our children together," Lucy recalled, "all seated in a circle, father, mother, sons and daughters listening in breathless anxiety to the religious teachings of a boy [seventeen] years of age." This was a creative time for Joseph. "In the course of our evening conversations," Lucy said, "Joseph would give us some of the most amusing recitals which could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent--their dress, their manner of traveling, the animals which they rode, the cities that were built by them, the structures of their buildings, with every particular of their mode of warfare, their religious worship as particularly as though he had spent his life with them." Clearly, the son was honing his talent as a story teller. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

autobiographical explanation for Book of Mormon falls short
The assertion that a particular work of history is "objective" while another is "subjective" is always comical to me. Just as we do with our news outlets, we want to believe that we are fans of the objective, "actual" truth, while those we don't agree with are merely presenting their subjective bias. And in fact, we usually go looking for the particular brand of truth, or slant on history, that meets our own preconceived notions. Thus, the largest group of supporters of this volume will be those who have sought a somewhat more credible naturalistic explanation for Joseph Smith's claims than some of the older-fashioned views, such as that he simply copied most of the ideas in the Book of Mormon from other sources. A smaller group who don't necessarily agree with the naturalistic explanation will find value in taking in Vogel's masterful knowledge of early Mormon sources and in the in-depth analysis of the Book of Mormon, Vogel being one of the few nonbelieving scholars who has evidently closely studied the Book of Mormon and tried to come to terms with it on its face.

Still, the explanation that many of the stories and characters of the Book of Mormon have their origins in the people and events of Joseph Smith's life is quite a stretch, and I agree with another reviewer on this site who finds it ironic that a religious skeptic puts so much stock in psychological analysis (not to mention in his own suppositions and guesses). The fact is, the Book of Mormon contains so many character types and stories that many "autobiographical" details could be found in it for any of us. The same evidence, in the hands of a Vogel or anyone given to critical literary analysis, could be marshalled to support a claim that Joseph Smith wrote the Bible or, for that matter, Huckleberry Finn as autobiographical works, or that Dan Vogel wrote the works of Shakespeare. Those not terribly familiar with the Book of Mormon text may tend to go along with Vogel's claims, but those who understand its complexity and hundreds of characters and storylines will appreciate that Vogel's focus on selected convenient "autobiographical parallels" is more akin to the thesis paper of an advanced student in English literature who finds interesting similarities in two independent pieces of fiction--all the while disregarding all the nonsimilar elements--than an analysis that can be taken as a legitimate, historical explanation for the Book of Mormon's origins.

I note also that Vogel's identification of "anachronisms" in the Book of Mormon text is strangely sophomoric in its parallels to typical anti-Mormon fare. Vogel, like so many anti-Mormons (of which Vogel is not), is not willing to explore the elements of the text that were thought to be anachronisms in Joseph Smith's time but no longer are (such as the use of the word "Alma" for a man), but is happy to bring up the well-worn arguments, such as that the Book of Mormon cannot be authentic because it has Christians living before the time of Christ. Again, I find it ironic and even indefensible that such a student of history and such a lover of scientific evidence--one who no doubt has seen how scientific and historical "facts" change with each generation--can be so certain about his own claims.

Vogel's five volumes of early Mormon documents are a treasure and he has presented much food for thought in this volume, but ultimately this biography provides, like any biography of Joseph Smith, as many insights into the biographer as it does about the Mormon prophet.

One of the best biographies on Joseph Smith's early life
This is one of the best and most detailed biographies about the early life of Joseph Smith.The book ends in 1831 when Joseph Smith goes to Ohio.Vogel gives the best possible secular interpretation of Jospeh Smith.Vogel states up front in the introduction that he does not believe in the super natural and interprets Joseph Smith from that point of view.Vogel deals far better with the complexities of Joseph Smith than do other secular biographies of Joseph Smith such as Fawn Brodies biography that states Joseph Smith was simply a con artist from the beginning and may have started to believe in his own prophetic calling.Instead of simply being a fraud, Vogel believes Smith sincerely believed himself to be a prophet but that Smith was willing to use deception in order to convince other people of his calling.Vogel makes the case that Smith likely did have some sort of spiritual awakening in 1820/1821, which later became known as Smith's First Vision.Vogel believes that Smith had a desire to unite his family spiritually, and therefore used "golden plates" story to unite both religion (which was appealing to his mother) and folk magic (which was appealing to his father).Vogel believes that through looking for buried treasure Smith learned to convince people he had a supernatural gift.Later Smith would use his gift of persuasion to convince people he was a prophet.

Vogel also meticulously goes through the Book of Mormon verse by verse demonstrating an immense knowledge of the Book of Mormon.Vogel attempts to show where Smith came up with many of the stories contained in the Book of Mormon.However I believe in some ways this is one of the books most major weaknesses.Vogel gets a little to bogged down in trying to figure out where the stories of the Book of Mormon came from.Some of the parallels he draws from Smith's enviroment and the Book of Mormon is a little weak, such as finding parallels between some of the Book of Mormon stories and the war of 1812.

Another weakness I believe is how Vogel deals with the eight witnesses of the Book of Mormon.He makes a case that the witnesses did not actually physically see the plates, but rather that it was a spiritual experience.Although there is some evidence for this possibility, Vogel does not treat the different statements that make the experience sound like a physical experience adequately.

Vogel has been criticized for frequently speculating in the book.Vogel does in fact use words such as "may have," "could have," "probably," and other such phrases many times.Although I can see why that is a criticism, Vogel was left with little other option since he does not believe in the super natural.Vogel does believe Smith "may have" made some plates out of tin, but what else could Vogel say on that point since he does not believe the gold plates ever existed?

I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Joseph Smith.I would also recommend reading Richard Bushman's book "Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism" which covers the same period and gives a different point of view.

Read "Rough Stone Rolling" by Richard Bushman.............
and forget this.I read enough to realize it's just anti-Mormon drivel. Bushman can say the rest for me.

Overly Long, Overly Speculative
Dan Vogel proved a masterful editor of the five-volume Early Mormon Documents, and perhaps his encyclopedic knowledge of the primary sources is part of the problem with this biography.Vogel knows the young Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon inside and out, but he doesn't seem to know how to summarize what he knows--or to ignore what he only supposes.

Vogel's thesis is that Joseph Smith's motivation for founding a new religion arose in conflicts that occurred within his semi-dysfunctional family.While there is undoubtedly truth to this notion, Vogel insists on taking us through the Book of Mormon blow-by-blow to explicate his argument.Some of his conclusions are clever and perceptive, others in-the-ballpark possible, and some (at best) strained.For instance, in Vogel's reading, the Book of Mormon account of Lamanites forcing women and children to eat the flesh of their husbands and fathers while restricting the prisoners' access to water is supposed to illustrate Smith's "oral rage" at his father "mixed with the fever, thirst, and torture of childhood surgery." (374)There's always something poignant about religious skeptics putting their trust in this sort of psychobabble.

Readers can expect a good deal of autobiography in a first novel, but they should also expect a good deal of fiction.Vogel occasionally seems annoyed when there is no obvious autobiographical hook on which to hang his notions.On one occasion, he suggests that a portion of the Book of Mormon is "perhaps...literary license"(211).Well, yes, literary license is what novels are about.

Furthermore, Vogel's knowledge of the Bible is weaker than he imagines, and his solution of picking up the nearest commentary frequently leads him astray, especially when he believes its opinion is so obviously correct that it requires no citation.For instance, he argues (with Edward Gibbon) that Luke "specifically said" that the darkness at Christ's crucifixion was "caused by an eclipse...astronomically impossible during paschal full moon." (286)But Luke 23: 45 says no such thing.In another place, Vogel announces, on the basis of no cited authority, that the mention of Melchizedek in Psalm 110 was "intended as a statement about Israelite rulers who were seen as kingly priests."

Any serious student of Mormonism will find much of profit in this biography.For example, Vogel notes every error and anachronism that he finds in the Book of Mormon--a considerable heap by page 557.But as biography--and especially readable biography--Vogel's attempt is overly long and overly speculative.

THE BEST BIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH SMITH WRITTEN SO FAR
THE BEST BIOGRAPHY OF THE MORMON PROPHET
Simply put, this is THE best Joseph Smith biography I have ever read. Vogel's documentation is exceptional. Vogel edited the award-winning five volume series EARLY MORMON DOCUMENTS (the best compilation available of early Mormon documents), so his knowledge and grasp of early Mormon letters, journals, exposes and publications is awe-inspiring to say the least. But what I find most impressive is that Vogel offers overwhelming evidence to support a much more nuanced theory regarding Joseph Smith's formative years. As a result ,this is the first biography I've read where Joseph Smith comes across as a believably authentic teenager and young man growing up in America during the first decades of 19th century. Not only does Vogel bring Joseph to life, but each individual in the Smith family comes across as a three-dimensional personality. I've been devouring Joseph Smith biographies and studies for the past 30 years. The anti-Mormon and the faith-promoting LDS books suffer from the very same faults: the authors start with their faith-based biases concerning Joseph and then selectively quote only those sources that support their views. As a result, these books are horrible--serving no purpose other than furthering a particular dogma. Joseph is either an evil fraud or a larger than life paragon of virtue. There are better biographies, of course--notably Fawn Brodie's NO MAN KNOWS MY HISTORY, Donna Hill's JOSEPH SMITH; THE FIRST MORMON and Richard Bushman's JOSEPH SMITH THE BEGINNINGS OF MORMONISM. Yet, in reading each of these, I thought that each of the writer's employed rational that evaded many issues. Brodie certainly rejected the idea that Joseph Smith had an authentic belief in God. Bushman went to the other extreme: his approach of treating Joseph visions as objective realities because that's how Joseph presented them, is a classic attempt to evade objective reality itself. And Hill, in her approach, straddles a fence between the two. In the end, it has always seemed to me that Joseph's best biographers seemed to be writing more about a religion (Mormonism) than about an individual human being (Joseph Smith himself). All start out accepting anachronisms. For instance, in dealing with Joseph's mid-teen years, all of the above focus heavily on his 'First Vision Story'--which Joseph did not record until 15-18 years after the supposed event. All treat the First Vision Story (set in 1820) as if it were a foundational concept of early Mormonism--when, in fact, did not exist until the latter half of the 1830s and was not used in Mormon missionary work until the 1840s and beyond. But Brodie, Bushman and Hill lay out that story first in dealing with the teenage Joseph and then frame the rest of their studies around it. Obviously the '1820 First Vision Story' played no part whatsoever in Joseph's development and would be better used in trying to understand Joseph not as a young teen but as a powerful religious leader in his early 30's (the age he was when he dictated the 1820 First Vision Story.) In 1991 (when I was heavy into Joseph Smith research and taking extensive notes in preparation for a screenplay I wanted to write on his early life), I came to the conclusion that a good way to approach a bio of the youthful Joseph would be to consider only those sources written by eyewitnesses to event in his teens and young adult years; to give greater consideration to those sources recorded closer to the times of events; to consider the biases of those making the records; to give primary consideration only to the conceptual common denominators in these accounts--thus finding areas of agreement between Anti-Mormon sources and pro-Mormon sources. This task was far beyond my abilities, so I put my screenplay idea on the back shelf. Vogel has taken this approach (thank God!). He accepts what appears to be an incontestable fact: Joseph Smith had a rich inner life, that was centered on a belief in God. But Vogel also accepts another seemingly incontestable fact: Joseph deliberately perpetrated frauds in his attempt to establish the validity of his religious convictions. Having just seen M. Night Shyamalan's latest film THE VILLAGE (which deals with this very issue) on the same day on which I began reading this book, I suppose I was very open to accepting Vogel's premise that Joseph Smith was 'a pious fraud'--a term used by Thomas Paine in his classic THE AGE OF REASON. The question that many Mormon's ask is 'Why would a 17 year old make up a story about gold plates and angels?' 'Why would a boy in his late teens go to such lengths to perpetrate such a fraud?' Though usually asked rhetorically, these are questions that even the best of Joseph's biographers have too easily set aside. It is because Vogel seeks an honest, rational answer to these questions, that his book is, in my opinion, superior to all previous Smith biographies. Obviously if the teenage Joseph Smith invented the stories of the plates and the angel/spirit, and then went to such great lengths over the next 6 years to convince people of the story's objective reality, he must have been 'after something' that had great personal significance to him. What was that? Vogel answers the question by spending the first two sections of the book studying in depth the marriage of Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith. Other worthy historians have noted that Joseph Smith Sr displayed, for most of his life, all the symptons of alcoholism. Others have also noted that Lucy Mack Smith displayed many of the symptoms of what today would be considered Manic Depression. Vogels focuses on these issues and additionally explores the religious differences of this husband and wife. Joseph Sr. was more rational than Lucy in his approach to God; even his beliefs and practice of folk-magic were rooted in what we would now call pseudo-science. Joseph Sr. was a Universalist in his beliefs. His father was a devotee of Thomas Paine, Universalism and a particulate strand of late colonial era Deism, and he passed much of this on to Joseph Sr. Lucy Mack, on the other hand, was (by today's standards) more of a Pentecostal. Despite a literalistic approach to the Bible, her religion was centered on emotions. Her probable Manic Depression added to her religious instability. Vogel puts forth overwhelming evidence of the dysfunctional nature of Joseph Sr. and Lucy's marriage; how it effected the financial stability of the Smith family; how it effected the emotional lives of their children--specifically Joseph. Vogel accepts the fact that in most cases (and especially in dysfunctional families) the greatest influence on a child is not society as a while, not religion in particular, but the relationship of the child's parents. Vowel also explores the various dreams that JosephSr. had over the years concerning spiritual guides, salvation, buried treasures, etc, These dreams--along with Lucy's mania over Joseph Sr. salvation-- help provide a context for the events of September 21, 1823. In approaching the events of the evening September 21, 1823 (the night that Joseph claimed an angel first appeared to him and revealed the plates), Vogel provides information that I have never come across. Earlier that evening, Joseph Jr, was part of a money-digging outing on the hill that Mormons now call 'The Hill Cumorah.' No buried treasure was found in the hill, so Joseph (who used his peep stone on such occasions to locate the burial place of treasure) returned home empty handed again. It was a Sunday evening. Lucy and some of the children have probably come home from a Sunday evening prayer meeting--since Lucy has become very active in the Palmyrar churches. JosephSr.,however, considers all churches false, and refuses to attend any church--despite years of Lucy's begging, fretting, worrying, nagging. etc. That evening, an intense 'conversation' ensues regarding the spiritual state of the family members. When the family finally retires for the evening, 17 year old Joseph is distraught over his parent's disintegrating marriage--which seems to stem from their religious differences. Laying awake long into the morning, Joseph devises a way to unit his parents spiritually by combining elements of Joseph Sr.'s dreams over the years and his involvement with treasure digging with Lucy's obsession over Christian salvation. He adds into the mix, his own experiences earlier that evening with his peep-stone and treasure digging expedition to the Hill Cumorah. The next morning, he tells Joseph Sr. that during the night a spirit appeared to him in a dream and told him that a gold book was buried in the hill. Joseph, Sr. send him off to dig up the book. Joseph returns home that evening without the book, but gathers his family together to tell them that in due time, if he prepares himself, the book's guardian spirit will allow him to have the plates. But he warns the family, that this is their secret--they are to tell no one about this. He then proceeds to tell his family stories of the Nephites and Lamanites. In the weeks that follow, the family starts to work earlier in the morning so they knock off earlier in the evening and listen to Joseph's stories. For nearly two months, the Smith family's life is centered upon spending the evening listening to Joseph tells stories of the ancient Americans, their way of worship, etc. In short, the 17 year old, through his stories brings--for the very first time--religious unity to his family. When Alvin Smith dies suddenly two months later, this unity is destroyed. Lucy Smith wrote that because Alvin was so enthusiastic over Joseph's stories of the gold plates and the ancient Americans, following his sudden death, the family can't bear to hear any of Joseph's stories. Lucy becomes more devoted to the Presbyterian Church--despite the fact that the Presbyterian minister who preached at Alvin's funeral implied that Alvin had gone to hell because he never accepted Christ. Lucy's devotion to Presbyterianism despite this, further alienates Joseph Sr. and Joseph Jr.--who were outraged by the minister's remarks. Over the next four years as the family's situation deteriorated further, Joseph attempted--on various occasions, unsually after some tramatic episode in the family's life-- to reestablish family unity be returning to his stories of the gold plates. In short, Vogel's theory is that Joseph's invented the gold plates and the Book of Mormon stories in order to preserve first his parents' troubled marriage--and, a bit later, his own troubled marriage to Emma. By situating himself as the spiritual guide for his family, Joseph sought to save it.
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Book Description
Joseph Smith, America’s preeminent visionary and prophet, rose from a modest background to found the largest indigenous Christian church in American history. Without the benefit of wealth, education, or social position, he published the 584-page Book of Mormon when he was twenty-three; organized a church when he was twenty-four; and founded cities, built temples, and attracted thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirty-eight. Rather than perishing with him, Mormonism migrated to the Rocky Mountains, flourished there, and now claims millions of followers worldwide.

In Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, Richard Bushman, an esteemed American cultural historian and a practicing Mormon, tells how Smith formed a new religion from the ground up. Moving beyond the popular stereotype of Smith as a colorful fraud, the book explores the inner workings of his personality–his personal piety, his temper, his affection for family and friends, and his incredible determination. It describes how he received revelations and why his followers believed them.

Smith was a builder of cities. He sought to form egalitarian, just, and open communities under God and laid out a plan for ideal cities, which he hoped would fill the world. Adopted as the model for hundreds of Mormon settlements in the West, Smith’s urban vision may have left a more lasting imprint on the landscape than that of any other American.

He was controversial from his earliest years. His followers honored him as a man who spoke for God and restored biblical religion. His enemies maligned him as a dangerous religious fanatic, an American Mohammad, and drove the Mormons from every place in which they settled. Smith’s ultimate assassination by an armed mob raises the question of whether American democracy can tolerate visionaries.

The book gives more attention to Joseph Smith’s innovative religious thought than any previous biography. As Bushman writes, “His followers derived their energy and purpose from the religious world he brought into being.” Some of the teachings were controversial, such as property redistribution and plural marriage, but Smith’s revelations also delved into cosmology and the history of God. They spoke of the origins of the human personality and the purpose of life. While thoroughly Christian, Smith radically reconceived the relationship between humans and God. The book evaluates the Mormon prophet’s bold contributions to Christian theology and situates him culturally in the modern world.

Published on the two hundredth anniversary of Smith’s birth, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling is an in-depth portrayal of the mysterious figure behind one of the world’s fastest growing faiths. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (79)

Very informative
A very informative, enlightening book on Mormon history and it's founder.Really gives you a new perspective of Joseph Smith.I would recommend it to anyone looking for a better understanding of real history.

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
I have rarely come across a book so thoroughly researched and yet accessible. A cultural biography; the context of the life Joseph Smith jr. comes into focus. Rough Stone Rolling is a truly rewarding read for anyone trying to understand the peculiarity of Mormonism. While providing a rich tapestry of characters that influenced or where influenced by Joseph Smith jr. the book also carries a narrative on many subjects such as the problems of Mormon "block vote",(reverberating still today), 19th century "culture of honour", democracy versus theocracy, abolitionism etc. The book is engrossing from the first page to the last! Richard L. Bushman is a model author: soft-spoken, intelligent, empathic, and most importantly, ever striving for honesty. As in real life I often found myself sympathising and understanding both Joseph Smith and his opponents. Joseph Smith is a troubling figure, but also a visionary man of unusual and remarkable achievements. The best way to know him may still be "by his works", but this book in my opinion is a highly qualified second best! I'd love to read it again.

very good honest history of a man with imperfections
This was a great book.It dealt with hard to understand issues.I read brodies book and this one almost simultaneously.You have to read both of them with an open mind.To me it is clear that Joseph was a prophet of God. obviously he was not perfect.. has there ever been a perfect prophet?? To me there is no other explanation than a prophet called of God.

The definitive biography of Joseph Smith
What makes this biography so remarkable is that it brings together, as best as any printed word can, the currents that formed Joseph Smith s motivations and actions--sometimes down to a weekly, if not daily basis.These currents include many that Joseph Smith would have been fully aware of--his own family s grinding povertyhis father s dreams that echo Lehi s dreamreligious foment on the American frontierfolk magicinterest in the origins of native Americansas well as many that Bushman suggests Joseph Smith could not have directly known aboutsuch as the writings of Emmanuel Swedenborg, whose beliefs on gradation of kingdoms in the hereafter sound like the later Mormon construct of the three degrees of glory.Objective persons interested in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--supportersdetractorsor neutral--ought to appreciate this greatgreat contribution to understanding a pivotal religious figure.I feel that Bushman treats well the intractable complexity of the Book of Mormondiligently comparing various theories and controversies as to its originsand concluding that the contents of book itself resists any simple explanation as to how it came into being. If you want to be a critic of the Book of Mormon and the Churchyou will be much better armed after reading Bushman s tour of the Book of Mormonand theories against a divine origin of it.If you are a believing Latter-day Saintor otherwise prepared to give some credence to Joseph s own account of its originsyou will likewise find Bushman s analysis highly informative andas I didfaith-promoting.This is walking a fine line for an active Mormon--Bushman does it masterfully.Another specific example of Bushman's remarkable analysis is the establishment of the Mormon priesthood--distinguishing Mormonism forever from Protestants by adopting a priesthood structure of authoritybut equally unlike the Catholic priesthood.Regarding the priesthood, Bushman concludes (p.205 ) "The priesthood web prevented Mormons from ever spinning free into isolation with God.Their lives were interwoven with priesthood from the foundations of the earth."The book is not even halfway over at this point. The rest of the book is every bit as good.

This book joints my other two favorite books about Joseph Smith, Donna Hill "Joseph Smiththe First Mormon " and Harold Bloom"The American Religion." The book expands greatly upon Bushman s much earlier work"Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism."Bushman s high stature as a leading historian of colonial American history should lend credence to his methods and analysis.

I believe that we all tend to "see through a glass darkly" about Joseph Smith, or any other sacred history.I think that fair-minded Mormons and non-Mormons alike can exchange enlightening and positive dialogue about this remarkable man.If you've already made up your mind one way or another about Joseph Smith, this book is probably not going to change your opinion.But one thing this book will do is to provide you with very comprehensive body of information and a thoughtful analysis of what made the man Joseph Smith, and what motivated his life-long work.All persons interested in Joseph Smith and Mormons should appreciate this definitive work.

Mormon history without an agenda
I just finished reading this book. Years ago I read the author's earlier, shorter work "Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism." So I had been anticipating this new book by Richard Bushman. It did not disappoint me. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of Joseph Smith or Mormonism.

I'm not a great student of Mormon history, but by all appearances this book is a landmark in Mormon scholarship. It is a lifetime work by a professional scholar and historian (there are 103 pages of footnotes at the end, along with 50 pages of sources cited).

As a Mormon, I find this book a welcome antidote to the usual polarized discussions on the topic. Its only apparent agenda is to present, to the best extent possible, the "historical facts" (whatever that means, exactly). The author does give analysis, but tries to base it on the historical records.

As others have said, this book presents Joseph Smith "warts and all." The book does not shy away from "polygamy" or other such difficult topics. Mormons who are not versed in their history will likely find their received notions challenged. In this book's pages we see Joseph stepping down from the pedestal and presenting himself as a man, albeit one who did extraordinary things and made extraordinary prophetic claims.

Although the author is apparently a believing Mormon, the presentation is matter-of-fact and fairly detached. The "supernatural" (what us Mormons would call "spiritual") dimension is largely absent: visions, angels, miracles, spiritual promptings, etc. are not the focus of this book, although such things are reported when significant.

The most significant and challenging notion for me, which is implicitly raised again and again in the book, is the blurring of the line between the words of the God and the words of Joseph Smith. I, like most Mormons, tend to think of Joseph Smith's revelations as being dictated from God and written down verbatim by Joseph. However, this book in its attempt at objectivity presents the ideas and revelations Joseph had as at least partly his own. This will likely make Mormon readers uncomfortable and force them to reevaluate their original notions of how revelation and divine direction work, and of how Joseph's understanding grew over time.

Non-Mormons who are not versed in Mormon history may find their own notions challenged. One insight in the book that I had not heard before is the comparison of prejudices against Black slaves and Mormons in the minds and the press of the 19th century. I think a lot of the original conceptions and stereotypes have continued into the modern day.

The only fault I find in the book is its prosaic language. This is likely due to the author's attempt to avoid sensationalism. But readers will have to wait for a literary-style narrative that does full justice to the sweep of Mormon history or the amazing and beautiful doctrines that Joseph taught.

What non-Mormons will not find in this book (rightly so given its scholarly objective) is full insight into *why* Mormons believe what they do, nor an explanation of the essential and most important doctrines of Mormonism, what Mormons call the saving truths. I would refer readers to the Book of Mormon for this, along with the New Testament.

I consider this book a model of Mormon scholarship, of how believing Mormons should approach any subject that relates to their faith: you don't have to abandon your beliefs, but try to analyze the facts available without any agenda. This is not easy, but here in this book we see how it can be done, by a mind trained to such an approach through years as a professional scholar.

I for one am grateful to the author for trying to present the facts, without any of the "marketing" or idealizing that many books by Mormons introduce into discussions of this topic. And I personally felt my convictions strengthened by seeing what Joseph Smith as a mere man accomplished - the more human you make Joseph, the more amazing his accomplishments and his doctrine.




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Customer Reviews (2)

historiography done right
For anyone who seeks a reliable analysis of early accounts of Joseph Smith Jr.'s formative years, and the various critiques of those sources, this is a must-read.I found the reproductions of primary sources in the appendices to be particularly useful; especially so in verifying that the Mormon writer Nibley very much misrepresented these sources, so as to discredit the damning accounts gathered by Hurlbut.

Early Mormon Affidavits Revisited
In "Joseph Smith's New York Reputation Reexamined," Rodger Anderson seeks to overturn the scholarship, precepts, and myths about Joseph Smith before 1830, tying them to stakes, setting them afire, and dancing around them until they have lost their power of persuasion.

If Anderson's approach is heavyhanded, much of what he says is important and revealing. His work revolves around nineteenth-century affidavits and interviews about Joseph Smith's early life. D. Philastus Hurlbut, an excommunicated Mormon who in 1833 interviewed Smith's former neighbors in upstate New York, obtained several damaging affidavits which described the Smith family as destitute, lazy, and shiftless, as drunkards and scam artists who dug for buried treasure. These affidavits portrayed Joseph Smith as perpetrating the hoax of Mormonism on an innocent world. Published in 1834 in E. D. Howe's "Mormonism Unvailed," this view of the Prophet was accepted as truthful by most non-Mormons until the 1960s.

Forty-seven years after the Hurlbut affidavits, in 1880, Frederic G. Mather interviewed nine of Smith's early contemporaries. These by-now elderly people confirmed Hurlbut's basically negative opinions of Joseph Smith. Probably in reaction to Mather's work, in 1881 William H. and E. L. Kelley, Reorganized Church apostles, visited Palmyra and also talked with long-time residents. Their work, published in the "Saints' Herald," contradicted the Hurlbut/Mather research on almost every score. They reported that the Smiths, though poor, were hard-working, frugal, and upstanding citizens in the community. In 1888 non-Mormon writer Arthur B. Deming interviewed Joseph Smith's contemporaries in Palmyra one last time before their deaths, and his work verified the Hurlbut/Mather research. Deming's "Naked Truths About Mormonism" proved almost as significant in fueling anti-Mormon fires as had the Hurlbut affidavits fifty-five years earlier.

For the next seventy-five years or so, the polemicists on either side chose whichever set of recollections suited their purposes.

Anderson spends much of the book in a sophisticated and legitimate review of investigations of Joseph Smith's reputation made by Richard Lloyd Anderson in a 1970 "Brigham Young University Studies" article called "Joseph Smith's New York Reputation Reappraised." The similarities between the authors' names and the titles of their works are all that the two investigators and their approaches have in common. Rodger Anderson also refutes almost every one of Richard Anderson's arguments, concluding that the article fails because of the "misrepresentation of his contents and circumstances surrounding the compilation of the affidavits; failure to consider alternative interpretations for the evidence; and invalid conclusions based on faulty premises" (p. 28).

Motivated by a desire to defend Joseph Smith, according to Rodger Anderson, Richard Anderson put forth several arguments which were incompatible with the evidence. Richard Anderson suggested that Philastus Hurlbut had written the 1833 affidavits himself. Two of the affidavits were each signed by several Palmyra vicinity residents, and Richard Anderson logically concluded that someone must have written the affidavits and then collected the signatures. In the absence of any countervailing evidence, a reasonable assumption was that Hurlbut had done so. From there, it could be argued with some legitimacy that Hurlbut was a heavy contributor to the individual affidavits as well. Richard Anderson based this accusation in part on the similar words and phrases he found in the various affidavits. As a result, he concluded that Hurlbut unduly influenced those he took affidavits from, and that conclusion has been an accepted part of studies of early Mormonism ever since. Rodger Anderson argues, however, that the affidavits may be similar because each person was asked the same set of questions. Even if Hurlbut did write any or all of the affidavits, Rodger Anderson adds, those being interviewed both signed them and swore before witnesses that they represented their positions.

Rodger Anderson concludes that there is no reason not to accept as authentic the affidavits collected by Hurlbut and Deming, or that they were anything other than honest appraisals by people well acquainted with Joseph Smith and his family in upstate New York. While Rodger Anderson does inject some useful skepticism into Richard Anderson's defense of Smith, he makes an either/or assessment with no middle ground. Such a conclusion is just as difficult to accept as is Richard Anderson's. Take, for example, the affidavit Hurlbut took of Willard Chase, from my perspective the most interesting of those first published in 1834. Rodger Anderson says that Richard Anderson distorted the account and then rejected it. While I will not dispute that conclusion, Rodger Anderson's final assessment of Chase's affidavit as a reliable statement has other problems. Chase's affidavit does not mention any firsthand observation of treasure-seeking but shows intense interest in a seerstone Chase said he found while digging a well and then lent to Joseph Smith. He tried to get it back on several occasions, even though he said it was only a "curiosity." Why would he be so concerned unless the stone had some special significance attached to it? Indeed, Chase said he wanted the seerstone to use it to see "what wonders he could discover by looking in it." Other sources demonstrate that Chase was very much involved in money-digging in the Palmyra area, and he was not being entirely truthful when relating information about the suyoct. His account, while probably generally correct, should not be accepted without careful consideration of all particulars.

A significant revelation, at least for me, was Rodger Anderson's conclusion that the Kelleys' 1881 investigation had serious problems as legitimate historical evidence. Unlike Hurlbut and Deming, the two Reorganized Church apostles took no depositions and gave their witnesses no opportunity to read and sign what they wrote. They took notes during their interviews and then later wrote their report. Rodger Anderson went through the published account, as well as the notes from which it was prepared (housed in the Reorganized Church's--now Community of Christ--Library-Archives), and found that the Kelleys apparently had fertile imaginations, for there is only a passing relationship between their notes and the published article. The published report, in fact, so upset some of the interviewees that at least three of the ten wrote denials of what it contended. Apparently the Kelleys' zest to defend the prophet outweighed their good judgment in presenting their case.

Rodger Anderson has presented an important and challenging study of nineteenth-century efforts to learn about Joseph Smith's early life. His conclusion that the Hurlbut/Mather/Deming research generally reflects the opinions of those interviewed without undue influence from those collecting the material seems relatively sound, although I am less sanguine than the author that some of the details of the Smiths' lives related by those interviewed are entirely truthful. Probably most of those interviewed did consider Joseph Smith to be something of a scoundrel and a charlatan, but whether they reached that conclusion before or after the formation of the Church is a significant question quite beyond the parameters of Anderson's study. His handling of the Kelley research was especially effective and must raise additional questions of historical integrity. A large and useful appendix containing transcripts of all the affidavits and the notes from the Kelley interviews completes the volume. Perhaps this study will spark additional research into this subject; such an accomplishment is as worthy an objective as anyone could ask for. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An extraordinary account of the life of Joseph Smith
The most recurring theme of Joseph Smith's life as found within Heidi Swinton's book was his endearing love for both his friends and his enemies. It is an easy read and flows well with many well placed pictures and paintings throughout. This book quotes from scholars from all walks of life and from various faiths and institutions, most of whom do not believe in the divine role of Joseph Smith, but all of whom joined their voices in recognizing the extraordinary role that Joseph played in the development of a uniquely American borne religion.

Nice Presentation, But Not the Whole Story
Reviewing books on Morman History, particularly Joseph Smith biographies is a daunting task. Mormons insist on "faith promoting" books, and proclaim that anything else is "anti-Mormon." The problem ismade more difficult by the refusal of the Mormon church to make availabletheir historical documents to independant scholars. This book falls clearlyinto the "faith promoting" category. It is pretty and wellwritten. It tells an interesting story, but forgoes any in-depth historicalanalysis. It is a book designed for Mormons to give their non-Mormonfriends.

If you want an in depth study of the life of Joseph Smith, buyNo Man Knows My History, 2nd Edition, by Brodie or for a fascinatingpsychological study, Inside the Mind of Joseph Smith by Robert D. Anderson.If you want a neutral evaluation of the Mormon church as a whole, Irecommend Mormon America bye Richard and Joan Ostling. It you want apropaganda coffee table book, buy this one.

By the way, who is the guywho is pictured on the dustjacket? The cover pictures a handsome,all-American man, but open the book and look at actual period pictures andSmith is a round, odd-looking guy, not at all like the artwork picturedthroughout the book.

Broad introduction for the non-Mormon reader
The print companion to the PBS feature, the book presents a broadlypositive biography of the charismatic Mormon leader.Obviously not meantto be a detailed critique, neither is it the work of an apologist. Non-Mormon readers or students needing more information will definitelywant to order the PBS companion film, and then review other Smithbiographies, or some of the works by Hugh Nebley.Mormon readers will findthis a refreshingly positive work with public recognition, making it easyto share with friends.

A disservice to an interesting guy
Many events that were essential in the shaping of mormonism and Smith's life are left out of this history.

For some reason the editor didn't mention what was the content of the Nauvoo Expositor, or why it was sodangerous for Smith.Polygamy was also not addressed in anydetail.

Smith comes off as an unreal man who always had the misfortune ofbeing victimized by "bad" people.

Has history ever been thissimple? Strange.

American Prophet
This book as well as the documentary has given me great insight on a story that is hard to tell.I highly recommend this book.The author clearly has a talent for writing, a great knowledge of history, and a love forJoseph Smith that is evident in the story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Joseph Smith the Prophet and Martyer
Governor Thomas Ford came to Carthage.Joseph Smith expressed concern about personal security for Hyrum, Richards, John Taylor.

Why did Governor Ford dismiss Joseph Smiths warnings of danger?
Governor Ford feared increasing numbers of Mormon immigrants in the state of Illinois. Governor Ford feared Mormon control of the political machinery because the Mormon influx represented the possibility of a power shift: new political leaders, democrat controlled state shifting to another party (whigs,republican), and new state laws submitted and ratified by Mormons.

Governor Ford promised the prophet Joseph safety telling him that a state militia would be disposed to ensure the safety of the prophet. The prophet expressed grave concern because of the persistent nature of the anarchist, mobs, or enemies of the prophet too take his life.

The prophet foresaw the incompetency of the militia to protect him correctly.Poor communication and undisciplined military response by the militia suggests they were under order, not to be in the vacinity of Carthage, at the time of the murder of Joseph Smith.Even as the enemy was forming a logistic line and coordinating an attack, the militia did not respond appropriately.The militia seems too have no intelligence or counter offensive plans against an attack.

Did Governor Ford conspire with Thomas Sharp to allow the Marytr of Joseph Smith?

No legal prosecution was charged against the governor, no committee was formed to research foul play, and no confessions record to implicate the governor in the plot.However, Governor Ford had opportunity and motive to assist in the conspiracy.

Joseph Smith was given a hand pistol by a Member during a visit.With it, Joseph Smith shot one attacker in the face, one in the arm, and one in the shoulder.Why were these men not found and brought to trial?What is surprising is the amount of evidence ignored by the court.The court was not following constitution law nor was it following rules of evidence.The court was following common or customary law rules. In fact one man was shot, managed to walk into a tavern, tell his story, and witnesses saw the bandages protecting the bullet wound.The evidence was not used to press charges against these men.

Bracken testified "He saw Wills, Voras, and a man named Gallaher, all wounded on the road between Carthage and Warsaw. The wounds he described matched those mentioned by Daniels - Gallaher was wounded in the cheek. All three men were indicted for the murders of Joseph and Hyrum, but they were never arrested, nor did they appear at the trial." Why were these men indicted?The seems to have usurp constitution law.Additionally, the adversarial forum of the court room broke down as the prosecuting attorney failed to perform competently, a mistrial should have been ordered and a new case submitted.The court seems to have rejected the federal mandates and guarantees provided by the U.S government. The court symbolizes rebellion against the union and possed the potential for seeds of the civil war.

Why didn't Worrel stand trial for his involvement in the conspiracy? Worrel used business connection and personal influence to avoid being cross examined by the court. Sufficient evidence existed to indict Worrel and bring him before the court to have him examined.Worrel not standing trial was a great injustice.

During William Daniels testimony, Daniel put Sharp and Williams at the scene of the crime; and Eliza Graham's testified about Sharp's boasting in at the Warsaw House; why did the prosecution build on these facts and cement the argument for a verdict of guilty?The court was not following constitutional law.Instead, it create a customary law, convenient to exonerate these men.The evidence was convincing enough to bring minimal punishment against them and circumstantial enough to bring capital punishment against these men.

How did the defense team make Daniels testimony seem uncreditable?The persecuting attorney was incompetent.The defense team immediately picked up on this fact and exploited it.This further weakened any chance for justice to prevail.

Should have Jacobs been prosecuted for conspiracy to kill even though he did not directly participate with the mob attack?Jacobs should have received punishment for his involvement.Even though Jacobs did not participate directly, he was an accomplice to the crime.Jacobs was stained by his association and involvement in the crime.

Did the fact William Grover, Mark Aldrich, Thomas Sharp, Levi Williams, and Jacob Davis belong to the masonic society influence their political ambitions and desire to kill Joseph Smith? The Masons were not directly involved in the conspiracy, however, the Masonic lodge provided opportunity and means for these men to meet and conspire against the prophet Joseph Smith.

The fact Lamborn dismisal of Daniels incriminating testimony against Levi Williams, Thomas Sharp, Mark Aldrich, Jacob C. Davis, and William N. Grove is outrageous!

Why did Benjamin Brackenbury's testimony that Grover boast he killed Joseph Smith had him acting for the community as a theme of rebellion of civil law?The greater tradegy of anarchy was the lose of life incurred in the civil war.The civil war divided a country and turned brother against brother in a contest to establish supreme sovereignty.

Why did Mark Aldrich gain back most his land for pennies on the dollar after he declared bankruptcy?This was pure theft and reflected the moral and legal decay in the community politics and legal system.

Why did Lamborn dismiss three of his most important witnesses? Lamborn was probably bribed to throw the case.Lamborn was known to accept bribery and could be swayed by an angry community not to vigorously prosecute the accused.Was Lamborn paid to throw the trial into confusion?

Why did captain Grover not hasten his pace to rescue Joseph Smith from the Mobs?Captain Grover should have been force on threat of court martial too justify his actions.The integrity of Captain Grover came under question because he could have raced his men, double time, too Carthage and rescued the prophet and the apostles from the mobs.

Why didn't the Carthage Greys purse the fleeing mob members?Captain Grover did not seem too be compelled to protect the life of the prophet nor capture the prophets assailants.Captain Grover seems have followed a precise strategy of being late and too exhausted to persue.

Given the testimony of Eliza Graham and the testimony of Daniels; why did defense attorney Browning claim even if his Sharp, Williams, and Grover had opportunity to comit the crime, no admitting they did, however, they would be justified because it they were acting on the old citizens desire to kill Joseph Smith?

Levi Williams lead the mobs into a civil war against the Mormons.Why did William seditious and traitorous actions not go unpunished by the law?

Why were gun shots heard but none of the mob members injuried?

Who killed Joseph and Hyrum Smith?

What was the political tension between the whigs and the democrats?Joseph Smith would have been the President of the United States of American.Business men in the East like the prophets political views.Popular polls indicated the Prophet Joseph Smith would have easily once the presidency.

The acquitals of these men marked the beginning of civil war.Rebellion against law. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood. Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom, Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.
(Hymns, 1985, no. 27)

A great, objective legal history
First of all, this is not a Mormon-propaganda book.It is a scholarly work, a study of law.It is an account of the legal proceedings that took place as a result of the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage, Illinois in June of 1844.This book makes no attempt to convert anyone to Mormonism--in fact it doesn't even focus on the Smiths.Instead, it critically examines the trial of five men accused of participating in the murder of these two men.

I cannot praise this book enough for its objectivity.The authors remain completely aloof from bias, and focus instead on an analysis of the trial.One should not read this book with the intent of learning every detail about the Smiths' murder.For those interested in knowing about the legal proceedings that followed their deaths, however, this book will be a valuable tool.

This book is an invaluable resource--it unearths many facts and circumstances that I have not encountered anywhere else, and manages to make sense of just what happened inside the Carthage jail on that fateful summer day.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Mormon history.

Meticulous research on Mormon and American legal history
The footnotes in this book are extensive and as insightful as the contents.The legal actions and procedings surrounding the trial are given attentive details.I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to knowmore about Mormon history, American legal history, or history of the 1840'sin Illinois.

Excellent book!Thorough documentation!
I found this book to be thoroughly researched and documented.Oaks and Hill have written this book in a way that the reader can understand the legal process of the trial of the alleged assassins of Joseph Smith andHyrum Smith.With many footnotesto back up their research, Oaks andHill have effectively given the reader a clear picture of the events thatled to the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum and the subsequent trial,without getting too carried away with "legalese" language.Mycomplements to the authors on this excellent book!

I recommend this bookto anyone who has interest in Trial Law, as well as Mormon History.

Humanity has not changed over time!
Highly documented, as are all Mormon writings, it tells what happened at Carthage, Illinois.The murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hiram told minute by minute, identification of many personalities, and clear reportingof the courst case.The atmosphere and surroundings of this incident hasbeen repeated before and after, within societies that feel threatened bysomething they do not understand.Reading of this book will bring sorrowto your heart, and a rememberance of Waco and other unfair reactions tosupposed threats.Very good book, reporting in detail what happened. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Picture Book with text of places sacred to Latter-day Saints
This is a book of wonderful pictures of places where events sacred to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took place.Most of them are pictures of scenes in nature because so much occurred out of doors.The saints moved so often from place to place that many of the revelations and events happened before they could build.

Of course, the title has a triple meaning.It is referring to the events in Joseph's life as a testimony to the light of God from the First Vision, to Moroni, to the translation of the Book of Mormon on through to his martyrdom.It is also the witness of these places photographed.They bear testimony of the faith of Joseph and the early Saints in God and the revelations they had received.These places remain and we visit them because they connect us to those who founded our faith in obedience to God's commands to them.It also refers to the author and photographer as a witness of the things he photographed and wrote about.

We see the Sacred Grove where Joseph received the First Vision, the Susquehanna River where the Aaronic Priesthood was restored and the first baptisms took place, the quarry where the saints cut stone for the Kirtland Temple, and many others.

Some of the original buildings are featured such as the Kirtland Temple, the foundation stones and base of the circular staircase for the Nauvoo Temple, the jail at Carthage where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, and a few others.The rest of the buildings are part of the restoration projects the Church and the Saints have been undertaking for decades.Since this book was published in 1991 further restoration has taken place.The most obvious is the rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple that has covered the foundation pictured in this book and made the photos of the model of the temple obsolete.The Church has restored many other places that were not in this book such as the smaller home the Smiths lived in at the time of the First Vision and when Moroni first visited Joseph.I am not sure if the dungeon in the Carthage Jail was restored at the time of this book, but it is not shown.

Another interesting aspect of this book is that the words illustrate the photos rather than the usual way of providing photos to illustrate the text.The text contains the authors views of the sites and the well known stories of the Restoration.There is no ground breaking research here.However, the pictures are beautiful and represent the sites shown quite well.

A pretty good book for viewing with the family and for sparking conversation with nonmember friends. ... Read more

Product Description
From his obscure beginnings in Sharon, Vermont, to his martyrdom at Carthage, the life of Joseph Smith is chronicled in vivid, full-color images by renowned LDS artist Glen S. Hopkinson.Dramatic paintings depict the Smith family's journey to Palmyra, fourteen-year-old Joseph's experience in the Sacred Grove, the ensuing persecution and relentless opposition, Joseph's translation of the Book of Mormon, the organization of the Church, the Kirtland experience, Zion's Camp and the trials of Missouri, the Prophet's imprisonment at Liberty Jail, and the settlement of Nauvoo.More than 60 illustrations are included in this pictorial history, providing a moving portrayal of a faithful and remarkable life. ... Read more