Comments on: Joseph Smith Was Killed in 1846

By: Ardis Parshall

Ardis Parshall — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:17:42 +0000

Well, that’s it, folks. sergio lepore has single-handedly convinced me of the folly of religion. What, oh, what shall I do now?

Tennis, anyone?

By: sergio lepore

sergio lepore — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:12:08 +0000

[Edited for relevancy: Sergio does not attempt to address the content of this thread, and instead provides a rant on Book of Mormon historicity and the superiority of the Secular Left.]

By: ML Brown

ML Brown — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:02:41 +0000

It’s a great example that we can’t believe that everything we read is true. Everything must be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. The Bible on down, the only books I believe are okay, word for word, is the Book of Mormon and Jesus the Christ.

By: Getting it wrong, recounting Mormon history « Banner, Sword, and Shield

Getting it wrong, recounting Mormon history « Banner, Sword, and Shield — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:46:04 +0000

[...] mistake. Jordan W. over at Juvenile Instructor observed these mistakes in non Mormon books which do not focus on Mormonism. At least it seems like it to me (Page 235): The death of Joseph Smith ended a religious journey [...]

By: Jordan W.

Jordan W. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:39:49 +0000

Jon, I don’t think anyone here is casting stones, that, or anything like it, was certainly not intended in the original post.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:09:54 +0000

I checked some other books by Noll for discussion of Mormonism/Joseph Smith. In his 1992 book A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada, he writes: “The migration of Smith and his followers to Kirtland, Ohio, in 1831 began the series of moves that eventually led the main body of Mormons on a Great Migration to the basin of Salt Lake (1846-1848). Before he could make that heroic trek, Smith was killed by an angry mob in Carthage, Illinois. Brigham Young, a master organizer, succeeded him and directed the move to Utah. Before they left, however, a segment of Joseph Smith’s early followers, apprehensive with the content of Smith’s later visions, the autocratic nature of his leadership, and the practice of plural marriage, broke away to form the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (p. 196). On the previous page, Noll indicates that Smith lived from 1805-1844 (p. 195).

In his The Old Religion in a New World (2002), Noll writes that “Smith and his followers moved first to Kirtland, Ohio, and then to Western Illinois, where Smith was killed by a mob incensed by his autocratic politics” (p. 102). Again, he indicates that Smith lived from 1805-1844.

Five pages later, Noll notes: “As an indication of mounting dissatisfaction with abolition, acts of violence increased. One of the more publicized of these events occurred in 1837, when a New England-born abolitionist, Elijah P. Lovejoy, was slain by a mob in Alton, Illinois, that had been angered by Lovejoy’s promotion of abolition in his newspaper” (pp. 107-108).

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:20:29 +0000

I hadn’t thought of RA’s, but I’m sure you’re right.

By: SC Taysom

SC Taysom — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:57:49 +0000

One common source of mistakes in work by big name historians: research assistants.

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:59:43 +0000

As I have been reading book after book and then book review after book review, I find that most historians get a fact or two wrong. I think that often it is the result of relying on memory instead of fact checking. I think editors generally only catch errors if they are obvious to anyone or if a book falls close to their own research. The people who do catch these errors are usually the peer reviewers, but it sounds like this book might not have gone through that process. I don’t think it is a big deal unless you consciously provide false information or that false information is an important part of your argument. Just my take on the whole matter.

By: JonW

JonW — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:11:22 +0000

Yeah I dont even enter arguments like these. I find when I cast stones… well lets just say I have been known to have photos with the wrong people identified in my journalism days. In a small town, they NEVER let you forget that.