The Return of Moroni? or, RLDS Conference 1895

[_Kishkumen]

Another interesting tidbit to consider is the fact that Joseph and Emma's firstborn child, ALVIN, was born June, 15, 1828--nine months after Joseph and Emma went to the hill to retrieve the plates.

Things that make you go hmmm....

[_Kishkumen]

This baby Alvin, according to Joshua McKune, was supposed to translate the Record:

Joseph had told his neighbor, Joshua McKune, that "his (Smith's) first born child was to translate the characters and hieroglyphics upon the plates, into our language, at the age of three years." (The Susquehanna Register, May 1, 1834, p.1)

[_palerobber]

RLA:

[T]he false rumor was being spread that the Smiths had dug up—or would dig up—the corpse to fulfill the instructions. Father Smith was evidently pained that the family would be accused of such procedures, and so he took the action necessary to correct the rumor.

...by digging up the corpse!

but seriously, i hadn't considered that the rumor mentioned in the notice may have accused the Smiths themselves of exhuming and dissected the body. Joseph Sr. writes that he dug up the grave with neighbors "for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of such reports," implying that he didn't know whether the rumors were true. therefore, he couldn't have himself been the subject of the rumor, though i suppose Joseph Jr. could have been.

[_Kishkumen]

...by digging up the corpse!

but seriously, i hadn't considered that the rumor mentioned in the notice may have accused the Smiths themselves of exhuming and dissected the body. Joseph Sr. writes that he dug up the grave with neighbors "for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of such reports," implying that he didn't know whether the rumors were true. therefore, he couldn't have himself been the subject of the rumor, though i suppose Joseph Jr. could have been.

If there were such rumors, or they were merely rumors. What better cover than digging him up and claiming it was done to counter such rumors? Seems fishy to me!

[_Blixa]

This baby Alvin, according to Joshua McKune, was supposed to translate the Record:

Joseph had told his neighbor, Joshua McKune, that "his (Smith's) first born child was to translate the characters and hieroglyphics upon the plates, into our language, at the age of three years." (The Susquehanna Register, May 1, 1834, p.1)

Thanks for, uh, digging this up, palerobber and Kish. I was recently trying to summarize this for liz and alter idem and I could not remember what the source for the baby Alvin story was.

Whew! that's a load off of my mind!

[_Kishkumen]

I suppose it could be the case that other members of the Gold Bible Company, knowing that Alvin had to be present to retrieve the Record, considered digging him up to take to the hill. That may have prompted the Smiths to check the integrity of his corpse.

I suppose.

[_Mary]

he more than anyone tried to continue Joseph Smith's legacy in a literal sense.

Agreed. The Straneites were very open about the more bizarre beliefs. http://signaturebooks.com/2010/02/god-h ... t-mormons/ is good, and funny.

Thanks MCB, the book looks interesting.