Fresh new lie from LDS.org about Samuel Smith's death

[_karl61]

come on - Samuel Smith is next in line and suddenly dies? This was the beginning of a violent period where people were blaming others for Joseph Smith's death. People were beaten and killed during this period. Latter-day saints were not the Mormon's of today's Utah but were crazy and violent scammers.

http://i4m.com/think/leaders/brigham_murder.htm

[_John Larsen]

I'm not saying it wasn't possible. There is just not very good evidence.

[_karl61]

I'm not saying it wasn't possible. There is just not very good evidence.

I agree - if they have the grave then maybe they should get the body and do tests.

[_Trinity]

Look towards the bottom of the the PR:

Smith died in Nauvoo, Illinois, 33 days after his brothers Joseph and Hyrum were killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.

“His death was caused by an illness contracted in his exertion to escape the mob while trying to go to the aid of Joseph and Hyrum,” Elder Ballard said. “So in many ways, Samuel was also a martyr.”

BALD. FACED. LIE.

"an illness contracted in his exertion to escape the mob" WTF???? When are illnesses contracted from physical exertion? Ballard has no shame or spine.

I believe Ballard's statement is based on Lucy Smith's bio of Joseph Smith. According to that account, Samuel Smith was chased by a mob on horseback when he tried to get to Carthage to help Hyrum and Joseph, and during the chase Samuel had to crouch over his saddle (to avoid bullets?) which caused the saddle horn (or whatever it's called) to continually jam up into his abdomen, causing a stomach injury that led to his death about 3 weeks later. At least that is what Lucy believed.

How could a jam in the abdomen cause bilious fever?

[_Mister Scratch]

I found the evidence presented by Quinn that Samaul was poisoned tenuous at best.

Agreed.

Some good points on this thread. Was Samuel Smith poisoned? We don't know. Did he die from "bilious fever" (which could have been the result of poisoning, obviously)? We don't know. Did he die because he leaned against his saddle horn? We don't know---however, this seems even less likely to me that the poisoning theory. I think Nevo is right to point out that William Smith had reason to twist or alter the facts. But, then again, Ballard has reason to twist and alter the facts as well. Bottom line, in my opinion, is that B&L is essentially right: Ballard is whitewashing the truth. The most "correct," most truthful statement would have been something like "We aren't totally sure why S. Smith died. There are a few different theories. We'd like to remember him as a martyr, though." What's problematic, to my mind, w/ Elder Ballard's statement is his apparent insistence on establishing S. Smith as a "martyr."

[_BishopRic]

I found the evidence presented by Quinn that Samaul was poisoned tenuous at best.

Agreed.

Some good points on this thread. Was Samuel Smith poisoned? We don't know. Did he die from "bilious fever" (which could have been the result of poisoning, obviously)? We don't know. Did he die because he leaned against his saddle horn? We don't know---however, this seems even less likely to me that the poisoning theory. I think Nevo is right to point out that William Smith had reason to twist or alter the facts. But, then again, Ballard has reason to twist and alter the facts as well. Bottom line, in my opinion, is that B&L is essentially right: Ballard is whitewashing the truth. The most "correct," most truthful statement would have been something like "We aren't totally sure why S. Smith died. There are a few different theories. We'd like to remember him as a martyr, though." What's problematic, to my mind, w/ Elder Ballard's statement is his apparent insistence on establishing S. Smith as a "martyr."

Exactly right! This is the problem I have with the Mormon stories...they are presented as factual (rather than like you described), then when we learn the different theories, it makes us wonder what else has been inaccurately portrayed!

[_Scottie]

Exactly, Ric.

I remain fascinated how Faith-Promoting Rumor's require ZERO evidence, but something that goes against the belief will be held with the deepest skepticism to outright refusal to believe it.

This isn't just in religion, either.

"I heard that Saddam and sons would put people in a meat grinder and grind their legs up while still alive!!" <-- Believed without a moments hesitation's.
"The American government is torturing people in Guantanamo bay" <-- WHATEVER!!! That's a lie!! Show me the proof!!

[_Scottie]

I never knew Joseph Smith had a brother named Sam.

And the other good kid in the Book of Mormon was Sam....coincidence??? Hmmmm....

[_moksha]

I never knew Joseph Smith had a brother named Sam.

And the other good kid in the Book of Mormon was Sam....coincidence??? Hmmmm....

Not to mention the famous Sam who was associated with Chiasmus and green eggs and ham.

[_Boaz & Lidia]

"I heard that Saddam and sons would put people in a meat grinder and grind their legs up while still alive!!" <-- Believed without a moments hesitation's.
"The American government is torturing people in Guantanamo bay" <-- WHATEVER!!! That's a lie!! Show me the proof!!

Evil is seen in the eye of the receiver and good is seen in the eye of the giver.