bcspace wrote:
Okay, so please quote the part that says what the OP does. Joseph Smith punched three guys as he ran home. Altogether? One at a time? Did he drop the plates when he did this? etc. etc.
What details here invalidate the story? What details match what the OP claimed?
From, "Lucy Mack Smith, mother of Joseph Smith, in Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, 1853, pp. 104-105; Comp. reprinted edition by Bookcraft Publishers in 1956 under the title History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, pp. 107- 108"
"The plates were secreted about three miles from home... Joseph, on coming to them, took them from their secret place, and, wrapping them in his linen frock, placed them under his arm and started for home."
After proceeding a short distance, he thought it would be more safe to leave the road and go through the woods. Traveling some distance after he left the road, he came to a large windfall, and as he was jumping over a log, a man sprang up from behind it, and gave him a heavy blow with a gun. Joseph turned around and knocked him down, then ran at the top of his speed. About half a mile further he was attacked again in the same manner as before; he knocked this man down in like manner as the former, and ran on again; and before he reached home he was assaulted the third time. In striking the last one he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came within sight of the house, when he threw himself down in the corner of the fence in order to recover his breath. As soon as he was able, he arose and came to the house. He was still altogether speechless from fright and the fatigue of running"
So. To review let's take Lucy Mack Smith's story and break it down for effect:
The plates were secreted about three miles from home...
So. The distance Joseph Smith purportedly carried the 40-200 lbs plates, while tucked under his arm, was three miles.
Joseph, on coming to them, took them from their secret place
If a mob was coming to take the plates, why would he go retrive them? They're already hidden. He's the only one that knew where they were. This doesn't make any sense.
wrapping them in his linen frock, placed them under his arm and started for home
They didn't have bags back then? Why would he opt to use his coat? That just makes transporting 40-200 lbs worth of metal that much harder to manage. The frock would constantly unravel itself, and the plates would be sliding out of it.
Also, trying to carry such a heavy load, tucked under your arm, would be impossible over that distance. Your arm(s) would fatigue being in that position. That's why having a bad to place the heavy object in would make more sense because a farmer's carry is efficient.
Clearly, the story was meant to imply the plates were small, light, and able to be carried/transported with ease. Given physics, this is an impossible reality.
as he was jumping over a log
Please. Anyone. Hold 40-200 lbs in your arms and attempt to jump over a log. Not happening. Period.
a man sprang up from behind it, and gave him a heavy blow with a gun
Why would you hit someone with a gun? Just shoot the person, or hold him at gunpoint.
In striking the last one he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came within sight of the house
Anyone ever dislocate a finger or a thumb? Yeah. You damned notice it. And on top of that, try having a dislocated digit, and carry 40-200 lbs. You thought the feat was impossible before, now you're doing it with either the hand that's helping to bear the load, or the free hand that is use to correct and stabilize the load. Either way, ooooouch. Not happening.
So.
Story is bogus. Plates are bogus.
