Skip to main content
Disclaimer: Some book links on this site are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support the site.

The History of Joseph Smith By His Mother

    Written by Lucy Mack Smith and first published in 1853, The History of Joseph Smith By His Mother, is one of the earliest records about Joseph Smith’s life. As his mother, Lucy offers a personal view of his upbringing, the Smith family’s struggles, and the events leading up to the founding of the Church.

(Amazon affiliate link)

    I recommend the edition that is labeled as the complete and unabridged 1853 first edition. Later versions were edited and don’t include everything she originally wrote.

    It’s not a polished history. It reads more like a collection of memories. That makes it valuable in that Joseph's story is told a bit different than how the church often tells it. Lucy talks about Joseph’s childhood illnesses, the family's money troubles, and their spiritual beliefs. Including vivid accounts of visions held by both herself and her husband. 

    She also gives early descriptions of events like the First Vision, Joseph Smith's visits with the angel Moroni, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.


    What stands out is that Lucy doesn’t try to explain everything. She reports what she saw and heard. Some parts raise more questions than answers. That’s what makes this book useful for people who are trying to understand the origins of Mormonism without relying only on official Church narratives.

    After Joseph Smith’s death, Brigham Young expressed strong opposition to the book. He reportedly viewed it as unauthorized and worried it could cause confusion or dissent. Lucy had stayed in Nauvoo with her son William Smith, who was trying to position himself as a church leader. Brigham Young saw the book as part of that effort. He dismissed it as unreliable, even calling it a “tissue of lies” and instructed that copies be destroyed or suppressed.





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stand Forever: A Response

In response to my thoughts regarding the 2013 study on the LDS Faith Crisis , I had someone suggest that I read a talk by Lawrence E Corbridge. After a quick Google search, I found the talk they were referring to and wanted to share some thoughts on it. Here is the relevent exerpt from Corbridge's 2022 BYU devotional: ---------- Primary Questions and Secondary Questions: Begin by answering the primary questions. There are primary questions and there are secondary questions. Answer the primary questions first. Not all questions are equal and not all truths are equal. The primary questions are the most important. Everything else is subordinate. There are only a few primary questions. I will mention four of them. 1. Is there a God who is our Father? 2. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Savior of the world? 3. Was Joseph Smith a prophet? 4. Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the kingdom of God on the earth? By contrast, the secondary questions are unending...
Post a Comment
Read

Without the Mormon Lens: 1 - Introduction

 "I don't think Joseph Smith was a prophet"      Tears that I had been holding back finally broke free as I said the words I never thought I would say. The fear, the anger, the betrayal. The emotions that countless people who have lost their faith had felt, were rushing through me. I collapsed to the floor as this great realization washed over me.      I  had lost my faith.       It was gone.      I don't feel that it is important to share the events that led to my faith crisis, and honestly they are hard to explain. Like most people who leave the church, there were a number of issues that had piled up over the years. Items that were stacked on my shelf of concerns eventually became too much for the shelf to handle. It broke, and with it, my world shattered.      The grief was overwhelming. I had known nothing but Mormonism for my entire life, and the loss was the feeling of losing a loved one. An ...
1 comment
Read

Without the Mormon Lens: 12 - Attempt to Buy the Brass Plates

    Let's just pick up right where we left off , as Nephi and his brothers attempt to buy the plates from Laban. The Book of Mormon, pg 11 ~~~~~ The Book of Mormon ~~~~~      "And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things."      "And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceeding great, he did lust after it , insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property. And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Laban." (pg 11) ~~~~~~~~~~      If we look for a similar story related to Joshua, we find the account of Achan, who stole the silver, and gold, and precious...
Post a Comment
Read