ATTENTION BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS
Do you know that on July 28, 1971, among some old Chenango County bills, the bills of Justice Albert Neely and Constable Phillip DeZeng for the year 1826 were found and among the items listed on them were the costs for the arrest and trial of “JOSEPH SMITH, THE GLASS LOOKER,” as the case is listed on Justice Neely’s bill?
Do you know that the Constable’s bill has a “Mittimus” cost listed, which proves that JOSEPH SMITH WAS FOUND GUILTY, for a mittimus authorized the constable to take the prisoner to jail?
Many anti-Mormon authors have written about this March 20, 1826 trial, using it to prove that the Book of Mormon was not of divine origin, but a product of Joseph Smith’s fraud and deceit — a continuation of the principles manifested in his money-digging activities. This trial was purported to show that Joseph Smith used the same means to translate the Book of Mormon as he did to discover buried treasures and dig for them. It was claimed that he admitted that for about “three years” he had used “a certain stone” “to determine where hidden treasures” were buried. One of the witnesses said Joseph Smith pretended that by looking “into his hat” in which he had put the stone he could describe not only the treasure, but who buried it and the disposition of it. (Justice Neely’s account of the trial as published in Fraser’s Magazine, Feb. 1873, pages 229-230).
The records of the church which Joseph Smith organized contain only one statement about this trial. It was made in Oct. 1835 by Oliver Cowdery. Cowdery did not meet Joseph until April 5, 1829 — 3 years after the trial — nevertheless he stated that “previous to his obtaining the records…some very officious person complained of him (Joseph Smith) as a disorderly person, and brought him before the authorities of the country; but there being NO CAUSE FOR ACTION HE WAS HONORABLY ACQUITED.” (Messenger and Advocate, page 201). These court bills, which were found in the basement of the county jail in Norwich, Chenango County, New York, PROVE THAT JOSEPH WAS NOT ACQUITTED, BUT FOUND GUILTY. They indicate that the church’s only statement about the trial was an incorrect one. HAVE BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS BEEN DECEIVED?????
When Joseph Smith wrote his own history, he completely ignored the 1826 trial and made only the following statement about his money-digging activities “In October 1825, I hired with…Josiah Stoal (Stowell)…Chenango County…to dig for the silver mine…HENCE AROSE THE VERY PREVALENT STORY OF MY HAVING BEEN A MONEY DIGGER.” (Vol 1, page 17 of both R.L.D.S. and Utah Church History). Joseph Smith’s mother, Lucy Smith, in her history written after Joseph’s death said almost exactly the same thing, except she revealed. “He (Josiah Stoal) came for Joseph on account of HAVING HEARD THAT HE POSSESSED CERTAIN KEYS BY WHICH HE COULD DISCERN THINGS INVISIBLE TO THE NATURAL EYE…and it was from this circumstance…that the very prevalent story arose of Joseph having been a money digger.” (First edition, page 92). This is what is still taught in the official church histories. But these two recently found documents indicate there was much more than just working for Josiah Stoal (Stowel) involved in the money-digging. It was the “certain keys by which he could discern things invisible” that he PRETENDED to possess BEFORE the Book of Mormon was heard of by the world that was involved. HAVE BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS BEEN DECEIVED?????
When Fawn Brodie published her book, “No Man Knows My History” (this was before these two documents were found by Mr. Wesley P. Walters, a Presbyterian minister from Marissa, Illinois and Mr. Fred Poffari, of Ardsley, Pennsylvania), she wrote of Joseph Smith’s money-digging activities and his 1826 trial. This was answered by Mormon writers with statements like, “This alleged court record… seems to be a literary attempt of an enemy to ridicule Joseph Smith…NO EXISTING PROOF THAT SUCH A TRIAL WAS EVER HELD.” (Apostle John A. Widtsoe of the Utah Church). “If such a court record confession could be identified and proved then it follows that HIS (JOSEPH SMITH’S) BELIEVERS MUST DENY HIS CLAIMED DIVINE GUIDANCE…” (Francis W. Kirkham). “If this court record is authentic IT IS THE MOST DAMNING EVIDENCE IN EXISTENCE AGAINST JOSEPH SMITH.” (Dr. Hugh Nibly). BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS, DO YOU REALIZE PROOF OF THE 1826 TRIAL HAS NOW BEEN FOUND, SO WHAT ABOUT THE CLAIM THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS OF DIVINE ORIGIN?????
Until recently we were believers in the Book of Mormon and felt that the 1826 trial was just a fabrication of anti-Mormon origin to discredit the Book of Mormon. But after we learned of the discovery these two original county bills, we realized that our beliefs needed examination. IN THE INVESTIGATION AND SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH WHICH FOLLOWED WE FOUND THAT WE WERE THE ONES WHO HAD BEEN DECEIVED. After several letters and a trip to Norwich, Chenango County, New York we knew that the bills were authentic. We have obtained photo copies both from the County Historian and the County’s Acting Deputy Clerk. We now realize that IT HAS BEEN THE BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS WHO HAVE IGNORED, COVERED-UP, DENIED OR LIED ABOUT THE FACTS OF HISTORY. We may have done it in ignorance, but GOD IN MERCY HAS LET THE BILLS BE PRESERVED AND FINALLY FOUND, SO WE, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, CAN DETERMINE THE TRUE FACTS.
OUR RESEARCH REVEALED MANY MORE EVIDENCES OF THE FACT THAT THE Book of Mormon was translated by the same means that Joseph Smith pretended to find treasures. A.W. Benton who lived in Bainbridge (the town in which the trial was held) wrote in 1831, “For several years preceding the appearance of his book” Joseph Smith “was about the country in the character of a glass-looker: pretending by means of a certain stone, or glass, which he put in a hat, to be able to discover lost goods, hidden treasure.” etc.… “At length the public becoming wearied…had him arrested as a disorderly person, tried and condemned before a court of justice…. This was four or five years ago….”
An account of the trial was published three times from the record of Justice Neely. The Justice’s niece. Miss Emily Pearsall, went to Salt Lake City in 1870, as an Episcopal missionary. Before she left she took the record of the 1826 trial from the Justice’s docket hook. This record was published three times, once in 1873, once in 1883 and again in 1886. All details that were listed in the two court bills found in the county jail basement in July, 1971, agreed perfectly with the same details which were listed in those accounts which were published from the Justice’s docket book.
A physician, Dr. W.D. Purple, who was the doctor in Bainbridge at the time of the trial, attended the trial and at the request of Justice Neely, took notes for him. In 1877 he wrote his recollections. His account charges the same acts against Joseph Smith as the others record.
Isaac Hale, Joseph Smith’s father-in-law, stated in an affidavit in 1834, that Joseph Smith boarded at his house when he was employed by Josiah Stoal. He was in “a set of men who were called ‘money diggers’ and his occupation was the seeing, or pretending to see BY MEANS OF A STONE PLACED IN HIS HAT, AND HIS HAT CLOSED OVER HIS FACE. In this way he pretended to discover buried or hidden treasures. In January of 1827 Joseph married Mr. Hale’s daughter, Emma, against his wishes, and took her to Palmyra with him. In December of1827, Joseph found it necessary to return to Mr. Hale’s , and his affidavit continues, “Smith stated to me that he had given up what he called ‘GLASS-LOOKING’…Soon after this, I was informed they had brought a wonderful book of plates with them…THE MANNER IN WHICH HE PRETENDEDTOREAD AND INTERPRET, WAS THE SAME AS WHEN HE LOOKED FOR THE ‘MONEY DIGGERS’ WITH THE STONE IN HIS HAT, AND HIS HAT OVER NIS FACE, WHILE THE BOOK OF PLATES WAS AT THE SAME TIME HID IN THE WOODS” (June 13,1834, New York Baptist Register).
Martin Harris verified these facts in an interview in 1859, “Joseph had a stone which was dug from the well of Mason Chase…IT WAS BY MEANS OF THIS STONE HE FIRST DISCOVERED THESE PLATES…Joseph had had this stone for some time. There was a company there in that neighborhood who were digging for money…and they took Joseph to look in the stone for them…. These things had all occurred before I talked with Joseph respecting the plates. But I HAD THE ACCOUNT OF IT FROM JOSEPH, HIS WIFE, BROTHERS, SISTERS HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. I TALKED WITH THEM SEPARATELY, THAT I MIGHT GET THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER…. Joseph said the angel told him he must quit the company of the money-diggers…. The money-diggers claimed that they had as much right to the plates as Joseph had, as they were in company together. They claimed that Joseph had been traitor, and had appropriated to himself that which belonged to them. For this reason Joseph was afraid of them and continued concealing the plates…” (Tiffany’s Monthly, pages 163-170).
David Whitmer, William Smith (Joseph’s brother) and Emma Smith (Joseph’s wife) all testify that the Book of Mormon was translated by means of a stone in a hat. “In writing…I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour…” (Emma’s statement from R.L.D.S. Church History, Vol. 3, page 356).
So as a group of believers in Jesus Christ end His glorious salvation, WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT THE CLAIM THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS OF DIVINE ORIGIN. IN THE FUTURE THE BIBLE ALONE WILL BE OUR SCRIPTURES.
MAY GOD HELP ALL BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH AND REALIZE WHO IT IS THAT HAS BEEN FALSIFYING HISTORICAL FACTS.
BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS WE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED! We will be glad to show any one the photo copies of the materials used as references in this statement, or tell you where you can obtain copies. Or if we can help in any other way in your search for the truth, contact us at 723 S. Crysler, Independence, Mo. Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.” David declared, “THE LORD IS GOOD: HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING; AND HIS TBUTH ENDURETH TO ALL GENERATIONS.” (John 14:6 and Ps. 100:5). As we search to determine the truth of historical facts may we find Him who is THE TRUTH, BLESSED BE HIS NAME.