Richard Lyman Bushman 2005, Vintage
Richard Bushman is a faithful LDS member, his biography of Joseph Smith provides arguably one of the most concise and exhaustive histories available. It offers a most enlightening view of the churches founding characters. Any reader must understand that he frequently endeavours to reason in a favourable tone towards events and their interpretation. However, the historical facts alone are revealing and depending on your current faith perspective, it is relatively easy to place your own alternative interpretations to events. One significant omission that is striking, is his omission of the term ‘polyandry’, it is not found in the text or index.
I learnt more about church history in the weeks it took me to read this book than I did in nearly fifty years of attending church, reading the D&C, listening to church speakers and participating in classes.
From the early chapters I list a number of historical facts that were new to me.
- p37 In 1825 mother Lucy Mack Smith joins the Presbyterian church, this is significant because Joseph apparently informs her in 1820 that he finds out directly from God that it is not true, implying she should leave it alone
- p39 Joseph’s first written account of ‘The First Vision’ in 1832 phrases his experience as a personal conversion granting a forgiveness of sins
- p40 There are three ‘First Vision’ accounts. (see Gospel Topics essays for each version) No one ever informed me there were alternative versions, not in a talk, lesson or Ensign article
- p41 Documented evidence highlights that all aspects of Joseph’s first vision were exhibited by many contemporaries. His experience was not unique
- p44 An 1838 written account of an angelic visitor names him as Nephi not Moroni? RLB refers to this as “a puzzling mistake”
- p45 In the Magic world view, prevalent in the early 19th century receiving a dream (therefore it was a vision – ref Lehi) at least 3 times is highly significant, as it must be true
- p46 1823 The Smith family all believed his visitation by Moroni but none of them speak about or remember his 1820 experience seeing and speaking with God & Jesus (except Lucy Mack Smith in her autobiography, post 1844 quoting Joseph’s 1838 account)
- p50 The Smith family participated in numerous Magic world practices and possessed many such artefacts. RLB says Joseph put them aside from 1828, however I believe he wore a magic world amulet throughout his life
- p52 I was always told that Joseph was never found guilty in any court of law, However in 1826 he was convicted of disturbing the peace by using a seer stone. No sentence appears to have been enforced but previous claims about not being found guilty are therefore false. I have since reflected, why? after seeing God in 1820 and Moroni once a year since 1823 was Joseph still earning money from employment involving the use of a seer stone?
- p57 Joseph translated the Book of Mormon using a stone, placed in a white top hat while the gold plates lay hidden in woods nearby and the Urim & Thummin similarly not employed. The church in Gospel Topics Essays refer to the seer stone as being a Urim & Thummin.
- p70 Is the Book of Mormon a 19th century composition or a translation by the gift and power of God. Joseph sees a sentence written on the stone in the hat, he reads it aloud. The scribe recites what has been written to see if it is recorded correctly. When the transcription has been agreed a new sentence will appear. However, the term sentence should perhaps be changed to a string of words as the first edition is void of any punctuation except that added by the printer. The grammar is reportedly extremely poor, you would expect a lack of literacy from Joseph but an absence of punctuation and grammar is disconcerting from the originator of the words on the stone
- p73 In D&C 8:6 Oliver possessed the ‘Gift of Aaron’ it is a gift from God. It is a three pointed stick, the kind water diviners use. I never knew we viewed such behaviour as Godly
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