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A More Accurate Book For My Dad

Ham Clam

By Ham Clam
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Ham Clam Community Regular

Ham Clam

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I am in my 20's and my dad is in his 60's. He is really into (inaccurate) faith promoting history and it drives me crazy at times! I'm pretty sure his latest book is that.

It's The Fate of The Persecutors of Joseph Smith by N.B. Lundwall. It was written in the 50's. Does anyone know a different book I could give to my father on this subject of what happened to Joseph's/Nauvoo period Mormons' persecutors after Joseph's death. I'm guessing it's not as extravagant as the bits my dad is tell me about the book.  

Thanks.

Ham Clam Community Regular

Ham Clam

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I haven't read a lot of Mormon history books, but from what I can tell at the end of RSR those people just went on to live normal lives after the Mormons ended West.

ERayR Grand Master

ERayR

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I haven't read a lot of Mormon history books, but from what I can tell at the end of RSR those people just went on to live normal lives after the Mormons ended West.

 

some did, some did not.

Kevin Christensen Grand Master

Kevin Christensen

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The book that Calmoriah links, Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill has a reputuation for excellent scholarship, and includes an afterward addressing "A persistant Utah myth" that "holds that some of the muderers of Joseph and Hyrum Smith met fittingly gruesome deaths." For quite some time, whenever The Fate of the Persecutors shows up, the standard academic response has been to refer to Carthage Conspiracy as a much better source of information.

Kevin Christensen

Bethel Park, PA

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Kenngo1969 Grand Master

Kenngo1969

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As glad as I am that I won't be among those facing judgment for what they did to Joseph Smith here on earth, I'm  also not wont to engage in the sort of schadenfreude engaged in by some who are so eager for others, whom they deem guilty of wrong, to get their just desserts in this life.  After all, if I want mercy myself, I have to be willing to extend mercy to other people (even to those who have committed grave wrongs).  Part of what it means to have faith in God is to trust that, somehow, He, in His Omniscience and Omnipotence, can sort out the tangled mess of "who-deserves-what-because-he-did-such-and-such-to-so-and-so" much better than I can, and to accept the fact that accepting His judgment concerning "who-deserves-what" also means that (at least in mortal terms and according to mortal measurements) "so-and-so" might [Gasp! :o] actually fare better in this life than I will. ;)

 

P.S.: That said, part of the reason we have earthly justice systems is to remove much of the impetus for someone who has been wronged to take "justice" into his own hands.  Just as we should leave the imposition of earthly justice to earthly authorities (in so doing, rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's), largely, we should leave the imposition of Heavenly Justice in the Hands of the Ultimate Judge. :)

Edited by Kenngo1969
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Kenngo1969 Grand Master

Kenngo1969

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I suggest American Crucifixion  The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church by Alex Beam

http://www.amazon.com/American-Crucifixion-Murder-Joseph-Mormon/dp/1610393139/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417904941&sr=8-1&keywords=american+crucifixion

 

It is written by a non LDS author and very even handed in my opinion. It is also very current having been released just this year.

Even-handedness is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.  As a counterpoint to this recommendation (although I have read neither Beam's book nor Foster's and Hales's review) see http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/big-trouble-in-river-city-american-crucifixion-and-the-defaming-of-joseph-smith/

JLHPROF Grand Master

JLHPROF

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I am in my 20's and my dad is in his 60's. He is really into (inaccurate) faith promoting history and it drives me crazy at times! I'm pretty sure his latest book is that.

It's The Fate of The Persecutors of Joseph Smith by N.B. Lundwall. It was written in the 50's. Does anyone know a different book I could give to my father on this subject of what happened to Joseph's/Nauvoo period Mormons' persecutors after Joseph's death. I'm guessing it's not as extravagant as the bits my dad is tell me about the book.  

Thanks.

 

While "Fate" may not be the best historical scholarship, if ANY of those stories are true or have any fact behind them, it still makes an interesting read.

And if multiple folk stories from that book are historically factual, then the principle behind the book merits some examination.

 

I mean, it's not like "Fate" is nothing more than pure fanfiction.  It's folklore - sometimes based on truth, sometimes not, but worth investigating.

 

Personally, I would find it more harmful to my faith if the scriptural precedents for cursings in mortality against those who harm God's servants WEREN'T also there in the lives of at least some of the mob.  If they all lived out quiet peaceful lives after murdering God's prophet that would trouble my faith a little more than any of the folklore contained in "Fate'.

I always quite liked that book...even if it isn't 100% historical fact.  That's why I keep it in my collection.

Edited by JLHPROF
Ham Clam Community Regular

Ham Clam

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I suggest American Crucifixion  The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church by Alex Beam

http://www.amazon.com/American-Crucifixion-Murder-Joseph-Mormon/dp/1610393139/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417904941&sr=8-1&keywords=american+crucifixion

 

It is written by a non LDS author and very even handed in my opinion. It is also very current having been released just this year.

I've heard of that one. Definitely not a title for the more conservative dad with Beam's opinions of Joseph Smith's polygamy (which my dad doesn't know the full details of)..

 

Even-handedness is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.  As a counterpoint to this recommendation (although I have read neither Beam's book nor Foster's and Hales's review) see http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/big-trouble-in-river-city-american-crucifixion-and-the-defaming-of-joseph-smith/

Joseph Smith is a polarizing figure. But the quotes in this article, Beam was definitely polarized in the negative. It annoys me, yet I'm pretty sure that's how I would react to Joseph's polygamy too as an outsider. 

 

The book that Calmoriah links, Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill has a reputuation for excellent scholarship, and includes an afterward addressing "A persistant Utah myth" that "holds that some of the muderers of Joseph and Hyrum Smith met fittingly gruesome deaths." For quite some time, whenever The Fate of the Persecutors shows up, the standard academic response has been to refer to Carthage Conspiracy as a much better source of information.

Kevin Christensen

Bethel Park, PA

I'll make sure to check that one out! Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

CA Steve Grand Master

CA Steve

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I've heard of that one. Definitely not a title for the more conservative dad with Beam's opinions of Joseph Smith's polygamy (which my dad doesn't know the full details of)..

 

Joseph Smith is a polarizing figure. But the quotes in this article, Beam was definitely polarized in the negative. It annoys me, yet I'm pretty sure that's how I would react to Joseph's polygamy too as an outsider. 

 

I'll make sure to check that one out! Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

I think that in order for your dad to understand Joseph Smith's murder it would be very helpful if he understood first more about how Joseph practiced polygamy. Maybe start him off with the church essays on polygamy. Also it would helpful if he had some background of what was going on in Nauvoo. For that I would recommend  Robert Flander's Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi. Quite dated but still the gold standard when it comes to that subject.

 

http://www.amazon.com/NAUVOO-Mississippi-Robert-Bruce-Flanders/dp/B000GM568I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417979484&sr=8-1&keywords=nauvoo+kingdom+on+the+mississippi

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