Criticism of Mormonism/Books/No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith/Chapter 16

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Response to claims made in "Chapter 16: The Alcoran or the Sword"



Claims made in "Chapter 15: The Valley of God"
A FAIR Analysis of: No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith, a work by author: Fawn Brodie
 		Claims made in "Chapter 17: Ordeal in Liberty Jail"
Claim Evaluation
No Man Knows My History
Chart.brodie.ch16.jpg

Response to claims made in No Man Knows My History, "Chapter 16: The Alcoran or the Sword"


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Response to claim: 230-231 - Joseph Smith claimed to be "a second Mohammed" and that it would eventually be "Joseph Smith or the Sword!"

The author(s) of No Man Knows My History make(s) the following claim:

Joseph Smith claimed to be "a second Mohammed" and that it would eventually be "Joseph Smith or the Sword!"

Author's sources:
  • History of the Church 3;167; 3:162
  • Correspondence, Orders, etc. pp. 57-9, 97-129
  • Reed Peck manuscript, p. 80.

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

The History of the Church does not support this claim.


Question: Did Joseph Smith say that he would be a "second Muhammad," threatening to spread his beliefs with the sword?

The statement which Joseph is charged with making did not accord at all with how he had his followers behave

Some have argued that Joseph may have said something like this, but was doing so for rhetorical effect to frighten the Missourians into leaving the Saints alone. But, it is by no means certain that he said it at all. Some who made the claims returned to the Church, and other sources were motivated by hostility and a desire to portray the Saints as a military and religious threat.

This claim came from Thomas B. Marsh after he left the Church

The source of this claim is from Thomas B. Marsh, an apostate former president of the Quorum of the Twelve. In 1838, Marsh swore an affidavit in which he claimed to have heard Joseph Smith say:

he would yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; and if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that it would be one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean; that like Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was, 'the Alcoran or the Sword,' so should it be eventually with us, 'Joseph Smith or the Sword.' [1]

Green and Goldrup: "this threat was quite probably a mere fabrication by the disgruntled Marsh"

Arnold Green and Lawrence Goldrup noted in 1971 that "this threat was quite probably a mere fabrication by the disgruntled Marsh," [2] and pointed out Orson Hyde (who was also disaffected at the time) later repented and returned, indicating that parts of the affidavit had been invented by Marsh. Marsh himself was later to repent and return to the Church, which casts further doubt on his story.

The tale was also repeated by George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, George Walter, and partially by Abner Scovil. [3] Joseph Smith's journal for the period notes:

some excitement was raised in the adjoining Counties, that is Ray & Clay, against us, in consequence of the suden departure of these wicked character[s], of the apostates from this Church, into that vicinity reporting false stories, and statements, but when they [the Missourians] come to hear the other side of the question their feeling[s] were all allayed upon that subject especially. [4]

It is, then, by no means certain that Joseph made this statement—the witnesses are all hostile, and clearly intended to frighten the Missourians

Joseph was under enormous pressure to defend the Saints against the repeated actions of mobbers. As historian Marvin Hill notes,

the actual response to belligerence when it occurred was much more restrained. Although the elders did confiscate property and burn houses, their attacks were generally aimed at specific enemies. Mormons had neither the inclination nor means to wage a general war of extermination against all mobbers, despite menacing talk. The only fatalities occurred in the skirmish with Bogart, where the elders got the worst of the fight. Had the prophet been intent on waging total war, it is unlikely he would have allowed Rigdon to issue his 4th of July warning, which only put the Missourians on guard. [5]

  1. REDIRECTJoseph Smith's trustworthiness

Response to claim: 230 - Joseph hinted that stealing the gentiles' supplies was acceptable

The author(s) of No Man Knows My History make(s) the following claim:

Joseph hinted that stealing the gentiles' supplies was acceptable.

Author's sources:
  • History of the Church 3;167; 3:162
  • Correspondence, Orders, etc. pp. 57-9, 97-129
  • Reed Peck manuscript, p. 80.

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

There is no "hint" from Joseph that stealing the gentiles' supplies was acceptable.

History of the Church 3:162,

Organization for Defense.

Monday, October 15.—The brethren assembled on the public square of Far West and formed a company of about one hundred, who took up a line of march for Adam-ondi-Ahman. Here let it be distinctly understood that this company were militia of the county of Caldwell, acting under Lieutenant-Colonel George M. Hinkle, agreeable to the order of General Doniphan, and the brethren were very careful in all their movements to act in strict accordance with the constitutional laws of the land.

Mob Depredations at "Diahman."

The special object of this march was to protect Adam-ondi-Ahman, and repel the attacks of the mob in Daviess county. Having some property in that county, and having a house building there, I went up at the same time. While I was there a number of houses belonging to our people were burned by the mob, who committed many other depredations, such as driving off horses, sheep, cattle, hogs, etc. A number of those whose houses were burned down, as well as those who lived in scattered and lonely situations, fled into the town for safety, and for shelter from the inclemency of the weather, as a considerable snowstorm took place on the 17th and 18th. Women and children, some in the most delicate condition, were thus obliged to leave their homes and travel several miles in order to effect their escape. My feelings were such as I cannot describe when I saw them flock into the village, almost entirely destitute of clothes, and only escaping with their lives.[6]


Response to claim: 232n - Joseph "virtually admitted" that the Mormons were responsible for the looting and burning

The author(s) of No Man Knows My History make(s) the following claim:

Joseph "virtually admitted" that the Mormons were responsible for the looting and burning.

Author's sources:
  1. History of the Church 3:316, 378
  • John Whitmer, "History of the Church"

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: This claim contains propaganda - The author, or the author's source, is providing information or ideas in a slanted way in order to instill a particular attitude or response in the reader

"Virtually admitted?" Based upon Joseph's comments, it sounds like he wasn't sure who was doing the looting and burning, since he had been in jail for many months.

History of the Church 3:316-317,

Know all men by these presents—That I, Jacob Stollings, have this day agreed with Joseph Smith, Jun., to release all members of the Mormon Church, from any and all debts due to me from them for goods sold to them by me at Gallatin during the year 1838, on the following condition, viz.: That said Joseph Smith, Jun., return or cause to be returned to me the following books—one ledger, three day books, and one day book of groceries, which was taken from my store in Gallatin when said store was burned. And if said books are returned to me within four months, this shall be a receipt in full, to all intents and purposes, against any debt or debts due from said Mormons to me on said books; but if not returned, this is to be null and void.

Given under my hand this day and date before written.

Jacob Stollings.

The Prophet's Comments.

A curious idea, that I who had been a prisoner many months should be called upon to hunt up lost property, or property most likely destroyed by the mob; but it is no more curious than a thousand other things that have happened; and I feel to do all I can to oblige any of my fellow creatures.[7]


Response to claim: 232 - Sidney Rigdon threatened anyone who was planning to leave Far West

The author(s) of No Man Knows My History make(s) the following claim:

Sidney Rigdon threatened anyone who was planning to leave Far West.

Author's sources:
  1. Correspondence, Orders, etc. pp. 120-5, 134-6, 143.

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

Actually, Rigdon threatened dissenters who wouldn't leave Far West.


Response to claim: 234 - Orson Hyde and Thomas B. Marsh admitted that the Mormons were "burning and pillaging"

The author(s) of No Man Knows My History make(s) the following claim:

Orson Hyde and Thomas B. Marsh admitted that the Mormons were "burning and pillaging."

Author's sources:
  1. Correspondence, Orders, etc. pp. 57-62, 76

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

Hyde and Marsh later admitted they had perjured themselves, and returned to the Church.


Notes

  1. ↑ History of the Church, 3:167 note. note Volume 3 link
  2. ↑ Arnold H. Green and Lawrence P. Goldrup, "Joseph Smith, An American Muhammad?: An Essay on the Perils of Historical Analogy," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 6 no. 1, 46.
  3. ↑ David Grua, "From the Archives: Joseph Smith or the Sword!?," blog post at Juvenile Instructor blog (17 Nov 2007) off-site.
  4. ↑ JS, Journal, [July 1838], cited in Dean C. Jessee, ed., The Papers of Joseph Smith, vol. 2, Journal, 1832-1842 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1992), 255–256. ISBN 0875795455.; as cited in Juvenile Instructor, ibid.
  5. ↑ Marvin S. Hill, Quest for Refuge: The Mormon Flight from American Pluralism (Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 1989), 97.
  6. ↑ History of the Church 3:162
  7. ↑ History of the Church 3:316-317


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