Mormon at ages 11, 15, 24 is really Joseph Smith Jr., in disguise!

[Shulem]

Joseph Smith loved to fantasize about himself by playing several of the main characters in the Book of Mormon. He likened himself as a character in the story. It was all part of his personal fantasy! I’ve provided amazing examples here.

I have another example which I would like to express and I sincerely hope interested readers appreciate my desire to share what I know. Let us take into account young Mormon who was none other than Joseph Smith Jr., playing out his own life’s fantasy in the novel he constructed out of the desires of his heart. The introduction of young Mormon:

And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my father’s name was Mormon) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me. And it came to pass that I, being eleven years old, was carried by my father into the land southward, even to the land of Zarahemla.

The key given herein is eleven (11) which pays direct reference to the very age in which young Joseph Smith migrated from Vermont to New York. It compares with Mormon migrating from the land northward down into Zarahemla with Joseph migrating with his family from Vermont to Palmyra. This happened when both characters (Mormon & Joseph) were eleven years old! It is simply uncanny!

The Smith family migrated to Palmyra during the winter of 1816-17, precisely when young Joseph turned eleven in the month of December.

The extended Smith clan had already moved west to New York, and in 1817, Joseph Smith Sr. traveled alone to Palmyra, New York, followed shortly by the rest of his family—although not before Lucy Smith was forced to settle with some last-minute creditors.

We learn in the autobiography of Lucy Smith how the Smith family had dealt with a great deal of hardship including health problems (“disease & sickness”) and several bad seasons of farming failures in Vermont was the last straw. Father Smith had decided it was time to pack their bags and make a new start -- get out of Dodge! They would look for a better life in New York. And that is exactly what they did as the Smith family packed up and left during the middle of winter. Mother Smith informs us that she “had prepared a great quantity of woolen clothing for my children” preparatory to travelling to New York. Unfortunately, father Smith was not able to make the journey at that time but remained in Vermont to settle business affairs. Mother Smith packed up a wagon and a team of horses and was escorted by a Mr. Howard in whom turned out to be a terrible man and was unkind to young Joseph! Lucy explains how he was an “unprincipled unfeeling wretch” and was quite upset with how Mr. Howard treated their belongings and children, especially Joseph. She related how the “treatment to my children, especially Joseph who was still somewhat lame this child was compelled by M. H to travel for miles to time on foot.” Lucy then described the utter joy of when father Smith made his way to Palmyra and his children hugged and kissed him while Joseph clung to his neck.

A significant difference between the event of Joseph (age 11) moving to Palmyra and Mormon (age 11) moving to Zarahemla is that Mormon was carried by his father into Zarahemla but Joseph’s father remained behind to settle business and so he was carried to Palmyra by extended family and a mean Mr. Howard. It makes me wonder how much young Joseph must have yearned to have had his father travel with him to New York rather than remain in Vermont to take care of business. But in the story of the Book of Mormon, Joseph gets to set things right by having father Mormon carry his son Mormon down into Zarahemla. Thus, Joseph Smith lived out his fantasy and set things how he wanted them to be. The journey from Vermont to Palmyra was certainly one of the most challenging experiences young Joseph ever faced and those memories were forever etched into his hurt soul.

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE!

And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.

And about the time that  Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;

Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the  land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.

And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are; and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people.

And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my father’s name was Mormon) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me.

And so, now we see Mormon at the age of twenty-four (24) goes to the hill Shim and begins to process the plates into the Book of Mormon.

Well, that is exactly what Joseph Smith did at the age of 24! The gold plates that Joseph had uncovered from the hill Cumorah were translated in the summer of 1829 while Joseph was precisely 24 years old. It is simply uncanny and failure to make the connection between Mormon & Joseph is impossible when coming to an understanding of how and why the Book of Mormon was produced.

Thank you (dear readers) for taking the time to read my post. I truly hope you embrace the Delmarva theory because it’s true, I so testify, in the name of Joseph Smith.

Philo, are you there? Behold, you have been called to the work!

[Shulem]

Well, that is exactly what Joseph Smith did at the age of 24! The gold plates that Joseph had uncovered from the hill Cumorah were translated in the summer of 1829 while Joseph was precisely 24 years old.

An apologetic critic might point out that Joseph was officially only 23 years old during the summer of 1829 -- and so Shulem is wrong. But the point is he was in his 24th year and in a matter of a few months he turned 24 in December at the end of that year. And notice what is said of Mormon who was to go dig up his plates at the hill Shim:

when ye are about twenty and four years old

Thus, Mormon was also in his 24th year, about to turn 24!

How uncanny!

[Moksha]

If the Book of Joseph based on the Kinderhook Plates had been finished, undoubtedly a Nephite character would have reenacted the sealing on a bale of hay scene with a Fanny Alger equivalent.

[Fence Sitter]

It's been years since I read it, but I thought Vogel's Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet (A Biography) spoke at length on how the Book of Mormon mirrored Smith's actual life experiences.

[Shulem]

If the Book of Joseph based on the Kinderhook Plates had been finished, undoubtedly a Nephite character would have reenacted the sealing on a bale of hay scene with a Fanny Alger equivalent.

Well, actually, the Kinderhook plates would serve to provide more information about the ancient Jaredite civilization established by those who came to America on those crafty barges that were tossed across the Atlantic. I discussed what might be generated from those plates up in the Celestial forum, starting here on page 8:

Kinderhook Plates and Don Bradley and there is plenty of good reading for those who are interested.

[Shulem]

It's been years since I read it, but I thought Vogel's Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet (A Biography) spoke at length on how the Book of Mormon mirrored Smith's actual life experiences.

I've not read Vogel's book so I can't comment or correlate my findings with his on that regard. Perhaps Vogel will catch wind of this thread and pop in and say something. It's possibly or, very likely that he will.

Do you find the two ages in combination to be convincing markers in describing Joseph's own experiences being masked within the Book of Mormon narrative?

11 & 24 working together is an effective combination to prove there really is something hidden going on in the narrative that needs explaining!

Wouldn't you say?

[Fence Sitter]

Shulem,

I believe everything Smith produced was taken from his surrounding environment and his own life experiences. So yes, I see that as just another piece of evidence explaining just how Smith created the Book of Mormon.

Another interesting example I just found of Smith taking stuff from his environment, is how the GAEL, EA, Caractors, and other documents he produced related to his translation efforts were modeled on the popular Hebrew and Greek lexicons and grammars of Smith's time including how some of them used Biblical themes to teach their respective languages. Smith's first offerings for the Book of Abraham (Chapter 1 through 2:23) was just copied from the Egyptian lexicon he was trying to create in the GAEL. Smith assumed that anything he had in Egyptian would have to have Biblical text on it and since Egyptian had to be close to Hebrew he could just copy the storylines from Hebrew lexicons of his day by Stuart & Gibbs and his Egyptian translations would have to be close. It also explains why Smith included the notion in the Book of Mormon that Egyptian and Hebrew were so closely related that scribes could use Egyptian to record Hebrew history more compactly.

[Shulem]

I believe everything Smith produced was taken from his surrounding environment and his own life experiences. So yes, I see that as just another piece of evidence explaining just how Smith created the Book of Mormon.

That's wonderful to hear, Fence.

And yet it's not discussed or contemplated at all in the confines of orthodox Mormonism. Nobody at church is going to discuss the possibilities of the Book of Mormon being pure fiction and based on imaginary stories of Smith pretending to be things that would elevate his ego on a grand scale.

I suppose that apologists will dismiss the 11 & 24 connection as pure coincidence but there is more to it that meets the eye and the apologists are blinded by the craftiness of men. This party is just getting started!

So says, Shulem.

Philo, Philo, where are youuuuuuu?

[Shulem]

Hebrew and Greek lexicons

This is definitely a question for Philo. I'm really not qualified to comment much on this because it's not my area of study or expertise. But it sounds interesting and needs exploring.

[Rivendale]

Shulem,

I believe everything Smith produced was taken from his surrounding environment and his own life experiences. So yes, I see that as just another piece of evidence explaining just how Smith created the Book of Mormon.

Another interesting example I just found of Smith taking stuff from his environment, is how the GAEL, EA, Caractors, and other documents he produced related to his translation efforts were modeled on the popular Hebrew and Greek lexicons and grammars of Smith's time including how some of them used Biblical themes to teach their respective languages. Smith's first offerings for the Book of Abraham (Chapter 1 through 2:23) was just copied from the Egyptian lexicon he was trying to create in the GAEL. Smith assumed that anything he had in Egyptian would have to have Biblical text on it and since Egyptian had to be close to Hebrew he could just copy the storylines from Hebrew lexicons of his day by Stuart & Gibbs and his Egyptian translations would have to be close. It also explains why Smith included the notion in the Book of Mormon that Egyptian and Hebrew were so closely related that scribes could use Egyptian to record Hebrew history more compactly.

I think some of his character designs were heavily influenced by the families Lamens.

Daggers inscribed with planetary sigils (seals or signets),
signs, and various names of God were used for creating magic circles. Quinn
has also established Sibly's the New and Complete Illustration of the Occult as
the source for one of the Smith family's magic parchments (small folded parchment
sheets, also known as lamens, used in ritual magic, on which are written
various magical names, phrases, and symbols).